Congrats are due to Villagers‘ Conor O’Brien who was given an Ivor Novello songwriting award today for the pretiguous Album Award for his Darling Arithmetic release last year.

Conor previously won a Novello for Best Song Musically and Lyrically’ in 2011 for ‘Becoming A Jackal’.

Other winners include Snakehips for ‘All My Friends’ for Best Contemporary Song, David Holmes for Best Television Soundtrack for his work on London Spy soundtrack, Lifetime Achievement went to Damon Albarn and Portishead were awarded the PRS for Music Outstanding Contribution to British Music.

Conor is working on the followup, to be his fourth album but there are plenty of live dates ahead this year.

Villagers live dates

Thurs 26-Sat 28th May – Freak Valley Festival, Siegen, Germany

Fri 1st July – Vida Festival, Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain

Fri 1st-Sun 3rd July – Castlepalooza, Laois, Ireland

Thurs 14th July – Super Bock Super Rock, Lisbon

Sat 16th July – Colours of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic

Tues 19th July – Festival Big Top, Galway

Sat 23rd July – Le Poisson Rouge, New York

Sun 24th July – Newport Folk Festival, Newport, RI

Fri 26th August – Purbeck Valley Folk Festival, Swanage