Live Review: Australian Independent Music Awards

Jagermeister Independent Music Awards, Revolt, 12th October 2011

Groupie Magazine for Pages Digital

Ignoring the fact that John Farnham wasn’t in attendance, it doesn’t get more Aussie than the Australian Jagermeister Independent Music Awards. The ceremony, held last night in Melbourne, recognises the best acts signed to local independent labels and in true blue style, there was an abundance of flannel shirts and jokes about ‘roots’.

Presented for the first time at Revolt after years at the Forum, the refurbished factory created an intimate atmosphere for the mix of musicians and industry professionals. The event was relaxed and unpretentious; there were no international celebrities foraging for a plug and nominees who arrived too late to shotgun a seat were relegated to the back of the room with the punters.

Host Dylan Lewis did a commendable job of playing larrikin while staying on-message and sponsor-friendly throughout proceedings. Lewis was unafraid to take the piss out of fellow presenters and artists, complimenting Taka Honda from Little Red on his gaudy ensemble; ‘I love your sparkly things, I love your blouse’ before encouraging ABC presenter Derek Guille to repeatedly use the word ‘flaps’.

With the notable exception of Bud Tingwell in The Castle, Australians are not known for their speech-making skills and most acceptances last night consisted of only a few sentences. The exception was the charming Henry Wagons whose speech for Best Independent Country Album came via Nashville. In his video from ‘the land of bad haircuts and fried food’ Wagons encouraged the audience to give his fellow band members who were present ‘a slap on the arse and a tap on the back’.

The back slapping is broken up by performances from artists flying the indie flag including Calling All Cars who kicked off proceedings with a rocking rendition of ‘Worlds Collide’ and The Holidays whose ‘Broken Bones’ was dead-set swoon-worthy. Adalita managed to do the impossible during her performance: silencing the room (for the only time all night) and showing the new kids exactly how it’s done.

If there is anything Australians love more than booze, it’s free booze and many of the attendees were getting their money’s worth last night. Accepting the audience-voted Jagermeister Most Hunted Award, 360 gave the crowd a lesson in bartending as he described his attempts to order a Jagerbomb earlier in the night; “They said they don’t do Jagerbombs. So I said ‘give me a Jager and Red Bull’ and they did… that’s a Jagerbomb”

Ultimately though, it was a celebration of the sheilas. Emma Louise had a bonzer night; her performance of ‘Jungle’ was haunting and her speech for Breakthrough Independent Artist of the Year was endearing. Adalita proved she is ‘Strayan through and through’, dropping an assortment of profanities as she accepted the award for Best New Album before paying tribute to the late Dean Turner.

The Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR) proudly pushes their indie identity and so they should- local labels play a vital role in this country’s musical landscape. As Nick O’Byrne from AIR pointed out, 91 of the 162 ARIA nominations announced earlier that day were released through independent labels. He declared that without the independents, we have a ‘hollow, boring music industry’ and bloody oath; I reckon he’s right.