Today, Music Victoria reveals the list of nominated artists, venues, festivals and music industry professionals for the 2023 Music Victoria Awards.
The awards ceremony will take place on Tuesday, 31 October at The Edge, Fed Square (and streamed online).
Voting is now open for Music Victoria Awards’ 12 publicly-voted categories, including Best Album, Best Group, Best Regional Act, Best Metro Festival, Best Small Venue and more. Acclaimed artists Julia Jacklin, RVG, Cable Ties, Jen Cloher, and Forest Claudette have received nominations across multiple publicly-voted categories in this year’s awards.
Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
The electrifying Miss Kaninna has been nominated for the Archie Roach Foundation Award for Emerging Talent as well as Best Song or Track for her single Blak Britney. A proud Yorta-Yorta and Kalkadoon woman born and raised in lutruwita/Tasmania, Miss Kaninna carries forward the line of storytelling from the past, to the future. Through her music, she boldly shares the Blak experience of a young woman, in so-called Australia.
The genre-bending Forest Claudette is nominated for Best Solo Artist and Best Song for Mess Around (feat. EARTHGANG) from their new EP Everything Was Green, released in June this year. Born and raised in the Dandenong Ranges, they spent their school years honing their craft between piano, guitar, and vocals before realising that no teacher could show them how to write songs that authentically captured their experience as a black, queer person. Now 23-years-old, Forest Claudette uses music as a tool for self-discovery that speaks to fans across the world.
Rock icon Adalita joins Forest Claudette in the nominations for Best Solo Artist. Her impact has been deeply felt from her work as a solo artist and founding member of legendary Australian alt-rock band, Magic Dirt. First exploding into local consciousness back in 1991, Adalita’s career as a songwriter and performer has paved the way for women in Australian rock. Music Victoria’s 17 industry-voted categories include the Archie Roach Foundation Award for Emerging Talent, MAV Diasporas Award, and the Arts Access Victoria Amplify Award.
Music Victoria have also announced that Kutcha Edwards and industry stalwart Kirsty Rivers will be inducted into the Music Victoria Hall of Fame at this year’s ceremony. Renowned for his prolific union of songwriting and activism, Kutcha Edwards has seen a remarkable, three-decade career as a solo artist and as a member in Watbalimba, Blackfire, and The Black Arm Band. As a survivor of the Stolen Generations and a proud Mutti Mutti man, these experiences have influenced his diverse creative output. Edwards’ ongoing contributions to Australian art are significant and powerful.
Currently the Head of Music in Creative Australia’s Sector Development and Advocacy team, Kirsty Rivers’ monumental career has seen her head Creative Victoria’s Contemporary Music division, oversee the Victorian State Government’s Music Works program, establish a number of awards and Fellowships for music professionals, and complete a remarkable 17-year tenure as National Manager for Writer Services at APRA AMCOS.
Informed by her commitment to the centrality of the artist and the empowerment of women and diverse communities within the sector, it comes as no surprise that Kirsty has been acknowledged as one of the Top 50 Most Influential People in Music on multiple occasions.
Simone Schinkel, Music Victoria’s CEO, says “our experts have spoken, and now it’s time for the public to have their say. Place your vote and let’s celebrate the Victorian music that made your year!”
Music Victoria saw a record number of entrants for this year’s awards, with over 1,200 artists, venues, festivals, and presenters putting themselves up for consideration. No matter if you’re an industry professional or music lover, voting is open and encouraged for all! Think back to the music that got under your skin this year, the tracks that made you turn, the gigs you couldn’t stop thinking about. Voting is open until Friday, 13 October at noon.
The Music Victoria Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of musicians, venues, festivals, and industry professionals who contribute to the vibrancy and success of Victoria’s music scene. Past winners include one of Australia’s most exciting singer/songwriters, Mo’Ju, Zambian-born poet and rapper Sampa the Great, Yolŋu rapper, dancer and performer Baker Boy and Australian icon Paul Kelly. Music Victoria has inducted Archie Roach, Kylie Minogue, Olivia Newton John, Michael Gudinski and Vika & Linda into the Hall of Fame. Last year’s Hall of Fame inductees were Deborah Conway AM and Helen Marcou AM & Ian “Quincy” McLean AM.
Music Victoria acknowledges the rich contributions made by people from a variety of backgrounds to the Victorian contemporary music scene and is pleased to see that this diversity is showcased in this year’s list of nominees.
Enter your vote to support your favourite artist today at www.musicvictoriaawards.com.au.
