The Ivor Novello awards are the most prestigious songwriting and composing awards in the UK and Ireland, and the nominations have been announced for the year of 2015. Dubliner and mastermind behind the wonderful Villagers, Conor O'Brien is up for Best Album (Darling Arithmetic), and he is competing against Jamie XX (In Colour) and Gaz Coombes of Supergrass fame (Matador). Interestingly, in the Best Song Musically and Lyrically category, Ed Sheeran and his protegée Jamie Lawson are both nominated. Acoustic guitars at dawn. Many people have also raised the issue of Adele not receiving any nominations, despite being the biggest-selling artist of last year. However, the Ivor Novello awards are notoriously choosy about who is featured, and they often like to recognise lesser-known artists. Grime star Skepta is nominated in the Best Song category for his work of genius, Shutdown. Here's the full list:

---

Best Song Musically and Lyrically Bloodstream -- Ed Sheeran Bros -- Wolf Alice Wasn't Expecting That -- Jamie Lawson Best Contemporary Song All My Friends -- Snakehips ft. Tinashe & Chance the Rapper Cargo -- Roots Manuva Shutdown -- Skepta Most Performed Work Hold Back the River -- James Bay Hold My Hand-- Jess Glynne King-- Years & Years Album Award Darling Arithmetic -- Villagers In Colour -- Jamie xx Matador -- Gaz Coombes ​Best Film Score Ex Machina -- Geoff Barrow and Ben Salisbury Pan -- John Powell The Duke of Burgundy -- Faris Badwan and Rachel Zeffira ​Best Television Soundtrack And Then There Were None -- Stuart Earl From Darkness -- Edmund Butt London Spy -- Keefus Ciancia and David Holmes (Image and video via YouTube/VillagersVEVO)