The 2018 edition of The Age Music Victoria Awards was certainly one to remember. Settling into a new home at The Melbourne Recital Centre, the Victorian music industry gathered to recognize the outstanding achievements of our state’s music community and celebrate the best releases, performers, venues, and festivals of the past 12 months. In an Awards first, the night was a seated affair, with a red carpet entrance setting the scene for one the most anticipated music industry events on the Melbourne Music Week calendar.
The Age Music Victoria Awards began with a Welcome to Country by N’arweet Carolyn Briggs before kicking off with the first of many live performances with Mildlife’s ‘Magnificent Moon’. Once again hosted by Chris Gill and Lyndelle Wilkinson of co-presenting partners RRR 102.7FM and PBS 106.7FM, last night’s awards saw some familiar faces gracing the prize-winners’ stage on multiple occasions as well as some first-time awardees.
Internationally renowned Melbournian, Courtney Barnett, and rising star Baker Boy dominated the Publicly Voted Awards. Barnett took home awards for Best Solo Artist, Best Female Musician and The Premier’s Prize for the Best Victorian Album of 2018, which came with a $10,000 cash prize. Awards first-timer Baker Boy took out four gongs for Best Song, Best Male Musician, Best Live Act and The Premier’s Prize for the Best Victorian Breakthrough Act of 2018, which came with a $5,000 cash prize. Rounding out the 2018 Publicly Voted Awards winners was Camp Cope, who were awarded Best Band; The Northcote Social Club, which was awarded Best Small Venue, and The Corner Hotel claimed Best Large Venue.
Performances from Evelyn Ida Morris and Baker Boy completed the first half of the official ceremonies before the Publicly Voted Awards began. 2018 heavyweight Angie McMahon delivered a stunning performance of her single ‘Slow Mover’, and the Industry Voted Awards saw the soulful Kaiit take home The Archie Roach Foundation Award For Emerging Talent with a $2,000 cash grant, presented by Awards Hall of Fame inductee Archie. $3,000 Bendigo Bank cash prizes were awarded to the Best Regional/Outer Suburban acts and venues with This Way North, Karova Lounge Ballarat, and the Meeniyan Town Hall. The audience witnessed a truly special moment with the spine tingling performance of “Bye River” from multi award winner Sampa The Great and her 16-person choir.
“We’re so blown away to have won this award. Being two humans that grew up in small country Vic towns this means so much to our teenage selves.
Currently living touring the old school way, in our van on the road and show to show being independent musicians, the backing from Bendigo Bank will go towards our next release. One day when we have a house again and this little guitar will go straight to the pool room.” Cat and Leisha – This Way North
The evening concluded with the 2018 Age Music Victoria Hall Of Fame inductee Chrissy Amphlett, whose acclaimed career was celebrated with a video tribute, touching speeches from her cousin and mentor Patricia Amphlett (Little Pattie) and Matt Forster before Australian rock royalty, Ella Hooper and Dallas Frasca delivered a rousing live version of Divinyls’ ‘Boys In Town’.
The Age Music Victoria Awards 2018 Winners:
PUBLIC-VOTED WINNERS
The Premier’s Prize for the Best Victorian Album of 2018 - $10,000 Cash Prize
Courtney Barnett – Tell Me How You Really Feel
Best Band
Camp Cope
Best Song
Baker Boy – Marryuna
Best Solo Artist
Courtney Barnett
Best Male Musician
Danzal Baker (Baker Boy)
Best Female Musician
Courtney Barnett
The Premier’s Prize for the Best Victorian Breakthrough Act of 2018 - $5000 Cash Prize
Baker Boy
Best Live Act
Baker Boy
Best Small Venue (under 500 capacity)
Northcote Social Club, Northcote
Best Large Venue (over 500 capacity)
Corner Hotel, Richmond
INDUSTRY-VOTED WINNERS
Best Festival
Golden Plains
Best Regional/Outer Suburban Act
Bendigo Bank $3,000
This Way North
Best Regional/Outer Suburban Venue (Over 50 gigs per year)
Bendigo Bank $3,000
Karova Lounge, Ballarat
Best Regional/Outer Suburban Venue (Under 50 gigs per year)
Bendigo Bank $3,000
Meeniyan Town Hall, Meeniyan
Archie Roach Foundation Award for Emerging Talent
Kaiit
Best Blues Album
Collard Greens And Gravy – Luedella
Best Country Album
James Ellis & The Jealous Guys – It Ain't Texas (But It Ain't Bad)
Best Electronic Act
Mildlife
Best Experimental or Avant-Garde Act
Nat Grant
Best Folk or Roots Album
Michael Waugh – The Asphalt & The Oval
Best Global Act
Senegambian Jazz Band
Best Heavy Album
Encircling Sea – Hearken
Best Hip Hop Act
Sampa The Great
Best Jazz Album
Sam Anning – Across A Field As Vast As One
Best Reggae and Dancehall Act
Monkey Marc
Best Rock/Punk Album
Little Ugly Girls – Little Ugly Girls
Best Soul, Funk, RnB Album
Sampa The Great – Birds and The BEE9
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Molly Meldrum and Chrissy Amphlett
More info via musicvictoria.com.au
Photographs by Martin Philbey.
