MusicNT 2015 program: Conference, new digital station, changes to awards

The Northern Territory’s peak music association MusicNT last night threw a gala event in Darwin to announce its 2015 program. It includes “grass-roots music development, national music industry partnerships and a strong focus on supporting (NT) musicians and music industry to take their music to the next level.”

The iNTune Darwin music conference, workshops and showcases will be held June 26-27. First speakers announced include Nick Findlay (triple j), Sarah Hamilton (Ditto Music), Hazel Savage (Pandora) and Chris Johnson (Amrap). Registrations and showcase applications open early April.

The NT Song of the Year awards are on June 27. Entries have opened and close June 1. This year People’s Choice voting has changed – it will now be open for 10 days only and the winner announced at the awards night.

The Hot Shots photography competition for the best photos of NT artists and music events will be followed with a travelling Territory-wide exhibition between June and November. Applications have opened and close June 1. This year’s competition sees a separate category for Portrait and Live photos.

As announced this week in TMN, the National Indigenous Music Awards have moved to July 25 to make them more of a stand-alone event from the Darwin Festival. The East Journey/ Yothu Yindi collaboration The Genesis Project will make its Australian premiere before a national tour. Tickets will be available atOutback Stores and the Arnhem Land Progress Association in over 35 remote NT communities.

The FRESH MiNT initiative, a monthly sampler of NT music, has expanded to a new digital radio station MiNT Radio. It plays only NT music covering established and new acts. It is asking for submissions from presenters wanting to host their own shows.

The Bush Bands Program (September 2-5)brings together Bush Bands Bash and Bush Bands Business. The program offers skills and industry development for Indigenous musicians, leading to performances at the Bush Bands Bash in Alice Springs.

The indigenous female skills-development Divas program follows songwriting, career and performance workshops with showcases. This year, Saltwater Divas is held in Darwin April 10-11, Barkly Divas at Tennant Creek July 30-August 1 and Desert Divas in Alice Springs September 2-5.

The Sista Sounds workshops for indigenous women in remote communities returns, after working with over 400 participants in 2014.

The annual Original Recipe music festival this year moves to November 9-15 in line with AusMusic Month. Last year over a week, it reached an audience of 5500 for 58 events in 37 venues with 135 artists.