Music Victoria Awards 2023 Winners

The annual celebration of music talent across Victoria, the 2023 Music Victoria Awards have highlighted the immense artistry the state is home to.

Music Staged last night (31 October) at The Edge in Fed Square (and streamed on the Main Square's big screen), the Awards were a mix of industry-voted and publicly-voted categories, with punks Cable Ties walking away with two awards: Best Group and Best Rock or Punk Work.

Cash Savage and the Last Drinks won Best Album for their release 'So This Is Love', while Julia Jacklin scored Best Song for 'Love, Try Not To Let Go'. Jen Cloher claimed Best Solo Artist, with Best Regional Act taken out by Watty Thompson.

"Thanks Music Victoria for the awards last night. Lots of people doing amazing things in this state at the moment and we need federal and state governments to step up," posted Cable Ties.



While not in attendance, Cash Savage was super appreciative of the recognition for Best Album. "Far out. Here I am another wanker musician winning an award whilst in London.

"Massive thanks to Nao Anzai and Nick Finch for all the love and work they put into this album. Huge thank you to our families for their support. There is no way we could be doing this without them.

"Personally I want to thank the musicians of the Last Drinks: Kat, Rene, Joe, Nick, Roshan, Dougal and Ed. I will be forever thankful for the care and energy they put into my songs. I will also always be grateful of their kinship. We are family.

"I also want to thank our labels, Mistletone and Glitterhouse and all the people who do the work behind the scenes. There are a lot of champions of our band and this community is how we keep going every day."



The ceremony also saw two acclaimed figures within the scene inducted int the Music Victoria Hall Of Fame: songwriter and activist Kutcha Edwards (who has also performed with Watbalimba, Blackfire, and The Black Arm Band) and Kirsty Rivers who is Head of Music at Creative Australia.

Noting his experiences as a survivor of the Stolen Generations and his proud Mutti Mutti heritage as influences on his diverse creative output, Edwards' ongoing contributions to Australian art are significant and powerful.

"I thank Music Victoria for inducting me into this Hall Of Fame. I don't know where it is! But when I find out, I'm gonna go to Bunnings, and get a key cut for all my family up there," shared Kutcha during his acceptance speech.



With her influence found right across the country in policy, sector development and advocacy, including her instrumental involvement in the establishment of Music Victoria, Kirsty Rivers is a creative force.

"We have to support our artists. There's still so much work to be done. We have to support our communities, we have to buy music," Rivers said during her acceptance speech.

Other major winners were Charlie Needs Braces for the Archie Roach Foundation Award for Emerging Talent, Katie Dey for Arts Access Victoria Amplify Award, and Origami with Wang Zheng-Ting for MAV Diasporas Award.

Brent Watkins opened the ceremony with a beautiful yidaki performance after a Welcome to Country from Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Elder Colin Hunter Jnr. Kutcha Edwards Hall of Fame induction was followed by a powerful performance of 'Mother Tongue' by Linc Yow Yeh, Bumpy, Phoebe Elsworth and Kutcha himself. Miss Kaninna bought down the house as the ceremony came to a close.

"Congratulations to the 2023 nominees, and of course, our winners," Simone Schinkel, Music Victoria's CEO says. "Victorian music is so special and something to be celebrated not just tonight, but year-round.

"Our artists, venues, festivals and industry are pushing creative bounds, working collaboratively and rethinking the wheel, and we're so excited to see what the future holds."

 

 

 

 

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Music Victoria Awards 2023 Winners

Industry voted categories

Archie Roach Foundation Award for Emerging Talent

Charlie Needs Braces

Arts Access Victoria Amplify Award

Katie Dey

MAV Diasporas Award

Origami with Wang Zheng-Ting

Best Blues Work

Damon Smith

Best Country Work

Matt Joe Gow

Best Electronic Work

Close Counters

Best Experimental or Avant-Garde Work

Maria Moles

Best Folk Work

Lucy Wise

Best Heavy Work

ISUA

Best Hip Hop Work

Agung Mango

Best Jazz Work

Joshua Moshe

Best Pop Work

daine

Best Reggae or Dancehall Work

Killah Keys

Best Rock or Punk Work

Cable Ties

Best Soul, Funk, R’n’B or Gospel Work

Bumpy

Best Producer

Gab Strum

Best Musician

Immy Owusu

Publicly voted categories

Best Song

Julia Jacklin - 'Love, Try Not To Let Go'

Best Album

Cash Savage and the Last Drinks - 'So This Is Love'

Best Solo Artist

Jen Cloher

Best DJ

Cara Murphy

Best Group

Cable Ties

Best Regional Act

Watty Thompson

Best Metro Festival

RISING Melbourne (Kulin Nation)

Best Regional Festival

Port Fairy Folk Festival (Gunditjmara)

Best Large Venue (Metro)

Forum Melbourne (Wurundjeri and Boonwurrung)

Best Small Venue (Metro)

Brunswick Ballroom (Wurundjeri)

Best Regional Venue or Presenter (Under 50 gigs)

Meeniyan Town Hall - South Gippsland (Bunurong)

Best Regional Venue or Presenter (Over 50 gigs)

Caravan Music Club - Archies Creek (Boonwurrung)