Submissions for the Music Victoria Awards are closing at 11.59PM on Sunday 31 July. Did you release music in the 21/22 financial year?
Submit your music! You must be an Essentials+ Music Victoria member to submit your work (sign up here).
The submission is best filled in on a computer.
Have you tried and had IT issues?
Some members have reported IT issues with our submission portal this year. We apologise if you were impacted, and we are confident the bugs have now been ironed out. If you encounter any issues, please email mvawards(at)musicvictoria(dot)com(dot)au
Submissions are now open for:
Archie Roach Foundation Award for Emerging Talent
Arts Access Victoria Amplify Award
MAV Diasporas Award (previously Global)
Best Blues Work
Best Country Work
Best Electronic Work
Best Experimental or Avant-Garde Work
Best Folk Work
Best Heavy Work
Best Hip Hop Work
Best Jazz Work
Best Pop Work
Best Reggae and Dancehall Work
Best Rock/Punk Work
Best Soul, Funk, R’n’B or Gospel Work
Best Producer
Best Musician
Best Album
Best Song
Best Group
Best DJ (NEW)
Best Solo Artist
Best Metro Festival (NEW)
Best Regional Festival (NEW)
Best Large Venue (Metro)
Best Small Venue (Metro)
Best Regional Act
Best Regional Venue/Presenter (Established)
Best Regional Venue/Presenter (Emerging)
Thursday 9 December
Melbourne Recital Centre
7.00pm
Hosted by Myf Warhurst
Performances by:
Emma Donovan & The Putbacks
Kerryn Fields
Maple Glider
Mindy Meng Wang x Tim Shiel
Find more event details here.
The event will be live-streamed via Music Victoria’s Youtube Channel.
The event will be broadcast live on Channel 31 from 7pm on 9 December 2021.
Ahead of the 17th annual Music Victoria Awards this summer, Music Victoria is thrilled to reveal the incredible lineup of acts set to grace the Melbourne Recital Centre stage on Thursday 9 December as part of the Melbourne Music Week program. Announcing: soul virtuosos Emma Donovan & The Putbacks, adored storyteller Kerryn Fields, heavenly singer songwriter Maple Glider, and cinematic duo Mindy Meng Wang x Tim Shiel, who will perform some of their most beloved releases of the year to a live audience of music industry workers, music lovers and fellow nominees.
Co-presented by PBS 106.7FM and RRR 102.7FM, the annual celebration recognises the incredible achievements of Victoria’s music community across more than 20 accolades of both public and industry voted categories and will once again be broadcast on Channel 31 and live-streamed via Music Victoria’s Youtube Channel. The 2021 Music Victoria Awards ceremony will be hosted by none other than Australian music industry veteran Myf Warhurst, plus guest presenters including the likes of Helen Jennings OAM, Denise Hylands, Katie Pearson, Lisa McKinney, Annalee Koernig, Una McAlinden, Kene Lightfoot, Sarah Iman, Eyal Chipkiewicz, Chelsea Wilson, Rich Moffat, Zare Demus, Chris Pearson, Samira Farah, Caroline Bowditch and more to be announced.
With 23 Music Victoria Awards to still be handed out for 2021, this year’s Best album winner will be taking home a $5000 media package sponsored by Plakkit, Yamaha will sponsor the Best Group with a $2,000 voucher, the Best Solo Artist with a $1,000 voucher and Best Musician with a $1,000 voucher all to spend on Yamaha gear. Sound Merch and Bakehouse will jointly sponsor the Best Breakthrough Act who will receive $1,000 of custom-made merch and a rehearsal package and the Best Live Act will be up for a chance to take home a $3000 outdoor billboard package thanks to Civic Outdoor. The winner of the inaugural Arts Access Victoria Amplify Award (for deaf and disabled musicians) will take home $3,000 cash sponsored by Arts Access Victoria and a rehearsal package from Bakehouse. A Bakehouse rehearsal package will also be awarded to the winner of the Archie Roach Foundation Award for Emerging Talent along with $3000 cash sponsored by the Archie Roach Foundation. Bendigo Bank returns as the sponsor for the Best Regional/Outer Suburban Act offering a $3,000 cash prize.
The polls are now closed and judges tallying the votes, it’s time to register your interest to attend the 17th Music Victoria Awards to find out who will take home 2021’s best acts and releases. Limited tickets will be available to purchase soon from $50 GA or $35 for Music Victoria members, with expressions of interest registrations now open via the Music Victoria website. The event will also be live streamed online via Youtube and broadcast live on Channel 31. Don’t miss it!
Thursday 9 December
Melbourne Recital Centre
7.00pm
Hosted by Myf Warhurst
Performances by
Emma Donovan & The Putbacks
Kerryn Fields
Maple Glider
Mindy Meng Wang x Tim Shiel
To be broadcast on Channel 31 and live-streamed via Music Victoria’s Youtube Channel
Subscribe to Music Victoria’s youtube channel to get a reminder
Limited tickets to go on sale soon, register your interest for tickets here.
$50 GA or $35 for MV members
Sign up here musicvictoria.com.au
BEST ALBUM
$5000 media package (Sponsor: Plakkit)
Nominees:
Alice Ivy – Don't Sleep
The Avalanches – We Will Always Love You
Emma Donovan & The Putbacks – Crossover
Gordon Koang – Unity
Hiatus Kaiyote – Mood Valiant
BEST GROUP
$2,000 voucher to spend on Yamaha gear (Sponsor: Yamaha)
Nominees:
The Avalanches
Emma Donovan and The Putbacks
Hiatus Kaiyote
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
Mildlife
BEST SONG
Nominees:
Alex Lahey & Gordi – Dino's
Alice Skye – Party Tricks
The Avalanches – Wherever You Go
Geoffrey O'Connor & Jonnine – For As Long As I Can Remember
Hiatus Kaiyote – Red Room
BEST SOLO ARTIST
$1,000 voucher to spend on Yamaha gear (Sponsor: Yamaha)
Nominees:
Alice Ivy
Baker Boy
Blake Scott
G Flip
Gordon Koang
Kylie Auldist
Liz Stringer
Maple Glider
Mia Wray
Sampa the Great
BEST BREAKTHROUGH ACT
$1,000 value of custom-made merch (Sponsor: Sound Merch) and a rehearsal package (Sponsor: Bakehouse)
Nominees:
Ashwarya
Blake Scott
Cry Club
Maple Glider
SHOUSE
BEST MUSICIAN
$1,000 voucher to spend on Yamaha gear (Sponsor: Yamaha)
Nominees:
Amanda Roff (Time For Dreams, Harmony)
Andrea Keller
Davey Lane (Solo, You Am I)
Emma Donovan
Erica Dunn (Tropical Fuck Storm, MOD CON)
G Flip
Lance Ferguson (The Bamboos)
Mindy Meng Wang
Nai Palm (Hiatus Kaiyote)
Stu Mackenzie (King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard)
BEST LIVE ACT
$3000 outdoor billboard package (Sponsor: Civic Outdoor)
Nominees:
Amyl and The Sniffers
Cable Ties
Kee'ahn
Mildlife
RVG
BEST BLUES ACT
Nominees:
Aaron Pollock
Anna Scionti
Blues Roulette
Dan Dinnen & Shorty
Josh Teskey and Ash Grunwald
BEST COUNTRY ACT
Nominees:
Ben Mastwyk & His Millions
Georgia State Line
James Ellis & The Jealous Guys
Lachlan Bryan & the Wildes
The Weeping Willows
BEST ELECTRONIC ACT
Nominees:
Alex Albrecht
Female Wizard
Jennifer Loveless
Reptant
SaD
BEST EXPERIMENTAL OR AVANT-GARDE ACT
Nominees:
Aarti Jadu
Candlesnuffer
Deborah Cheetham, Byron Scullin, Tom Supple
Red Wine and Sugar
Thembi Soddell
BEST FOLK ACT
Nominees:
Charm of Finches
Erica Bramham
Kerryn Fields
Lucy Wise
Maple Glider
BEST HEAVY ACT
Nominees:
Divide and Dissolve
Dr. Colossus
Faceless Burial
Growth
NICOLAS CAGE FIGHTER
BEST HIP HOP ACT
Nominees:
Agung Mango
Briggs
DRMNGNOW
Man Made Mountain
Pookie
BEST INTERCULTURAL ACT
Nominees:
Ajak Kwai
Amaru Tribe
Black Jesus Experience
Gelareh Pour’s Garden
Tio
BEST JAZZ ACT
Nominees:
Australian Art Orchestra
Andrea Kellar
Audrey Powne
Menagerie
The Rookies
BEST POP ACT
Nominees:
Alice Ivy
Alice Skye
Geoffrey O'Connor
Gregor
June Jones
BEST REGGAE AND DANCEHALL ACT
Nominees:
Disun Future
Jah Tung
JahWise Productions
Marvin Priest
Monkey Marc
BEST PUNK/ROCK ACT
Nominees:
Blake Scott
Civic
MOD CON
Plaster of Paris
Tom Lyngcoln
BEST SOUL, FUNK, R’N’B OR GOSPEL ACT
Nominees:
The Bamboos
Emma Donovan & The Putbacks
Hiatus Kaiyote
Izy
Kee'ahn
BEST REGIONAL/OUTER SUBURBAN ACT
$3,000 cash (Sponsor: Bendigo Bank)
Nominees:
Baker Boy
Bones and Jones
D'Arcy Spiller
Fenn Wilson
The Teskey Brothers
ARCHIE ROACH FOUNDATION AWARD FOR EMERGING TALENT (FOR FIRST NATIONS ACTS)
$3,000 cash (Sponsor: Archie Roach Foundation) and a rehearsal package (Sponsor: Bakehouse)
Nominees:
Allara
Bumpy
Madi Colville Walker
The Merindas
River Boy
ARTS ACCESS VICTORIA AMPLIFY AWARD (FOR DEAF AND DISABLED ACTS)
$3,000 cash (Sponsor: Arts Access Victoria) and a rehearsal package (Sponsor: Bakehouse)
Nominees:
Eliza Hull
Gordon Koang
Kerryn Fields
Nat Bartsch
Rudely Interrupted
Music Victoria thanks Major Partners Bendigo Bank, City Of Melbourne, Creative Victoria and Melbourne Recital Centre, and Event Partners Brick Lane, Channel 31 and Moshtix for their ongoing support of the Music Victoria Awards.
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Vote now for a chance to win an epic prize pack valued at $550 containing goodies from 3RRR 102.7FM, PBS 106.7 FM, Noisy Ritual, Brick Lane and Yamaha. There are also four runner-up prizes courtesy of Brick Lane!
1st Prize - Valued at $550
Runner-up Prizes (four to be won)
Terms and Conditions
BEST ALBUM
Alice Ivy - Don't Sleep
The Avalanches - We Will Always Love You
Emma Donovan & The Putbacks – Crossover
Gordon Koang – Unity
Hiatus Kaiyote - Mood Valiant
BEST GROUP
The Avalanches
Emma Donovan and The Putbacks
Hiatus Kaiyote
King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard
Mildlife
BEST SONG
Alex Lahey & Gordi - Dino's
Alice Skye – Party Tricks
The Avalanches - Wherever You Go
Geoffrey O'Connor & Jonnine - For As Long As I Can Remember
Hiatus Kaiyote - Red Room
BEST SOLO ARTIST
Alice Ivy
Baker Boy
Blake Scott
G Flip
Gordon Koang
Kylie Auldist
Liz Stringer
Maple Glider
Mia Wray
Sampa the Great
BEST BREAKTHROUGH ACT
Ashwarya
Blake Scott
Cry Club
Maple Glider
SHOUSE
BEST MUSICIAN
Amanda Roff (Time For Dreams, Harmony)
Andrea Keller
Davey Lane (Solo, You Am I)
Emma Donovan
Erica Dunn (Tropical Fuck Storm, MOD CON)
G-Flip
Lance Ferguson (The Bamboos)
Mindy Meng Wang
Nai Palm (Hiatus Kaiyote)
Stu Mackenzie (King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard)
BEST LIVE ACT
Amyl and The Sniffers
Cable Ties
Kee'ahn
Mildlife
RVG
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(Voted by select industry panels - Winners to be announced 9 December at Melbourne Recital Centre)
BEST BLUES ACT
Aaron Pollock
Anna Scionti
Blues Roulette
Dan Dinnen & Shorty
Josh Teskey and Ash Grunwald
BEST COUNTRY ACT
Ben Mastwyk & His Millions
Georgia State Line
James Ellis & The Jealous Guys
Lachlan Bryan & the Wildes
The Weeping Willows
BEST ELECTRONIC ACT
Alex Albrecht
Female Wizard
Jennifer Loveless
Reptant
SaD
BEST EXPERIMENTAL/AVANT GARDE ACT
Aarti Jadu
Candlesnuffer
Deborah Cheetham, Byron Scullin, Tom Supple
Red Wine and Sugar
Thembi Soddell
BEST FOLK ACT
Charm of Finches
Erica Bramham
Kerryn Fields
Lucy Wise
Maple Glider
BEST HEAVY ACT
Divide and Dissolve
Dr. Colossus
FACELESS BURIAL
Growth
NICOLAS CAGE FIGHTER
BEST HIP HOP ACT
Agung Mango
Briggs
DRMNGNOW
Man Made Mountain
Pookie
BEST INTERCULTURAL ACT
Ajak Kwai
Amaru Tribe
Black Jesus Experience
Gelareh Pour’s Garden
Tio
BEST JAZZ ACT
Australian Art Orchestra
Andrea Kellar
Audrey Powne
Menagerie
The Rookies
BEST POP ACT
Alice Ivy
Alice Skye
Geoffrey O'Connor
Gregor
June Jones
BEST REGGAE AND DANCEHALL ACT
Disun Future
Jah Tung
JahWise Productions
Marvin Priest
Monkey Marc
BEST ROCK/PUNK ACT
Blake Scott
Civic
Mod Con
Plaster of Paris
Tom Lyngcoln
BEST SOUL FUNK RNB GOSPEL ACT
The Bamboos
Emma Donovan & The Putbacks
Hiatus Kaiyote
Izy
Kee'ahn
BEST REGIONAL ACT
Baker Boy
Bones and Jones
D'Arcy Spiller
Fenn Wilson
The Teskey Brothers
THE ARCHIE ROACH FOUNDATION AWARD FOR EMERGING TALENT
Allara
Bumpy
Madi Colville Walker
The Merindas
River Boy
THE ARTS ACCESS VICTORIA AMPLIFY AWARD
Eliza Hull
Gordon Koang
Kerryn Fields
Nat Bartsch
Rudely Interrupted
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Winners will be announced on Thursday 9 December 2020 at Melbourne Recital Centre.
The 2021 Music Victoria Awards
Date: Thursday 9 December 2020
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: Melbourne Recital Centre
At this stage, due to restrictions, it's unknown whether there will be a live audience. Music Victoria will provide more information on this as it comes to hand, but the event will definitely be live-streamed on YouTube and broadcast on Channel 31. Subscribe to the channel here so you get a reminder!
Music Victoria thanks Major Partners Bendigo Bank, City of Melbourne, Creative Victoria and Melbourne Recital Centre for their ongoing support of the Music Victoria Awards.
The second ever live-streamed Industry Awards event was broadcast live on Channel 31 and the web earlier tonight to award the industry-voted winners for Victoria’s best producers, venues, festivals and women in music, and reveal the shortlisted nominees for all remaining categories to be presented at the 2021 Music Victoria Awards in December.
Tonight’s debut Industry Awards hosts, Emma Peel (PBS 106.7FM) and Daniel James (3RRR 102.7FM) were thrilled to announce the 2021 Music Victoria Awards Hall Of Fame inductees, Kylie Minogue and Pierre Baroni. The internationally acclaimed pop megastar and the late great legend of the Melbourne airwaves will respectively be inducted into the Music Victoria Hall Of Fame at the official Music Victoria Awards ceremony taking place Thursday 9 December at the Melbourne Recital Centre. Melbourne artist, June Jones paid tribute to Kylie by covering her hit song ‘Come Into My World’ live for those lucky enough to have tuned in last night, while PBS 106.7FM Program Manager, Owen McKern praised Pierre on behalf of the station for his posthumous induction.
“PBS is truly thrilled to learn that Pierre Baroni will be inducted into the Music Victoria Awards Hall of Fame. An extraordinary broadcaster, Pierre programmed and presented Soulgroove’66 on PBS from 2003 until his death from cancer in March 2021. Pierre had been broadcasting on PBS since 1997 and his shows became unmissable weekly content for those discovering soul music and classic rhythm and blues. Beyond PBS, Pierre had been a musician, a producer, a photographer and a long-time artist and designer for the Mushroom Group. For all of us here at PBS he was a friend, a cherished colleague and a revered music collector. We still miss him dearly but are delighted that his memory and his legacy will live on through his place in the Music Victoria Awards Hall of Fame.” – Owen McKern, PBS 106.7FM Program Manager
Music Victoria would like to congratulate tonight's winners of the 2021 Industry Awards. First up, is this year’s Outstanding Woman In Music recipient, Charlotte Abroms who will receive $3,500 cash courtesy of City Of Melbourne. Charlotte is an acclaimed artist manager, APRA/Songhubs board member, and highly sought after mentor and industry panelist. She is an ongoing collaborator with Victorian youth program The Push and is regularly invited to speak at major music institutions and festivals such as Collarts, RMIT, JMC, RaRa Records, Girls Rock!, YWIM, Women in Music, AIR and BIGSOUND. In 2020, Charlotte raised over $50K for Support Act through her Facebook fundraiser and assisted in the early days of livestreamed festival, Isol-Aid to get the platform online, using her extensive contacts in the digital agency world. A previous winner of the Lighthouse Award (2017), Fast Track Fellowship (2018), and Angie McMahon’s 2019 SXSW Grulke Prize, Charlotte can now add 2021 Outstanding Woman In Music to her extensive list of music industry accolades.
The 2021 Best Producer, Eilish Gilligan has taken out a huge prize including $2000 cash thanks to VMDO, a Music Market co-work package and a $1000 voucher to spend on Yamaha gear. First-time virtual festival winner, Isol-Aid has been awarded 2021 Best Festival, taking home a year's subscription to festival management software loadin.com, while Metropolitan venue winners, Northcote Social Club and Melbourne Recital Centre - Elisabeth Murdoch Hall have each scored Brick Lane Brewing tinnies packages. Finally, reigning regional venue champions, Theatre Royal, Castlemaine and first time nominees, first time winners, Vine Hotel, Wangaratta have won their respective Outer Suburban/Regional venue categories, receiving $3000 cash thanks to Bendigo Bank.
The remaining 16 industry-voted award categories and the seven public-voted award categories will be presented at the 17th Annual Music Victoria Awards in December, with all nominees now revealed and public voting open here.
https://youtu.be/3jUqNDhJdkM?t=329
BEST VENUE UNDER 500 CAP
(prize: tinny package from Brick Lane Brewing)
Winner: Northcote Social Club, Northcote
Nominees:
Brunswick Ballroom, Brunswick
LOOP Project Space & Bar, Melbourne
The Night Cat, Fitzroy
The Substation, Newport
BEST VENUE OVER 500 CAP
(prize: tinny package from Brick Lane Brewing)
Winner: Melbourne Recital Centre - Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Southbank
Nominees:
Corner Hotel, Richmond
Forum Melbourne*
Hamer Hall, Southbank
Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne
BEST REGIONAL/OUTER SUBURBAN VENUE UNDER 50 GIGS/yr
(prize: $3000 from Bendigo Bank)
Winner: Vine Hotel, Wangaratta
Nominees:
Halls Gap Hotel, Halls Gap
The Macedon Railway Hotel, Macedon
The Sound Doctor Presents, Anglesea
Tom Katz! @ Sorrento Portsea RSL, Sorrento
BEST REGIONAL/OUTER SUBURBAN VENUE OVER 50 GIGS/yr
(prize: $3000 from Bendigo Bank)
Winner: Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
Nominees:
The Barwon Club Hotel, South Geelong
The Eastern, Ballarat
Piano Bar, Geelong
Sooki Lounge, Belgrave
BEST FESTIVAL
(prize: 1 year subscription to festival management software loadin.com)
Winner: Isol-Aid
Nominees:
Brunswick Music Festival
Melbourne Music Week - Extended
MPavilion 2020
The Secret Garden Gig Gathering
OUTSTANDING WOMAN IN MUSIC
(prize: $3500 from City of Melbourne)
Winner: Charlotte Abroms
Nominees:
Andrea Keller
Emily Ulman
Emma Donovan
Sarah Blaby
BEST PRODUCER
(prize: $2,000 from VMDO + Music Market co-work package + $1000 voucher for Yamaha gear)
Winner: Eilish Gilligan
Nominees:
Alice Ivy
Anna Laverty
Becki Whitton
River Boy
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Kylie Minogue
Pierre Baroni
Music Victoria thanks Major Partners Bendigo Bank, City of Melbourne, Creative Victoria and Melbourne Recital Centre for their ongoing support of the Music Victoria Awards.
Music Victoria is thrilled to announce the 2021 return of the Music Victoria Industry Awards. After the success of last year’s inaugural event, the Industry Awards will take place on Thursday 7 October ahead of the official 2021 Music Victoria Awards.
This year, the Industry Awards will be hosted by celebrated and acclaimed broadcasters, Emma Peel (PBS 106.7FM) and Daniel James (3RRR 102.7FM).
This year, not only will the free online event be available to live-stream via Music Victoria’s YouTube channel but will also be broadcast live to the Australian public on Channel 31.
2020 Music Industry Awards livestreamed event
Thursday 7 October | 7pm - 8pm
Livestreamed via Music Victoria’s YouTube and Channel 31
Subscribe to Music Victoria’s YouTube channel or register for the event on Eventbrite to get a reminder.
1. Find out the winners of the industry-voted award categories including:
2. The 2021 Industry Awards nominees include a slew of debut Award entrants including:
3. Find out who's nominated for the non-industry awards
OUTSTANDING WOMAN IN MUSIC
Nominees:
Andrea Keller
Charlotte Abroms
Emily Ulman
Emma Donovan
Sarah Blaby
BEST PRODUCER
Nominees:
Alice Ivy
Anna Laverty
Becki Whitton
Eilish Gilligan
River Boy
BEST REGIONAL/OUTER SUBURBAN VENUE OVER 50 GIGS/yr
Nominees:
The Barwon Club Hotel, South Geelong
The Eastern, Ballarat
Piano Bar, Geelong
Sooki Lounge, Belgrave
Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
BEST REGIONAL/OUTER SUBURBAN VENUE UNDER 50 GIGS/yr
Nominees:
Halls Gap Hotel, Halls Gap
The Macedon Railway Hotel, Macedon
The Sound Doctor Presents, Anglesea
Tom Katz! @ Sorrento Portsea RSL, Sorrento
Vine Hotel, Wangaratta
BEST VENUE UNDER 500 CAP
Nominees:
Brunswick Ballroom, Brunswick
LOOP Project Space & Bar, Melbourne
The Night Cat, Fitzroy
Northcote Social Club, Northcote
The Substation, Newport
BEST VENUE OVER 500 CAP
Nominees:
Corner Hotel
Forum Melbourne*
Hamer Hall
Melbourne Recital Centre - Elisabeth Murdoch Hall
Sidney Myer Music Bowl
BEST FESTIVAL
Nominees:
Brunswick Music Festival
Isol-Aid
Melbourne Music Week - Extended
MPavilion 2020
The Secret Garden Gig Gathering
Not a member? Sign up here musicvictoria.com.au
View the shortlisted nominees in each category on the Music Victoria website.
Music Victoria thanks Major Partners Bendigo Bank, City of Melbourne, Creative Victoria and Melbourne Recital Centre, and Event Partners Brick Lane, Channel 31 and Moshtix for their ongoing support of the Music Victoria Awards.
*Music Victoria Board Member Sally Mather is employed by Venue nominee Forum Melbourne
*Music Victoria Awards partners Melbourne Recital Centre and Melbourne Music Week are nominated in the Venue and Festival categories respectively.
These Awards are industry-voted by independent panels, and nominees are not involved in the voting process.
Hundreds of Award nominations flowed in from music lovers and the music industry across Victoria during the Music Victoria Awards nomination period in July. These shortlists are an opportunity to celebrate and recognise the hard work of Victoria's music community during one of the industry's toughest times in history.
As part of Music Victoria's commitment to continual improvement, we have refined our 2021 awards criteria, categories and judging processes which we believe will more accurately reflect and reward the diverse music community in Victoria. This year, we also introduced the inaugural Arts Access Victoria Amplify Award. The long-overdue Award was established to shine a light on and recognise the contributions made by Deaf and Disabled musicians in the past 12 months.
Another change to the Music Victoria Awards 2021 is the inclusion of live streaming activity in the Venues, Festivals and Best Live Act categories in the eligible time period.
Congratulations to all the entrants shortlisted below. We will be announcing the nominees for the Industry Awards in late September, and all other category nominees will be announced on 7 October. Subscribe to our Industry Newsletter to stay up-to-date.
BEST PRODUCER
Alice Ivy
Anna Laverty
Becki Whitton
Eilish Gilligan
Mo•Louie
OK EG
Paul Maybury
River Boy
Tash Sultana
Tom Iansek
Prize: $2,000 cash grant and Music Market co-work package from VMDO plus a $1000 voucher to spend on Yamaha gear
OUTSTANDING WOMAN IN MUSIC
Andrea Keller
Ayesha Mehta
Charlotte Abroms
Cherie Warwick
Emily Ulman
Emma Donovan
Mindy Meng Wang 王萌
Sarah Blaby
XANI
Prize: $3,500 cash grant from City of Melbourne
BEST FESTIVAL
Brunswick Music Festival
Come Together Music & Arts Festival
Gippsland Country Music Festival
Inward Goods Festival
Isol-Aid
MMW-Extended
MPavilion 2020
OK Motels
Rock Around The Block
The Secret Garden Gig Gathering
Prize: one-year subscription to festival management software loadin.com
BEST VENUE UNDER 500 CAP
The Bandwagon, no fixed address
Brunswick Ballroom, Brunswick
Cafe Gummo, Thornbury
Colour Club, Carlton
The Jazzlab, Brunswick
LOOP Project Space & Bar, Melbourne
The Night Cat, Fitzroy
Northcote Social Club, Northcote
The Retreat Hotel, Brunswick
The Substation, Newport
Prize: tinnies from Brick Lane Brewing
BEST VENUE OVER 500 CAP
Corner Hotel
Forum Melbourne
Hamer Hall
Lighthouse Theatre Warrnambool
Melbourne Recital Centre - Elisabeth Murdoch Hall
Sidney Myer Music Bowl
Torquay Hotel, Torquay
Prize: tinnies from Brick Lane Brewing
BEST REGIONAL/OUTER SUBURBAN VENUE UNDER 50 GIGS/yr
The Dart and Marlin, Warrnambool
Halls Gap Hotel, Halls Gap
The Macedon Railway Hotel, Macedon
The Main Bar, Ballarat
Major Tom's, Kyneton
New Hall, Point Lonsdale
Northern Republic, Euroa
The Sound Doctor Presents, Anglesea
Tom Katz! @ Sorrento Portsea RSL, Sorrento
Vine Hotel, Wangaratta
Prize: $3,000 cash from Bendigo Bank
BEST REGIONAL/OUTER SUBURBAN VENUE OVER 50 GIGS/yr
Arcobar, Heatherton
The Barwon Club Hotel, South Geelong
The Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine
Caravan Music Club at Archies Creek Hotel, Archies Creek
The Eastern, Ballarat
Peninsula Hot Springs, Fingal
Piano Bar, Geelong
Sooki Lounge, Belgrave
Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
Volta, Ballarat
Prize: $3,000 cash from Bendigo Bank
PUBLIC-VOTED AWARDS
BEST ALBUM
Alex Albrecht - Campfire Stories
Alice Ivy - Don't Sleep
The Avalanches - We Will Always Love You
Emma Donovan & The Putbacks – Crossover
Gordon Koang – Unity
Hiatus Kaiyote - Mood Valiant
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Butterfly 3000
Kylie Auldist - This is What Happiness Looks Like
Maple Glider - To Enjoy is the Only thing
Surprise Chef - Daylight Savings
BEST GROUP
The Avalanches
Cry Club
Emma Donovan and The Putbacks
Hiatus Kaiyote
HTRK
King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard
KLLO
Mildlife
Mindy Meng Wang X Tim Shiel
Tropical Fuck Storm
Prize: $2,000 voucher to spend on Yamaha gear
BEST SONG
Alex Lahey & Gordi - Dino's
Alice Skye – Party Tricks
Allara - Rekindled Systems
Avalanches - Wherever We Go
Geoffrey O'Connor & Jonnine - For As Long As I Can Remember
Hiatus Kaiyote - Red Room
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Shanghai
Kylie Auldist - All Mine
Maple Glider - Good Thing
Mia Wray - Work For Me
BEST SOLO ARTIST
Alex Lahey
Alexander Biggs
Alice Ivy
Alice Skye
Andrea Keller
Archie Roach
Ashwarya
Baker Boy
Blake Scott
Ex-Olympian
G Flip
Gordon Koang
June Jones
Kylie Auldist
Liz Stringer
Maple Glider
Mia Wray
Sampa the Great
Sarah Mary Chadwick
Tones and I
Prize: $1,000 voucher to spend on Yamaha gear
BEST BREAKTHROUGH ACT
Ashwarya
Blake Scott
Cry Club
Ex-Olympian
Hachiku
Izy
Maple Glider
Mindy Meng Wang
SaD
SHOUSE
Prize: rehearsal package from Bakehouse Studios
BEST MUSICIAN
Adam Halliwell (Mildlife)
Amanda Roff (Time For Dreams, Harmony)
Ambrose Kenny-Smith (The Murlocs, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard)
Andrea Keller
Briggs
Dannika Horvat (Dannika)
Davey Lane (Solo, You Am I)
Emma Donovan
Erica Dunn (Tropical Fuck Storm, MOD CON)
Errol Green (E. Bobby G, Big Yawn)
G-Flip
Gareth Liddiard (Tropical Fuck Storm)
Joanna Syme (Big Scary)
Jonnine Standish (Jonnine, HTRK)
Lance Ferguson (The Bamboos)
Liam Halliwell (Snowy Band, Lachlan, Pop Filter, and Snowy)
Mindy Meng Wang
Nai Palm (Hiatus Kaiyote)
Simon Mavin (Hiatus Kaiyote)
Stu Mackenzie (King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard)
Prize: $1,000 voucher to spend on Yamaha gear
BEST LIVE ACT
Amyl and The Sniffers
Cable Ties
Cash Savage & The Last Drinks
Emma Donovan and the Putbacks
Kee'ahn
Maple Glider
Mildlife
RVG
Sui Zhen
The Teskey Brothers
INDUSTRY-VOTED AWARDS
BEST BLUES ACT
Aaron Pollock
Anna Scionti
Blues Roulette
Dan Dinnen & Shorty
Josh Teskey and Ash Grunwald
Julian James
Mike Elrington
Nick Charles
Paul Buchanan's Voodoo Preachers
Rambal
BEST COUNTRY ACT
Ben Mastwyk & His Millions
Georgia State Line
Gretta Ziller
The High Heaven
James Ellis and the Jealous Guys
Lachlan Bryan and The Wildes
The Long and Short of It
The Luke Sinclair Set
Van Walker
The Weeping Willows
BEST ELECTRONIC ACT
Alex Albrecht
Female Wizard
Jennifer Loveless
KiTA
Kuya Neil
OK EG
RBI
Reptant
SaD
Y-L Hooi
BEST EXPERIMENTAL/AVANT GARDE ACT
Aarti Jadu
Ai Yamamoto
candlesnuffer
Chris Smith
Deborah Cheetham, Byron Scullin, Tom Supple
Emily Bennett
Lisa Lerkenfeldt
Muddy Lawrence
Red Wine and Sugar
Thembi Soddell
BEST FOLK ACT
Charm of Finches
The Cornerhouse Band
Erica Bramham
Kerryn Fields
Kimberley Wheeler's Roadside Holiday
Lucy Wise
The Maes
Maple Glider
Neil Adam
Tulliah
BEST HEAVY ACT
Acolyte
Dead
Divide and Dissolve
Dr. Colossus
FACELESS BURIAL
Growth
Myridian
NICOLAS CAGE FIGHTER
Pridelands
SUNDR
BEST HIP HOP ACT
Agung Mango
Baker Boy
Birdz
Briggs
DRMNGNOW
Jordan Dennis
Kwasi
Man Made Mountain
Pookie
Yung Shōgun
BEST INTERCULTURAL ACT
Abe Dunovits
Ajak Kwai
Amaru Tribe
Ausecuma Beats
Black Jesus Experience
Coco's Lunch
Gelareh Pour's Garden
Mademoiselle & Floyd Thursby
Ruth Roshan & Tango Noir
Tio
BEST JAZZ ACT
Adam Simmons & Jean Poole
Andrea Keller
Audrey Powne
Australian Art Orchestra
Menagerie
Minnie Big Band (Minnie Hill)
Nat Bartsch's Lullaby Quartet
Paul Kelly & Paul Grabowsky
The Rest Is Silence
The Rookies
BEST POP ACT
Alice Ivy
Alice Skye
Big Scary
Braille Face
Eggy
Geoffrey O'Connor
Gregor
Hachiku
Jess Locke
June Jones
BEST PUNK/ROCK ACT
The Black Heart Death Cult
Blake Scott
CIVIC
El Tee
Flyying Colours
MOD CON
Plaster of Paris
Pseudo Mind Hive
Riff Raiders
Tom Lyngcoln
BEST REGGAE AND DANCEHALL ACT
Crown Heights
Disun Future
Flames Eye
Jah Tung
JahWise Productions
King River Rising
Marvin Priest
Melbourne Ska Orchestra
Monkey Marc
Quashani Bahd
BEST SOUL RNB FUNK GOSPEL ACT
The Bamboos
Emma Donovan & The Putbacks
Emma Volard
That Gold Street Sound
Hiatus Kaiyote
Izy
Kee'ahn
KYE
Surprise Chef
The Teskey Brothers
ARCHIE ROACH AWARD FOR EMERGING TALENT ACT
Alice Skye
Allara
Benny Clark
Bumpy
Chasing Ghosts
Izy
Madi Colville Walker
The Merindas
Rachael Lia
River Boy
Prize: $3,000 cash from the Archie Roach Foundation + rehearsal package from Bakehouse Studios
ARTS ACCESS VICTORIA AMPLIFY AWARD ACT
Artemis Munoz
Billy Exton
Eliza Hull
Gordon Koang
The Hackkets
Irene Zhong
Kerryn Fields
Nat Bartsch
Rudely Interrupted
Thembi Soddell
Prize: $3,000 cash from Arts Access Victoria + rehearsal package from Bakehouse Studios
BEST REGIONAL/OUTER SUBURBAN ACT
Baker Boy
Bones and Jones
D'Arcy Spiller
Fenn Wilson
Lucy Wise
Mike Elrington
Our Carlson
Paper Jane
The Teskey Brothers
Thembi Soddell
Prize: $3,000 cash from Bendigo Bank
Good news in this morning - City of Melbourne has signed on to offer a $3,500 cash prize to the winner of the 2021 Outstanding Woman in Music Award - giving this category the biggest individual cash prize of the Music Victoria Awards!
The Music Victoria Board-voted Outstanding Woman in Music Award was introduced in 2020 and recognises the achievements of not only Victorian musicians but also women behind the scenes, such as industry professionals, management and crew.
The inaugural award was won last year by Sarah Hamilton (pictured - photo by Tanya Volt), for her work with One of One, which highlights women in the music industry and hosts a very special breakfast event on International Women’s day. She also heads up the Australian team for Ditto Music distribution.
The 2021 shortlist will be announced in early September, and the winner will be announced on October 7 at the Music Victoria Industry Awards. Subscribe to our newsletter for announcements.
Nominations and eligibility criteria have been extended for emerging First Peoples to submit for the Archie Roach Foundation Award for Emerging Talent at the Music Victoria Awards.
In light of COVID and the aim of this award category, the eligibility criteria has broadened to allow more artists to be eligible. The new criteria are listed below. In addition, the submission deadline has been extended to 20th August 2021.
This award comes with a $3000 cash prize from Uncle Archie and a rehearsal package from Bakehouse Studios.
“On behalf of the Foundation, I am proud to sponsor this Award. This Award is intended to provide public recognition and financial support for outstanding First Nations artists who are in the early stages of their musical journey.” – Archie Roach.
'Emerging’ describes an act (solo or group) in the early stages of their musical career who has demonstrated professionalism, outstanding quality and talent and achieved a breakthrough in public recognition and critical acclaim, as evidenced by their body of work.
Factors considered include but are not limited to:
SUBMISSIONS CLOSE: 11:59pm FRIDAY 20th AUGUST 2021
If your access requirements haven’t been met whilst applying or you need any support in putting together your application please contact Simone Schinkel, CEO at Music Victoria on 0421 967 349 or simone@musicvictoria.com.au
This award was voted on and/or presented by Songlines from 2013-2017 under the title Best Indigenous Act and then Best Aboriginal Act. Songlines would elect a representative to chair the panel and to select the judges for the panel. The chair would also vote.
In 2018, the Archie Roach Foundation came on board as the new partner for this award, committing a $2000 prize for the winner. Music Victoria and VMDO can also assist the winner with custom business advice or mentorship. Archie Roach does not vote on or chair the award, but he is the namesake and patron, and the renamed award has a new focus on emerging artists at his request.
In 2018, Songlines stepped away and Chris O’Neill (board member of Music Victoria) chaired the voting panel, approaching five First People’s representatives from the music industry to vote on the award.
In 2019, Donna Woods (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander National Representative, APRA AMCOS) was the chair and enlisted four additional First Peoples’ representatives from the music industry to vote on the award.
In 2020, Kiernan Ironfield from Songlines came on board to chair the award, enlisting 5 First People’s representatives from the music industry to vote on the award. He continues in this role in 2021.
As part of their Partnership contribution, Archie Roach Foundation pay each judge an honorarium for their role on this panel.
Whilst one round of the 2021 Music Victoria Awards submissions has just closed, a new award category has just opened for submissions… the inaugural Arts Access Victoria Amplify Award!
Established to shine a light on and recognise the contributions made by Deaf and Disabled musicians in the past 12 months, this award is long overdue and rewards the winner with $3000 cash from Arts Access Victoria and a rehearsal package from Bakehouse Studios.
“The Amplify Award has emerged out of recent engagement between the disabled music community and Music Victoria and responds directly to an identified need. We are delighted to back Music Victoria’s leadership in this space, and to come on board as a financial sponsor. We can’t wait to be bowled over with submissions.”
- Caroline Bowditch, CEO, Arts Access Victoria
The award will be assessed by a peer panel of judges, who will each be paid an honorarium for their role in the process. Applications are open now and close 11:59pm on Friday 20th August 2021. Shortlisted nominees will be published on Friday 3rd September, with the winner announced at the 2021 Music Victoria Awards at the Melbourne Recital Centre.
“I simply don’t have the knowledge of who is active out there, and this is something that I am desperately wanting to change. I look forward to not just finding and rewarding a winner but seeing who this process uncovers and encourages. The Amplify Award by no way excludes Deaf and Disabled musicians from applying in all our other Award categories, but it does recognise the significant and very real barriers that they face in our industry.”
- Simone Schinkel, CEO, Music Victoria
SUBMISSIONS CLOSE: 11:59pm FRIDAY 20th AUGUST 2021
If your access requirements haven’t been met whilst applying or you need any support in putting together your application please contact Simone Schinkel, CEO at Music Victoria on 0421 967 349 or simone@musicvictoria.com.au
We use the term ‘Deaf and Disabled people/musicians’ in line with the Social Model of Disability.
