Gurrumul & Baker Boy dominate National Indigenous Music Awards

In a year where Australian Indigenous music made its biggest mark on the mainstream and overseas, with the widest diversity of styles two of its biggest acts – Gurrumul and Baker Boy – dominated Saturday night’s National Indigenous Music Awards in Darwin.

Gurrumul, whose ambitious farewell album Djarimirri (Child of The Rainbow) received critical acclaim, is currently drawing standing ovations abroad for his documentary.

The late singer-songwriter took out Artist Of The Year, Djarimirri was lauded as Album Of The Year and the title track the Single Of The Year gong.

One of G’s biggest fans, Baker Boy, had a mainstream crossover with Marryuna while his shows are sell-outs.

The rapper won Best New Talent and Video Of The Year for Marryuna.

With the two dominating the wins, some of the other shining stars of Indigenous music were left out.

These included Emily Wurramara who’s notched up 1 million streams on Spotify, Electric Fields who are making their European debut this year, A.B. Original, Archie Roach, Birdz, Jessica Mauboy, Dan Sultan, Alice Skye, Kardajala Kirridarra, Busby Marou, Isaiah, Black Rock Band, Ziggy Ramo and Kuren.

Baker Boy closed the show with an appearance from Yirrima, receiving a standing ovation.

Other performers were Alice Skye, Kasey Chambers & Alan Pigram, Busby Marou, Stiff Gins and an astounding display from the Kenbi Dancers – who shared the NT traditional music award with Buku-waṯthunawuy Nininyᶇu Rom – who also had the crowd on its feet.

The Central Australian Aboriginal Women’s Choir, whose profile has gone national in the past 12 months, was honoured with the special achievement award while community clip of the year was awarded to B-Town Warriors from Bourke, NSW.

Crowd favourite Roger Knox was inducted into the awards’ hall of fame.

The Australian Music Vault in Melbourne will celebrate the induction with a display of Knox awards, artwork, rare photographs and performance footage, posters and personal mementoes.

Producer Michael Hohnen acknowledged the late Tom E. Lewis' contribution to music and culture.