NT Indigenous Music Awards
Encyclopedia
NT Indigenous Music Awards are part of the Darwin Festival and are run by Music NT in association with the Northern Territory
Government’s Indigenous Arts Development Unit.
Festival, and feature the best indigenous music
talent in the NT
.
The Awards are industry based and focus with nominations coming from industry, pre-selection by a local industry committee and final judging of Award winners by an independent panel of NT and interstate music industry professionals
The winners were:
(Midnight Oil
), now Shadow Secretary for Reconciliation and the Arts, who was a guest presenter with NT Chief Minister
Clare Martin
and with his old mate George Rrurrambu
of Warumpi Band
. The Awards ceremony and concert, which was headlined by the Letterstick Band
and Lajamanu Teenage Band
, was broadcast live by local station TEABBA (Top End Bush Broadcasting Assoc.) and picked up by Indigenous radio stations across the country.
The winners were:
, NoKTuRNL
, Warren H Williams
, June Mills and Tom E Lewis.
The winners were:
. On the night there were live performances featuring Kenbi Dancers, Ngarakuruwala, Jessica Mauboy
and Nabarlek
.
The winners were:
, CAAMA and TEABBA.
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
Government’s Indigenous Arts Development Unit.
Awards
The NT Indigenous Music Awards recognise excellence, dedication, innovation and outstanding contribution to the NT music industry. The Awards are presented at a special showcase event in August as part of DarwinDarwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
Festival, and feature the best indigenous music
Indigenous Australian music
Australian indigenous music includes the music of Australian Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, who are collectively called Indigenous Australians; it incorporates a variety of distinctive traditional music styles practiced by Indigenous Australian peoples, as well as a range of contemporary...
talent in the NT
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
.
The Awards are industry based and focus with nominations coming from industry, pre-selection by a local industry committee and final judging of Award winners by an independent panel of NT and interstate music industry professionals
2004
The Inaugural Indigenous Music Awards were held on 28 August 2004 at the Darwin Festival Club.The winners were:
- Male Musician of the Year: Warren H. Williams
- Female Musician of the Year: Shellie MorrisShellie MorrisShellie Morris is an Australian indigenous singer/songwriter who plays a mix of contemporary folk music and contemporary acoustic ballads. She was raised in Sydney and began singing at an early age...
- Band of the Year: Yothu YindiYothu YindiYothu Yindi are an Australian band with Aboriginal and balanda members formed in 1986. Aboriginal members come from Yolngu homelands near Yirrkala on the Gove Peninsula in Northern Territory's Arnhem Land...
- People's Choice award: Saltwater BandSaltwater BandSaltwater Band are an Indigenous Roots band from Galiwin'ku on Elcho Island, around 560 kilometres from Darwin. The members are Yolngu and they sing mostly in language. Their songs are a mixture of traditional songs and reggae/ska influenced pop...
- Best Field Recording for a Traditional Album: the Rak Badjalarr album
- Best Emerging Band award: Yilila
- Hall of Fame inductees: George RrurrambuGeorge RrurrambuGeorge Burarrwanga , known in life as George Rrurrambu, was a Yolngu man from Elcho Island in Arnhem Land. He was an icon of Aboriginal rock music, and was most well known as the charismatic frontman of the Warumpi Band....
, the Mills Sisters and Mandawuy YunupinguMandawuy YunupinguMandawuy Yunupingu , born 17 September 1956, is an Aboriginal Australian musician, most notable for being the front man of the band Yothu Yindi.-Early life:...
2005
The second annual NT Indigenous Music Awards were held at the Marrara Outdoor Stadium on 27 August 2005. The Awards attracted the likes of Peter GarrettPeter Garrett
Peter Robert Garrett, AM, MP , is an Australian musician, environmentalist, activist and politician.Garrett was lead singer of the Australian rock band Midnight Oil from 1973 until its disbanding in 2002...
(Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil , were an Australian rock band from Sydney originally performing as Farm from 1972 with drummer Rob Hirst, bass guitarist Andrew James and keyboard player/lead guitarist Jim Moginie...
), now Shadow Secretary for Reconciliation and the Arts, who was a guest presenter with NT Chief Minister
Chief Minister of the Northern Territory
The Chief Minister of the Northern Territory is appointed by the Administrator, who in normal circumstances will appoint the head of whatever party holds the majority of seats in the legislature of the territory...
Clare Martin
Clare Martin
Clare Majella Martin is a former Australian politician. She is the current CEO of the Australian Council of Social Service . A former journalist, she was elected to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly in a shock by-election win in 1995...
and with his old mate George Rrurrambu
George Rrurrambu
George Burarrwanga , known in life as George Rrurrambu, was a Yolngu man from Elcho Island in Arnhem Land. He was an icon of Aboriginal rock music, and was most well known as the charismatic frontman of the Warumpi Band....
of Warumpi Band
Warumpi Band
The Warumpi Band is an Australian band from the bush, coming from Papunya, Northern Territory, Australia.The band was formed in 1980 by Neil Murray, a Victorian "whitefella" working in the region as a schoolteacher and labourer, George Burarrwanga, from Elcho Island, and local boys Gordon and...
. The Awards ceremony and concert, which was headlined by the Letterstick Band
Letterstick Band
Letterstick Band are a band from Northeast Arnhem Land in Australia. The members are from the An-Barra Clan on the coast near Maningrida. They are named after the wooden tools on which messages are carved to communicate between places...
and Lajamanu Teenage Band
Lajamanu Teenage Band
Lajamanu Teenage Band are a rock band from Lajamanu, a town located about 600 km to the north of Yuendumu. The members are Warlpiri and their songs are sung in Warlpiri and English. They are popular in the Aboriginal communities...
, was broadcast live by local station TEABBA (Top End Bush Broadcasting Assoc.) and picked up by Indigenous radio stations across the country.
The winners were:
- Best Music Release: Yilila – "Manila, Manila"
- Song of the Year: Yilila - "Mijiyanga"
- Best CD/DVD Artwork & Design: David Lancashire - Jurtbirrk, Love Songs from Western Arnhem Land
- Male Musician of the Year: Geoffrey Gurrumul YunupinguMandawuy YunupinguMandawuy Yunupingu , born 17 September 1956, is an Aboriginal Australian musician, most notable for being the front man of the band Yothu Yindi.-Early life:...
- Galiwin’ku (formerly Yothu YindiYothu YindiYothu Yindi are an Australian band with Aboriginal and balanda members formed in 1986. Aboriginal members come from Yolngu homelands near Yirrkala on the Gove Peninsula in Northern Territory's Arnhem Land...
, Saltwater Band) - Female Musician of the Year: Shellie Morris
- Band of the Year: NabarlekNabarlek (band)Nabarlek are an Indigenous Roots band from Manmoyi, a tiny community in Arnhem Land, 215 kilometres from the remote community of Gunbalanya . The band formed in 1985 as a group of singers and dancers with a couple of busted guitars and flour tins for drums...
- New & Emerging Act: Mandy Garling
- Minister’s Award for School Band of the Year: Maningrida Brass Ensemble
- Traditional Music Award: Jurtbirrk, Love Songs from Western Arnhem Land
- Most Popular Song Award: "Dreamtime Baby" – Warren H. Williams
- Outstanding contribution to the music industry: CAAMA Music & Letterstick
- Hall of Fame Inductees: Kathy & David Mills, The Mystics, Dick Mununggu, Gus WilliamsGus Williams (musician)Kasper Gus Ntjalka Williams OAM, known as Gus Williams was a country singer from Hermannsburg in Central Australia. He was an Arrernte man, who was born in Alice Springs. He was the father of country star Warren H Williams.In 1983 Williams was given a Medal of the Order of Australia for services...
, Auriel AndrewAuriel AndrewAuriel Andrew is an Indigenous Australian country musician of the Arrernte people of Central Australia.Andrew grew up in Alice Springs, Northern Territory, leaving for Adelaide, South Australia aged 21 to pursue her music career.She appeared in the SBS documentary "Buried Country: The Story of...
, Mr. Yamma SnrIsaac YammaIsaac Yamma was a country singer from Central Australia. He was a Pitjantjatjara man who was born by a waterhole near Docker River . He started his musical career as a member of Areyonga Desert Tigers...
and Herbie LaughtonHerbie LaughtonHerbie Laughton is a country singer from Alice Springs, Northern Territory. He was born in 1927 in a creek bed. He was a member of the stolen generation....
.
2006
The third annual NT Indigenous Music Awards were held on 25 August 2006. The audience was treated to live performances by a line-up of NT acts including Yilila, Saltwater BandSaltwater Band
Saltwater Band are an Indigenous Roots band from Galiwin'ku on Elcho Island, around 560 kilometres from Darwin. The members are Yolngu and they sing mostly in language. Their songs are a mixture of traditional songs and reggae/ska influenced pop...
, NoKTuRNL
NoKTuRNL
Nokturnl is a band formed in 1996 in Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia. Sometimes called rap metal their music is hard to categorise, but their lyrics are influenced by their experience as Indigenous Australians. Nokturnl won "Band of the Year" at The Deadlys in 1998, 2000 and 2003.They...
, Warren H Williams
Warren H Williams
Warren Hedley Williams is a singer, musician and song writer from Hermannsburg in Central Australia. Williams is an Arrernte man who plays country music. He started playing guitar at six with his father Gus Williams...
, June Mills and Tom E Lewis.
The winners were:
- Best Music Release: Tom E. Lewis – "Sunshine After Rain"
- Song of the Year: Warren H. Williams – "Learn My Song"
- Best Artwork & Design: Dunnart - Warren H. Williams - "Be Like Home"
- Best DVD Release: NabarlekNabarlek (band)Nabarlek are an Indigenous Roots band from Manmoyi, a tiny community in Arnhem Land, 215 kilometres from the remote community of Gunbalanya . The band formed in 1985 as a group of singers and dancers with a couple of busted guitars and flour tins for drums...
– Nabarlek on Tour - Male Musician of the Year: Grant Nundhirribala
- Female Musician of the Year: June Mills
- Act of the Year: Yilila
- New & Emerging Act: Task
- Traditional Music Award: White Cockatoo – Maningrida
- School Band of the Year: Djambang Band – Milingimbi
- Judges Encouragement Award: Henley White (Warren H. William's 9 year old drummer)
- Hall of Fame Inductees: Warumpi BandWarumpi BandThe Warumpi Band is an Australian band from the bush, coming from Papunya, Northern Territory, Australia.The band was formed in 1980 by Neil Murray, a Victorian "whitefella" working in the region as a schoolteacher and labourer, George Burarrwanga, from Elcho Island, and local boys Gordon and...
and Soft SandsSoft SandsSoft Sands are a country and gospel band from Galiwin'ku in Arnhem Land formed in 1970. They were one of the first Arnhem Land bands to incorporate contempary instruments, music styles and technologies into their music and have had a major influence on the development of popular music in top end.... - Outstanding Contribution: Sammy ButcherSammy Butcher (musician)Sammy Butcher, an Indigenous Australian, was born at Papunya, Northern Territory in Central Australia. He formed the Warumpi Band with George Burarrwanga, Neil Murray and Gordon Butcher in the late 1970s...
and Keith Lapalung
2007
The fourth annual NT Indigenous Wards were held on 25 August 2007 at the Gardens Amphitheatre, Botanic Gardens, DarwinDarwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
. On the night there were live performances featuring Kenbi Dancers, Ngarakuruwala, Jessica Mauboy
Jessica Mauboy
Jessica Hilda Mauboy , is an Indigenous Australian R&B singer-songwriter and actress. In 2006, Mauboy was the runner-up on the fourth season of Australian Idol, she had auditioned for the talent show in Alice Springs to pursue a recording career...
and Nabarlek
Nabarlek (band)
Nabarlek are an Indigenous Roots band from Manmoyi, a tiny community in Arnhem Land, 215 kilometres from the remote community of Gunbalanya . The band formed in 1985 as a group of singers and dancers with a couple of busted guitars and flour tins for drums...
.
The winners were:
- Act of the Year: Jessica MauboyJessica MauboyJessica Hilda Mauboy , is an Indigenous Australian R&B singer-songwriter and actress. In 2006, Mauboy was the runner-up on the fourth season of Australian Idol, she had auditioned for the talent show in Alice Springs to pursue a recording career...
- Album of the Year: Manmoyi Radio - NabarlekNabarlek (band)Nabarlek are an Indigenous Roots band from Manmoyi, a tiny community in Arnhem Land, 215 kilometres from the remote community of Gunbalanya . The band formed in 1985 as a group of singers and dancers with a couple of busted guitars and flour tins for drums...
- Song of the Year: "Little Journey to Manmoyi" - Terrah Guymala
- Emerging Act of the Year: Leah Flanagan
- School Band of the Year (1): The Crazy Boyz, Maningrida Community Education Centre
- School Band of the Year (2): The Frontstreet Girls, Maningrida Community Education Centre
- DVD/Film Clip of the Year: "Brown Bird" - NabarlekNabarlek (band)Nabarlek are an Indigenous Roots band from Manmoyi, a tiny community in Arnhem Land, 215 kilometres from the remote community of Gunbalanya . The band formed in 1985 as a group of singers and dancers with a couple of busted guitars and flour tins for drums...
- Artwork & Design of the Year: Manmoyi Radio - Nabarlek
- Traditional Music Award: Kenbi Dancers
- Traditional Music Award (2): Wurrurrumi Kun-Borrk, songs from Western Arnhem LandArnhem LandThe Arnhem Land Region is one of the five regions of the Northern Territory of Australia. It is located in the north-eastern corner of the territory and is around 500 km from the territory capital Darwin. The region has an area of 97,000 km² which also covers the area of Kakadu National...
by Kevin Djimarr - People Choice 'Song for Country': "Bushfire" - Nabarlek
- Special Contribution Award (1): Paul "Djolpa" McKenzie
- Special Contribution Award (2): Steven Tranter
- Hall of Fame - Top End Artist: Betty Fisher
- Hall of Fame – Central Artist: Barry Benning
2008
The winners were:- Act of the Year: Geoffrey Gurrumul YunupinguGeoffrey Gurrumul YunupinguGeoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu is an Indigenous Australian musician, who sings in the Yolngu language.He was born in Galiwin'ku , off the coast of Arnhem Land, Northern Australia about 350 miles from Darwin. He is from the Gumatj clan of the Yolngu and his mother from the Galpu nation...
- Album of the Year: Gurrumul - Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunipingu
- Emerging Act of the Year and Touring Award: B2M
- School Band of the Year: Rocky Creek Band
- Gospel Album of the Year: Harold Dalywaters and the Elliot Gospel Band
- Song of the Year: Wiyathul - Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
- DVD/Filmclip of the Year: Saltwater BandSaltwater BandSaltwater Band are an Indigenous Roots band from Galiwin'ku on Elcho Island, around 560 kilometres from Darwin. The members are Yolngu and they sing mostly in language. Their songs are a mixture of traditional songs and reggae/ska influenced pop...
Live - Artwork and design of the Year: Gurrumul - album, designed by Carlo Santone
- Traditional Music Award of the Year: 1) Muyngarnbi - Songs from Walking with Spirits. 2) Ngarukuruwala - We Sing Songs.
- People's Choice Award, Most popular song of the year: Wild Wild Water - WildWater
- Hall of Fame: 1) Peter Miller and Blek Bala Mujik. 2) Mark Raymond and the Kulumindini BandKulumindini BandKulumindini Band are an aboriginal rock band from Elliott, Northern Territory. They are named after a Jingili dreaming site. The members are Jingili-Mudbura people and they sing in both Mudbura and English. In 2008 they were inducted into the hall of fame at the NT Indigenous Music Awards....
. - Special Contribution Award: 1) Galarrwuy YunupinguGalarrwuy YunupinguGalarrwuy YunupinguAM is a leader in the Australian Indigenous community, and has been involved in the fight for Land Rights throughout his career...
. 2) Mr Nundhirribala.
Indigenous Radio Award – Most Popular Song
Supported by Radio LarrakiaRadio Larrakia
Radio Larrakia is an Aboriginal community radio station in Darwin, Northern Territory with a broadcast range that reaches Jabiru....
, CAAMA and TEABBA.