Last night’s Brit Awards saw a move away from pop towards ‘quality’ music, with folk acts Laura Marling and Mumford & Sons, and Canadian indie outfit Arcade Fire, all scooping top awards.
Laura Marling, who won the title of Best British Female, may have had critical success with her second album I Speak Because I Can last year, but it stayed largely under the mainstream radar, peaking at number four in the charts.
Likewise folk-pop group Mumford & Sons, who were also nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammy’s, walked away with British Album Of The Year for Sigh No More despite little success in the singles chart.
Arcade Fire won Best International Band and Best International Album for The Suburbs, a record which has cleared up at most music award ceremonies this year.
The Best British Breakthrough Act award, which is voted for by the public, went to rapper Tinie Tempah, who also landed Best British Single for the infectious Pass Out.
And East London rapper Plan B was named Best British Male Solo Artist after performing a rendition of his hit She Said.
In full: Brit Awards 2011 winners
British Male Solo Artist: Plan B
British Female Solo Artist: Laura Marling
British Breakthrough Act: Tinie Tempah
British Group: Take That
British Single: Tinie Tempah, Pass Out
Mastercard British Album Of The Year: Mumford & Sons, Sigh No More
International Male Solo Artist: Cee Lo Green
International Female Solo Artist: Rihanna
International Breakthrough Act: Justin Bieber
International Group: Arcade Fire
International Album: Arcade Fire
Critic’s Choice: Jesse J
Video: Mumford & Sons perform at last night’s Brits
