The socially-conscious indigenous act A.B. Original (Briggs and Trials) have been the massive winners at tonight's (27 July) 2017 AIR Independent Music Awards, held in Adelaide.
Staged at Queen's Theatre, A.B. Original owned the evening with 5 visits to the podium winning major gongs for Breakthrough Independent Artist Of The Year, Best Independent Hip Hop Album ('Reclaim Australia'), Best Independent Single ('January 26 feat. Dan Sultan'), Best Independent Artist and Best Independent Album or EP ('Reclaim Australia').
The other major winners included the artist formerly known as Chet Faker, Nick Murphy winning Best Independent Dance, Electronica or Club Single ('Stop Me (Stop You)'; his third AIR Award win of his career); Violent Soho won Best Best Independent Hard Rock, Heavy or Punk Album ('WACO') for the second time; and #1 Dads' label Pieater had reason to celebrate, winning Best Independent Label.
Julia Jacklin walked away with the Best Independent Blues and Roots Album ('Don't Let The Kids Win') and audio/ visual duo friendships were awarded Best Independent Dance,/Electronica Album ('Nullabor 1988-1989').
With much to celebrate ABC Music also played host to one of the official awards after parties, with ABC Classic’s Slava Grigoryan receiving Best Independent Classical Album, ABC Jazz’s James Morrison & Don Burrows receiving Best Independent Jazz Album and ABC Music’s own Henry Wagons receiving Best Independent Country Album, before performed his single ‘King Hit’ off the same release.
The night’s treats kept on rolling with performances from rock legend Russell Morris singing ‘Black Dog Blues’ and Elizabeth Rose’s dreamy pop and RnB offering of ‘Another Earth’. A.B. Original also returned to the stage for what can only be described as a 'killer' performance.
Host Dylan Lewis managed the room superbly, keeping the music industry's finest entertained with the laughs flowing throughout the evening.
Click here for photos from the night's ceremony.
Special mentions go out to the Premier of South Australia, the Honourable Jay Weatherill MP, speaking on behalf of the South Australian Government and its support for the live music industry, and AIR GM Maria Amato who for the first time, introduced the new Indie-Con Australia conference to be held in conjunction with the awards as well as multiple after-parties hosted by AIR label members.
.@JayWeatherill welcomes you to #Adelaide and the 11th AIR Awards #ausindies #airawards #seesouthaustralia pic.twitter.com/y5x1mA8066 — AIR (@ausindies) July 27, 2017
Maria commented: “It was great to see the industry turn out in droves to celebrate the success of the Independent sector at the 11th AIR Awards in Adelaide.
"So proud of the collaborations with the South Australian Government and our supporting partners that helped us make this all happen and delighted that our first ever Indie-Con Conference was sold out.”
BEST INDEPENDENT LABEL
PieaterBREAKTHROUGH INDEPENDENT ARTIST OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY PPCA
A.B. Original (Golden Era Records)BEST INDEPENDENT ARTIST
A.B. Original (Golden Era Records)BEST INDEPENDENT SINGLE
A.B. Original - January 26 Feat. Dan Sultan (Golden Era Records)BEST INDEPENDENT ALBUM OR EP
A.B. Original - Reclaim Australia (Golden Era Records)BEST INDEPENDENT HARD ROCK, HEAVY OR PUNK ALBUM
Violent Soho – WACO (I OH YOU)And @hilltophoods are in the house at the 11th AIR Awards! #ausindies #airawards #adelaide pic.twitter.com/AfrmXuzt7Y — AIR (@ausindies) July 27, 2017
BEST INDEPENDENT DANCE, ELECTRONICA OR CLUB SINGLE
Nick Murphy – Stop Me (Stop You) (Future Classic)BEST INDEPENDENT DANCE/ELECTRONICA ALBUM
Friendships - Nullabor 1988-1989 (Dot Dash/Remote Control)BEST INDEPENDENT HIP HOP ALBUM
A. B. Original - Reclaim Australia (Golden Era Records)BEST INDEPENDENT BLUES AND ROOTS ALBUM
Julia Jacklin - Don’t Let The Kids Win (Liberation Music)BEST INDEPENDENT COUNTRY ALBUM
Henry Wagons - After What I Did Last Night (ABC Music)BEST INDEPENDENT JAZZ ALBUM
James Morrison & Don Burrows - In Good Company (ABC Jazz)BEST INDEPENDENT CLASSICAL ALBUM
Slava Grigoryan - Bach Cello Suites Vol 1 (ABC Classics)
