2009 AIR WINNERS

The cream of Australia's independent music talent was in Melbourne last night for the 2009 AIR Awards, presented by Jagermeister. Hosted by The Chaser's Julian Morrow, the awards proved to be particularly successful for Melbourne rock outfit The Drones, who picked up the award for Best Independent Album, along with Independent Artist Of The Year.
The full list of nominees below (winners in bold);

BEST INDEPENDENT SINGLE OR EP
Architecture In Helsinki - That Beep
Art Vs. Science - Art Vs. Science (EP)
Bertie Blackman - Heart
Philadelphia Grand Jury - Going To The Casino
SIA - Buttons

BEST INDEPENDENT ALBUM
Bertie Blackman - Secrets And Lies
Dappled Cities - Zounds
Decoder Ring - They Blind The Stars, And The Wild Team
The Drones - Havilah
C.W. Stoneking - Jungle Blues

INDEPENDENT ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Bertie Blackman
Dappled Cities
The Drones
Sia
C.W. Stoneking

BREAKTHROUGH INDEPENDENT ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Art Vs. Science
Bertie Blackman
John Steel Singers
Oh Mercy
Sia

BEST INDEPENDENT HIP HOP/URBAN ALBUM
Astronomy Class - Pursuit Of Happiness
Funkoars - The Hangover
Gully Platoon - The Great Divide
Hermitude - Threads
Pez - A Mind Of My Own

BEST INDEPENDENT BLUES AND ROOTS ALBUM
Bonjah - Until Dawn
Ash Grunwald - Fish Out Of Water
C.W. Stoneking - Jungle Blues
Carus Thompson - Creature Of Habit
The Waifs - Live From The Union Of Soul

BEST INDEPENDENT COUNTRY ALBUM
Kirsty Lee Akers - Better Days
Adam Brand - Hell of A Ride
James Blundell - Portrait Of A Man
Tania Kernaghan - Livin' The Dream
Amber Lawrence - The Mile

BEST INDEPENDENT HARD ROCK OR PUNK ALBUM
The Amity Affliction - Severed Ties
Closure In Moscow - First Temple
I Killed The Prom Queen - Sleepless Nights & City Lights
Mammal - The Majority
The Nation Blue - Rising Waters