Yesterday morning, I jumped on a plane to Melbourne to attend my second Carlton Dry Independent Music Awards or, as everyone calls them, the AIR Awards. Bad//Dreems, one of the acts performing at the event, were on my flight over and it was a general consensus held that we were all going to be going large. Held at the Historic Meat Market in North Melbourne, the ‘blue carpet’ was walked over by musicians, photographers, industry folk… a little who’s who of our industry, through the night.
There’s a sense of familiarity between everyone from the onset – the pre-ceremony drinks/schmooze time is more like a giant catch up with mates (the after party more akin to an office Christmas party) and the ceremony itself holds a fine balance between being carried off as a respected renowned event and in essence, a night of celebrating some great live music. It’s a gathering where the independent music industry and its artists were recognised in a way that wasn’t overshadowed by pomp or bravado.
Hosted by Dylan Lewis for another year, there were plenty of highlights from the ceremony itself. Or maybe it seemed like it was a laugh a minute because we (the audience & presenters alike) were getting drunker as it rolled out. Murray Cook‘s keynote speech gave us an insight into the life of a Wiggle and their career’s success which, let’s face it, is pretty huge. His presence left a decent chunk of attendees more starstruck than we probably all were expecting; Dylan enthusiastically hugging him as he finished his speech, Remi proudly exclaiming he’d been able to shake his hand and Suffa using most of the Hilltop Hoods‘ time onstage to present the Best Independent Artist award to throw the former Red Wiggle due props. Murray Cook = total legend.
Of course, the night belonged predominantly to Courtney Barnett, who took home a significant portion of the major category awards with Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit. Her video messages to the AIR Awards from somewhere on tour were as awkwardly endearing as you’d expect – I can’t wait to see what the responses will be like when she inevitably wins at the ARIAs.
It was great to see Tom Iansek aka #1 Dads take out Best Independent Breakthrough Artist – still an underrated musician, in my mind. Hell, it was good to see a winner of an award actually in attendance (props too to the King Gizzard crew). Seth Sentry, winner of Best Independent Hip Hop Album, is currently recovering from surgery on his leg, Flight Facilities were also unable to be in Melbourne to pick up their AIR Award for Best Independent Dance Album. Similarly, Hayden James, who won for “Something About You” in the Best Electronica, Dance or Club Single category, sent in a video mainly shanghai-d by Duke Dumont, who he is currently on the road with.
The performers this year were well selected: Bad//Dreems threw down a gnarly rendition of “Cuffed and Collared”, a stark contrast to the seductive pop tones Airling opened the ceremony with. Brisbane’s Dead Letter Circus got charged up for their one-song slot and admittedly, while it’s always great to see them perform with such fire behind their music, it looked like a harder job tonight. As it would be for everyone having one song to get amped for in front of a crowd like this. John Butler popped up with his banjo to sing “Better Than”, a late addition to the program to fill in for Frank Yamma, who was unfortunately unable attend due to a death in the family. Harts, who should be way bigger in Australia than he is, closed the live music section of the night doing what he does best – shred the fuck out of his guitar.
The end of the ‘official’ element of the night always feels like school being let out for the day except instead of students chomping at the bit to get out and go home, you’ve got hundreds of well-liquored music industry peeps waiting to score final drinks at the bar while the tab is still open. The after party would continue well into the night next door at the Metropolitan Hotel and god knows what time things wrapped up.
For another year the AIR Awards pulled off a successful and memorable event. Indeed, when you’ve got good people in the business for the right reasons, these types of events are always going to be a blast. Boarding a plane back to Adelaide this afternoon with remnants of a slaying hangover was well worth it.
Til next year!
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Photographs used can be found at AIR’s Facebook page.
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