Though it sounds like they reward domestic violence or heroin addiction, Sydney’s SMAC Awards (an acronym for Sydney Music, Arts and Culture) celebrate the content creators, visionaries and culture merchants that invigorate The Harbour City. No wife beaters here, unless you count the Bonds variety sported at “Best Music Event” nominee Parklife. No addicts either, unless you count the crochet junkies from “Remix The City” nominee I Heart Kings Cross 09. You get the point.
But our favourite part of the awards, aside from acknowledging Sydney’s unsung innovators, is the David and Goliath battles that arise from such broad nomination categories. Best Music Event sees boutique club night Jingle Jangle face off against Parklife. Best Performer has Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett dueling Australia’s Youtube Queen Natalie Tran. Remix The City pits Shoot The Player’s endearing lo-fi productions against the logistical juggernaut that is Sydney Festival. But this thing ain’t a competition because at the end of the day the real winner is Sydney. Whoa can’t believe I just typed that. I only half meant it.
Big ups to our media bros at FBi Radio and Time Out Sydney for creating such a great initiative. Check out the nominees below and GET VOTING HERE.
Remix The City
I Heart Kings Cross 09
Shoot the Player
Bababa International – Soap City
SquatSpace – Tour of Beauty
Sydney Festival First Night
Best Music Event
Parklife
‘Another Night On Earth’
Jingle Jangle
All Tomorrow’s Parties
Gay Bash
Vivid Sydney Luminous Festival
Best Live Act
Jack Ladder
Seekae
bluejuice
KillaQueenz
Sarah Blasko
Record of the Year
Lost Valentinos – Cities of Gold
Dappled Cities – Zounds
Decoder Ring – They Blind the Stars and The Wild Team
Seekae – The Sound of Trees Falling on People
Sarah Blasko – As Day Follows Night
Next Big Thing
Danimals
Canyons
Sherlock’s Daughter
Megastick Fanfare
Jonathan Boulet
Best Artist
Locust Jones
Wade Marynowsky
Marley Dawson
Angelica Mesiti
Tom Polo
Simon Yates
Best Arts Event
Semi-Permanent
Sydney Theatre Company’s War of the Roses
There Goes the Neighbourhood
Romance Was Born – Australian Fashion Week
I Walk the Line: New Australian Drawing – MCA
A Ringing Glass (Ken Unsworth ), Cockatoo Island
Best Performer
Joel Edgerton – A Streetcar Named Desire
Yael Stone – Frankenstein/ Lady Bird / Elling
Cate Blanchett – War of the Roses/ A Streetcar Named Desire
Natalie Tran – communitychannel
Mitchell Butel – Avenue Q
Best Collective
Red Rattler
Trust Fun
Imperial Panda Festival
Even Books
Interesting South
Best Sydney Song
Jonathan Boulet – A Community Service Announcement
bluejuice – Broken Leg
Philadelphia Grand Jury – Going to the Casino (Tomorrow Night)
Fergus Brown – John, She Was Never Only Dancing
Dappled Cities – The Price
Sarah Blasko – We Won’t Run
Best Major Festival
Art & About
Riverbeats
Sydney Festival
Sydney Film Festival
Vivid Sydney
Title Image by Cameron Spencer via Getty
