Australian Folk Music Awards (AFMAs)
The AFMAs are a project of Folk Alliance Australia www.folkalliance.org.au established to recognize and celebrate the musical and cultural talent, vibrancy, diversity and community nature of the Australian Folk Music sector. Folk Alliance Australia (FAA) is a not-for-profit incorporated organisation.
Listen to a playlist of the AFMA 2023 People’s Choice awards – presented by Jane Bower – LISTEN HERE NOW
Jane Bower presents all the finalists for the 2023 Australian Folk Music Awards – LISTEN HERE NOW
AFMAs AWARD PRESENTATION EVENT
The 2023 Australian Folk Music Awards and winners will be announced will be presented at our AFMA Awards Night held on Wednesday 25 October @ 7.30pm at the Brunswick Ballroom Sydney Rd, Brunswick, Melbourne.
Awards will be presented by guest presenters and some of Australia’s top folk identities.
The AFMAs will be a live and livestreamed event. Please join us!
VIC, TAS, NSW and ACT 7.30pm
SA 7.00pm
QLD 6.30pm
NT 6.00pm
and WA 4.00pm
THE AFMA FINALISTS
Our panels of judges from around Australia have selected the following acts as the 2023 Australian Folk Music Awards (AFMAs) FINALISTS:-
Traditional Folk Music Album of the Year – FINALISTS
- East of West
- Firinn
- Louey Hesterman
- Barry Skipsey
- Warralakin
Contemporary Folk Music Album of The Year – FINALISTS
- Monique Clare
- John Flanagan
- Charlotte Le Lievre
- Neil Murray
- Joyce Prescher
- Isabel Rumble
- Lucy Wise
Artist of the Year – Solo
- Fred Smith
- Pauline Maudy
- Gleny Rae
- Monique Clare
- Ernest Aines
Artists of the Year Duo/Group/Ensemble – FINALISTS
- Austral
- Gusto Gusto
- Haystack Mountain Hermits
- Weeping Willows
- We Mavericks
Instrumentalist of The Year – FINALISTS
- Josh Bennett
- Nick Charles
- Rhys Crimmin
- Sue Ferrers
- Glenie Rae
Youth Folk Artist of The Year – FINALISTS
- Sari Abbott
- Apolline
- Felicity Dowd
- Follow The Robin
- Sadie Mustoe
- LJ Parks
- Sage Roadknight
AFMAs Community/Cultural Project of the Year
- CresFest 2023 (Vic)
- Good Tunes Sessions (Qld)
- Melbourne Tune Collection (Vic)
- Penola Coonawarra Acoustic Music Gathering (SA)
- Stringmania Camp (Vic)
AFMAs ‘Contribution to Folk’ Award
- This Award Recipient (s) will be announced at the AFMAs Awards Night on 26 October
AFMAs People’s Choice – There are 18 Finalists with the award winner to be determined by public voting / VOTE NOW for your People’s Choice Australian folk act (One vote per individual email) go to https://www.folkalliance.org.au/afmas-2022/vote-peoples-choice/ to cast your vote. Voting Closes midnight EST September 30th.
The People’s Choice Award and the top 3 voted acts will also be announced at the AFMA Awards Night on 26 October.
- Alice Cotton (NT)
- Charlotte Le Lievre (Vic)
- Graeme The Scotsman (NSW)
- Great Aunt (Vic)
- Haystack Mountain Hermits (Qld)
- Isobel Caldwell (Vic)
- Joyce Prescher (Vic)
- Little Wise (Vic)
- Lucy Wise (Vic)
- Oceanique (WA/Vic)
- Ryan Martin John (SA)
- Sarah and Silas (Vic)
- The Borderers (SA)
- The Humbuckin’ Pickups (Vic)
- The Royal High Jinx (Vic)
- The Spooky Men’s Chorale (NSW)
- The Weeping Willows (Vic)
- Tuck Shop Ladies (Vic)
The 9 Award Recipients will be announced at the AFMAs Awards Night, Australia’s special night for Folk music on Wednesday 25 October @ 7.30pm at the Brunswick Ballroom, Sydney Rd, Brunswick, Melbourne featuring award announcements and an array of live music performances, round the country link ups and more.
10 AFMA Awards will be presented in 2023
Artist Awards
- Folk Album of the Year – Traditional
- Folk Album of the Year – Contemporary
- Folk Artist of the Year – Solo
- Folk Act of the Year – Duo/Group/Ensemble
- Instrumentalist of the Year
- People’s Choice
- Youth Artist of the Year
Industry/Community Awards
- Folk Community/Cultural Project of The Year
- Contribution to Folk
- Lifetime Folk Award (PRESENTED BY FOLK ALLIANCE AUSTRALIA)
AIMS OF AFMAs
The aims of the Australian Folk Music Awards are to:
- Create a National Folk Awards Scheme for the Australian Folk Music sector.
- Raise the profile of Australian folk music in the public arena and music and arts industry.
- Acknowledge and recognise national achievements of the folk music sector.
- Establish Awards that benefit Australian folk artists to gain recognition and build their profile and careers.
- Involve and engage the wide diversity of Australian folk genres.
- Raise the profile of Folk Alliance Australia as a national organisation for folk music.
DEFINITION OF ‘FOLK’ MUSIC
Folk Music is music or music/cultural practice that is linked to a historical tradition, heritage and/or community. It is recognised as coming from diverse cultural communities and social settings. Folk music can be traditional (handed down through the oral and folk traditions) or contemporary (with interpretations or creativity based on such traditions). Folk music is presented in a range of musical genres.
AFMAs – JUDGING & ASSESSMENT
- Panel Judges – Judges are selected by FAA from members, networks, nominations or recommendations and are drawn from people with a direct involvement in the diverse folk music sector including artists, practitioners, festival organisers, venues, organizations, media and activists.
- Judges do not need to be members of FAA.
- Each AFMA award will have five panelists and will be convened by an FAA Board member. A panelist may adjudicate in more than one category.
- (Artist Awards) Panel Judges will select the five AFMA Finalists in each Award category as well as vote for the overall Award Winner.
- The identity of AFMA Panel Judges will not be disclosed in order to minimise lobbying or communication. Judges are required to disclose any conflict of interest and may not be part of any panel in which they have a perceived conflict of interest.
- The results from the Judging Panels are final and no correspondence will be entered into. We do not give feedback regarding nominations.
- We welcome expressions of interest from any credentialled persons wishing to be included in future judging panels of the AFMAs.
NOMINATING FOR AN AFMA
- IMPORTANT Each AFMA Award has its own Conditions and processes for Nomination. Please read the information for each Award.
- You may nominate in more than one Award category.
- Your nomination will be judged by the Panel of the Award you have selected to nominate in by the criteria of that award. If you have been nominated in the incorrect category your nomination will stay and be assessed by the criteria of the category you have selected.
- A separate fee will apply for EACH nomination (where fees are applicable).
- The AFMA Online Nomination Form must be used for each submission. All questions must be completed with strict word limits where requested. No hard copy nominations will be accepted.
- Applications will be required to submit a short nomination statement, biographies and links to support material such as music/video and a photograph as well as the reason for nomination is required. Support material must be relevant to the timeframe that we are assessing (July 2022 – June 2023)
- Nominations open Monday 5 June 2023. The deadline for Nominations is Midnight Sunday 31st July 2023 EST.
- Incomplete nominations will not be accepted. Late entries will not be accepted.
- You do not need to be a member of the FAA to be nominated or to be a nominee. Details of the nominating person must be supplied on the entry form. You can self nominate.
- Nominated artists/persons who are under the age of 18 years will require signed parental or guardian consent.
- Nominated artists/persons need to be an Australian Permanent Resident or Citizen. (In case of collaborations 50% of recording or project must be by Australian resident/citizen)
- Selected Finalists may be required to submit further information, images, sound files or video as needed for the Awards Presentation Event.
NOMINATION FEES
Six of the Artist Awards will incur a $25 nomination fee (which contributes to AFMA administration and AFMA Award Event costs) Fees are non-refundable.
Nomination Fees will apply for the following Artist Awards :-
- Folk Album of the Year – Traditional
- Folk Album of the Year – Contemporary
- Folk Artist of the year – Solo
- Folk Act of the year – Duo/Group/Ensemble
- Instrumentalist of the Year
- People’s Choice Award
- A separate nomination fee will apply for each nomination where fees are applicable if you are nominating in more than one Award Category.
- There is no cost to nominate for the two Industry Awards or for the Youth Act of The Year Award.
ANNOUNCEMENTS OF AFMA AWARD FINALISTS & WINNERS
- Finalists will be announced on Monday 1st September 2023 (Nominees will be advised at this time)
- All Award Winners/Recipients will be announced at the AFMA Awards Event on Wednesday 25 th October 2023, 7.30pm EST at the AFMA Awards Night from the Brunswick Ballroom, Melbourne. The Awards Event will also be livestreamed
- The AFMAs will be open to the public to attend (subject to ticket availability). Tickets will go on sale in September.
- A special AFMA Award Plaque with the name of the winner will be mailed to or presented to each AFMA award winner.
KEY DATES 2023
- Entries Open: Monday 5th June 2023
- Entries Close: Sunday 31st July 2023
- Finalists announced: Friday 1st September 2023
- People Choice Voting: September 2023
- Awards Event: Wednesday 25th October @ 7.30pm EST at Brunswick Ballroom, Melbourne (details of concert artists and schedule tba)
AFMA ENQUIRIES & INFORMATION:
AFMA questions please email:
afmas@folkalliance.org.au
Stay in touch and engage with AFMA’s
www.folkalliance.org.au/afmas
https://www.facebook.com/folkallianceaustralia
Join FAA as a member
https://www.folkalliance.org.au/order-membership/
START NOMINATION
Select the category below to start your Nomination.
Instrumentalist of the Year
This Award recognizes an outstanding contribution by a traditional or contemporary instrumentalist folk musician or group of musicians played in any folk music genre.
Folk Community/Cultural Project of the Year
This award recognizes an outstanding folk music community/cultural project undertaken or completed between the period 1st July 2023 to 30th June 2024.
Youth Artist of the Year
This Award is for a leading Young Act (solo or group) playing traditional or contemporary folk music in any diverse folk music genre. The aim of the project is to boost the profile of young performers and introduce, support and encourage them to the next level of their development.
Contribution to Folk Award
This award recognizes an outstanding contribution to Folk Music in Australia by an individual, group or organisation in any folk music genre.
People’s Choice Award
This Award is determined by voting. Voting is open to the public. The award recognizes an outstanding folk performer solo/group/ensemble for their activity in the last year (1st July 2023 to 30th June 2024)
Folk Album/EP of the Year – Debut
This Award recognises an outstanding debut album/EP in any folk music genre.
Folk Album of the Year – Traditional
This Award recognises an outstanding album of traditional music played in any folk music genre.
Folk Album of the Year – Contemporary
This award recognizes an outstanding album of contemporary folk music played in any folk music genre.
Folk Artist of the Year – Solo
This Award recognises an outstanding solo folk music performer in any folk music genre.
Folk Artist of the Year – Duo
This award recognises an outstanding duo, group or ensemble performing traditional or contemporary in any folk music genre.
Applications for awards have closed.
