A.B. Original collects top five gongs at AIR Awards; Pieater wins Best Independent Label

Golden Era Records-signed A.B. Original went home with five prestigious gongs at last night’s 2017 AIR Independent Music Awards: Breakthrough Independent Artist Of The Year (Presented by PPCA), Best Independent Hip Hop Album, Best Independent Single, Best Independent Artist and Best Independent Album or EP.

The award for Best Independent Label went to the Melbourne-based indie Pieater, home to Big Scary and Christopher Port. Brisbane band Violent Soho won Best Independent Hard Rock, Heavy, or Punk Album.

The man once known as Chet Faker took out Best Independent Dance, Electronica or Club Single for his ‘Stop Me (Stop You)’ release, marking his third official AIR Award, but the first to be accepted as Nick Murphy.

Host Dylan Lewis & the Premier of South Australia, Jay Weatherill

Audio/visual two piece friendships received Best Independent Dance/Electronica Album for their Nullabor 1988-1989 release through Dot Dash/Remote Control. Julia Jacklin accepted Best Independent Blues and Roots Album for her lauded offering Don’t Let The Kids Win through Liberation Music.

AIR GM Maria Amato said that it was great to see the Industry turn out in droves to celebrate the success of the Independent sector at the 11th AIR Awards in Adelaide.

"So proud of the collaborations with the South Australian Government and our supporting partners that helped us make this all happen,” she said.

The 11th Independent Music Awards, again hosted by Nova 919 Adelaide brekkie host Dylan Lewis, saw performances from A.B. Original, Henry Wagons, Russell Morris and Elizabeth Rose.

2017 AIR Independent Music Awards winners 2017

Best Independent Label

Pieater

Breakthrough Independent Artist Of The Year Presented By PPCA

A.B. Original (Golden Era Records)

Best Independent Artist

A.B. Original (Golden Era Records)

Best Independent Single

A.B. Original – ‘January 26 Feat. Dan Sultan’ (Golden Era Records)

Best Independent Album Or EP

A.B. Original – Reclaim Australia (Golden Era Records)

Best Independent Hard Rock, Heavy Or Punk Album

Violent Soho – WACO (I OH YOU)

Best Independent Dance, Electronica Or Club Single

Nick Murphy – ‘Stop Me (Stop You)’ (Future Classic)

Best Independent Dance/Electronica Album

friendships – Nullabor 1988-1989 (Dot Dash/Remote Control)

Best Independent Hip Hop Album

A. B. Original – Reclaim Australia (Golden Era Records)

Best Independent Blues And Roots Album

Julia Jacklin – Don’t Let The Kids Win (Liberation Music)

Best Independent Country Album

Henry Wagons – After What I Did Last Night (ABC Music)

Best Independent Jazz Album

James Morrison & Don Burrows – In Good Company (ABC Jazz)

Best Independent Classical Album

Slava Grigoryan – Bach Cello Suites Vol 1 (ABC Classics)