Tinariwen beat big names such as Kings of Leon and Bob Dylan, winning this year's Uncut Music Award.

The Mali band were the subject of a news story on our site last week, which included an interview where the band talks about their favourite amps, the Vox AC30 and the little Vox DA5.

Now, Tinariwen have beaten a strong competition which included Kings of Leon, Bob Dylan and Animal Collective, amongst others. and claimed the Uncut Music Award prize for their fourth album, 'Imidiwan: Companions'.

The award was decided by a judging panel including Uncut editor Allan Jones, Billy Bragg and Robin Pecknold of last year's winners Fleet Foxes. It was given to the artists who had, in the judges eyes, made the best album released in the past year.

Ibrahim Ag Alhabib of Tinariwen said: "This makes us really, really happy, all of us and I'm glad that this important magazine should recognise our music. It gives us the strength to carry on working and spreading the message about the peace of our desert home, and I'm glad that our music can cross the frontiers and talk to people around the world. Thanks very, very much."

Watch Tinariwen:

More info:

Tinariwen Artist page on Dolphin Music

Related story:

Tinariwen talks about their favourite amps, the Vox AC30 and DA5 - READ IT HERE