She revealed, “This award means so much – it is a career-topping milestone and I’m thrilled to be the first female solo inductee to The Age Music Victoria Hall Of Fame.”
It was a great night for Paul Kelly and The Drones as well. Their double wins signaled that Victorian audience regard then at the top of their game.
On the other side of the spectrum, the Best Emerging Artist win by Hiatus Kaiyoye, was equally significant. The band couldn’t collect their trophy in person because they’re midway through a 11-date European tour following up their third US visit in a year which saw them sell out shows, play on LA’s KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic program and WNYC’s Soundcheck show in New York and invited to play at Prince’s home, Paisley Park at a later date.
The band said from London, “Melbourne is our home town, we’re super proud of where we’re from so its very special to be acknowledged like this, we have a lot of love for the local music community and venues that helped foster us and continue to do so.”
Other nominees in the Best Emerging Artist category were Andras Fox, Brighter Later, Damn Terran and Frazer A Gorman.
The full list of winners were:
Best Album – Spring and Fall – Paul Kelly
Best Band – The Drones
Best Song – Riptide – Vance Joy
Best Male Artist –Paul Kelly
Best Female Artist – Adalita
Best Emerging Artist – Hiatus Kaiyote
Best Live Band – The Drones
Best Venue – The Corner Hotel
Best Festival – Meredith Music Festival
Best Regional Act – Stonefield
Best Regional Venue – Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
The night kicked off with a 30-minute set from Best Album nominees Big Scary. Other highlights were Kylie Auldist and Lance Ferguson of The Bamboos together on Geyer’s Stares and Whispers; Linda Bull covering Paul Kelly’s Sure Got Me and a duet from Saskwatch vocalist Nkechi and Henry Wagons on The Virgil Brothers’ Temptations ‘Bout to Get Me. The EG Allstars’ guest vocalists included Dan Sultan (who duetted with Renee), Daniel Merriweather, Remi Kolawole, Talei Wolfgramm and Ella Thompson, and Archie Roach’s Heal The People brought the house down.
