Bishop's Stortford band Hyde Away win New Music Generator (NMG) Award

A Bishop's Stortford band, formed during the Covid-19 pandemic, won the indie category at the New Music Generator (NMG) Awards.

Four-piece Hyde Away comprises Conor Andrews on guitar and lead vocals, Max Hunt on guitar, Nathan Chetland-Poole on bass and Alfie Gorman on drums. Max, Nathan and Alfie also supply backing vocals.

The band – who are about to embark on a tour, incuding a home-town appearance at The Horn at the Half Moon on Saturday October 15 – could not attend the ceremony at The Apex in Bury St Edmunds to honour East Anglia's finest emerging talent. Instead, they sent a video message.

The awards, now in their ninth year, are organised by Tim Willett to showcase the regional talent he supports in his weekly new music show on Cambridge 105 radio.

Hyde Away said: "This award is very much appreciated by the whole band. It's such a great feeling that not only do people like our music, but to see our fans and members of the music industry going out of their way to vote for us as the 'Best unsigned indie band in the East of England' really means a lot.

"As a recently formed band, during Covid, this award represents a sense of great progress for us. We've put a lot of effort into the recording, rehearsal, performance and promotion of all of our music, and to see that the work we put in has paid off is a truly great feeling for us.

"This award also excites us for our future releases and gigs we have lined up and, likewise, has provided us with an immense sense of achievement that we will work to build on and continue to grow our fanbase with."

Hyde Away's latest single, Mutual, was recorded as a result of winning the 'artist development prize' offered by North Acre Studio at last year's NMG awards.

They play alt-indie tunes influenced by artists such as Courteeners, Two Door Cinema Club, Catfish & The Bottlemen and Circa Waves.

Conor, who attended Herts and Essex High School, and The Bishop's Stortford High School's Max previously played together in Riviera and The Pineapple Arcade and twice performed at Wilkestock Festival, supporting Slaves, We Are Scientists, Mallory Knox and The Fratellis.

Hyde Away will be a last-minute replacement for Holding Poison at Bishop's Stortford Community Sports Club's beer and music festival on Saturday (Sept 17). See https://facebook.com/events/s/beer-music-festival/1139520690242619/ .