The 20th Australian Independent Record Award ceremony commenced on a Wednesday night at the prestigious Adelaide Town Hall, where The Beatles once waved to an estimated 300,000 fans.
The glitterati of the indie scene congregate in blazers and gowns, heels and loafers; Georgia Knight, Stella Donnelly, and members of These New South Whales file through, amongst others (including the ARIA Award-nominated Parvyn, who deserves a special shout-out for lending this journalist a much-needed hair tie).
The attendees (after much small talk and much sipping of cabernet sauvignon) take their seats in the hall’s auditorium. The proceedings are overseen by Adelaide’s most regal organ; the stage spread before it is awe-inspiring, boasting breadth and character.
And the prestigious night is kicked off by a performance from The Tullamarines, South Australia’s very own brand of pointedly climate-controlled pop, expertly curated in the most sterile of labs for triple j circulation. The Adelaide four-piece’s rendition of their Hottest 100 hit Running On Empty is seasoned and slick; the industry professionals can smell green.
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Once The Tullamarines strike their final chord, our jovial presenters grace the stage: consummate hosts Jessica Braithwaite (bedecked in a handsome lavender gown) and Dylan Lewis (dressed in sunglasses, dangly earrings, and zany black-and-yellow attire).
Lewis brings up the fact that it happens to be Kate Bush’s birthday, and jokes about how that occasion happens to be much more important than the awards’ notable anniversary; the audience giggles appreciatively.
“20 years ago, I think I was selling nangs,” he adds comically, before he and his co-host introduce a montage of past AIR success – so follow snippets of such talents as John Butler, Miss Kaninna, and more chatting to cameras and accepting much-deserved awards.
After some friendly housekeeping from our affable hosts, AIR CEO Maria Amato takes the stage to say some words, with both Amato and the ensuing award-winners paying homage to the land that birthed and cultivated the music being celebrated here tonight in Australia’s only UNESCO City of Music.
The AIR Awards very quickly became (and deservedly so) The Ninajirachi Show – the beacon of electronic music took home a whopping five awards: Independent Album of the Year, Independent Producer of the Year, and Best Independent Electronic Album or EP for I Love My Computer; and Best Independent Electronic Single and Independent Song of the Year for iPod Touch.
Nina Wilson – the mastermind behind it all – unfortunately can’t be present at the awards, and so made makes virtual, but sincere, speeches. By the time we get to her acceptance of Independent Album of the Year, she jokes from behind her ginger bangs, “I know you’re probably sick of me.”
Best Country Album – presented by Fanny Lumsden, in a glorious tartan affair – goes to Ruby Gill for Some Kind Of Control, who also virtually accepted the award and while doing so shouts out all the things that inspired the record, including gay sex.
Folk Bitch Trio take home the award for Best Independent Blues and Roots Album or EP, before Braithwaite and Lewis welcome to the stage “the funkiest band in Australia”: Cookin’ On 3 Burners.
As expected, the Melbourne-bred funk trio bring groove and talent to the Adelaide Town Hall, before the bestowing of awards continues with a deserved win for These New South Whales for Best Independent Punk Release.
Afterwards, Folk Bitch Trio continue to triumph with such honours as Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Independent Music Video of the Year.
It is then time for the ethereal Georgia Knight to hold court with her autoharp. The musician – who was nominated for Best Pop Album; but lost out to Way Dynamic for their release Massive Shoe – is wreathed in soft violet light, and cradles a landline telephone between ear and collarbone, murmuring into the mouthpiece as if she is simply alone in her bedroom, musing on love. Her performance of Cut You Loose is eye-stinging. Hallowed.
The night goes on, and valuable members of the Australian Independent Music community continue to be justly recognised for their efforts – including those onstage and those behind the scenes.
For example, the 2026 Outstanding Achievement Award sponsored by Merlin goes to Sebastian Chase, founding CEO of MGM Distribution, who was nominated by AIR members in recognition of his significant contribution to the industry over the last three decades.
NLV Records takes home Independent Marketing Team of The Year. Twnty Three wins the award for Independent Publicity Team Of The Year (which, in many ways, counts as another win for Ninajirachi), and the founder and director Melody Forghani gave a touching speech; she was open about being a shy person by nature, but she is clearly well-equipped to communicate with the people who matter to successfully uphold a winning piece of Australian music.
The awards ceremony concludes with another triumph of the South Australian music scene: singer-songwriter Elsy Wameyo, adorned in dazzling scarlet and armed with flinty charisma. Her charm and consummate musical talent succeed in bringing the entire room to its feet, clapping and swaying and grinning – including those who had won awards and those who hadn’t.
Wameyo, with her sonic prowess and All Round Good Vibes, ensures that the contentment is universal. And so the ceremony – which ended up being impressively punctual – comes to an end. But the night does not.
Those who still have energy – and most do, including me, whose heel had quite tragically broken by this point in the night – rocket their way to Adelaide’s old-school rollicking dive-bar Crybaby, to dance, to drink, to gossip, celebrate victory, and – even more – to celebrate community.
This piece of content has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body
