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The best in Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Music

Deadlys Nominees 2011: Male Artist of the Year

Dan Sultan

This young front man knows how to get a crowd rocking. Dan’s first album Homemade Biscuits contained the track Your Love is Like a Song, which won Single of The Year at the 2007 Deadly Awards.

Since then, Dan has played with artists like Paul Kelly, Kev Carmody and Missy Higgins and appeared in the feature film Bran Nue Dae.

His second album, Get Out While You Can (2009) reached number one on the independent Australian charts, wining him two Deadly Awards as well as an ARIA in 2010.

Buddy Knox

Described as Australia’s answer to BB King, Buddy Knox has been playing guitar since he was 10, and is the son of iconic Aboriginal musician Roger Knox of Euraba band fame.

In 2006, he formed the Buddy Knox Blues Band, which won the Best New Talent Category in the Australian Blues ‘Chain’ Awards at Goulburn in February 2009. He was also a finalist for the Best Male Vocal Category.

His debut album ‘got da blues’ (2008) won the Newcastle Blues Awards Album of the Year and Buddy has toured with big names such as the Warumpi Band, Troy Cassar Daley, Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody.

Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu

Rolling Stone magazine called him “Australia’s most important voice” after the release of his double platinum debut self-titled album – Gurrumul (2008).

His highly anticipated second studio album Rrakala was released this year to massive critical acclaim and international success. On this album Gurrumul has taken the next step in diversifying his musical prowess. His formidable instrumental abilities on drums, piano and nylon string acoustic and electric guitars shine through.

Gurrumul sings in the Yolngu language with his extraordinary and captivating voice. He was an integral member of Yothu Yindi and also plays with the hugely popular Saltwater Band.

Troy Cassar-Daley

Troy Cassar-Daley is one of the most loved and respected singer songwriters in Australian country music.

His career spans eight albums over 16 years, and he has been awarded four ARIAs on top of an amazing total of 21 Golden Guitars.

At last year’s CMAA Golden Guitar awards, he won six out of the six categories he was nominated for with his album I Love This Place.

Over his career Troy has been awarded numerous other accolades including seven Deadlys, four CMAA Entertainer of the Year awards, and the 2008 Country Music Association of America Country Music Global Artist Award.

John Bennett

Western Australia’s John Bennett has emerged as a singer/songwriter with an astounding ability to transport listeners to his home country and transcend cultural barriers.

Singing of country and connection to community, Wangkaja is the first single from his self-titled debut album.

Born in Derby, John lives on the remote lands of Karajarri country between the Indian Ocean and the Great Sandy Desert in the Kimberley region of WA. John speaks of the beauty of the land and sea that surround a remote Aboriginal community and the wonderful characters who populate it.

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