Salford Star Awards
Salford Star of the Year
Simon Williams
'He bleeds Salford'...
When we started the Salford Star Entertainment Awards we were keen to celebrate all that is great about the city's creative scene. We were eager to garner nominations from our readership in selected areas. One name continuously cropped up, and for a variety reasons.
Although, some of the votes cast didn't always fit into our categories, we knew that the people of Salford had been moved by the work of Simon Williams. As one reader succinctly put it, 'He bleeds Salford', while another email oozed, 'Simon Williams, saw him at Punk 9, he was out of this world' and 'one winner for me WILLIAMS all day long'. These endorsements were typical of the messages of support for Simon Williams. Our mission statement of 'with attitude and love' is embodied by Simon and we felt that a Salford Star Award would be a fitting prize.
Simon Williams is popular on many fronts and his passion for Salford is always evident in his output. His work as a DJ, poet, promoter and author were all mentioned favourably. Simon manages local punk act Benefit State and regularly appears as a support act.
Encouraged by Ancoats poet Mike Duff, Simon's poems are Salford to the marrow and discuss the roots and changing landscape of the city. His Hidden Depths series of stories feature an anti-hero named 'Williams'. The likeable central character seems to be an extension of the author's persona; beneath all of the waywardness, there's a heart of (tarnished) gold.
The Hidden Depths stories are punchy and compact, and read almost like a Salfordian Bukowski. Add to that, proceeds from the series were donated to St Anne's Hospice. Simon also started Sounds of Salford Radio as a way of shining a light on local issues and talent. He's a gifted presenter with a refreshingly natural approach to broadcasting.
All of the above meant that Simon amassed a hell of a lot of votes from our readers for numerous reasons. I asked him about juggling so many projects..."The Sounds of Salford is great because like the Salford Star it gets local topics right out there" he explains "In fact, Salford Star editor, Steve Kingston, was our first ever interview, so that gave us our fan-base, keeping real and raw similar to the Star.
"The writing came about by chance but it is something I love, same as the poetry, both of which I write about Salford" he adds "Salford is a hotbed of talent, there is so much from writers to poets, in fact I would go as far as to say the best poets in the country come from Salford and Manchester because we don't hide from the truth...no sugar coating, which is why I feel we go down so well.
"Writing anything to me is all about passion, same as life really, if you're going to do anything give it your best shot, and if you fail no one can say you didn't try" says Simon.
Being a community magazine, we listened to our readers and are more than happy to acknowledge the entertainment provided by Simon Williams..."Thanks to all who took the time to vote, it means the world" he beams.
Congrats to Simon Williams, a genuine Salford Star, and the inaugural winner of the Salford Star of the Year Award.
Words by Ian Leslie
See also fellow winners of Salford Star Awards for 2018...
Best Band/Act Dominic Carlton Jones click here
Best Performer Brian Gorman click here
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