The Age Music Victoria Awards Reveals 2018 Nominees

Back for its 13th year, The Age Music Victoria Awards has just revealed its list of 2018 nominees. 

This year the ceremony will feature 27 awards, with ten voted by the public and 17 voted by a panel of industry experts. In a first for the awards, the Victorian Government will also provide $10,000 for the Best Victorian Album of 2018 and $5,000 to the Best Victorian Breakthrough Act. 

Speaking about the event and the government's contribution, Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley said, “We’re proud to support these awards, and it’s just a small acknowledgement of the economic, social and cultural benefits music brings to our State.”

Courtney Barnett and Baker Boy lead the nominations with five apiece with Laura Jean closely behind with four. 

The official ceremony will take place during Melbourne Music Week this year on 21 November and will be hosted by radio presenters Lyndelle Wilkinson and Chris Gill. 

Voting for the public awards is now open so check out the full list below and then follow the link here to have your say. 

PUBLIC VOTED NOMINEES

The Premier’s Prize for the Best Victorian Album of 2018 - $10,000 Cash Prize 

Camp Cope – How To Socialise & Make Friends

Courtney Barnett – Tell Me How You Really Feel

Laura Jean – Devotion 

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – Hope Downs 

Sampa The Great – Birds And The Bee9 

Best Band

Camp Cope

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard 

MOD CON 

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever 

Tropical Fuck Storm 

Best Song

Baker Boy – Marryuna 

Camp Cope – The Opener 

Courtney Barnett – Nameless, Faceless 

Laura Jean – Girls On The TV 

Mojo Juju – Native Tongue 

Best Solo Artist

Alex Lahey 

Angie McMahon 

Baker Boy 

Courtney Barnett 

Didirri 

Laura Jean 

Mojo Juju 

Sampa The Great

Tash Sultana 

Vance Joy 

Best Male Musician 

Danzal Baker (Baker Boy) 

Didirri Peters (Didirri) 

Gareth Liddiard (Tropical Fuck Storm) 

Jake Robertson (School Damage, Alien Nosejob) 

Tom Iansek (No Mono) 

 Best Female Musician

Courtney Barnett 

Erica Dunn (Tropical F*ck Storm, MOD CON, Palm Springs) 

Laura Englert (Laura Jean) 

Mojo "Juju" Ruiz De Luzuriaga (Mojo Juju) 

Sampa Tembo (Sampa The Great) 

The Premier’s Prize for the Best Victorian Breakthrough Act of 2018 - $5000 Cash Prize 

Angie McMahon 

Baker Boy 

Kaiit 

Mildlife 

MOD CON 

 Best Live Act 

Amyl And The Sniffers 

Baker Boy 

Cable Ties 

Courtney Barnett 

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard 

Best Small Venue (Under 500 capacity) 

The Gasometer, Collingwood 

Howler, Brunswick 

Northcote Social Club, Northcote 

The Old Bar, Fitzroy 

The Tote, Collingwood 

Best Large Venue (Over 500 capacity) 

170 Russell, Melbourne 

Corner Hotel, Richmond 

The Croxton Bandroom, Thornbury 

Hamer Hall, Southbank 

Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank 

INDUSTRY VOTED NOMINEES 

Best Festival 

Gizzfest 

Golden Plains 

Meredith Music Festival 

Sugar Mountain 

Wet Fest 

Best Regional/Outer Suburban Act 

Benny Walker 


Freya Josephine Hollick 

High Tension 

Stonefield 

This Way North 

Best Regional/Outer Suburban Venue (Over 50 gigs per year) 

Barwon Club, South Geelong 

Caravan Music Club, Bentleigh East

Karova Lounge, Ballarat 

Sooki Lounge, Belgrave 

The Workers Club, Geelong 

Best Regional/Outer Suburban Venue (Under 50 gigs per year) 

Aireys Pub, Aireys 

Inlet Blues Train, Queenscliff 

Meeniyan Town Hall, Meeniyan 

Theatre Royal, Castlemaine 

Wandi Pub, Wandiligong 

Archie Roach Foundation Award for Emerging Talent 

Alice Skye 

Baker Boy 

Kaiit 

Oetha 

Willow Beats 

Best Blues Album 

Collard Greens And Gravy – Luedella 

Fiona Boyes – Voodoo In The Shadows 

Lloyd Spiegel – Backroads 

Rhythm X Revival – Rhythm X Revival 

Steve Boyd’s Rum Reverie – Hoodoo Hipshake 

Best Country Album 

Ben Mastwyk & The Millions – Winning Streak

Freya Josephine Hollick – Feral Fusion 

Greta Ziller – Queen Of Boomtown 

James Ellis & The Jealous Guys – It's Ain't Texas (But It Ain't Bad) 

Michael Waugh – The Asphalt & The Oval 

Best Electronic Act 

Alice Ivy 

Cale Sexton 

Corin 

Habits 

Mildlife 

Best Experimental or Avant-Garde Act 

Aviva Endean 

Maria Moles

MESS Ltd 

Nat Grant 

Romy Fox 

Best Folk or Roots Album 

Cat Canteri – Inner North

Lucy Wise – Winter Sun 

Luke Plumb & The Circuit – Turn & ReTurn 

Michael Waugh – The Asphalt & The Oval 

Trouble In The Kitchen – The Score 

Best Global Act 

Cool Out Sun 

Digital Afrika 

Mojo Juju 

Senegambian Jazz Band 

Xylouris White 

Best Heavy Album 

Dangerous Curves – So Dirty Right 

Dream On Dreamer – It Comes And Goes 

Encircling Sea – Hearken 

High Tension – Purge 

YLVA – Meta 

Best Hip Hop Act 

Baker Boy 

Drmngnow 

Jordan Dennis 

Kaiit 

Sampa The Great 

Best Jazz Album 

30/70 – Elevate 

Barney McAll – Hearing The Blood 

Menagerie – The Arrow Of Time 

Origami - Wu Xing – The 5 Elements 

Sam Anning Sextet – Across A Field As Vast As One 

Best Reggae and Dancehall Act 

Marvin Priest & Rik-E-Ragga

Melbourne Ska Orchestra 

Monkey Marc 

Ras Jahknow 

Yaw Faso 

Best Rock/Punk Album 

Camp Cope – How to Socialise & Make Friends 

Divide and Dissolve – Abomination 

Little Ugly Girls – Little Ugly Girls 

Sarah Mary Chadwick – Sugar Still Melts In The Rain

Tropical Fuck Storm – A Laughing Death in Meatspace 

Best Soul, Funk, RnB Album 

30/70 – Elevate 

The Bamboos – Night Time People 

Billy Davis – A Family Portrait 

Mildlife – Phase 

Sampa The Great – Birds and The BEE9