The Age Music Victoria Awards is always one of the most highly anticipated events in the Melbourne Music Week program. 2018’s edition was absolutely no different with its stellar performances and award winners, except it was housed in a spick new venue at the Melbourne Recital Centre. The night was a boisterous celebration of the immense talent and work ethic that spans the whole Victorian music industry, MC’d by industry veterans Chris Gill and Lyndelle Wilkinson.
The publicly voted awards were dominated by rising rap star Baker Boy, AKA Danzal Baker, who took home a huge haul of four awards. Baker, who was attending the awards for the first time, was awarded Best Song (‘Marryuna’), Best Male Musician, Best Live Act and the Premier’s Prize for Best Victorian Breakthrough Act of 2018 – which came with a huge $5000 cash prize.
As for the industry voted awards, hip hop prodigy Sampa The Great was awarded Best Hip Hop Act and Best Soul, Funk, RnB or Gospel Album for Birds and the BEE9. These were the first two Music Victoria Awards wins for Sampa, and she topped off her night with a chilling performance of ‘Bye River’ alongside her 16-person choir.
In case they weren’t absolute legends already, Molly Meldrum and Chrissy Amphlett were inducted into the Music Victoria Hall of Fame. Amphlett’s career was celebrated with a video tribute and speeches from her mentor Little Pattie and relative Matt Forster.
The first half of the night was rounded out by performances from jazz group Mildlife, Baker Boy and indie musician and composer Evelyn Ida Morris. Other performances throughout the night included Angie McMahon delivering a stunning performance of ‘Slow Mover’, and Ella Hooper and Dallas Frasca performing the Divinyls’ ‘Boys In Town’.
Music Victoria CEO Patrick Donovan concluded the night with congratulations, stating the event “encapsulated the quality and diversity of Victorian music in 2018”.
Check out the full list of winners below:
The Premier’s Prize for the Best Victorian Album of 2018
Courtney Barnett – Tell Me How You Really Feel
Best Band
Camp Cope
Best Song
Baker Boy – ‘Marryuna’
Best Solo Artist
Courtney Barnett
Best Male Musician
Baker Boy
Best Female Musician
Courtney Barnett
The Premier’s Prize for the Best Victorian Breakthrough Act of 2018
Baker Boy
Best Live Act
Baker Boy
Best Small Venue (under 500 capacity)
Northcote Social Club, Northcote
Best Large Venue (over 500 capacity)
Corner Hotel, Richmond
Best Festival
Golden Plains
Best Regional/Outer Suburban Act
This Way North
Best Regional/Outer Suburban Venue (Over 50 gigs per year)
Karova Lounge, Ballarat
Best Regional/Outer Suburban Venue (Under 50 gigs per year)
Meeniyan Town Hall, Meeniyan
Archie Roach Foundation Award for Emerging Talent
Kaiit
Best Blues Album
Collard Greens And Gravy – Luedella
Best Country Album
James Ellis & The Jealous Guys – It Ain’t Texas (But It Ain’t Bad)
Best Electronic Act
Mildlife
Best Experimental or Avant-Garde Act
Nat Grant
Best Folk or Roots Album
Michael Waugh – The Asphalt & The Oval
Best Global Act
Senegambian Jazz Band
Best Heavy Album
Encircling Sea – Hearken
Best Hip Hop Act
Sampa The Great
Best Jazz Album
Sam Anning – Across A Field As Vast As One
Best Reggae and Dancehall Act
Monkey Marc
Best Rock/Punk Album
Little Ugly Girls – Little Ugly Girls
Best Soul, Funk, RnB Album
Sampa The Great – Birds and The BEE9
