Emeli Sande scoops three Mobo Awards

Scottish singer, Emeli Sande scooped up three trophies at  Saturday night’s Mobo Awards held at Liverpool’s Echo Arena.

The 25-year-old singer-songwriter won Best Female, Best Album for her number one-selling Our Version of Events and Best R&B/Soul – beating the likes of  Jessie J, Ed Sheeran and Labrinth.

Emeli, from Alford, Aberdeenshire, got the night off to a spectacular start with a specially-crafted rendition of My Kind of Love.

Speaking of her wins, Emeli admitted she was ‘stunned’ to pick up three awards.

”I really didn’t expect to get three. I feel fantastic, I feel like all the hard work pays off when you get acknowledgement like this, so I’m very happy.”

Guest of honour Dionne Warwick was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award to celebrate half a century in the business, while London hip-hop artist Plan B snapped up Best Male Act and Best Hip Hop/Grime, which he collected from rising global star, Rita Ora.

TLC’s Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas collected this year’s Mobo Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music, and Rita Ora – who jetted in especially from the US leg of her tour -picked up Best Newcomer.

Labrinth – who was a major hit with fans lining the red carpet – was awarded Best Song in association with PRS for Music for Earthquake and treated the room to a mash up of his biggest hits.

Chart toppers JLS arrived on a specially-chartered Easy Jet flight to collect the gong for Best Video for Do You Feel What I Feel and got the crowd on their feet with a performance of their newest single, Hottest Girl in the World.

Band member, J.B. Gill said he thought music had changed considerably in recent years, with black artists getting recognition they deserved.

”A few years ago guys like Wiley and Dizzee Rascal might not have been recognised, now they’re getting to number one. That’s an incredible step for music of black origin and the Mobo Awards.

They’re definitely starting to put a lot of artists on the map.”

The event – now in its 17th year – was interspersed with a series of performances from special guests including rapper Wiley, who shared the stage with Skepta and Ms D to perform his new release Can You Hear Me and number one single, Heatwave.

Rising star Misha B treated crowds to a version of her debut single Home Run, and Angel wowed the crowd with a super smooth version of his single, Wonderful. Stooshe performed their cover of TLC’s Waterfalls on stage, as introduced by “T-Boz” and “Chilli”.

Mobo founder Kanya King MBE said this year’s event had been particularly special.

She said: “Each year we’re staggered by the calibre of the talent on display at the Mobo Awards.

“This year has been outstanding and we’re honoured to showcase the best of the best on the night.

“Tonight has been a night for not only homegrown talent such as Emeli Sandé and Plan B, who we’ve championed from the beginning of their careers, but also less represented genres of music such as gospel, jazz and African which are equally important for Mobo.”

2012 MOBO Award Winners in full:

Best Newcomer: Rita Ora

Best UK Male: Plan B

Best UK Female: Emeli Sande

Best Video: JLS – ‘Do You Feel What I Feel’

Best Hip-Hop/Grime: Plan B

Best Album: Emeli Sande – ‘Our Version of Events’

Best R&B/Soul Act: Emeli Sande

Best Song in Association with PRS for Music: Labrinth feat. Tinie Tempah – ‘Earthquake’

Best International Act: Nicki Minaj

Best Reggae Act: Sean Paul

Best Jazz Act: Zoe Rahman

Best African Act: D’Banj

Best Gospel Act: Rachel Kerr

Outstanding Contribution to Music: TLC

Lifetime Achievement Award: Dionne Warwick