All praise Electric Fields.

The fourth annual National Live Music Awards happened overnight, with the main gala event happening at The Triffid in Brisbane, and seven state and territory-specific satellite events happening across the country in Adelaide, Alice Springs, Canberra, Fremantle, Launceston, Melbourne and Sydney.

With the sights and sounds of our own South Australian Music Awards still fresh in our mind and ringing in our ears (see the winners from that event here), it’s encouraging to see further South Australian representation at this year’s NLMAs – the only national award ceremony solely dedicated to Australia’s live music industry.

To qualify, a band or musician must have performed live in the previous year, from September through to August, and entrants are then assessed by the NLMA’s 10-member board.

Electric Fields

The big South Australian winners for the night were Electric Fields, who must by now be considered to be the most-awarded South Australian band.

The group took out three national awards: Electronic Act of the Year, Live Act of the Year, and the group’s vocalist Zaachariaha Fielding took out Best Live Voice.

Electric Fields have been represented in the last three NLMA award ceremonies. Who even needs Eurovision?

Kasey Chambers was the only other South Australian representative in the national categories, taking out Country Act of the Year in a tie with West Australian band The Waifs.

In South Australia’s awards, which were hosted at an event at the Crown and Anchor, Teenage Joans took out Best Live Act, Bec Stevens was awarded Best Live Voice, the Lion Arts Factory was given Best Live Venue, A Day of Clarity got the gong for Best Live Event, and the All Ages Achievement award was handed to Girls Rock! Adelaide.

The 2019 event was also a huge year for women in the industry, with more than half of the national awards going to female artists and industry figures. For the full list of national and SA award winners, visit the NLMA’s website or see below.

National Awards

Live Legend 2019 Inductee
Deborah Conway

Best Live Voice
Zaachariaha Fielding (Electric Fields)

R&B / Soul Act Of The Year
Mojo Juju

Blues & Roots Act of the Year
The Teskey Brothers

Hard Rock Act of the Year
Glitoris

Pop Act of the Year
G-Flip

Country Act Of The Year
Kasey Chambers and The Waifs (tie)

Indie / Rock Act of the Year
Angie McMahon

Electronic Act of the Year
Electric Fields

Hip Hop Act of the Year
Sampa The Great

Classical Act of the Year
Deborah Cheetham, AO

Jazz Act of the Year
The Necks

International Live Achievement (Band)
Gang of Youths

International Live Achievement (Solo)
Stella Donnelly

Live Photographer of the Year
Michelle Grace Hunder

Live Instrumentalist of the Year
Bree Tranter

“The Sheddy” Live Drummer of the Year
Lauren Hammel

Live Guitarist of the Year
Erica Dunn

Live Bassist of the Year
Jennifer Aslett

Best New Act
Tones & I

Live Event of the Year
Dark Mofo

Live Act Of The Year
Electric Fields

The NLMA for Excellence in Support of the Live Music Industry
Leanne de Souza

SA Awards

Best Live Act
Teenage Joans

Best Live Voice
Bec Stevens

Best Live Venue
Lion Arts Factory

Best Live Event
A Day of Clarity

All Ages Achievement
Girls Rock! Adelaide