Remi, Violent Soho, Courtney Barnett Win Big At Carlton Dry Indie Awards

The Carlton Dry Independent Music Awards have come to a close for another year, with Mansfield rockers Violent Soho, Courtney Barnett and ascendant Melburnian Remi all emerging as the major victors of the evening, which is orchestrated by AIR (the Australian Independent Record Labels Association).

REVIEW AND GALLERY OF THE NIGHT HERE

Barnett and the lads of Violent Soho both took home two awards apiece — the former for the presitigious title of Best Independent Artist and Best Independent Single/EP (Avant Gardener), and the latter for their world-beating third LP Hungry Ghost, which gave them both Best Independent Hard Rock, Heavy Or Punk Album (a category in which they faced stiff competition from the likes of DZ Deathrays and sleepmakeswaves) as well as all-round Best Independent Album. 

Remi picked up one award - he staved off fellow nominees L-FRESH The Lion, Allday, Horrorshow and Thundamentals for Raw x Infinity to take out Best Hip-Hop Album - but also walked away $50,000 richer as the recipient of the Carlton Dry Global Music Grant. That kind of victory can be simply life-changing for an artist - just ask last year's winners (and 2014 Hard Rock Album nominees) King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard.

Brissy-bred pop juggernauts Sheppard came away with the title of Brakthrough Independent Artist Of The Year, which should surprise no one who's looked a chart in the past year - love it or hate it, their ubiquitous single Geronimo catapulted them to almost-instant fame, with debut album Bombs Away keeping up the momentum. Fellow Brisbanites Halfway also walk away a prize up on when they walked in, taking out Best Country Album (for Any Old Love from esteemed fellow nominees including the Perch Creek Family Jugband, Davidson Brothers and Sara Storer.

On the industry side of things, beloved indie label I OH YOU - who celebrate five years of keeping the gas on this year - were recognised for their staunch efforts in signing some of the country's best acts (including Violent Soho and award nominees DMA's and DZ Deathrays) by being given the title of Best Independent Label. The nation's independent blues & roots, jazz, and classical scenes were all well represented on the night, too, with Dan Sultan's Blackbird, the Paul Grabowsky Sextet's The Bitter Suite, and the joint effort from Gurrumul and the Sydney Symphony, His Life And Music, all being recognised as the country's best in those categories.

Not to be forgotten, the tunes that made butts shake on dancefloors everywhere got their moment in the sun when the unstoppably upwards-bound Peking Duk were recognised for their chart-busting single High (Best Independent Dance/Electronica or Club Single), and party starters RÜFÜS getting the nod for their long-staying full-length Atlas.

That about wraps up all the official business of the evening - but, for a more colourful glimpse at the night's proceedings, look back over our (then-)live feed of the event, including tweets, pics, and partially drunken, on-the-fly analysis.