Melbourne duo Big Scary have been announced as the winner of the 9th Coopers Australian Music Prize (AMP) for their 2013 sophomore album, Not Art, beating out a shortlist of formidable competition, including releases by Horrorshow, Beaches, Dialectrix, and Kirin J Callinan.
The Australian Music Prize was formed with a view to encouraging, rewarding, and promoting “Australian music of excellence.” The winner of the 9th Coopers AMP will receive a $30,000 prize and join the illustrious ranks of previous winners, including Augie March and Lisa Mitchell.
Longlist announcements began in August 2013, with the final round of acts added in December. The finished list was a roll call of local talent that featured veterans like Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds (Push the Sky Away) and up-and-comers like The Delta Riggs (Hex Lover Killer).
The list was eventually whittled down to just nine names after a long and laborious judging process and announced at the 9th Coopers AMP Shortlisted! event at Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl, where several shortlisted artists performed, including Kirin J Callinan and Dialectrix.
Watch: Big Scary – Twin Rivers
The 9th Coopers AMP Shortlisted Albums
Beaches – She Beats
Big Scary – Not Art — WINNER
Cloud Control – Dream Cave
Dialectrix – The Cold Light Of Day
Horrorshow – King Amongst Many
Jagwar Ma – Howlin’
Jen Cloher – In Blood Memory
Jimblah – Phoenix
Kirin J Callinan – Embracism
