Last Night's JIMAs In Review

“Go independent music, go!” Host Dylan Lewis chants the night's mantra as artists and industry types trickle into Revolt for the 2012 Jägermeister Independent Music Awards (previously known as the AIR awards). Guests are greeted with ginger-cider among many things (and who knew it tasted so good?) but most opt for the Jäger, including tonight's host, who settles for shots onstage.

Now in its seventh year and known as the JIMAs, tonight is a celebration of Australian independent music. More than 450 members of the music industry judge the annual awards. Tim Levinson (aka Urthboy)'s impassioned opening speech pays homage to the indies before first performers Hermitude shake off the musings with a whirl. We dance vicariously through the front row hip hop dances (sigh) before Lanie Lane takes the night's first gong for Best Independent Blues And Roots Album. Her subsequent performance, though initially riddled with sound issues, is charming.

Rapper 360 causes a stir by denouncing his right to his award for Best Independent Hip Hop Album “as an artist on a label who receives funding from a major label”, before interestingly referencing the very un-hip hop independent act The Jezabels as more worthy of recognition. The 'Bels don't miss out, taking out one of the biggest awards of the night, Best Independent Artist, for the second year running, humbly accepting their award via video message.

Industry favourite Tim Rogers joins Lewis on stage for a hilarious impromptu chat, most notably about his quest to become part of Australia's “B-list celebrities” to which Lewis solemnly offers a “welcome”. Rogers awards Jess Ribeiro & The Bone Collectors the award for Best Independent Country Album for their LP My Little River before the heavily bearded Chet Faker takes his first award for Breakthrough Independent Artist Of The Year.

House Vs Hurricane pumps up the room and blasts onstage with a stellar heavy set – so much so that it's hard to re-adjust to the monotone Henry Wagons. We soon get used to his dry sense of humour, especially when he accepts the award on behalf of the absent Mike Nock Trio for their win in the Best Independent Jazz Album Category. More missing winners as I Oh You label co-founder Johann Ponniah accepts the award on behalf of his act DZ Deathrays for Best Independent Hard Rock Or Punk Album before Paul Kelly arrives in a maroon suit and, much to everyone's excitement, guitar in hand. His performance of new track I'm On Your Side is nothing short of sensational, reaffirming his status as one of the most loved Australian artists (or as Lewis says, “Good Adelaide stock”).

One member of Royal Headache takes a leaf out of Lewis's book and drinks from a bottle of Jäger onstage while his bandmate accepts their award for Best Independent Album. Opening act Hermitude come out on top to claim the prize for Best Independent Dance/Electronica Album before label Elefant Traks win the newly introduced (and coveted) prize for Best Independent Australian Label, with Levinson declaring, “We're an artist-run label,” to a round of cheers. However, tonight's leading man and only double-award winner is Chet Faker, who takes his second award in the Best Independent Dance/Electronica Single category for his hit, Terms And Conditions. He declares that if he can write and record in his garage that “maybe music isn't broken”, proving this with a powerful, stripped-down performance of I'm Into You that stills the room. A live performance from Tim Rogers and The Bamboos closes what's been a night of solid, promising Australian artists, and an industry willing to embrace it.

By Madeleine O'Gorman