Music Victoria Reveals 2023 Award Winners

Tonight, Music Victoria revealed the winning artists, venues, festivals and music industry leaders of the 2023 Music Victoria Awards. The awards ceremony took place at The Edge, Fed Square and was streamed live to the Big Screen in the Main Square and online.

Music Victoria welcomed Kutcha Edwards and Kirsty Rivers as inductees into the Music Victoria Hall Of Fame at tonights ceremony. Renowned for his prolific union of songwriting and activism, Kutcha Edwards has seen a remarkable, three-decade career as a solo artist and a member in Watbalimba, Blackfire, and The Black Arm Band. Noting his experiences as a survivor of the Stolen Generations and his proud Mutti Mutti heritage as influences on his diverse creative output, Edwards’ ongoing contributions to Australian art are significant and powerful. Kutcha said in his speech, “I thank Music Victoria for inducting me into this Hall Of Fame. I don’t where it is! But when I find out, I’m gonna go to Bunnings, and get a key cut for all my family up there.”

With her influence found right across the country in policy, sector development and advocacy, including her instrumental involvement in the establishment of Music Victoria, Kirsty Rivers is a creative force whose work is informed by her commitment to the centrality of the artist and the empowerment of women and diverse communities within the sector. Rivers touched upon this commitment to the artist in her speech, saying “We have to support our artists. There’s still so much work to be done. We have to support our communities, we have to buy music.” 

Brent Watkins opened the ceremony with a beautiful yidaki performance after a Welcome to Country from Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Elder Colin Hunter Jnr. Kutcha Edwards Hall of Fame Induction was followed by a powerful performance of ‘Mother Tongue’ by Linc Yow Yeh, Bumpy, Phoebe Elsworth, Kiernan Ironfield and Kutcha himself. Miss Kaninna bought down the house as the ceremony came to a close.

Simone Schinkel, Music Victoria’s CEO says “Congratulations to the 2023 nominees, and of course, our winners! Victorian music is so special and something to be celebrated not just tonight, but year-round. Our artists, venues, festivals and industry are pushing creative bounds, working collaboratively and rethinking the wheel, and we’re so excited to see what the future holds.”

Industry-voted winners included Charlie Needs Braces for the Archie Roach Foundation Award for Emerging Talent, Katie Dey for Arts Access Victoria Amplify Award and Origami with Wang Zheng-Ting for MAV Diasporas Award. Matt Joe Gow took out Best Country Work, Close Counters topped Best Electronic Work, Joshua Moshe for Best Jazz Work, daine for Best Pop Work, while Agung Mango won the award for Best Hip Hop Work. Additionally, Best Soul, Funk, R’n’B or Gospel Work was awarded to Bumpy, Gab Strum and the Best Musician title went to Immy Owusu.

The Music Victoria Awards included 12 public-voted categories. Best Song was awarded to Julia Jacklin, for her track, “Love, Try Not To Let Go”. Best Album went to Cash Savage and The Last Drinks, for their ARIA-nominated record, So This Is Love.

The 2023 Best Group went to Cable Ties, marking their second award for the night. while Cara Murphy won Best DJ, Jen Cloher took home Best Solo Artist, and Watty Thompson won the Best Regional Act. Venue categories were publicly voted as well, with winners including The Forum for Best Metro Venue (over 500 capacity), Caravan Music Club is Best Regional Venue or Presenter (over 50 gigs) and RISING for Best Metro Festival.

The 2023 Music Victoria Awards was the first annual event in which entrants did not need to be Music Victoria members, and were taken for consideration from a selection of the Victorian music industry. By expanding entries to the wider community of the state’s ever-growing music industry, Music Victoria received an almost 80% increase in entries from 2022, which was already the largest number of entries and votes received in Music Victoria Awards’ history. The most popular genre categories were Best Pop at 56 entries, Best Electronic at 52 entries and Best Rock or Punk at 51 entries. This marks the first time ever that electronic has overtaken the punk or rock category.

​​The Music Victoria Awards continue to celebrate the outstanding achievements of musicians, venues, festivals, and industry professionals who contribute to the vibrancy and success of Victoria’s music scene. Last night’s winners join previous winners including Mo’Ju, Zambian-born poet and rapper Sampa the Great, Yolŋu rapper, dancer and performer Baker Boy and Australian icon Paul Kelly. Music Victoria has inducted Archie Roach, Kylie Minogue, Olivia Newton John, Michael Gudinski and Vika & Linda into the Hall of Fame.

Relive the biggest celebration of Victorian music, as last night’s Music Victoria Awards awards ceremony newly crowned a host of incredible talent.

You can listen to the music of the 2023 winners here.

Miss Kaninna and guest (Photo: Joshua Barreno)

Candice Lorrae (Photo: Joshua Barreno)

(Photo: Joshua Barreno)

Simone Schinkel, Music Victoria CEO (Photo: Joshua Barreno)

Kirsty Rivers, Hall of Fame Inductee (Photo: Joshua Barreno)

MUSIC VICTORIA AWARDS 2023
THE EDGE, FED SQUARE
TUESDAY 31 OCTOBER 2023

Music Victoria Awards 2023 Nominees and Winners

Archie Roach Foundation Award for Emerging Talent (First Peoples entrants only)
Charlie Needs Braces
Jada Weazel
Kiwat Kennell
Miss Kaninna
Pirritu

Arts Access Victoria Amplify Award (Deaf and Disabled entrants only)
Artemis Muñoz
BATTS
Jimmy from Thornbury
Katie Dey
Mathilde Anne

MAV Diasporas Award (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse entrants only)
Black Jesus Experience
Don Glori
Mitch Tambo
Origami with Wang Zheng-Ting
The Cloud Maker

Best Blues Work
Damon Smith
Eddie Ink
Nigel Wearne
Paul Buchanan’s Voodoo Preachers
The Teskey Brothers

Best Country Work
Charlotte Le Lievre
De Porsal
Henry Wagons
Matt Joe Gow
Nathan Seeckts

Best Electronic Work
Close Counters
Lastlings
Memphis LK
The Oddness
Tim Shiel

Best Experimental or Avant-Garde Work
Aviva Endean
Fia Fiell
Maria Moles
Patrick Hartono
R. Rebeiro

Best Folk Work
Dandelion Wine
Folk Bitch Trio
Katankin
Leah Senior
Lucy Wise

Best Heavy Work
DEAD
FACELESS BURIAL
GELD
ISUA
The Maggie Pills

Best Hip Hop Work
Agung Mango
Strictly D.T
Teether & Kuya Neil
VOLDY
Yung Shōgun

Best Jazz Work
Don Glori
Fran Swinn
Joshua Moshe
Nat Bartsch
The Rookies

Best Pop Work
daine
Mia Wray
Mitch Tambo
Monnie
Telenova

Best Reggae or Dancehall Work
ALETHIA
Crown Heights
JahWise
Killah Keys
Melbourne Ska Orchestra

Best Rock or Punk Work
Cable Ties
Cash Savage and the Last Drinks
CIVIC
CLAMM
RVG

Best Soul, Funk, R’n’B or Gospel Work
30/70
Bumpy
Forest Claudette
Mo’Ju
Surprise Chef

Best Producer
Anna Laverty
Candice Lorrae
Gab Strum 
Lucy Blomkamp
Simon Lam

Best Musician
Daniel Farrugia
Immy Owusu
Jen Sholakis
Joshua Moshe
Sam Teskey

Best Song or Track
Forest Claudette – Mess Around (feat. EARTHGANG)
Julia Jacklin – Love, Try Not To Let Go
Miss Kaninna – Blak Britney
NO ZU – Liquid Love
RVG – Nothing Really Changes

Best Album
Cable Ties – All Her Plans
Cash Savage and the Last Drinks – So This is Love
Jen Cloher – I Am The River, The River Is Me
Julia Jacklin – PRE PLEASURE
Teether and Kuya Neil – STRESSOR

Best Solo Artist
Adalita
Forest Claudette
Gena Rose Bruce
Jen Cloher
Sarah Mary Chadwick

Best DJ
CAITY WATSØN
Cara Murphy
Moopie
Rakhi
Uone

Best Group
Cable Ties
Folk Bitch Trio
Mindy Meng Wang 王萌 & Tim Shiel
RVG
Surprise Chef

Best Regional Act
Bones and Jones
Coda Chroma
Immy Owusu
Leah Senior
Watty Thompson

Best Metro Festival
Brunswick Music Festival (Wurundjeri)
Leaps and Bounds Music Festival (Wurundjeri)
Melbourne International Jazz Festival (Wurundjeri and Boonwurrung)
RISING Melbourne (Kulin Nation)
YIRRAMBOI Festival including The Archie Roach Block Party (Wurundjeri)

Best Regional Festival
Boogie – Tallarook (Taungurung)
Esoteric Festival – Donald (Dja Dja Wurrung)
OK Motels – Charlton (Dja Dja Wurrung)
Port Fairy Folk Festival (Gunditjmara)
Winter Sounds – Daylesford (Dja Dja Wurrung)

Best Large Venue (Metro)
Forum Melbourne (Wurundjeri and Boonwurrung)
Melbourne Recital Centre (Wurundjeri and Boonwurrung)
Northcote Theatre (Wurundjeri)
Palais Theatre – St Kilda (Boonwurrung)
The Corner Hotel – Richmond (Wurundjeri)

Best Small Venue (Metro)
Brunswick Ballroom (Wurundjeri)
Northcote Social Club (Wurundjeri)
Shotkickers – Thornbury (Wurundjeri)
The Gem – Collingwood (Wurundjeri)
The Night Cat – Fitzroy (Wurundjeri)

Best Regional Venue or Presenter (Under 50 gigs)
Meeniyan Town Hall – South Gippsland (Bunurong)
The Minerva Ballaarat (Wadawurrung)
The Blues Train – Bellarine Peninsula (Wadawurrung)
Trash Cult – Bendigo (Dja Dja Wurrung)
The Vine Hotel – Wangaratta (Bpangerang)

Best Regional Venue or Presenter (Over 50 gigs)
Caravan Music Club – Archies Creek (Boonwurrung)
Palais-Hepburn (Dja Dja Wurrung)
The Barwon Club Hotel – Geelong (Wadawurrung)
The Bridge Hotel – Castlemaine (Dja Dja Wurrung)
Volta – Ballarat (Wadawurrung)