Live music awards reveal early winners, event lineup & more

The National Live Music Awards have released more details about next week’s livestream.

The event will bestow five Special Achievement Award recipients, and the Musicians Making a Difference Live Award winner following last week’s announcement of the nominees.

These awards were voted on by the NLMAs Board to recognise individuals, organisations and initiatives that went above and beyond during the early months of the pandemic.

NLMAs today announced three of the five Special Achievement Award winners, with the remaining two winners set to be revealed during next Tuesday’s livestream.

The first will revealed today is Support Act, an organisation which has been instrumental in making sure funds get to the people who need them most in the sector.

“We are humbled and honoured to receive this,” Support Act CEO Clive Miller said.

“This award really will provide us with the continued motivation to provide ongoing support to our colleagues across all genres of music, who have been impacted by the pandemic, and have lost their income and livelihoods. Like you, we can’t wait until live music is back again.”

The second winner is Isol-Aid, one of the first digital festivals to kick off when the pandemic hit, and this weekend will be holding their 31st event, all designed to support artists.

“I am thrilled, overwhelmed and humbled,” Isol-Aid co-founder Emily Ulman said.

“It’s so nice to be recognised by peers. Really this award belongs to the artists who performed, and their teams who have helped week after week put it all together… and of course the audiences for tuning in.”

The third award recipient named today is Select Music’s Stephen Wade, for his work setting up the Australian Live Music Business Council in July to give a voice to the smaller live music operators.

“I love this industry, it’s all I’ve ever known, and seeing it in its worst, and the people who make their living from it at their worst, the thought that this organisation gave us a little bit of hope and a place to belong, has been one of the highlights of my year,” he said.

All remaining winners will be unveiled from 8.30pm AEDT on Tuesday, October 20.

The awards will feature performances from The Beamish Brothers, Tyrone Noonan in a special tribute to Grant McLennan, Grace Barbe, Caitlin Harnett & The Pony Boys, Slag Queens and Sampa The Great, plus appearances by Mo’Ju, Jane Gazzo, Children Collide, RACKETT, The Lazys (direct from Canada) and many more.

At the event in Brisbane in-person performances are planned from The Beamish Brothers, Buttercats, Canada’s Emily Coulston, Tyrone Noonan (formerly of george), and a special International guest who happens to be in Brisbane and is set to play a surprise set.

Unofficial events are also popping up around the country, with Jive in Adelaide set to showcase live sets from nominees Bromham and My Cherie, alongside the stream.

In Perth, The Bird will be hosting a special viewing party, completely free. And Sideway in Canberra will also be hosting a party with live performances from Kirklandd and Hope Wilkins.