20 Feb 2009

Soul singer Duffy storms top music awards

9:19 am on 20 February 2009

Welsh soul singer Duffy has won three prizes at the Brit Awards in London, in the biggest night of the year for British music.

US indie rockers Kings of Leon also triumphed on Thursday morning, winning the best international album section for Only by the Night and best international group.

Indie band Elbow were named best British group, beating off competition from Coldplay whom they will support during a North American tour this year, while former front man of The Jam, Paul Weller, was crowned best male solo artist.

Rapper Kanye West was named best international male solo artist, Katy Perry won best international female solo artist and Iron Maiden were crowned best British live act.

Duffy was close to tears as she accepted the award for best British album for Rockferry, the biggest selling debut album in the world last year and the winner of a Grammy in Los Angeles earlier this month.

She was also named best British female solo artist and British breakthrough act, while Bernard Butler won the award for best British producer of the year for his work on Rockferry.

Elbow received a standing ovation when they were named best British group. Formed in Manchester, the band has steadily built its fan base and reputation, and won a Mercury award last year.

Pop group Girls Aloud won the award for best British single for The Promise, which was chosen by a live public vote on the night.

The Pet Shop Boys were awarded a Brit for outstanding contribution to music.

Coldplay left empty-handed despite being nominated for four awards, apparently cold-shouldered by their home fans despite winning three Grammys this year.

London singer Florence and The Machine, who burst on to the music scene last year and is still working on her first album, won the critic's choice award.

Everybody appeared on best behaviour at this year's Brits, which have in the past been a hub for controversy and had to be broadcast on delay from 1989 to 2006 because of the antics of those attending.

In 1996, Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker stormed the stage in protest at Michael Jackson's performance.

Two years later, Chumbawumba singer Danbert Nobacon dumped a bucket of ice water over Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, while acid house oddballs The KLF fired machine gun blanks at the audience and dumped a dead sheep at the aftershow party following the 1992 awards.