A.B. Original, Troy Cassar-Daley Lead National Indigenous Music Awards; Finalists Announced

The National Indigenous Music Awards today announce their finalists while acknowledging the passing of 14-time NIMA recipient, 2016 NIMA Artist of the Year and giant of the Australian music industry Dr. G. Yunupingu.

The NIMAs recognise his immense contribution to the furthering of Indigenous music in mainstream Australian culture and also take the time to recognise his strong support for the next generation of Indigenous talent as we celebrate today's nominees.

Held on August 12 under the stars at the Darwin Amphitheatre, A.B. Original lead this year's nominations for the National Indigenous Music Awards with four nods for their ground-breaking album 'Reclaim Australia' and its single that got the nation talking, 'January 26'. The act will also perform on the night with two-time nominee Dan Sultan and have been nominated for Album of the Year, Artist of the Year, Film Clip of the Year and Song of the Year.

Country legend Troy Cassar-Daley has been honoured as a finalist in three categories, Artist of the Year, Album of the Year and Song of the Year for 'Things I Carry Around'. Two-time nominees include Leah Flanagan, Yirrmal, Lonely Boys and Emily Wurramara, showing the amazing breadth of talent that the Indigenous music industry has produced over the last twelve months.

The prestigious New Talent of the Year award has previously helped launch the careers of Gawurra, Thelma Plum and The Medics, with this year's nominees Apakatjah, ElectRic Fields, Emily Wurramara, Tia Gostelow and Yirrmal leading the charge of a new generation of Indigenous superstars making their mark across the industry.

The NIMAs are one of Darwin's most prestigious night of nights, held under the stars at the iconic Amphitheatre with performances this year from A.B. Original with Dan Sultan, Australian icon Paul Kelly, Numbulwar Red Flag Dancers, Leah Flanagan, 2016 NIMA New Talent winner Gawurra, and 2017 New Talent nominees ElectRic Fields, Apakatjah and Emily Wurramara.

The National Indigenous Music Awards has also collaborated with Warner Music Australia to create the National Indigenous Music Awards CD which will be available for the first time, shining a light on the contribution that Indigenous Australia has made to the rich tapestry of Australian music.

The double-CD set takes listeners through the very best of Indigenous music in 2016/17 including many of this year's nominees on disc one, before celebrating the biggest Indigenous songs of all time on disc two, including tracks from Yothu Yindi, Archie Roach, Jimmy Little, Christine Anu, No Fixed Address and many more.

THE NATIONAL INDIGENOUS MUSIC AWARDS ARE ON AUGUST 12 AT THE DARWIN AMPHITHEATRE. TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW FROM www.indigenousmusic.com.au, OZTIX OR VIA THE DARWIN FESTIVAL ON 08 8943 4200.

NIMA Presents The Sound of Indigenous Australia is available for purchase from https://WMA.lnk.to/NIMAIndigenousAustraliaNowBefore.

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2017 NATIONAL INDIGENOUS MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
A.B. ORIGINAL
DAN SULTAN
JESSICA MAUBOY
TROY CASSAR-DALEY

ALBUM OF THE YEAR:
A.B. ORIGINAL - Reclaim Australia
BUSBY MAROU - Postcards From the Shell House
LEAH FLANAGAN - Saudades
TROY CASSAR-DALEY - Things I Carry Around

SONG OF THE YEAR
A.B. ORIGINAL - January 26
EMILY WURRAMARA - Hey Love
LEAH FLANAGAN - Chills
LONELY BOYS - Hunter
TROY CASSAR-DALEY - Things I Carry Around
YIRRMAL - The Bridge

FILM CLIP OF THE YEAR
A.B. ORIGINAL - January 26
DAN SULTAN - Magnetic
LONELY BOYS - Hunter
LORRPU - Lorrpu

COMMUNITY MUSIC CLIP
Save The Water "Ngaba" - HALLS CREEK
Logan City - LOGAN
Choose Water - NGUKURR
With Knoeledge Comes New Friends - Dust Up 2016 - Warakurna - NPY LANDS

NEW TALENT OF THE YEAR
APAKATJAH
ELECTRic Fields
EMILY WURRAMARA
TIA GOSTELOW
YIRRMAL

TRADITIONAL MUSIC AWARD
WANGGA: COMPLETE CD SET
NUMBULWAR RED FLAG DANCERS