THE inaugural Welsh Record Industry awards, the WRITS, were launched in Cardiff yesterday - with Gwent bands featuring high on the list of nominations.

The ceremony is being billed as the biggest ever celebration of Welsh popular music and takes place in the Cardiff International Arena on November 27.

The nominations for the awards were announced at a launch party in the Hilton Hotel yesterday.

Predictably, Welsh music heavyweights, the Stereophonics, Manic Street Preachers, (pictured) recently split Catatonia and Super Furry Animals, dominate the nominations. The Manics are nominated for three awards - best group, best single for Ocean Spray, and best album for Know Your Enemy.

Gwent's Feeder are in the running for best group and best live act, and Abergavenny's Matthew Jay, who released his critically acclaimed debut album Draw this summer, is nominated for best male artist and best emerging act, along with Terris.

Mike Peters, of the Alarm (still Wales' biggest ever selling band), is being honoured for his contribution to Welsh music with a special award and will be performing on the night. The nominees were announced by TV weather presenter Sian Lloyd, who said: "Welsh popular music has always done more than hold its own on the world stage, and now we are going to shout about it."

A number of high profile acts and personalities will be attending to perform and present awards, and the winners of the best international group, whose identity is being kept under wraps, will also be playing.

There will also be a unique chance for Wales' best unsigned band to secure a recording contract.

The top six unsigned bands in Wales, according to the judges, will all play in Cardiff's Barfly on the night before the show.

The award is being supported by Celtic Underground Music, and Jump Start Recordings.

All proceeds raised by the event will go towards the Dyscovery Trust - a charity that assists children with dyspraxia.