Last night, The Age revealed the list of its publicly nominated EG Awards for 2012 recognising the best in emerging, as well as established talent in the Australian music scene in a number of key categories.
Just as he led the nominations for this year’s AIR Awards, Melbourne’s Chet Faker has again accrued a large number of nods – four to be precise – with Pitchfork darlings Twerps and Deep Heat desperados Oh Mercy also leading the list with the same number of nominations.
Twerps and Oh Mercy are also nominated in the Best Album category alongside fellow Melburnians Alpine, and the six-piece are looking strong with two more nominations in the categories for Best Band and Best Song (for ‘Villages’). The rest of the nominees are a diverse list ranging from well-established acts (Something For Kate, Dirty Three, Tim Rogers) as well as a host of emerging talent (Courtney Barnett, Saskwatch, Pond).
The other big reveal of the night was the news that folk-rock luminaries, Weddings, Parties, Anything will be the 2012 inductees into the EG Hall of Fame as they celebrate the 25th anniversary of their 1987 debut, Scorn of the Women – and fresh from playing a rare comeback show at their (semi) annual Grand Final eve gig.
The ‘Weddoes’ will headline the 2012 Age EG Awards with a full performance of their virgin record complete with original member Dave Steel, before they join the ranks of Paul Kelly, Paniters and Doctors, and the Hoodoo Gurus as Hall Of Fame inductees.
EG editor Jo Wilson heaped her praise on Weddings, Parties, Anything during the announcement last night (which you can view above), saying: “No band has since come close to giving fans such a sense of belonging, of family, of being at some holy communion. It’s the sort of meat- and-potatoes integrity, combined with a distinctly Melbourne voice, that EG loves and embraces. The Weddoes are as Melbourne as they come.”
The 2012 EG Awards will be hosted by media personality Myf Warhust, who will be bringing some of her Nice vibe to proceedings on Tuesday 20th November at Billboard nightclub in Melbourne, the first time the EG Awards have been held at the venue.
‘’As a past writer for the EG and a Melbourne music fan for my entire adult life, there could be no greater pleasure than to help celebrate and congratulate what is one of the greatest music scenes in the world at an event put together by Melbourne’s finest music/arts guide,’’ said Warhurst in a press release for the ceremony.
Voting for the 2012 EG Awards opens from this Friday (October 5th), when tickets also go on sale, until November 16th via The Age website
Tickets to the award ceremony are $35 from Oztix, Moshtix and billboardthevenue.com.auwith profits going to Support Act Limited, a charity supporting musicians enduring financial hardship, or loss of income due to illness.
Best New Talent
Bombay Royale
Bushwalking
Cactus Channel
Chet Faker
Courtney Barnett
Jackson Firebird
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard
The Murlocs
Oscar + Martin
Saskwatch
Smith Street Band
Woollen Kits
Best Female
Butterfly Boucher
Catcall
Clare Bowditch
Courtney Barnett
Emma Russack
Julia Stone
Kate Miller-Heidke
Lanie Lane
Linda Johnston
Liz Stringer
Mia Dyson
Sherry Rich
Best Male
360
Charles Jenkins
Chet Faker
Dave Graney
Galapagoose
Geoffrey O’Connor
Henry Wagons
Jordie Lane
Mikelangelo
Ron S Peno
Spencer P Jones
Tim Rogers
Best Album
Alpine – A is For Alpine
Clare Bowditch – The Winter I Chose Happiness
Collarbones – Die Young
Dirty Three – Toward the Low Sun
Gruntbucket – Songs From an Empty Room
Jim Keays – Dirty, Dirty
Liz Stringer – Warm in the Darkness
Oh Mercy – Deep Heat
Pond – Beard, Wives, Denim
Ponyface – Hypnotised
Sherry Rich – Dakota Avenue
Twerps – Twerps
Best Band
Alpine
Clairy Browne & the Bangin’ Rackettes
Dirty Three
Even
Graveyard Train
Husky
New War
Oh Mercy
Pond
Something For Kate
Temper Trap
Twerps
Best Song
Alpine – Villages
Charles Jenkins – Pray My Dear Daughter
Chet Faker – No Diggity
Clairy Browne & the Bangin’ Rackettes – Love Letter
Graveyard Train – Get The Gold
Mia Dyson – When the Moment Comes
Oh Mercy – Drums
Saskwatch – Your Love
Something For Kate – Survival Expert
Tame Impala – Elephant
The Bamboos featuring Tim Rogers – I Got Burned
Twerps – Dreamin’
Best Tour
Dig It Up! – The Palace
The Pogues – Festival Hall
Dolly Parton – Rod Laver
Fu Manchu – Cherryrock/HiFi
Jack White – Festival Hall
Lil Band O’ Gold – Regal Theatre/Gershwin Room
Mark Lanegan – Forum
Kanye West – Myer Music Bowl/Big Day Out
Prince – Rod Laver
The Beach Boys – Rod Laver
The Darkness – The Palace
The Wedding Present – Northcote Social Club
Outstanding Achievement By A Victorian Artist*
Ainslie Wills
Ben Browning
Boomgates
Chet Faker
Francolin
Galapagoose
Husky
Lower Plenty
Oh Mercy
New War
Teeth & Tongue
Twerps
