NIMAs Unveil First 2015 Line-Up, Date Change

The annual National Indigenous Music Awards are solidifying preparations for 2015's prizegiving ceremony, getting things under way with their first revelation of artists destined to grace the event's stage this year as well as confirming that its date has moved to July.

They're kicking things off in a big way, too, with the revelation that the awards will serve as the premiere platform for eagerly awaited hour-long performance The Genesis Project, a transgenerational-cultural celebration by East Journey featuring Yothu Yindi before being taken to the national consciousness on the Australian festival circuit.

It's early days yet, so the line-up is yet to expand beyond its esteemed headline act, but with a roster of acts last year that included the likes of Dan Sultan, Tom E. Lewis, the Tjintu Desert Band, Djuki Mala, The Last Kinection and the Desert Divas collective, it's safe to bet that the yearly awards will be looking to match 2014's efforts for diversity and quality, so be sure to keep eyes peeled over the next few months as this year's crop follows suit.

"The NIMAs has grown significantly over the past four years," said MusicNT and NIMAs executive director Mark Smith in a statement. "It is now recognised nationally by the music industry and by the Indigenous community as 'the' awards for Indigenous musicians in Australia.

"Since their evolution from an NT-based awards in 2012 into that of a national one, it has continued to grow and solidify its place in recognising achievement and excellence in the Indigenous music sector. MusicNT is proud again to host this year's event and we look forward to celebrating the music and achievements of Indigenous musicians from across the country."

The 2015 NIMA Awards will hit the Darwin Amphitheatre on Saturday, 25 July; tickets are $35 for adults ($28 concession/groups of more than eight, free for kids under 12) and available via the Darwin Entertainment Centre.

For more information, see the NIMAs website.