The annual Australian Music Prize (AMP) is creeping up on us again, with anticipation building around it as it was recently announced that American Rolling Stone’s David Fricke will be flying down to Australia to deliver the official keynote address at the award ceremony. The 2012 AMPS Amped Up In Conversation will be held at our iconic Sydney Opera House on Thursday March 8. In his keynote, Fricke will be addressing the current state of the Australian music industry based on his vast knowledge of Australian music since the 1980s.
“After much industry research, we’re pleased to announce this new, broader, industry event at which we can announce which of the 9 shortlisted artists will win The 7th Amp. As well as lunch at the iconic Sydney Opera House and the winner announcement, we are privileged to present from Rolling Stone magazine in New York, David Fricke to speak to local industry folk. The event is enabled by the support of PPCA and the Sydney Opera House,” says The Amp Director Scott B. Murphy.
Fricke has written reviews on big name Australian acts such as INXS, Silverchair and Midnight Oil, and achieved groundbreaking interviews with artists such as Kurt Cobain, Patti Smith and Metallica.
“It is a great honor to be invited to one of the most important events in Australian music, celebrating the best new records in the country,” Fricke says. “It will also be like coming home to one of my favorite rock & roll scenes in the world.”
The Australian Music Prize Ltd is an organization established to encourage, reward and promote Australian music of excellence. Each year an Australian artist or group is awarded The Amp, receiving a cash prize in recognition of the outstanding creativity they exhibited based on an original album released in that year.
In addition to announced the 7th annual AMP winner, there will be an open forum to discuss the current state of Australian music, both on home soil and overseas.
The AMP short list will be announced on Thursday February 2. Tickets will be available from February 6.
For more information head here.