Congratulations for Panic Room’s Yatim Halimi for being voted best bass player at the Classic Rock Society awards, and also for Riversea as Best Newcomer. Both are very well deserved.

Alison Henderson posted the full list of winners on her Facebook page. The list does seem a little less predictable that some years, although Magenta still did very well, and Mostly Autumn seem to win best band every year.

Best gig – Magenta
Best newcomer- Riversea
Best track – Lovers End Pt 3, Moon Safari
Best keyboard player – Mike Varty
Best bassist – Yatim Halimi
Best drummer – Henry Rogers
Best guitarist – Chris Fry
Best album – Beneath The Waves, Kompendium
Best male vocalist – Damian Wilson
Best female vocalist – Christina Booth
Best band – Mostly Autumn
Unsung hero – Jon Patrick
Outstanding Contribution – Andy Tillison.

I think it needs to be recognised that the CRS awards celebrate the UK grass-roots rock scene in the UK, which is why you won’t see higher-profile artists like Steve Wilson, Opeth or Rush, or many US or Euro prog bands. Yes, you could criticise the awards for parochialism at times, or the way that some artists win year after year, which is why I applaud John Jowitt’s decision to rule himself out of contention this year.

Still, I’ll take this over The Brits any year.

• Best Female Vocalist: Olivia Sparnenn
• Best Drummer: Gavin Griffiths
• Best Guitarist: Bryan Josh
• Best Album: Go Well Diamond Heart – Mostly Autumn
• Best Track: Satellite – Panic Room
• Best Band: Mostly Autumn
• Best New Band: Parade
• Best CRS Live Act: Mostly Autumn
• CRS Personality: Anne Marie Helder

That’s a whopping five-and-a-half awards for Mostly Autumn!

While the CRS awards are less significant that things like the Classic Rock Presents Prog readers poll (in which MA and PR also did very well indeed, against far broader competition), it’s still a very strong endorsement of the new-era Mostly Autumn from a wider community than the hardcore fans.

This ought to serve as a reminder to the small but vocal minority of disillusioned former fans who don’t care for the new lineup that while they may be honest and sincere in their opinions, they are still in the minority.