The 2018 National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) aren’t until December 6th, but today the annual celebration of the live music industry is revealing an a new award for the event’s third year, and an update of an existing award to recognise the late Iain Shedden.

The 2018 event will introduce a brand new award to the national categories, “Best Live Music Photographer in Australia”, with photographers encouraged to nominate themselves now at the official website.

The award will recognise a photographer who, over the last 12 months, has shown themselves to be one of Australia’s finest live music photographers, with nominee’s works set to be displayed at selected NLMAs events on December 6th, and the winner revealed at the Brisbane gala. To coincide with this new award, a number of photographers have joined the judging panel around Australia, helping ensure that the award will be decided on by photography peers.

Nominations close on August 15th, and the process is completely free – though is not requisite of nomination. Photographers will be asked to submit three photos from the last 12 months for consideration by the judges, though the award will take into consideration their entire body of work from the last 12 months.

The award’s Director, Larry Heath, said of the addition, “In industry feedback held after the 2017 event, one award we heard (repeatedly) should be added was one to recognise Live Music Photography. After further consultation with the board, we’re thrilled to be adding this to the list of awards handed out on December 6th. We look forward to receiving submissions over the next few weeks and celebrate these ever important members of the live music industry.”

In a more sentimental announcement, the awards have also revealed that its Live Drummer of the Year award will be henceforth known as “The Sheddy” in memory of the late, great Iain Shedden who passed away last year. A supporter of the National Live Music Awards from its incarnation, the NLMAs was lucky enough to have Iain as a judge in the event’s inaugural year. The placement of the award is due to the music journalist’s other life as an acclaimed drummer, performing with the likes of The Jolt, the Saints, Snakes of Shake, Dog Trumpet and Summerhill.

Said Heath, “As a good friend to the awards, and to many of us involved in it, I’m humbled by the blessing of Iain’s family in allowing us to permanently pay tribute to this great drummer, writer and human being. His absence is felt greatly by the industry, and all of us at the awards, and I’m honoured we’re able to keep him as a part of it in this way. I like to think he would appreciate the gesture, though he definitely would have told everyone otherwise.”

In addition to the above, venues, events and artists now have until August 15th to nominate themselves for consideration for the 2018 awards; an extension from the original August 1st closing date.

Nomations for all categories is available here:
https://www.nlmas.com.au/apply/

For more details about the awards, head to nlmas.com.au and Follow our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nlmas18