Live Review: All The Action From The 2018 AIR Awards

"These awards are more important than those other ones, right?" - That was host Dylan Lewis, suggesting that the AIR Awards would make better television than the tired old ARIAs. With the likes of Baker Boy, Fanny Lumsden, and Stella Donnelly on stage, and gongs going to folks like King Gizzard and Jen Cloher, it was hard not to agree with him.

Adelaide played host to the ceremony for the second year running, in a beautifully crumbling old theatre with plenty of drinks flowing and a buzzing congregation of industry peeps. A beautiful Welcome To Country in the main theatre got the things underway.

Baker Boy was first on stage, giving an impressive and energetic performance. First among the award recipients were Fanny Lumsden for Best Independent Country Album, and All Our Exes Live In Texas for Best Independent Blues and Roots Album.

Best Classical Album went to the Australian Chamber Orchestra's recording of a piece composed by Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood, which also holds the distinction of being the first Australian-produced vinyl release of classical music in 20 years.

The Jungle Giants seemed to be nominated in almost every category, but finally walked away with the coveted Best Independent Album gong for Quiet Ferocity. But it was a tie - Methyl Ethel also received a Best Independent Album trophy for their Everything Is Forgotten release.

MC Dylan Lewis kept things ticking along with his trademark irreverence as diverse artists including James Morrison, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, and PNAU claimed awards.

Alex The Astronaut gave a charming solo performance and Fanny Lumsden's trio also impressed, but it was Stella Donnelly who stole the show with a vocally stunning solo rendition of her tune Boys Will Be Boys.

If there was an award for Best Acceptance Speech Ever, it would have gone to Mark Grose, whose Skinnyfish Music won AIR's inaugural Outstanding Achievement Award. Grose, fighting back tears, told us it had been one year since Gurrumul's death, and credited the dearly-missed performer with Skinnyfish's ongoing spirit and success.

Grose gave special mention to the Nothern Territory acts that took home awards: Birdz for Best Independent Hip Hop Album, and Baker Boy for Breakthrough Independent Artist Of The Year.

With the crowd ready to party, Caiti Baker closed the ceremony with energy and moves that nicely matched Baker Boy's opening slot.

The 2018 AIR Awards left everyone with the warm-and-fuzzies - confirmation and celebration of the fact that independent music is alive and kicking in Australia, and a reminder of the comradery and pride that prevails in the indie industry.

the 2018 air awards winners:

BEST INDEPENDENT LABEL

Milk! Records

BREAKTHROUGH INDEPENDENT ARTIST OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY PPCA

Baker Boy (Independent)

BEST INDEPENDENT ARTIST

Jen Cloher (Milk! Records)

BEST INDEPENDENT SINGLE

Every Day’s The Weekend - Alex Lahey (Nicky Boy Records)

BEST INDEPENDENT ALBUM OR EP

Everything Is Forgotten - Methyl Ethel (Dot Dash Recordings) AND Quiet Ferocity - The Jungle Giants (Amplifire Music)

BEST INDEPENDENT HARD ROCK, HEAVY OR PUNK ALBUM

Murder Of The Universe - King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard (Flightless Records)

BEST INDEPENDENT DANCE, ELECTRONICA OR CLUB SINGLE

Go Bang – PNAU (Etc Etc)

BEST INDEPENDENT DANCE/ELECTRONICA ALBUM

Changa – PNAU (Etc Etc)

BEST INDEPENDENT HIP HOP ALBUM

Train Of Thought – BIRDZ (Bad Apples Music)

BEST INDEPENDENT BLUES AND ROOTS ALBUM

When We Fall – All Our Exes Live In Texas (ABC Music)

BEST INDEPENDENT COUNTRY ALBUM

Real Class Act – Fanny Lumsden (Red Dirt Road Records)

BEST INDEPENDENT JAZZ ALBUM

The Great American Songbook – James Morrison/BBC Concert Orchestra (ABC Classics)

BEST INDEPENDENT CLASSICAL ALBUM

Jonny Greenwood – Australian Chamber Orchestra/Richard Tognetti (ABC Classics)

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Skinnyfish Music