Perth rockers Methyl Ethyl and Brisbane indie-pop band The Jungle Giants delivered an AIR Awards first last night.

Both bands were tied for the Best Independent Album or EP Award with Methyl Ethel’s Everything is Forgotten, which hit #16 on the ARIA chart in March 2017, and The Jungle Giants’ third ARIA #11-charting LP Quiet Ferocity both accruing an equal number of votes.

Taking place in Adelaide’s last night during the annual Indie-Con conference and showcase event – and hosted once again by Dylan Lewis – the AIR Awards acknowledged 12 of Australia’s finest artists and rewarded two strong independent music business with financial funding supporting partners Merlin and Moshtix.

Having kicked off the night performing with a Welcome to Country featuring the Tal-Kin-Jeri Dancers, and a performance of his own ‘Mr La Di Da Di’ single, Baker Boy took out the award for Breakthrough Independent Artist of the Year.

Baker Boy

PNAU, who returned to the charts with sixth record Changa last year and hit #4 on the ARIA chart with its lead single ‘Chameleon’, took out two awards. The two-time ARIA Award winners took out the AIR Awards for Best Independent Dance, Electronica Or Club Single and Best Independent Dance/Electronica Album.

Elsewhere, Jen Cloher took home AIR’s Best Independent Artist award, Best Independent Single went to Alex Lahey for her song ‘Every Day’s The Weekend’, Fanny Lumsden accepted the award for Best Independent Country Album, and King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard took out Best Independent Hard Rock, Heavy Or Punk Album with Murder of the Universe.

Best Independent Label went to Milk! Records and thanks to moshtix; Jen Cloher and Courtney Barnett‘s label will receive a digital marketing package valued at $20,000 to help showcase their talent to the music public.

Skinnyfish Music took out AIR’s new Outstanding Achievement Award for its contribution to the indie music sector, receiving a $5,000 cash prize from global independent rights agency Merlin, in recognition of their significant and lasting

2018 AIR AWARDS WINNERS

BEST INDEPENDENT LABEL

Milk! Records

Thanks to moshtix; the recipient of this year’s Best Independent label award will receive a digital marketing package valued at $20,000 to help showcase their talent to the music public.

BREAKTHROUGH INDEPENDENT ARTIST OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY PPCA

Baker Boy (Independent)

BEST INDEPENDENT ARTIST

Jen Cloher (Milk! Records)

BEST INDEPENDENT SINGLE

Every Day’s the Weekend – Alex Lahey (Nicky Boy Records)

BEST INDEPENDENT ALBUM OR EP

Everything is Forgotten – Methyl Ethel (Dot Dash Recordings) AND Quiet Ferocity – The Jungle Giants (Amplifire Music)

BEST INDEPENDENT HARD ROCK, HEAVY OR PUNK ALBUM

Murder of the Universe – King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard (Flightless Records)

BEST INDEPENDENT DANCE, ELECTRONICA OR CLUB SINGLE

Go Bang – PNAU (Etc Etc)

BEST INDEPENDENT DANCE/ELECTRONICA ALBUM

Changa – PNAU (Etc Etc)

BEST INDEPENDENT HIP HOP ALBUM

Train of Thought – BIRDZ (Bad Apples Music)

BEST INDEPENDENT BLUES AND ROOTS ALBUM

When We Fall – All Our Exes Live in Texas (ABC Music)

BEST INDEPENDENT COUNTRY ALBUM

Real Class Act – Fanny Lumsden (Red Dirt Road Records)

BEST INDEPENDENT JAZZ ALBUM

The Great American Songbook – James Morrison/BBC Concert Orchestra (ABC Classics)

BEST INDEPENDENT CLASSICAL ALBUM

Jonny Greenwood – Australian Chamber Orchestra/Richard Tognetti (ABC Classics)

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

This award recognises an individual or group who has made a significant and lasting contribution to the Australian Independent Music Community

Skinnyfish Music

Thanks to the global independent rights agency Merlin, this year’s winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize to be used for business/professional development

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.