Punktastic Reader Awards 2013

By Tom Aylott

read_awards2

The Winners For This Year’s Punktastic Reader Awards have been announced!

Best New Band – Moose Blood

Fighting off stiff competition this year was Moose Blood. Our readers agree that they’re set for big things, so they get the gong for Best New Band! Check out their ‘Boston’ music video below.

Best Live Band – The Wonder Years

We could probably have predicted this one… The Wonder Years storm in with Best Live Band after triumphant performances in the UK this year, and with more UK appearances in 2014, we wonder whether they’ll be able to make it two years running!

Best Album: The Wonder Years – ‘The Greatest Generation’

Again, maybe not the biggest surprise here, but the Staff’s top choice for album of the year was also our readers’ favourite as well. ‘The Greatest Generation’ is fantastic, and The Wonder Years really just won 2013 in the end.

Best EP: Gnarwolves – Funemployed

Our Best New Band from 2012 Gnarwolves have also had an amazing year, and though they were pipped by Moose Blood in the staff poll, ‘Funemployed’ is a strong reader favourite. Gnarwolves have a massive year ahead in 2014, and we can’t wait to see how they tackle a full length record.

Best Music Video: Enter Shikari – ‘Rat Race’

Last year’s big winners Enter Shikari will have to settle for one award this year, as their manic ‘Rat Race’ video was voted the best of the year by our readers. You can watch the whole thing below if you haven’t seen it yet!

Best Festival: Slam Dunk Festival

One of the all-time favourite collective Punktastic festival has to be Slam Dunk, and this year our readers have given them the nod as best of the year, beating off a very strong Reading/Leeds and Download vote this time out with their three day, three city edition.


The Wonder Years at Slam Dunk 2013

Best Record Label 2013: Alcopop! Records

He’s only gone and done it again! Jack Clothier of Alcopop! Records will be taking home our (imaginary) statue this year as the best record label of 2013, as voted by our readers. We imagine that it was probably the fact that he released on a compilation in “Mountain Bike” format that did it. Fair play, really.


THAT bike

Best Venue: The Old Blue Last, London

Ever popular in the slightly less hipster and slightly more “Essex” parts of East of London, The Old Blue Last is a legendary venue (home to our Christmas Party tonight and many of our Punktastic Presents… shows), and we can’t help but think our readers have made the right choice here. They voted it as best venue of 2013!


GIANTS playing at The Old Blue last on a Punktastic Presents… show

Best New Band: Moose Blood
Best Live Band: The Wonder Years
Best Album: The Wonder Years – The Greatest Generation
Best EP: Gnarwolves – Funemployed
Best Festival: Slam Dunk Festival
Best Music Video: Enter Shikari – ‘Rat Race’
Best Record Label 2013: Alcopop! Records
Best Venue: London Old Blue Last

COMPETITION WINNER: Sam Davies!