The stars align… East Journey will perform at the 2012 NIMAs. Pic: Peter Eve

MusicNT is proud to announce that triple j and the National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs) have aligned to ‘unearth’ a new Indigenous act! Plus, The Medics, Yabu Band & East Journey will perform at the NIMAs 2012!

Now in their second year of ‘going national’ – and held annually under the stars at the Gardens Amphitheatre in Darwin – the National Indigenous Music Awards are a celebration of Indigenous music that honours contemporary and traditional artists.

The NIMAs are presented annually by MusicNT, the Northern Territory’s peak music industry body.

Busby Marou and The Medics came together on May 16 – along with rising hip-hop reggae act Dubmarine – at a special launch at the Brisbane Powerhouse, to give a shout-out for the triple j Unearthed National Indigenous Music Awards competition. MusicNT Manager Mark Smith also spoke at the launch. (View photo gallery here.)

The aim of the competition is “to unearth the best unsigned Indigenous act in the country”.

Busby Marou performed at the launch in Sydney.

One act will be selected, and flown to perform at the Awards ceremony.

Unsigned Indigenous acts can now upload their tracks to triplejunearthed.com. One outstanding act – to be selected by the triple j team – will win the opportunity to perform at the National Indigenous Music Awards – aka the ‘NIMAs’ – in Darwin on August 11, 2012.

To be in the running Indigenous artists need to have 2 tracks uploaded on the Unearthed site before midnight Sunday July 1st, 2012.

Over the years, triple j has played a significant role in breaking Indigenous acts into the mainstream music landscape. triple j Unearthed Executive Producer Steph Carrick said, “we are thrilled to be partnering with the NIMAs to encourage Indigenous acts to upload their music to the site. “

“Not only could they find themselves playing at the NIMAs, but by being part of Unearthed all artists will have the possibility of airplay on our digital radio station and on triple j. We can’t wait to see what great new talent we’ll find!”

triple j Weekends Presenter Maggie Collins added, “this initiative between triple j Unearthed and the National Indigenous Music Awards will unearth talent from every corner of the country. We hope to find some hidden gems out there just on the cusp of breaking through!”

MusicNT Manager Mark Smith said, “this is a significant moment in Indigenous music and I’d like to thank triple j for getting involved.”

“Importantly I cannot thank enough, all the Indigenous radio stations and media in general who have tirelessly supported and promoted Indigenous artists for decades, giving them airtime, accolades and importantly, recognition and encouragement.”

He added, “without this support we would not be here today. This initiative is a pivotal point in the journey of Indigenous music”.

The winner of the NIMAs triple j Unearthed competition will be flown from anywhere in Australia, and given two nights accommodation in Darwin, as well as promotion on triple j Unearthed digital radio and on triple j.

They will also attend the 2012 iNTune Music Conference in Darwin.

While the rest of the NIMAs line up is still under wraps for the moment (the full line up will be released in June!), The Medics (Qld) and multi-award winning Yabu Band (WA) have been announced for this year’s NIMAs concert.

Also joining them will be Northern Territory rising star Rrawun Maymuru, winner of the 2011 ‘New Talent of the Year’ NIMA Award, who will perform for the first time on the NIMAs stage with his band, East Journey.

Promising a showcase of emerging and established acts, the NIMAs will bring together contemporary Indigenous artists from all music genres. Nominations are now open for the National Indigenous Music Awards, online at nima.musicnt.com.au, closing COB June 29, 2012.

Everyone is encouraged to nominate in the four national categories of ‘Act’, ‘Album’, ‘Song’ and ‘New Talent Of The Year’. Dates to remember…

• May 16 – Unsigned Indigenous acts can upload their tracks to triplejunearthed.com
• June 27 – Full NIMAs line up announced
• June 29 – National Indigenous Music Awards nominations close
• July 1 – triple j Unearthed competition closes
• July 5 – triple j/NIMAs Unearthed Winner announced
• August 11 – NIMAs Ceremony & Concert, Darwin Amphitheatre, Northern Territory.

Plus…

• View the full gallery of photos from the Competition launch in Brisbane here.
  
• Read more about the NIMAS here.
• Read more about the Competition at triple j Music News.
  
• Visit the official NIMAs website and Facebook page.
• Visit triple j Unearthed.

Words/Sources: AUM, triple j music news, NIMAs website. Additional: Megan Spencer, MusicNT.

They have also been made the Feature Artist on the triple j Unearthed website!

Congratulations Tjupis!!

Great performers at the 2009 NT Indigenous Music Awards – and having recently released their new CD – Tjupi Band will open One Night Stand Alice Springs, on the bill with some of Australia’s leading musicians including John Butler Trio, Bluejuice, Washington and more!

The gig will also be broadcast nationally on triple j, and as part of the ‘winning band’ prize, John Butler Seed Fund has offered a representative from the Tjupis a place at the next Seed  Management Workshop in the Blue Mountains.

Stay tuned to triple j for more on the Tjupis – and if you’re in Alice, head down and support them at the gig at Traeger Park on Saturday 27th March (gates open at 3pm).

More info about One Night Stand in Alice Springs here.

Read an interview with Tjupi Band on triple j Unearthed!

Read what home and hosed presenter Steph Hughes wrote about the Tjupi Band on her triple j blog.

triple j presenter Dom Alessio (Home & Hosed) presents a podcast of Unearthed, featuring five NT artists: Cooperblack (pictured above), 2 Cats 1 Hat, The Moving Targets, Jess Riberio & The Bone Collectors and The Aviators.

Download the podcast (Episode #29)