|TOP|The 2006 Oasis Awards, the 'first ever UK Gospel Music and Church Awards', will be held 27 July, at the Hackney Empire.

Gospel music fans in Britain are being encouraged to visit www.oasis-awards.com and vote for their favourite artists now that the nominees in all the Oasis Award categories have been announced.

Currently, newcomer Dwayne Tryumph is the artist with the most nominations and is in the running for four awards in the following categories, Best Newcomer, Best Producer, Best Holy Hip-Hop Artist and Best Holy Hip-Hop/Reggae song.

Other multiple nominees include David Daniels and the Praise Fellowship Choir, urban gospel group Raymond & Co, holy-hip artist Jahaziel and praise and worship artist Muyiwa and Riversongz.

In addition, Gospel newcomer, Roger Samuel has been nominated in the best newcomer category, while English praise and worship artist Tim Hughes grabbed nominations for Best Praise and Worship Artist, and Best Praise and Worship Song with the popular song ‘Here I Am To Worship’.

Along the 26 Oasis Awards, there are five categories which recognise the achievements and accomplishments of Britain’s black majority churches.

The five church categories are Church of the Year, Community Church of the Year, Community Minister of the Year, Conference of the Year and Minister of the Year.

Independent churches Ruach Ministries, Christian Life City and the Peoples Christian Fellowship have received nominations in the Church of the Year category alongside leading denominations the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Church of God of Prophecy and the New Testament Church of God.

|AD|The community church of the year aims to recognise those churches that are having a major impact in their community, and nominees in this category include the Church of God of Prophecy, Ruach Ministries, New Wine Church and the Peoples Christian Fellowship.

Nominees in the community minister of the year are Pastor Courtney Daniel of Young Bloodz, Pastor Nims Obunge, CEO of the Peace Alliance, Rev Les Isaacs, founder of Street Pastors and Bishop Wayne Malcolm, leader of Christian Life City.

Winners of all the music award categories will be decided by public vote. Recipients of the church awards will be decided by a specially selected panel comprised of church leaders, media personnel and respected social figures.

Roney Henderson, CEO of Musicstar Entertainments and brainchild behind the Oasis Awards commented, “The Oasis Awards has now reached a very exciting stage. The nominees reflect those artists, churches and ministries that are having a major impact on the lives and spiritual development of the Christian public. It will be interesting to see who the public eventually vote for and I would encourage everyone to not only make sure they place their votes, but also make sure they attend the Oasis Awards. It promises to be a very memorable and inspirational event.”