The third annual National Live Music Awards have announced the nominees across 55 categories, and revealed the addition of the awards “Hall of Fame” equivalent, detailing their plans to induct a legendary Australian band as the awards first “Live Legends”.
The band in question will be announced closer to the Thursday 6 December event, and will see a special presentation looking back at their career, accompanied by a very special performance from the group at Brisbane’s Triffid – where this year’s Gala Awards Night is being held.
Leading the list of this year’s nominees are Camp Cope – who last year walked away with three trophies, and this year lead the pack with six nominations. This includes Live Act of the Year, and the industry NLMA trophy, for their continued efforts in speaking out against venues and festivals who program problematic acts and don’t aim for a gender balance.
Cable Ties and Stella Donnelly – both of whom also won trophies last year in their home states – have five nominations each, with Cable Ties having the rare distinction of having every member of their band nominated for individual live musicianship. Baker Boy, meanwhile, is making his debut as a NLMA nominee, with 5 nominations, including Live Act of the Year and Best New Act.
Coming in with four nominations a piece are Amy Shark, Caiti Baker, Cash Savage and the Last Drinks, High Tension and Tropical Fuck Storm (TFS). Genesis Owusu, Tkay Maidza, Luca Brasi, Kira Puru, West Thebarton and WAAX, meanwhile, have three nominations each.
The Wollongong Festival Yours & Owls has four nominations, with its under 18s event being nominated in the All Ages Achievement (AAA) category – a category which also sees Adam Smith, the event’s director, receiving a stand-alone nomination. Their nominations are particularly timely with the NSW leg of the event being held at Wollongong’s Rad Bar – which itself has been nominated for Best Live Music Venue.
The All Ages Achievement (AAA) Award this year expands to every state and territory around the country, recognising the achievements of an individual, organisation, band/artist or event who has worked through the red tape and helped make all ages events happen in their state.
Some States/Territories only have a winner which will be revealed on the night, others have five nominees announced today, with artists like Mallrat and Travis Dempsey of The Living End recognised, the latter for his work on the youth music programs in the City of Onkaparinga.
The award – which was initiated in NSW in 2016 through a partnership with one of the country’s biggest advocates for All Ages events, Music NSW, the category expanded to VIC last year through a partnership with The Push and this year sees the award go national for the first time, helping bring the total number of awards handed out by the NLMAs to 62.
“This is without question the most diverse, exciting group of nominees we’ve ever had,” said Larry Heath, Director NLMAs. “We hope it shines a light on some great emerging talent that you mightn’t have heard of, while acknowledging the incredible work of well established artists, festivals and venues around the country. We can’t wait to celebrate the people who make the Australian Live Music Industry the best in the world on Thursday 6 December.”
The awards also announced plans to pay tribute to beloved Melbourne photographer Ros O’Gorman, with a special exhibition, upstairs at The Old Bar in Melbourne on the night of the event. A selection of her work will be on display alongside some of the nominees of this year’s “Best Live Music Photographer” category – which sees Jess Gleeson, Kane Hibberd, Lauren Connelly, Michelle Grace Hunder and Naomi Beveridge nominated in what is the award’s debut.
The 2018 National Live Music Awards take place on Thursday 6 December. For more information and complete list of nominees, visit: www.nlmas.com.au for details.
Image: Camp Cope – photo by Naomi Lee