Sultan Wins Big

One of this year’s breakthrough artists, singer-songwriter Dan Sultan, confirmed his heightened profile with two wins at two separate Australian awards shows in the same week.

Sultan won best male artist and best single for his track “Letter” at the 16th Deadly awards. Held Sept. 27 at the Sydney Opera House and broadcast on the multicultural free to air SBS-TV, the Deadlys acknowledge achievements of indigenous people in sports, entertainment, culture and current affairs.

Other music winners included Naomi Wenitong (female artist), her band Last Kinection for outstanding achievement in R&B and hip-hop, The Medics (band of the year) and Busby Marou (most promising new talent).

Four days later, Sultan had a double-whammy at the Jagermeister Independent Music Awards at the Forum Theatre in Melbourne.
This time his wins were for best independent artist and his “Get Out While You Can” won the blues and roots album category.

Organized by the Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR), 1,200 guests attended. Multi-platinum DIY roots guitarist John Butler was voted most popular indie act by listeners of the Nova radio network, while Cloud Control took the breakthrough artist and independent album (Bliss) categories.

Midnight Juggernauts, which has been touring the U.S. and Europe in the past two years, won for best dance/electronica release. Other winners were Little Red (single), Urthboy (hip-hop), Parkway Drive (hard rock/punk), Stu Hunter (jazz) and Kasey Chambers, Poppa Bill and the Little Hillbillies (country).