Irish band Fontaines DC was named international band of the year at the Brit Awards on Saturday, while Charli XCX dominated the ceremony as she won in five categories, including the coveted album of the year for her culture-shaping record Brat.
The British star, 32, also secured artist of the year; dance act; and song of the year for her track Guess featuring US superstar Billie Eilish; and she was awarded the songwriter of the year trophy that was announced earlier in the week.
Charli has had an impressive 12 months which saw the infectious electronic-pop tracks on Brat soar up the charts and inspire a trend, with fans embracing the “brat summer” cultural movement which promoted self-love, positive body image and sultry style choices.
Brat was named the 2024 Collins Word of the Year, redefined as “characterised by a confident, independent and hedonistic attitude”.
A New Zealander in Dublin: ‘It feels like people work to live here as opposed to living to work’
Family fallouts: ‘I can’t describe the heartache of not having a relationship with my sister’
Zach Bryan in Dublin review: Gen Z’s Garth Brooks puts on a charming – and lengthy – show
How the death of an ‘old boy from Ireland’ in London-Irish suburb sparked a misguided viral appeal
Taking to the stage at The O2 in London to accept the album of the year award, the singer said she had “always felt like an outsider”, particularly in the British music industry, and so the recognition for her Brat album feels “really nice” as she did not “sacrifice” her values for it.
“I’ve been doing my own thing in my own corner of the industry for a minute, I’ve never really changed that,” she added.
Fontaines DC picked up international group of the year on the back of their successful Romance album, beating off Amyl and the Sniffers, Confidence Man, Future & Metro Boomin and Linkin Park.
US pop star Sabrina Carpenter, who plays in Dublin this week, paid homage to British culture as she opened the event, taking to the stage wearing a red sparkly military-style blazer dress before walking down an aisle lit up with the Union flag, as performers in military parade dress followed her.
Carpenter then changed into a red sparkly bra and shorts set to perform song Bed Chem on a large bed.
US superstar Diana Ross livestreamed into the ceremony from her concert in Brooklyn in New York to announce Carpenter as the global success award recipient.
[ Charli XCX: Brat review – Banging tunes sandwiched between snarl and snarkOpens in new window ]
Accepting the best rock and alternative act prize, North Shields singer Sam Fender admitted he was a “little bit nervous” and that he was “nowhere near as drunk as last time” as he took a few attempts to say a “huge thanks” to his fans and praised “all those at home in Shields”.
US pop star Chappell Roan called for efforts to continue to support artists on “their own terms” as she accepted the international song of the year award for Good Luck, Babe! She beat Hozier to the gong.
In a video speech, Roan said: “I don’t believe in bad art, but let’s just say I had to write a lot of bad songs to get to the good ones.
“And artists deserve that freedom to write bad songs and to explore horrible concepts, and to flop and rise and not be pressured into making music based off of what’s trending.
“So we must continue to support these artists so they can find success on their own terms and have long careers.”
[ Sam Fender: People Watching review – Emotional resistance is futileOpens in new window ]
Roan later dedicated her international artist of the year award to Sinéad O’Connor, trans artists, drag queens, fashion students and sex workers as she said “all those people, they have laid the groundwork for me to be here today”.
Indie group The Last Dinner Party also spoke about the importance of saving independent music venues as the band collected the best new artist award.
The ceremony paid tribute to former One Direction star Liam Payne, who died in October at the age of 31 after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina.
After host comedian Jack Whitehall hailed Payne as a “very special person”, a black-and-white video featured footage of Payne with his family, a clip from his time on The X Factor and then with One Direction, who won seven Brit Awards before they split up. – PA
