The finalists for this year’s National Indigenous Music Awards have been revealed this morning, along with the full list of performers confirmed for the ceremony’s live music program.
Artist of the Year nominees at this year’s NIMAs are Emma Donovan, Dan Sultan and Gurrumul Yunupingu, while up for Album of the Year are Gawurra with Ratja Yaliyali, Gurrumul with The Gospel Album and Dan Sultan with Open LIVE: Live from the National Theatre, Melbourne.
Mark Smith, Director of MusicNT and of the NIMAs, has said of this year’s list of nominees, “2016 is the year where a number of artists that are on the cusp of success shine through the list of finalists. Emily, fresh from success at the Queensland Music Awards and the rise of Gawurra encapsulate the new guard of contemporary Indigenous music. We are excited to announce this year’s list and look forward announcing the winners in August.”
The ceremony takes place at The Amphitheatre at the Darwin Botanical Gardens for another year this August 6th, with performers at the event including the likes of Shellie Morris, Lonely Boys, Djuki Mala, Gawurra and A.B. Original. The ceremony will also feature a special performance (Bunggul) by the Rirratjingu Clan from North/East Arnhem Land, who will be honouring the ‘Father of Land Rights’, Roy Marika – featuring one of the largest groups of dancers in years for this traditional performance.
The full line up can be checked out below!
NATIONAL INDIGENOUS MUSIC AWARDS LIVE MUSIC LINE UP
Djuki Mala | Shellie Morris | Kahl Wallis | A.B. ORIGINAL
Rayella | David Spry | Chris Tamwoy | Gawurra | Kuren
Warren H. Williams with Danielle Young
Yirrmal with Wityana Marika (Yothu Yindi)
The Rirratjingu Clan honouring Roy Marika
The full list of nominees for the National Indigenous Music Awards is below – for more information about this year’s event, visit the official website HERE.
2016 NATIONAL INDIGENOUS MUSIC AWARDS FINALISTS
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Emma Donovan
Dan Sultan
Gurrumul Yunupingu
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Gawurra – Ratja Yaliyali
Gurrumul Yunupingu – The Gospel Album
Dan Sultan – Open LIVE, Live from the National Theatre, Melbourne
SONG OF THE YEAR
A.B. ORIGINAL ft. Caiti Baker – “Dead in a Minute”
A.B. ORIGINAL – “2 Black 2 Strong”
Gawurra – “Ratja Yaliyali”
Briggs ft. Dewayne Everettsmith & Gurrumul – “The Children Came Back”
Benny Walker – “Oh No You Don’t”
NEW TALENT
A.B. ORIGINAL
Benny Walker
Gawurra
Emily Wurramara
Chris Tamwoy
COVER ART
Gawurra – Ratja Yaliyali
Benny Walker – Oh No You Don’t
Gurrumul Yunupingu – The Gospel Album
FILM CLIP
Briggs ft. Dewayne Everettsmith & Gurrumul – “The Children Came Back”
Benny Walker – “Oh No You Don’t”
Gawurra – “Ratja Yaliyali”
COMMUNITY MUSIC CLIP
“Yolngu Style”
Community: Galiwinku
Video Production: Brittan Andrews aka Syd, Grayson Huddart
Music Production: Aman Bayatly aka Tera, Michael O’Connel aka Mixer, Dion Brownfield
Director: Dallas Woods
“Break The Silence”
Community: Ngukurr
“Shadows”
Community: Katherine
IHHP & KTown
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