The nominations for the 20th anniversary milestone event are set to take place on Saturday 10 August.
The National Indigenous Music Awards have announced the finalists for the 20th anniversary event to be held at the Darwin Amphitheatre, Larrakia country, on 10 August. Barkaa and The Kid Laroi lead the nominations.
Sponsored by Amazon Music, the event will be broadcast on NITV on Saturday 10 August at 8 pm from Larrakia Country at the Darwin Amphitheatre, allowing music lovers nationwide to see their favourites win.
National Indigenous Music Awards
- Darwin Amphitheatre
- 10 August 2024
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Barkaa leads this year’s finalists, nominated for Artist of the Year, Film Clip of the Year, and Song of the Year for We Up. Recently named the new matriarch of Australian rap by GQ and listed in triple j’s top five female rappers in the country, Barkaa expressed her excitement, saying she’s “so honoured to be nominated again this year for three NIMAs! It’s always such an honour to be recognised for your work especially when it’s from your people. Thankful to be nominated amongst my peers, my mob, my people. Blakfullas don’t just make Blak music, we make the best music”.
The Kid Laroi is nominated for Album of the Year for his 2023 album The First Time, with the single Bleed up for Film Clip of the Year and Song of the Year. His 2020 debut mixtape, Fck Love, reached the top of the ARIA Charts, making him the youngest Australian solo artist to achieve this, and it peaked on the US Billboard 200.
Other nominees include:
Artist of the Year
- Electric Fields
- 3%
- King Stingray
- Budjerah
- Barkaa
- Emma Donovan
New Talent of the Year
- Jada Weazel
- Andrew Gurruwiwi Band
- South Summit
- James Range Band
- Becca Hatch
Film Clip of the Year
- Andrew Gurruwiwi Band – Yaa Djamarrkuli
- Barkaa – We Up
- Emily Wurramara – Magic Woman Dancing
- Rona. – aperleye
- The Kid Laroi – Bleed
Album of the Year
- The Kid Laroi – The First Time
- Emma Donovan – Til My Song is Done
- Dan Sultan – Dan Sultan
- Jessica Mauboy – Yours Forever
- Troy Cassar-Daley – Between the Fires
Song of the Year
- Christine Anu – Waku – Minaral A Minalay
- Barkaa – We Up
- Electric Fields – One Milkali (One Blood)
- The Kid Laroi – Bleed
- 3% – Our People
- Budjerah – Video Game
Community Clip of the Year
- Broome Youth and Families Hub – BME Youngnz
- Cabbo Crew & Desert Pea Media – Wanna Go Home
- Miihi Mirri-Dha & Desert Pea Media – Diamond in the Rough
- Bulman School & Community – Nidjarra
- Bulman School & Community – Malnganarra
- The Hill & Desert Pea Media – Butterfly
Electric Fields are nominated for Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for One Milkali (One Blood). Budjerah has a nomination for Artist of the Year and Video Game up for Song of the Year. Jessica Mauboy is recognised for Album of the Year with Yours Forever and Andrew Gurruwiwi Band for New Talent of the Year and Film Clip of the Year for Yaa Djamarrkuli.
First Nations’ supergroup 3%, consisting of Dallas Woods, Nooky, and Angus Field, are nominated for Album of the Year and their debut single Our People for Song of the Year. Dan Sultan is a finalist for Album of the Year with his self-titled album, and Emily Wurramara’s Magic Woman Dancing is among the finalists for Film Clip of the Year. All these artists will perform at the event.
The New Talent of the Year nominees include Jada Weazel, the Andrew Gurruwiwi Band, South Summit, James Range Band, and Becca Hatch. Community Clip of the Year nominees highlight Indigenous communities’ talents, including Broome Youth and Families Hub, Bulman School & Community, Cabbo Crew & Desert Pea Media, Miihi Mirra-Dha & Desert Pea Media, and The Hill & Desert Pea Media.
NITV and their expert First Nations broadcast team will capture every moment of the premier First Nations music celebration, from moving acceptance speeches to exclusive performances by Jessica Mauboy, 3%, and Emily Wurramara, including a collaborative performance honouring the 20th anniversary.
Get your tickets now at darwinfestival.org.au
