Sticky Carpet

A week ago Baker Boy was playing to one of the biggest audiences of his fledgling music career at Byron Bay's Splendour in the Grass festival. Last night in South Australia the 21-year-old hip-hop artist from Arnhem Land received another career boost, winning the breakthrough independent artist of the year award at the annual AIR (Australian Independent Record Labels Association) awards. On a night when Milk! Records' Jen Cloher collected the best independent artist award and her label picked up the gong for best independent label, there was plenty to celebrate, and not just for the winners. There's the multiple worthy nomineess, the countless artists, bands and their supporters around the country making and listening to independent music, as well as some great live performances inside Adelaide's Queen Theatre, including Darwin's Caiti Baker, who performed her soulful song I Won't Sleep, something Splendour attendees no doubt knew a thing or two about last weekend. Other winners included Perth's Methyl Ethel (best independent album or EP for Everything is Forgotten), King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard (best hard rock, heavy or punk album for Murder of the Universe) and Sydney's Pnau, winning twice with Go Bang and Changa. For all the AIR winners and nominees, go to air.org.au

album of the week
The Bamboos
Night Time People
(Pacific Theatre/BMG)
★★★★
Multiple ARIA award winners the Bamboos have released their eighth album and the only thing better than that is the outrageously good supports they've lined up for next month's tour, their first in three years. For tour information go to thebambos.com and don't waste another minute checking out new tracks, including Lit Up with it's instantly addictive groove and Kylie Auldist's soulful, world class voice out front of this stunning nine-piece party starter. Australia's Urthboy, German songwriter and rapper Teesy and Atlanta-based MC J-Live all guest on Broken, highlighting the Bamboos' widening reach.

selecta
Keep Up - Loose Tooth
Lamp Lit Rose - Dirty Projectors
Forced into a Corner - Asteroid B-612