BRIGHT STARS, BLAK MUSIC
Blak music’s night of nights is upon us, as the National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs) returns to Darwin Amphitheatre on Larrakia Country to celebrate our country’s vibrant First Nations music industry.
WORDS & HEADER TIERNEY WHITE
THERE’S NO DENYING our Indigenous music scene is as diverse in style as the regions the music comes from.
A highlight on the annual NT arts and cultural calendar, the NIMAs shine brightly on a national scale, where all eyes look to the north as artists are placed directly under the spotlight where they belong.
A full line-up of incredible live music accompanies the Awards presentation featuring Baker Boy, Big Noter, Bumpy, Casii Williams, Electric Fields, Stiff Gins, Zipporah and South Summit, with more to be announced.
“This year's line-up celebrates both iconic artists and the next generation of First Nations talent. It's a line-up that reflects the incredible depth and diversity of our music,” says NIMAs Production Coordinator, Catherine Satour.
“First Nations musicians are leading conversations and are making some of the most exciting music right now. To make the whole industry stronger, we are ensuring a platform for First Nations artists to be supported and thrive.”
From traditional to contemporary styles – both sometimes featured in the same artist (we’re looking at you, Drifting Clouds, Baker Boy, et al.) – the NIMAs celebrates the vibrancy, diversity, and resilience of our incredible Indigenous artists.
Emily Wurrumara took out Artist of the Year, presented by YouTube at the 2025 NIMAs, and says she was over the moon to receive that recognition.
“It felt deadly! I’ve been doing this a very long time so to be able to get the nod from NIMAS meant a lot to me. In the past, I’ve been nominated and have played or have just turned up with fam. So, this was a huge win for my community, more importantly,” she says.
“To be seen up there and look down and see members of the next generation made me emotional. I’m the only Warnindilyakwa artist in this space so I rep my mob hard and proud when I’m out here.”
This year marks 22 years since the inception of the NIMAs, created back in the day by MusicNT as the NT Indigenous Music Awards. MusicNT Executive Director Mark Smith says the Awards continue to honour the creativity of First Nations musicians, as the organisation set out to do all those years ago.
“The NIMAs started as the NT Indigenous Music Awards, a platform to showcase the amazing music we saw being played and recorded across regional and remote NT that wasn’t able to build broader audiences through that isolation,” he says.
“Celebrating this music and musicians over the years saw the scene itself build and grow, so much that the decision was made to broaden the event over time to be a national awards platform, extending the ability to recognise achievement right across the country.
“The NIMAs remain a platform to raise awareness of the incredible First Nation music from around the country, as well as a national celebration bringing the scene together every August in Darwin.”
MusicNT continues to deliver the annual event, which is presented as part of Darwin Festival and livestreamed online via the NIMAs YouTube channel.
An important element of this huge night is support for those that come in from community to see their heroes perform, with an allocation of tickets available for mob that may need financial assistance to attend. For Wurrumara, having her family at the Awards last year meant everything.
“My family travelled from all over NT to come watch, and then to celebrate with me. Having my mum (aunty) Shellie Morris come and stand next to me while I received the award was a huge win. She paved the way for me – if it weren’t for her showing me that I can sing in my language, and have a music career, I wouldn’t be here. It was a full circle moment. Knowing this award came from mob means the world,” she says.
“For me, the NIMAs is a humbling, grounding reminder that my community is watching what I do, that I have a responsibility – not just to the music – but the people, the kids, the community at home. That I am representing in an ancient practice and how sacred that commitment is.”
The NIMAs are, without a doubt, magic. Round up your people, bring your picnic rug, and settle in under the stars for a beautiful night of Blak artistry.
National Indigenous Music Awards
WHEN SAT 8 AUG | 6-11PM
AT DARWIN AMPHITHEATRE
COST $40.80–$48
INFO nima.musicnt.com.au
