Gorillaz’ Damon Albarn to perform tribute to Tony Allen at virtual AIM awards 2020

Gorillaz’ Damon Albarn will a perform tribute to Tony Allen at the virtual AIM awards 2020.

Taking place today, Wednesday 12th August at 7PM, the Independent Music Awards ceremony will go virtual for the first time, with a number of performances scheduled to take place, including a tribute to the late Tony Allen. The Nigerian afrobeat pioneer, most widely known as the drummer and musical director in Fela Kuti’s band, Africa ’70, passed away in May this year, and will be honoured with a posthumous Outstanding Contribution To Music Award at tonight’s ceremony.

Alongside the Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn, who’ll be performing Albarn and Allen’s collaborative track, ‘Go Back’, the tribute performance will feature Allen’s friend and drumming student Femi Koleoso of Ezra Collective, former Verve guitarist Simon Tong, and Gorillaz’ Seye Adelekan and Remi Kabaka Jr.,

Other performances include an additional tribute curated by Koleoso and featuring Nubya Garcia, as well as performances from rap icons Little Simz and AJ Tracey, plus Arlo Parks. 

See the full list of nominees and watch the trailer for the event, which will be hosted by Tiffany Calver, below. Viewers can tune in for free from 7PM via Youtube.

UK INDEPENDENT BREAKTHROUGH IN ASSOCIATION WITH YOUTUBE MUSIC
GEORGIA
DIGGA D
FONTAINES D.C.
KOKOROKO
MOSES BOYD

INTERNATIONAL BREAKTHROUGH
BICEP
FLOATING POINTS
HANIA RANI
IDLES
YAEJI

BEST INDEPENDENT TRACK IN ASSOCIATION WITH FACEBOOK
AJ TRACEY – DINNER GUEST (FT. MOSTACK)
DIGGA D – NO DIET
FLYING LOTUS – MORE (FT. ANDERSON .PAAK)
KING KRULE – ALONE, OMEN 3
LAUV – MODERN LONELINESS
SORRY – RIGHT ROUND THE CLOCK
SQUID – SLUDGE
SUDAN ARCHIVES – CONFESSIONS
TONY ALLEN & HUGH MASEKELA – WE’VE LANDED
YVES TUMOR – GOSPEL FOR A NEW CENTURY

BEST INDEPENDENT ALBUM IN ASSOCIATION WITH SPOTIFY
BROOKE BENTHAM – EVERYDAY NOTHING
EVERYTHING IS RECORDED – FRIDAY FOREVER
KIDJO OJUA – THE MIXTAPE
KIM GORDON – NO HOME RECORD
LAURA MARLING – SONG FOR OUR DAUGHTER
MOSES BOYD – DARK MATTER
NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS – GHOSTEEN
THE NINTH WAVE – INFANCY
PHOENIX DA ICEFIRE & HUSKY BROWN – PANACEA
SARATHY KORWAR – MORE ARRIVING

BEST [DIFFICULT] SECOND ALBUM
FLOATING POINTS – CRUSH
FKA TWIGS – MAGDALENE
JOE ARMON JONES – TURN TO CLEAR VIEW
LIFE – A PICTURE OF GOOD HEALTH
MOSES SUMNEY – GRÆ

BEST INDEPENDENT REMIX
LAFAWNDAH – TOURIST X NÍDIA REWORK
KINGS OF THE ROLLERS – YOU GOT ME (S.P.Y REMIX)
MAKAYA MCCRAVEN – GIL SCOTT-HERON – WE’RE NEW AGAIN
APPARAT – OUTLIER (SOLOMUN REMIX)
MARIE DAVIDSON – WORK IT (SOULWAX REMIX)

ONE TO WATCH IN ASSOCIATION WITH BBC MUSIC INTRODUCING
ARLO PARKS
BLANCO WHITE
CAROLINE
GREENTEA PENG
LAVIDA LOCA

BEST CREATIVE PACKAGING IN ASSOCIATION WITH SIGNATURE BREW
DIGGA D – DOUBLE TAP DIARIES
HANIA RANI – ‘ESJA’ SHEET MUSIC BOOK
MOTÖRHEAD – 1979
SOPHIE – OIL OF EVERY PEARL’S UN-INSIDES NON-STOP REMIX ALBUM
MOSES BOYD – DARK MATTER LP (DINKED EDITION)

BEST INDEPENDENT VIDEO IN ASSOCIATION WITH VEVO
BLACK PUMAS – COLOURS
BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB – EAT, SLEEP, WAKE (NOTHING BUT YOU)
FLYING LOTUS – BLACK BALLOONS REPRISE (FT. DENZEL CURRY)
GREENTEA PENG – MR. SUN (MISS DA SUN)
THE HOWL & THE HUM – THE ONLY BOY RACER LEFT ON THE ISLAND
ZEBRA KATZ – MOOR

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO MUSIC IN ASSOCIATION WITH MERLIN
TONY ALLEN (WINNER)