NZ music awards: Six60 dominate with five wins, Marlon Williams scores best album

Rock band Six60, recently the first New Zealand act to sell out 50,000-capacity Western Springs Stadium in Auckland, dominated last night’s Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards with five wins.

They took home best group, highest selling album, highest selling single for “Don’t Give It Up”, record of the year and people’s choice.

Singer Marlon Williams won the night’s most prestigious award, album of the year, for Make Way for Love.

Williams, who’s away touring in Europe, also got his manager to pick up his other achievement, for best solo artist.

He won best music video (which he directed) at last week’s Artisan Awards.

It was an acclaimed year for Williams: last month he won the most prestigious award for songwritting, the Silver Scroll.

The night at Auckland’s Spark Arena was hosted by Stan Walker and The Project host Kanoa Lloyd.

Hip-hop pioneers Upper Hutt Posse were inducted into the NZ music hall of fame, while Che Fu and The Kratez performed their classic “E Tu” in tribute.

Other winners were:

Single of the Year: Drax Project – “Woke Up Late”

Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Drax Project

Best Māori Artist: Troy Kingi

Best Pop Artist: Kimbra

Best Alternative Artist: Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Best Soul/RnB Artist: Troy Kingi

Best Hip Hop Artist: SWIDT

Best Roots Artist: Sons of Zion

 Best Electronic Artist: Chores

Best Rock Artist: Alien Weaponry

Best Worship Artist: Equippers Revolution

Best Classical Artist: Eve de Castro Robinson

 International Achievement: Brooke Ligertwood nee Fraser for her work with worship group Hillsong

Alien Weaponry, the power trio creating waves internationally for their thrash riffs and Maori lyrics, opened the night with a performance of ‘Kai Tangata’.