Carlton Dry offers $50k grant as part of Independent Music Awards

As part of its inaugural sponsorship of the awards, Carlton Dry is offering a $50,000 grant to an emerging act to boost its profile overseas. The money is only to help tour, showcase, record, or relocate overseas to further their careers. In the shortlist for the Carlton Dry Global Music Grant are Big Scary, Jagwar Ma, King Gizard & The Lizard Wizard. Mia Dyson and RÜFÜS.

Sydney electro duo Jagwar Ma lead the nominations for the eighth Carlton Dry Independent Music Awards, held in Melbourne this month. They notched up six mentions. They are closely followed by Flume with five, and Big Scary with four.

Up for multiple noms are Seth Sentry, Dick Diver, Courtney Barnett, The Drones, Mia Dyson, RÜFÜS, Vance Joy and King Gizard & The Lizard Wizard.

Jagwar Mar, Flume and Big Scary are up against each other for Best Independent Artist, along with Dick Diver and The Drones. The five are also in the Best Independent Album category together.

Jagwar Mar, Flume and Big Scary also vie for Best Independent Single/EP with, respectively, Man I Need (Future Classic), Holdin’ On (Future Classic) and Luck Now (Pieater). In the same category are Courtney Barnett’s History Eraser (Milk! Records) and Vance Joy’s God Loves You When You’re Dancing (Liberation Music).

The winner of the Best Independent Label will be Future Classic, Liberation, Milk! Records, Sweat It Out and Two Bright Lakes.

Big Scary, Seth Sentry and RÜFÜS are also performing on the night, at Revolt Art Space in Kensington, along with Archie Roach, Violent Soho and Saskwatch.

Full nominations list at www.air.org.au.