Courtney Barnett and Baker Boy are leading the way with the most nominations this year, bagging up five nods each. Synth-pop songwriter Laura Jean follows with four nominations for her fifth album Devotion, while Sampa The Great, Camp Cope, Tropical Fuck Storm and Mojo Juju have all chalked up three nominations each.
While the above awards are all publicly nominated, there will also be a further 17 industry awards up for grabs on the night. These trophies will recognise the diversity of Victoria’s music scene, and are set to be judged by panels of industry heavyweights.
The Melbourne Recital Centre will host the event for the first time ever, with new support from The Archie Roach Foundation – sponsoring the Emerging Talent Award – and cash support from Bendigo Bank.
Another new highlight for the 2018 awards is the chance to take home a sizable cheque to further your music career, with thanks to the Victorian Government. They’ll be granting $10,000 to the winner of the newly titled Premier’s Prize for the Best Victorian Album of 2018, and $5,000 to the lucky person who takes home the Premier’s Prize for the Best Victorian Breakthrough Act of 2018.
“We’re proud to support these awards, and it’s just a small acknowledgement of the economic, social and cultural benefits music brings to our state,” said Martin Foley, Minister for Creative Industries.
Public voting is now open, so browse through the nominations below and start planning who you’ll be dishing out votes to.
The Age Music Victoria Awards – Nominees (Public Voting)
The Premier’s Prize for the Best Victorian Album of 2018 – $10,000 Cash Prize
Camp Cope – How To Socialise & Make Friends
Courtney Barnett – Tell Me How You Really Feel
Laura Jean – Devotion
Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – Hope Downs
Sampa The Great – Birds And The Bee9
Best Band
Camp Cope
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
MOD CON
Rolling Blackouts Coastal
Fever Tropical Fuck Storm
Best Song
Baker Boy – ‘Marryuna’
Camp Cope – ‘The Opener’
Courtney Barnett – ‘Nameless, Faceless’
Laura Jean – ‘Girls On The TV’
Mojo Juju – ‘Native Tongue’
Best Solo Artist
Alex Lahey
Angie McMahon
Baker Boy
Courtney Barnett
Didirri
Laura Jean
Mojo Juju
Sampa The Great
Tash Sultana
Vance Joy
Best Male Musician
Danzal Baker (Baker Boy)
Didirri Peters (Didirri)
Gareth Liddiard (Tropical Fuck Storm)
Jake Robertson (School Damage, Alien Nosejob)
Tom Iansek (No Mono)
Best Female Musician
Courtney Barnett
Erica Dunn (Tropical Fuck Storm, MOD CON, Palm Springs)
Laura Englert (Laura Jean)
Mojo “Juju” Ruiz De Luzuriaga (Mojo Juju)
Sampa Tembo (Sampa The Great)
The Premier’s Prize for the Best Victorian Breakthrough Act of 2018 – $5000 Cash Prize
Angie McMahon
Baker Boy
Kaiit
Mildlife
MOD CON
Best Live Act
Amyl And The Sniffers
Baker Boy
Cable Ties
Courtney Barnett
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
Best Small Venue (under 500 capacity)
The Gasometer, Collingwood
Howler, Brunswick
Northcote Social Club, Northcote
The Old Bar, Fitzroy
The Tote, Collingwood
Best Large Venue (over 500 capacity)
170 Russell, Melbourne
Corner Hotel, Richmond
The Croxton Bandroom, Thornbury
Hamer Hall, Southbank
Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank
The Age Music Victoria Awards will take place on Wednesday November 21. Voting is now open.
Image via Martin Philbey.
