"This is such an honour for us."
Vika & Linda Bull with Kate Ceberano
Melbourne music is looking better than ever, as evident via tonight’s Music Victoria Awards ceremony.
The annual event saw a slew of artists, releases, venues and festivals pick up awards, with local favourites The Teskey Brothers claiming four, including Best Album, Best Regional/Outer Suburban Act, Best Song and Best Band alongside $16,000 in cash, following their Best Breakthrough Act win in 2017.
“We had a look at the nominees this year, and it was an incredible line-up, so to win this is such an honour for us,” The Teskey Brothers said.
Sampa The Great and Courtney Barnett took out Best Hip Hop Act and Best Solo Artist respectively for a second year, while Tones & I (real name Toni Watson) – who rewrote ARIA chart history last week - was awarded Outstanding Achievement Award for her huge success over the past year.
"I just want to say thank you so much for picking me for the Outstanding Achievement Award," said Watson in a pre-recorded video message.
"It means a lot and I really wish I could be there but unfortunately I can't... It's a huge honour and I really wish I could be there."
Don't miss a beat with our FREE daily newsletter
Tonight’s event, held at Melbourne Recital Centre, also saw Vika & Linda Bull inducted into the 2019 Music Victoria Hall Of Fame by Kate Ceberano.
"And now together - always together - forever together, we celebrate their important position in the history of Australian music," said Ceberano. "It's my profound privilege to present Vika and Linda Bull with their Hall Of Fame distinction tonight. Long may you reign, our Tongan queens."
"This is a great honour for a couple of chicks from Doncaster," said Linda during their induction speech.
"It means so much because it says that recognition can come to anyone if they work hard and stay true to themselves."
The duo performed When Will You Fall For Me? from their 1994 debut album Vika & Linda with Mark Seymour on guitar.
THE 2019 MUSIC VICTORIA AWARDS WINNERS
PUBLIC-VOTED WINNERS
Best Victorian Album of 2019 ($10,000 cash prize)
The Teskey Brothers – Run Home Slow
Best Band
The Teskey Brothers
Best Song ($3,000 cash prize)
The Teskey Brothers – So Caught Up
Best Solo Artist
Courtney Barnett
Best Male Musician
Paul Kelly
Best Female Musician
Erica Dunn (Tropical Fuck Storm, Palm Springs, MOD CON, Harmony)
Best Victorian Breakthrough Act of 2019 ($5,000 cash prize)
G Flip
Best Live Act ($5,000 travel voucher)
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
Best Small Venue (under 500 capacity)
Northcote Social Club, Northcote
Best Large Venue (over 500 capacity)
Forum, Melbourne
INDUSTRY-VOTED WINNERS
Best Festival
Golden Plains
Best Regional/Outer Suburban Act ($3,000 cash prize)
The Teskey Brothers
Best Regional/Outer Suburban Venue (Over 50 gigs per year) ($3,000 cash prize)
Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
Best Regional/Outer Suburban Venue (Under 50 gigs per year) ($3,000 cash prize)
Meeniyan Town Hall, Meeniyan
Archie Roach Foundation Award for Emerging Talent ($2,000 cash prize)
Key Hoo
Best Blues Album
Opelousas – Opelousified
Best Country Album
Matt Joe Gow – Break, Rattle And Roll
Best Electronic Act
Sui Zhen
Best Experimental or Avant-Garde Act
Naretha Williams
Best Folk or Roots Album
The Maes – The Maes
Best Heavy Album
Suldusk – Lunar Falls
Best Hip Hop Act
Sampa The Great
Best Intercultural Act
Përolas
Best Jazz Album
Andrea Keller – Transients Vol. 1
Best Reggae and Dancehall Act
Echo Drama
Best Rock/Punk Album
Tropical Fuck Storm – Braindrops
Best Soul, Funk, Gospel or RNB Album
Allysha Joy – Acadie: Raw
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
PBS 106.7FM and Vika & Linda Bull