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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Entertainment
Sian Cain

Australian Music prize: 80-year-old Kankawa Nagarra wins over Nick Cave and Amyl and the Sniffers

Walmatjarri elder and blues musician  Kankawa Nagarra has won the 20th Australian Music prize
Kankawa Nagarra has won the 20th Australian Music prize for her debut album Wirlmarni. The 80-year-old Walmatjarri elder blends blues, country and gospel in her music. Photograph: Australian Music prize

The Walmatjarri elder and blues musician Kankawa Nagarra has won the $50,000 Australian Music prize (AMP) for her debut album Wirlmarni, seeing off competition from Nick Cave, the Dirty Three and Amyl and the Sniffers.

Inspired by the UK’s Mercury prize, the AMP focuses “entirely on artistic merit” and aims to “financially reward and increase exposure” for Australian musicians who release the best album in a calendar year.

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