@PenderynPrize
'The Mercury Prize of Books' - NME
The Penderyn Music Book Prize, now celebrating its 5th year, is the first UK-based prize specifically for music titles (history, theory, biography, autobiography). The prize is awarded at the annual Laugharne Weekend and is sponsored by Penderyn Distillery. The prize is for UK published books only and was launched in 2015. The winner is announced at the Laugharne Weekend each year.
PLEASE NOTE: The prize does not accept unsolicited submissions.
The long-list is drawn up by a booksellers, musicians, journalists and former prize judges.
Richard Thomas, organizer of both the prize and Laugharne Weekend:
“It's long been an oddity that while there are prizes for the best sports book of the year, the best travel book, the best food and drink book, there has never been a prize for the best music book. So when we spotted this glaring omission, we felt it was pretty much our civic duty to right that wrong. Publishers and booksellers alike agreed that this was indeed a prize waiting to happen, and one they'd gladly support. And seeing that the Laugharne Weekend's preferred drinking venue - also Dylan Thomas's former local, The Brown's - is well supplied with Penderyn Whisky, it didn't take us long to think up our ideal sponsors for such a prize.”
Stuart Cosgrove, 2018's winning author for 'Memphis 1968 The Tragedy Of Southern Soul' (Polygon):
“Winning this award, amongst such formidable competition, is a privilege. It reflects the widespread public interest in popular social history and soul music. It also highlights the range of books being published independently in Scotland. I am delighted to accept the award. I have a passionate belief in the creativity of small nations and see Penderyn as a very inspiring example of that.”
Daniel Rachel, 2017's winning author for 'Walls Come Tumbling Down' (Picador):
"I am so thrilled to receive the Penderyn Music Book Prize. The last time I won a prize was the tombola at St Christopher’s Children Home when I was 8. It was the same day, I was inadvertently driven into a National Front march in the middle of Birmingham city centre. That moment was the genesis for Walls Come tumbling Down, via much skanking to 2 Tone Records and a healthy shot of anti-Thatcherite songs from the Red Wedgers to shake up my hard-core Tory upbringing. This award is a tribute to the 100 or more contributors to the book whose actions and songs changed our country’s cultural landscape and a reminder to tomorrow’s heroes that pop music can change the world."
Daniel Rachel
Jon Savage, 2016's winning author for '1966: The Year The Decade Exploded' (Faber):
"I’m very pleased that there is a prize that recognises the depth and breadth that exists in the writing about music. It’s not just a fad but a way of life. And of course I’m honoured to be the winner of the prize in its second year: may there be many more."
Mark Lewisohn, 2015's winning author for 'The Beatles - All These Years: Volume One: Tune In' (Little, Brown):
"Popular music has been central to British culture for more than half a century, so it’s fitting that literature about it should be considered for an annual prize. It was a personal thrill when Tune In won the honour in 2015, because it was the inaugural award, because Penderyn is a good company – going about its business the right way – and because the award is announced at the annual Laugharne Weekend, a weekend full of music, poetry and literature."
Stephen Davies Chief Exec of Penderyn:
“Good stories, music and the finest single malt go hand-in-hand, and Penderyn are big fans of the work Richard Thomas and John Williams have done with the Laugharne Weekend. As we all love our music at the distillery, we are delighted to sponsor this exciting prize.”
PLEASE NOTE: The prize does not accept unsolicited submissions.
The long-list is drawn up by a booksellers, musicians, journalists and former prize judges.
Richard Thomas, organizer of both the prize and Laugharne Weekend:
“It's long been an oddity that while there are prizes for the best sports book of the year, the best travel book, the best food and drink book, there has never been a prize for the best music book. So when we spotted this glaring omission, we felt it was pretty much our civic duty to right that wrong. Publishers and booksellers alike agreed that this was indeed a prize waiting to happen, and one they'd gladly support. And seeing that the Laugharne Weekend's preferred drinking venue - also Dylan Thomas's former local, The Brown's - is well supplied with Penderyn Whisky, it didn't take us long to think up our ideal sponsors for such a prize.”
Stuart Cosgrove, 2018's winning author for 'Memphis 1968 The Tragedy Of Southern Soul' (Polygon):
“Winning this award, amongst such formidable competition, is a privilege. It reflects the widespread public interest in popular social history and soul music. It also highlights the range of books being published independently in Scotland. I am delighted to accept the award. I have a passionate belief in the creativity of small nations and see Penderyn as a very inspiring example of that.”
Daniel Rachel, 2017's winning author for 'Walls Come Tumbling Down' (Picador):
"I am so thrilled to receive the Penderyn Music Book Prize. The last time I won a prize was the tombola at St Christopher’s Children Home when I was 8. It was the same day, I was inadvertently driven into a National Front march in the middle of Birmingham city centre. That moment was the genesis for Walls Come tumbling Down, via much skanking to 2 Tone Records and a healthy shot of anti-Thatcherite songs from the Red Wedgers to shake up my hard-core Tory upbringing. This award is a tribute to the 100 or more contributors to the book whose actions and songs changed our country’s cultural landscape and a reminder to tomorrow’s heroes that pop music can change the world."
Daniel Rachel
Jon Savage, 2016's winning author for '1966: The Year The Decade Exploded' (Faber):
"I’m very pleased that there is a prize that recognises the depth and breadth that exists in the writing about music. It’s not just a fad but a way of life. And of course I’m honoured to be the winner of the prize in its second year: may there be many more."
Mark Lewisohn, 2015's winning author for 'The Beatles - All These Years: Volume One: Tune In' (Little, Brown):
"Popular music has been central to British culture for more than half a century, so it’s fitting that literature about it should be considered for an annual prize. It was a personal thrill when Tune In won the honour in 2015, because it was the inaugural award, because Penderyn is a good company – going about its business the right way – and because the award is announced at the annual Laugharne Weekend, a weekend full of music, poetry and literature."
Stephen Davies Chief Exec of Penderyn:
“Good stories, music and the finest single malt go hand-in-hand, and Penderyn are big fans of the work Richard Thomas and John Williams have done with the Laugharne Weekend. As we all love our music at the distillery, we are delighted to sponsor this exciting prize.”
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The Laugharne Weekend
The Laugharne Weekend has been running in Laugharne in west Wales - a 'black-magical bedlam by the sea' (Dylan Thomas) - since 2007. Performers who have appeared include - among many others - Will Self, Ray Davies, Patti Smith, Tracey Thorn, John Cooper-Clarke, Thurston Moore, Ian Rankin, Eleanor Catton, Alexei Sayle, Martin & Eliza Carthy, Bernard Sumner, Josie Long, Sir Peter Blake, Pete Wylie, Carol Ann Duffy, Kevin Rowland, Harry Hill, and Keith Allen with the annual dose of chaos that is Laugharne’s Got Talent.
Weekend tickets allow you into the Book Prize Ceremony, and single event tickets are also available.
www.thelaugharneweekend.com
Weekend tickets allow you into the Book Prize Ceremony, and single event tickets are also available.
www.thelaugharneweekend.com
Penderyn Distillery
Penderyn Distillery is the largest distillery in Wales and produces award-winning single malts, as well as gin, vodka and Merlyn Cream Liqueur that are exported across the globe. The Distillery & Visitor Centre is situated at the foothills of the Brecon Beacons, 30 miles northwest of Cardiff. Penderyn has gained an international reputation since being launched in 2004 and was described by Carwyn Jones, the First Minister for Wales as,
‘The manufacturing success story for Wales over the last 25 years.’
www.penderyn.wales
‘The manufacturing success story for Wales over the last 25 years.’
www.penderyn.wales
Distillery & Visitor Centre Location
The Brown's, Laugharne
The Brown's, built in 1752, is an iconic literary address, the social hub of Laugharne and the favourite watering hole of poet and broadcaster Dylan Thomas who loved the, 'small town pomp and nonsense gossip' he heard in the bar. The Brown's has 15 luxurious en-suite rooms (‘Cool factor 9/10’ - The Times), and serves bar meals, local ales and Penderyn whisky. Laugharne has an ancient history, quirky customs, a lively nightlife, estuary walks, a magnificent castle and the Dylan Thomas Boathouse, and was once described by the poet as ‘...the strangest town in Wales’ .
www.browns.wales
www.browns.wales
Visitors to Laugharne may also enjoy www.laugharnelines.co.uk which looks into some of the best, and least known corners of Laugharne.
