
To mark the 10th anniversary of The Age Music Victoria Awards, not one but two special events were organised this year to help celebrate the occasion. Next week at The Palais Theatre in St Kilda (20 November), the Hall of Fame Concert will take place honouring a swag of richly deserving Australian music legends. Last night at 170 Russell, it was the new guard’s turn in the spotlight, with the presentation of the annual category awards. Pics and Report by Greg Phillips
As usual The Age Music Victoria Awards provided a night of eclectic, high quality local music. Back in town from her all-conquering world tour was Courtney Barnett, who played an energetic set to her welcoming hometown fans. It was no surprise that she also picked up the four main awards including Best Album, Best Song, Best Band and Best Female Artist.
Another Australasian artist who has had a monster year is Marlon Williams. The charismatic Williams delivered a mesmerising set with his band, justifying the critical acclaim he’s been receiving worldwide. The format that The Age Music Victoria Awards takes, with awards presented in batches always ensures a great flow to the evening. Genre and publicly voted winners were presented together for the first time this year.
Hype is an essential ingredient in music but is often over-used. However, it’s a thrill to watch an artist perform when the rhetoric is backed up by substance. Such is the case with Harts and Ecca Vandal, who both put in blinders last night and are set to have a gigantic 2016.
The ever-solid EG All Stars featuring Pete Luscombe, James Black, Bill McDonald and Ash Naylor were in their element, providing the perfect backing for special guests Ben Salter, Blake Scott (The Peep Tempel), Briggs, Emma Donovan, Iseula Hingano (Blue Eyes Cry), Olympia and the hypnotic Ajak Kwai
Music Victoria CEO Patrick Donovan congratulated all of the nominees and winners saying, “Bringing the genre awards and public awards together was a great success as the nominees are all equally deserving. It was wonderful to see the stars of the music industry under one roof in a huge celebration that showcases the depth of our diverse music scene.”
Earlier in the evening the Minister for Creative Industries, Martin Foley MP, announced $600,000 worth of grants for the Contemporary Music Sector to rousing cheers from the industry-heavy audience.
In recognition of the artists’ contribution to Victorian music, all nominees in the Genre Awards received a generous rehearsal package at Bakehouse Studios.
Check out more photos from the night below.
And the winners are:
Best Album
Presented by The Age
Sometimes I Sit and Think and, Sometimes I Just Sit
COURTNEY BARNETT
Best Song
Presented by APRA AMCOS
Depreston COURTNEY BARNETT
Best Male Artist
Presented by Beat Magazine
C.W STONEKING
Best Female Artist
Presented by The Music
COURTNEY BARNETT
Best Emerging Artist
Presented by Travel Beyond Group & Bigsound
RAISED BY EAGLES
Best Regional Act
Presented by Speaker TV
COSMIC PSYCHOS
Best Regional Venue
Presented by Live at Your Local
THEATRE ROYAL
Best Venue
Presented by Mountain Goat
CORNER HOTEL
Best Festival
Presented by Crumpler
GOLDEN PLAINS
Best Live Band
Presented by Rockwiz
THE SMITH STREET BAND
Best Band
Presented by Corner Hotel
COURTNEY BARNETT
Best Blues Album
Presented by Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society
Box & Dice FIONA BOYES
Best Country Album
Presented by Allans Billy Hyde
Diamonds in the Bloodstream RAISED BY EAGLES
Best Soul, Funk, R’n’B and Gospel Album
Presented by CollArts
Dawn EMMA DONOVAN & THE PUTBACKS
Best Jazz Album
Presented by Dixons Creek Estate Wines
Mooroolbark BARNEY MCALL
Best Hip Hop Album
Presented by Plakkit
Nobody’s Business MAUNDZ
Best Electronic Act
Presented by OneLove
ROLAND TINGS
Best Heavy Album
Presented by Cherry Bar
Bully HIGH TENSION
Best Indigenous Act
Presented by Department of the Future Productions
EMMA DONOVAN
Best Global or Reggae Album
Presented by Crumpler
Quarter Street QUARTER STREET
Best Folk Roots Album
Presented by Folk Alliance Australia
One House TOLKA
Best Experimental/Avant-Garde Act
Presented by Bar Open
CAROLYN CONNORS
This year’s awards were co-presented by PBS 106.7FM and Triple R 102.7 FM.
The Age Music Victoria Hall of Fame Concert will be presented at a separate event this year at The Palais Theatre in St Kilda on 20 November.
http://www.musicvictoria.com.au/










