CO DOWN rockers Ash are to be recognised for their contribution to music at a special awards ceremony in Belfast in the autumn.
The three-piece from Downpatrick – who have performed with major acts including U2 – will receive the Oh Yeah Legend Award at the Mandela Hall on November 11.
Charlotte Dryden, chief executive of Belfast’s Oh Yeah Music Centre, said: “Ash have played a major part in the story of Northern Irish music and in the story of Oh Yeah too.
“Our centre is named after the very song which features on their debut album, 1977. How brilliant to finally honour and celebrate the band with an Oh Yeah Legend Award.”
After receiving the accolade, Ash will perform 1977.
Ms Dryden added: “It is going to be a momentous evening.”
Formed at Downpatrick High School in 1992, Ash have had two number one albums in the UK and 18 top 40 singles.
Frontman Tim Wheeler won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Pop Song in 2001 for Shining Light.
Their music has featured on numerous film soundtracks and video games, and they have sold more than eight million records worldwide.
Talking about the 1977 tour, the band said: “Some of these songs have grown with us throughout those years; others have the ability to transport us mentally and emotionally back to that crazy formative year of 1995 to 1996.”
Previous recipients of the Oh Yeah Legend Award include the Divine Comedy, Therapy?, Stiff Little Fingers and The Undertones.
The Oh Yeah Legend presentation will be preceded by another award, the Northern Ireland Music Prize for the best Northern Irish albums.
This event is part of a wider programme, Sound of Belfast, that will take place from November 4 to 12.
