Last night, Adelaide once again played host to Australia’s Independent Music night of nights, with the 2018 AIR Awards compared by Dylan Lewis.

Through these awards, the Australia Independent Record Association recognised the outstanding talents of 12 Australian artists among a host of fine nominees.

Jen Cloher, whose self-titled 2017 album featured at number four in The Upside News best albums of last year, took out the Best Independent Artist Award, while Best Independent Single went to Alex Lahey for ‘Every Day’s The Weekend’. Check out our interview with Alex here, as well as a review of her live show.

When We Fall from All Our Exes Live In Texas, which also featured very high up in our album countdown last year, took out Best Blues and Roots Album.

Other winners last night included PNAU, BIRDZ and the ever prolific King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard.

In an AIR Awards first, Best Independent Album or EP was a tie this year, with Methyl Ethel and The Jungle Giants racking up the same number of votes.

In addition to acknowledging Australia’s finest musicians, two independent music businesses took home industry awards, including financial support from AIR Award partners.

Last night’s ceremony kicked off with a Welcome to Country from the Tal-Kin-Jeri Dancers, and included performances from BAD//DREEMS, Baker Boy, Alex the Astronaut, Fanny Lumsden, Stella Donnelly and Caiti Baker.

Congratulations to all the 2018 AIR Award recipients:

BEST INDEPENDENT LABEL (including a $20,000 digital marketing package thanks to moshtix): Milk! Records

BREAKTHROUGH INDEPENDENT ARTIST OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY PPCA: Baker Boy (Independent)

BEST INDEPENDENT ARTIST: Jen Cloher (Milk! Records)

BEST INDEPENDENT SINGLE: “Every Day’s the Weekend” – Alex Lahey (Nicky Boy Records)

BEST INDEPENDENT ALBUM OR EP: Everything is Forgotten – Methyl Ethel (Dot Dash Recordings) AND Quiet Ferocity – The Jungle Giants (Amplifire Music)

BEST INDEPENDENT HARD ROCK, HEAVY OR PUNK ALBUM: Murder of the Universe – King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard (Flightless Records)

BEST INDEPENDENT DANCE, ELECTRONICA OR CLUB SINGLE: “Go Bang” – PNAU (Etc Etc)

BEST INDEPENDENT DANCE/ELECTRONICA ALBUM: Changa – PNAU (Etc Etc)

BEST INDEPENDENT HIP HOP ALBUM: Train of Thought – BIRDZ (Bad Apples Music)

BEST INDEPENDENT BLUES AND ROOTS ALBUM: When We Fall – All Our Exes Live in Texas (ABC Music)

BEST INDEPENDENT COUNTRY ALBUM: Real Class Act – Fanny Lumsden (Red Dirt Road Records)

BEST INDEPENDENT JAZZ ALBUM: The Great American Songbook – James Morrison/BBC Concert Orchestra (ABC Classics)

BEST INDEPENDENT CLASSICAL ALBUM: Jonny Greenwood – Australian Chamber Orchestra/Richard Tognetti (ABC Classics)

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD:  Skinnyfish Music (thanks to global independent rights agency Merlin, this year’s winner receives a $5,000 cash prize for business/professional development)

 

Photos supplied, credit: Morgan Sette