From all over the country and around the Northern Territory, thousands of people attended the National Indigenous Music Awards in Darwin on August 19, helping to kick off the first year of this dedicated national Indigenous music celebration.

The NIMAs were proudly presented by Music NT.

In their very first year of ‘going national’, the NIMAs made headlines around the country, with national coverage on triple j and Dig Radio, on the Ten Network’s ’6.30 with George Negus’, in the Weekend Australian, on ABC news online and CNN online.

Interstate the NIMAs were featured on ‘Mornings with Steve Vizard’ on radio MTR, ‘The Conversation Hour with Jon Faine’ on Melbourne ABC 774 , just to name a few.

Hundreds of people also ‘tuned in live’ to watch the NIMAs online broadcast as it happened on Friday August 19, from the Darwin Amphitheatre.

This year the NIMAs were ‘scooped’ by international singing star Gurrumul Yunupingu from Elcho Island, who made a brief appearance during the NIMAs via webcam, from his home in Arnhem Land.

Winning five awards in total, his second album Rrakala won ‘Cover Art’ and ‘Album of the Year’, plus two further nationally-nominated awards, ‘Song’ and ‘Act’of the Year’.

The music video for the collaboration between Gurrumul and Blue King Brown – Gathu Mawula [revisited] – also won for ‘Film Clip of the Year,’ shared between the artists.

The awards come just as the NT musician embarks upon a national tour.

Seminal Aboriginal Bands Coloured Stone and No Fixed Address were both inducted into the Hall of Fame, with North East Arnhem Land singer/songwriter Rrawun Maymuru taking home the ‘Best New Talent’ Award.

The ceremony was again hosted by musicians and performers Rob Collins and Ali Mills, who shared great rappoire together. They clearly enjoying entertaining the huge crowd – from all over the Territory and interstate guests – introducing the wealth of national Indigenous music stars who performed throughout the evening..

Contemporary soul singer Shellie Morris gave a moving and powerful performance singing in language with Yanyuwa traditional women singers, who gave a sneak preview of their Song Peoples Sessions collaborative music project (to be officially launched during the upcoming Desert Harmony Festival in Tennant Creek, at a special event on September 2).

Local heroes Neil Murray and Sammy Butcher received a rousing welcome from the thousands-strong crowd, as they took to the stage as Warumpi Band, remembering their late lead singer G.W. Burarrwanga, and performing their hit My Island Home – with a little help from Shellie Morris!

Bunna Lawrie and Coloured Stone also wowed the audience with amazing musical performances and guitar-work.

The enigmatic frontman told great stories about origins of songs such as Black Boy, with the band performing an energetic version of their hit, Dancing in the Moonlight.

The huge highlight of the evening was the hour-long performance by NIMAs ambassador and Melbourne-based soul performer, Dan Sultan.

The artist paid tribute to the Indigenous musicians who’d paved the way for his own music career – many of whom had been on stage that same night – and those who continued to inspire him.

He had a great time performing to the huge crowd who didn’t stop dancing from start to end. View an interview with him, filmed backstage at the NIMAs by BushTV.

See the full list of NIMAs winners, and visit the official website. View the gallery of NIMAs photo on the Music NT Forum and read about this year’s finalists.

Watch BushTV’s online feature about ‘Gathu Mawula Revisited’. View the ‘Sultan The Winner’ story on ‘6.30 with George Negus’ online (scroll on right of screen to find it).

Music NT congratulates all of the winners and nominees, and thanks the many people involved in making the NIMAs awards ceremony and concert such a success.

Words: Megan Spencer. Pics: Glenn Campbell for NIMAs/Music NT.

Additional sources: ABC News online, Mark Smith (Music NT), Agenteur (NIMAs Event Managers), AUM (NIMAs Event Publicity).