Event Review: Sydney SMACs back
Last week in the confines of Redfern’s Carriageworks we witnessed our beloved FBi Radio announcing the winners of Sydney’s Music Arts and Culture awards (SMAC). For the sixth year running it was a triumphant evening honouring our seaside city’s treasure chest of impeccable creativity and culture.
The general wrap-up of the evening is, as always, a hazing one for all involved thanks to Cake Wines and Jameson…. But highlights included the great interlude performances by the likes of Justin Shoulder, Brendan Maclean (pictured, top), Thundamentals and finally Gang of Youths. It was made official that 2013 was most certainly the year that Sydney’s The Preatures finally got the recognition they deserve as they took out Song of the Year with the 80’s rhythm focused pop gold that is ‘Is This How You Feel?’. In contrast, seeming veterans of Sydney’s breakthrough artist league, Cloud Control, were awarded Record of the Year for Dream Cave. And Sydney’s Next Big Thing went to the mega babeatron/insanely talented electronic music producer Elizabeth Rose. We also think it’s a pretty safe bet.
The evening’s chief honour was awarded to the awe-inspiring Managing Director of the very venue we basked in; Lisa Havilah. Clare Holland, FBi’s Managing Director, presented this main accolade praising Havilah as “someone who has transformed spaces we had forgotten into spaces that push artistic boundaries. She has engaged local communities, connected unlikely groups, and made the arts accessible, in every sense of the word.”
While Sydney is continuously, and unfairly, pigeonholed as Melbourne’s less cultured sibling, the showcasing of the evening’s standout musos, artists, performers, restaurants and events are most definitely working to put those falsities to rest in a big way. If they all recover from the bone-crushing hangovers soon enough, we are vibing that 2014 is going to be a one hell of a game-changer.
2013 SMAC Award Winners
BEST ARTIST – Mike Hewson // BEST ON STAGE – Nick Coyle // BEST ARTS PROGRAM PRESENTED BY PEDESTRIAN – Golden Age Cinema // BEST EATS PRESENTED BY TWO THOUSAND – Mary’s // REMIX THE CITY PRESENTED BY JUNKEE – Alaska Projects // BEST SONG PRESENTED BY APRA AMCOS – The Preatures – Is This How You Feel? // BEST LIVE ACT PRESENTED BY COOPERS – Sarah Blasko // BEST MUSIC EVENT – Secret Garden // NEXT BIG THING PRESENTED BY CAKE WINES – Elizabeth Rose // SMAC OF THE YEAR – Lisa Havilah
Words by Jemma Cole. For individual photo credits click on the images.
