Ali Mills performs 'Waltjim Bat Matlida' at IMAs 2010.
The seventh annual Indigenous Music Awards (IMAs) were held at the Amphitheatre in Darwin’s historic Botanical Darwins on Saturday August 28, 2010, in front of a 1500-strong crowd from all over Darwin, the NT and Australia.
The slickly-produced live show featured amazing performances by Warren H. Williams, Saltwater Band and Gurrumul Yunupingu, the Chooky Dancers, Ali Mills, Tableland Drifters, with Natalie Pa’apa’a from Blue King Brown – in town for Darwin Festival – also teaming up with Saltwater Band for a suprise collaboration towards the end of the show.
Elcho Island world music superstar Gurrumul Yunupingu – also part of Saltwater Band – was wildly welcomed to the stage by the crowd, as the recipient of the 2010 ‘Act of the Year’ Award. Garrangali Band picked up 3 awards, including ‘Album Of The Year’ with Wildflower ‘Best Emerging Act’.
Ali Mills and Rob Collins did a great job of hosting proceedings, with Ali Mills also receiving the ‘Special Recognition Award’, “for her significant contribution to the Indigenous music industry” after performing a cracking version of ‘Waltjim Bat Matilda’ to a delighted crowd. In another surprise appearance, Elcho Island’s famous Chooky Dancers performed a special tribute dance dedicated to their founder and mentor, the late Mr Garawirrtja.
And winners of the ‘School Band Award’ – Seven Star Band from Yirrkala CEC – have had a music video produced by the ABC as part of their prize, with other development and training also part of this Award.
See the IMA photo gallery on the Music NT Forum.
And the Awards also heralded an important development: it was announced that from 2011 the IMAS “will open nationally to all Indigenous musicians” around Australia.
Music NT extends a massive congratulations to all of the winners, nominees and performers, and those involved in delivering such a great production.
The full list of winners for the 2010 Indigenous Music Awards are listed below.
Gurrumul: Winner of the 'Act of the Year', 2010 IMAs.
Act of the Year – Gurrumul Yunupingu
Emerging Act of the Year – Wildflower
School Band Award – Seven Star Band, Yirrkala CEC
Artwork/Design of the Year – Garrangali Band
DVD/Film Clip Award – ‘History’ by Gurrumul Yunupingu
Traditional Award – ‘Sea Rights Bungul’ – Mulka Project & Dhuwa Dhapi – Mulka Project
Song of the Year – ‘Sea rights’ by Garrangali
Album of the Year – ‘Garrangali’ by Garrangali Band
Hall of Fame – Kumanjayi Murphy
Special Recognition Award – Ali Mills
More news about the IMAs on ABC online, photos on ABC Darwin website, in the Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian and the Koori Mail Part I, and Koori Mail Part II.
Words: Megan Spencer
