Acclaimed Melbourne four-piece the Drones have added two new accolades to their collection, with the “Shark Fin Blues” outfit voted the Independent Artist Of The Year at the 2009 Jagermeister AIR Awards in Melbourne. Their fifth studio album, Havilah, also landed the prize for Best Independent Album Of The Year.

Honouring the finest independent music to come out of Australia annually, the AIR Awards (organised by national organisation Australian Independent Records Labels Association) were held at Melbourne’s Forum Theatre on Sunday 22 November. With performances from Midnight Juggernauts, CW Stoneking, Dappled Cities, Bridezilla and more, the night kicked into party mode after the nine categories were announced. Winners were:

Jagermeister Best Independent Album Of The Year – the Drones, Havilah

Independent Artist Of The Year – the Drones

Breakthrough Independent Artist Of The Year – Bertie Blackman

Best Independent Single or EP – Philadelphia Grand Jury, “Going To The Casino”

Best Independent Country Album – Adam Brand, Hell Of A Ride

Best Independent Blues or Roots Album – C.W. Stoneking, Jungle Blues

Best Independent Hard Rock or Punk Album – The Nation Blue, Rising Waters

Best Independent Hip-Hop or Urban Album – Pez, A Mind Of My Own

Best Independent Dance Album – Art Vs. Science, self-titled

Best Independent Jazz Album – The World According To James, Lingua Franca