Music

Gang of Youths, Camp Cope, BIGSOUND and more won big at the 2017 National Live Music Awards.

At eight simultaneous events around Australia, the finest live musicians, venues, events and industry organisations were awarded and recognised at the 2017 National Live Music Awards.

At the Grace Emily in SA, presented by Radio Adelaide, hosts and punters celebrated a great year of live music for Adelaide. Electric Fields capped off a big 2017, taking home Live Act of the Year, presented by City of Adelaide, and Live Voice of the Year for singer Zaachariaha Fielding. Live Venue of the Year, presented by OzTix, went to hosts the Grace Emily Hotel for the second consecutive year. And the Live Event of the Year gong went to A Day of Clarity.

Adelaide also enjoyed the honour of presenting the national award for Hip-Hop Live Act of the Year to A.B. Original — one of the most awarded and influential Australian acts of 2017 and no doubt for some years to come.

Nationally, no fewer than 54 awards were handed out around the country, supported by 30 live performances. This year’s national gala took place at The Grace Darling in Melbourne, was hosted by Triple J’s Dom Alessio and streamed live to the world on Facebook. It was there that this year’s biggest winners were named.

Following on from her wins at the ARIAs, the Best New Act Presented by Young Henrys was handed to Amy Shark –– who also won Best Live Voice in her home state of Queensland, presented by the Queensland Music Festival.

The Best Live Voice and Best Live Act presented by APRA AMCOS went to Gang of Youths‘ lead singer David Le’aupepe and Gang of Youths, respectively. The group were the biggest winners of the night, taking home four trophies in total — also being awarded the Public Voted award for Live Act of the Year presented by The Music Network and Best Live Act in NSW presented by 2SER, an award they won for the second consecutive year. 

Hot on their heels was Camp Cope, who won three awards, two for members Kelly-Dawn Hellmrich and Sarah Thompson – Best Bassist and Best Drummer, respectively – and Best Live Act in Victoria presented by SYN Media. 

Director of the NLMAs, Larry Heath, presented the annual NLMA — an award that recognises an organisation or individual for their ongoing contributions to the Live Music scene — to the Live Music Office. 

On the awards, Heath said, ‘What an incredible night! The mix of well established and up-and-coming winners on this list bodes well for the health of Australia’s live industry. I don’t think it’s ever looked better than it does right now. Congratulations to all the winners and we look forward to rewarding a future batch of live stars at the next awards.’

Full details on attendance and the money raised for Support Act will be announced at a later date.

Other big winners included WA rising star Stella Donnelly, who won the public voted Best Live Voice presented by Audio-Technica. In addition to the trophy she will receive a pack of headphones and microphones courtesy of Audio-Technica, who also awarded one lucky guest at an event around the country a brand new pair of headphones! Stella also won Best Live Voice of WA.

Also walking away with two trophies was Tash Sultana, named Best Live Guitarist and recognised for her International Live Achievements. 

On the events side of the awards, BIGSOUND was named Best Live Event in the country, presented by Music Insight, and Best Live Event in QLD, presented by 4ZZZ, which it won for the second consecutive year. Other winning events around the country included WAMfest in WA, Bush Bands Bash in the NT, the recent Split Milk in ACT, Golden Plains in VIC and Dark Mofo in TAS – who won the trophy for the second year in a row. 

The full list of winners can be found below:

National Category Winners

Live Act of the Year presented by APRA AMCOS
Gang of Youths

Live Voice of the Year
David Le’aupepe (Gang of Youths)

Best New Act presented by Young Henrys
Amy Shark

The NLMA
Live Music Office

Instrumentalist of the Year
Yeo

Drummer of the Year
Sarah Thompson (Camp Cope)

Bassist of the Year
Kelly-Dawn Hellmrich (Camp Cope)

Guitarist of the Year
Tash Sultana

R&B or Soul Live Act of the Year
Ngaiire

Blues & Roots Live Act of the Year
Dan Sultan

Hard Rock Live Act of the Year
Cable Ties

DJ/Electronic Live Act of the Year
Peking Duk

Hip Hop Live Act of the Year
A.B. Original

Pop Live Act of the Year
Client Liaison

Country or Folk Live Act of the Year
All Our Exes Live in Texas

International Live Achievement – Group
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard

International Live Achievement – Solo
Tash Sultana

Best Live Music Event in Australia presented by Music Insight
BIGSOUND

People’s Choice Awards

Best Live Act Presented by The Music Network: Gang of Youths
Best Live Voice Presented by Audio-Technica: Stella Donnelly 

NSW
Presented by 2SER

Live Act of the Year: Gang of Youths
Live Voice of the Year: Julia Jacklin
Live Event presented by Howl Around Productions: St Jerome’s Laneway Festival
Live Venue presented by Oztix: Oxford Art Factory
All Ages Achievement presented by Music NSW: The Plot

SA
Presented by Radio Adelaide

Live Act of the Year presented by City of Adelaide: Electric Fields
Live Voice of the Year: Zaachariaha Fielding (Electric Fields)
Live Venue of the Year presented by Oztix: Grace Emily
Live Event of the Year: A Day of Clarity

WA
Presented by RTR FM

Live Act of the Year: POW! Negro
Live Voice of the Year: Stella Donnelly
Live Venue presented by Oztix: The Bird
Live Event of the Year: WAMfest

QLD
Presented by 4ZZZ

Live Act of the Year: Violent Soho
Live Voice of the Year presented by Queensland Music Festival: Amy Shark
Live Venue presented by Oztix: The Triffid
Live Event of the Year: BIGSOUND

VIC
Presented by SYN Media

Live Act of the Year: Camp Cope
Live Voice of the Year: Romy Vager (RVG)
Live Event of the Year: Golden Plains
Live Venue presented by Oztix: The Old Bar
All Ages Achievement presented by The Push: Girls Rock! Melbourne

NT
Presented by Foldback Mag

Live Act of the Year: The Lonely Boys
Live Voice of the Year: Caiti Baker
Live Venue of the Year presented by Oztix: Darwin Railway Club
Live Event of the Year: Bush Bands Bash

ACT
Presented by BMA Mag

Live Act of the Year: The Ansah Brothers
Live Voice of the Year: Ella Hunt (Lowlands)
Live Venue presented by Oztix: Smith’s Alternative
Live Event of the Year: Spilt Milk

TAS
Presented by Edge Radio

Live Act of the Year: EWAH & The Vision of Paradise
Live Voice of the Year: Seth Henderson
Live Venue of the Year presented by Oztix: The Brisbane Hotel
Live Event of the Year: Dark Mofo

Image used with permission of Jenny Nguyen