Australian Chamber Orchestra, jazz outfit Elixir and Dan Sultan among those honoured in the Adelaide-hosted indie music awards.
Presented at the Queens Theatre Adelaide on Thursday night (1 August), the 2024 AIR Awards celebrated Australia’s independent music sector and featured performances from nominees Maple Glider, Jack River, Bumpy, Slava Grigoryan and RVG.
The AIR Award for Best Independent Classical Album or EP went to the Australian Chamber Orchestra and Richard Tognetti for their ABC Classics release, 'Beethoven Symphonies 1, 2 and 3'. This album was a milestone as it marked the first Australian recording of these symphonies on historically accurate instruments.
Awards in other categories included Best Independent Jazz Album, awarded to Elixir; Best Independent Blues and Roots Album to Dan Sultan; and Best Independent Country Album to Fanny Lumsden for 'Hey Dawn'.
Pivotal victories included Genesis Owusu for Best Independent Hip Hop Album with 'STRUGGLER', and Jem Cassar-Daley for Independent Song of the Year with 'King of Disappointment'.
The 2024 Outstanding Achievement Award was presented to Don Spencer, recognized for his lifelong contributions to children’s entertainment and his ongoing work with the Australian Children’s Music Foundation.