Live Music Awards gala to remain in Brisbane, new categories added

The National Live Music Awards returns on December 4, with organisers sharing a number of announcements for its fourth annual awards.

Each year the NLMAs puts on eight simultaneous events in every state and territory, with a gala awards night and 7 satellite events with live performances.

The gala event, which to now has been moving cities each year, has confirmed its gala event has committed to remain at Brisbane's The Triffid for the next two years.

Mark Gibbons, Head of Bookings at The Triffid, said: “The Triffid is proud to be the home of the NLMAs once again this year and we’re looking forward to working with their team in delivering an event worthy of the artists they’re giving recognition to.

"We believe live music is cause for celebration every day; and while that may be an impractical goal, we’re thrilled to be able to be part of an annual event that gives a platform to the innovators of our industry.”

The stay in Brisbane has been made possible with the support of the venue, 2018 partners Brisbane City Council, 4ZZZ and oztix.

The seven satellite events this year will be held in Launceston, Alice Springs, Melbourne, Adelaide, Annandale (Sydney), Fremantle and Canberra.

This isn’t the only major news today. Organisers have also expanded the scope of its awards, adding three new genre categories in Indie/Rock, Jazz & Classical.

They join the existing categories of R&B/Soul, Hard Rock, Electronic/DJ, Blues & Roots, Pop, Country and Hip Hop.

The two national public voted awards (Best Live Act and Best Live Voice) are being phased out, and in their place, four of the five awards in every state and territory (that's Best Live Act, Voice, Event and Venue) will be public voted for the first time.

That's 32 awards nationally, seeing the whole country given the opportunity to celebrate their favourite local artists, music venues and festivals.

Details on how to vote will be revealed later in the year, with the public to be given five nominees in each category to vote for, as chosen on by the NLMAs judging panel.

On the news, Festival Director Larry Heath said: "As we approach our fourth event, it's exciting to finally be able to implement some of our long-planned additions to the event, including widening the scope of the public voting and introducing categories like Jazz and Classical to the night, as we aim to make the awards as widely representative of the live scene as possible."

"And we couldn't be more thrilled to be keeping the gala in Brisbane after such an amazing event there last year. We look forward to welcoming everyone there this December.".

Nominees will be announced in late October, and public voting will commence at the same time.

Potential nominees - including those eligible for the new genre categories - are encouraged to apply for nomination consideration at NLMAs.com.au. Nominations close on August 15.