Caitlin Harnett & The Pony Boys, The Teskey Brothers Take Home National Live Music Awards

The 2023 National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) were held in eight cities across the country simultaneously, signalling a triumphant comeback following its two-year absence.

The sixth annual event saw over 60 awards handed out across live music legends in Australia, with genre-defying Genesis Owusu and punk legends Amyl And The Sniffers sweeping up three awards apiece.

Amyl And The Sniffers took home the coveted Live Act Of The Year award and also won Best Live Act in Victoria and Best Punk/Hardcore Act, while Genesis Owusu won the Best Stage and Lighting Design award with collaborators Alex McCoy and Pat Santamaria, Best Hip-Hop Act, and Best Live Act in the ACT.

As Genesis Owusu is overseas, the Stay Blessed star had family members pick up his awards. He had this to say in a speech:

Thank you very, very much for bestowing me with these great honours… It’s a great honour to have my name attached to these (awards). I don’t think there’s anything in this world I put more work into than the live show.

“My knees will never be the same. These shins. My voice. Spending hours and hours conceptualising narratives with people like Pat and Alex just for this crazy and unexplainable goal of being able to create a new world on stage. It takes a lot of my mental and physical energy. So, thank you for recognising it and giving it more of a platform. I truly appreciate it.

Elsewhere, Baker Boy won the Musicians Making A Difference award (MMAD) for his celebration of Yolŋu language, Frontier Touring’s Susan Heymann took home the inaugural industry Live Legend award, Yothu Yindi were crowned Live Legends, and Dark Mofo - the six-time NLMAs winning festival, brought home another two awards: Best Live Event in Tasmania and Live Event Of The Year.

Zaachariaha Fielding of Electric Fields fame won the Best Live Voice award – after winning in 2019 and 2020 – and as it stands, Fielding and Dark Mofo have made history at the NLMAs, both holding the most wins bestowed by voters.

Of course, what’s a Live Music Awards ceremony without the very thing celebrated? ARCHIE, Bad Lunar, Melody Pool, Chloe Dadd, Carla Lippis & Mondo Psycho, The Empty Threats, Grace Chia, Siobhan Cotchin, and many more took over the eight venues hosting the NLMAs nationwide. Josh Pyke also made a surprise appearance, taking the stage at Sydney’s Great Club.

You can find the complete list of winners below.

2023 NATIONAL LIVE MUSIC AWARDS

Live Legend Inductees: Yothu Yindi, Susan Heymann

Live Act of the Year – Amyl And The Sniffers

MMAD Live Award – Baker Boy

Presented by MMAD

Live Voice of the Year – Zaachariaha Fielding (Electric Fields)

Live Guitarist of the Year – Joey Walker (King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard)

Live Bassist of the Year – Kelly-Dawn Hellmrich (Camp Cope)

Live Drummer of the Year – G Flip “The Sheddy”

Live Instrumentalist of the Year – Kirsty Tickle (Party Dozen)

Live Event of the Year – Dark Mofo

Presented by The Music

Live Photographer of the Year – Tashi Hall

Presented by Beehive

Live Journalist of the Year – Sosefina Fuamoli

International Tour of the Year - Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, Supersonic

Presented by Live Event Logistics

Best Stage and Lighting Design - Alex McCoy and Pat Santamaria, Genesis Owusu

Presented by Novatech

GENRE AWARDS

Best Punk/Hardcore Act – Amyl And The Sniffers

Presented by Heavy

Best Hard Rock/Metal Act – C.O.F.F.I.N

Presented by Heavy

Best Indie/Rock/Alternative Act – Ball Park Music

Best Hip-Hop Act – Genesis Owusu

Best Electronic/DJ Act – RÜFÜS DU SOL

Best Pop Act – Thelma Plum

Best Folk Act – Emily Wurramara

Best Blues & Roots Act – The Teskey Brothers

Best Country Act – Caitlin Harnett & The Pony Boys

Best R&B/Soul Act – Mo’Ju

Best Classical Act – Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra

Best Jazz Act – Hiatus Kaiyote

STATE/TERRITORY AWARDS:

ACT

Best Live Act in the ACT – Genesis Owusu

Presented by BMA

Best Live Voice in the ACT – Cormac McKahey

Best Live Venue in the ACT – The Basement

Best Live Event in the ACT – Loading Zone – Sideway

Presented by Oztix

The ACT NLMA – Ruth O’Brien

NSW

Best Live Act in NSW – DMA’s

Presented by 2SER

Best Live Voice in NSW – Vera Blue

Best Live Venue in NSW – The Enmore Theatre

Best Live Event in NSW – Mardi Gras Fair Day

Presented by Oztix

The NSW NLMA – Vyvienne Alba

SA

Best Live Act in SA – The Empty Threats

Presented by the City of Adelaide

Best Live Voice in SA – Carla Lippis

Best Live Venue in SA – The Gov

Best Live Event in SA – WOMADelaide

Presented by Oztix

THE SA NLMA – Isobella Caruso

NT

Best Live Act in NT – King Stingray

Best Live Voice in NT – Katanga Junior

Best Live Venue in NT – Darwin Railway Club

Best Live Event in NT – Darwin Festival

Presented by Oztix

The NT NLMA – Asher Gregory

QLD

Best Live Act in QLD – Ball Park Music

Presented by 4ZZZ

Best Live Voice in QLD – Katie Noonan

Best Live Venue in QLD – The Tivoli

Presented by Red Octopus

Best Live Event in QLD – Woodford Folk Festival

Presented by Oztix

The QLD NLMA – Joc Curran

VIC

Best Live Act in VIC – Amyl And The Sniffers

Presented by Syn Media

Best Live Voice in VIC – Julia Jacklin

Presented by Music Victoria

Best Live Venue in VIC – The Forum

Best Live Event in VIC – Meredith Music Festival

Presented by Oztix

The VIC NLMA – Allison Watters

TAS

Best Live Act in TAS – Luca Brasi

Presented by the City of Hobart

Best Live Voice in TAS – Claire Anne Taylor

Presented by Simple

Best Live Venue in TAS – The Odeon Theatre

Presented by Edge Radio

Best Live Event in TAS – Dark Mofo

Presented by Oztix

The TAS NLMA – Sam Dowson

WA

Best Live Act in WA – Alter Boy

Presented by RTR FM

Best Live Voice in WA – Carla Geneve

Best Live Venue in WA – Mojos Bar

Best Live Event in WA – Nannup Music Festival

Presented by Oztix

The WA NLMA – Kelsie Miller