This year’s MK Awards at the Pretoria State Theatre looked slicker than last year’s, but I was watching from the comfort of my own home, so I could be wrong.
It’s a totally different affair when you’re sitting in the auditorium and a voice announces over the PA that you have to come forward and fill the empty seats to make the venue look fuller. Cough.
Last night Mr MK himself, Bouwer Bosch, and Bittereinder’s Jaco van der Merwe, made sure things ran smoothly while individuals like Desmond and the Tutus’ Shane Durrant became an instant social media and fan favourite courtesy of his presenting skit.
Interestingly enough, as an Afrikaans music channel, the only Afrikaans act to walk away with an award – or 3 – was Van Coke Kartel.
In case you missed it, here’s a full list of the winners below:
- Best Video: Van Coke Kartel – Tot Die Son Uitkom (VCK strike #1. I really thought this would’ve gone to Tristan Holmes’ video he did for The Frown, but Chasing Migada did make one hell of a video)
- Best Newcomer: Gangs of Ballet – Hello Sweet World (YES, A MILLION TIMES YES)
- Best Group: Van Coke Kartel – Dis ‘n Land (VCK strike #2)
- Best Solo: Jeremy Loops – Howling (Remember when I told you two years ago that he was going places? Oh and he’s off to LA to play an exclusive showcase mid-year. Jaaa)
- Best SFX/Animation: Haezer ft. Lark – Brave
- Best Dance: Johnny Neon – Hearts
- Best Rock: Van Coke Kartel – Dis ‘n Land (VCK strike #3)
- Best Indie: Shortstraw – One Long Day
- Best Live Act: The Black Cat Bones (This band is in the process of converting all who see them, like some crazed Evangelist pastor, and I strongly suggest you make a plan to catch their set when they’re in your town – be it live or acoustic)
- Best SA Music Festival: Oppikoppi 2012
My correct predictions? 5 out of 10. 2 better than last year. Ha.
If this year’s awards have reaffirmed anything, it’s that Van Coke Kartel is unstoppable.
It’s also somewhat restored my faith in the voting public.
Jeremy Loops tweeted the other day: “The validation is the nomination” and he’s right, but it’s great seeing acts that aren’t playlisted on any commercial radio stations, haven’t headlined any festivals and don’t have CDs in any major retail outlets, having that aforementioned validation semi-cemented buy a tiny trophy.
But at the end of the day all musicians in this country, nomination or no nomination, have one thing in common, they’d like to make sure any amount of success they achieve isn’t fleeting. And the only way in which they’ll be able to do this is if you keep supporting them by buying their music but more importantly, ATTENDING THEIR GIGS.
It’s no small secret that gig attendance in this country is down a considerable percentage, so when a band is in your town show them your support and flash them your cash – I guarantee it’ll be better than any night out spent listening to a commercial playlist.
