The winner of the Australian Music Prize (The Amp) has been announced today in Sydney!

The recipient of Australia’s most prestigious music award is Eddy Current Suppression Ring for the album 'Primary Colours'.

Prize Director, Tracey Grimson said: “From over 200 entries, The Amp’s panel of expert judges has decided that the best Australian album of 2008 is 'Primary Colours'. The Australian Music Prize was established to reward Australian music of excellence, and the judges’ choice for the overall winner this year certainly reflects that criteria. Congratulations to Eddy Current.”

'Primary Colours' is the second album from Melbourne band Eddy Current Suppression Ring.

In addition to the album’s Australian Music Prize success, it was nominated for a triple j JAward in 2008 and in the Best Rock Album category at last year’s ARIA Awards.

The band is also being noticed overseas: Spin Magazine gave the release four stars and called it “one of the year’s best guitar records”.

Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA), which provides the prize money for The Amp, presented $30,000 to Eddy Current Suppression Ring in front of an invited crowd of artists, music industry and media.

PPCA’s Chief Executive, Stephen Peach, said the organisation has supported The Amp since its inception because both PPCA and the prize share an affinity for the support of musical creativity.

"PPCA is proud to have supported the Australian Music Prize since its inception in 2005. It's proven to be a perfect synergy for our ongoing work on behalf of Australian recording artists. We would like to congratulate this year's winner Eddy Current Suppression Ring and the other Shortlisted artists on their stellar releases."

In addition to the $30,000 cash prize, Eddy Current Suppression Ring also receives a $30,000 on-air advertising package, courtesy of The Amp major partner Channel [V]. Both Channel [V] and MAX will also be airing an artist special of the winner.

For the third year, principle partner Red Bull has offered $15,000 worth of career-building support to an artist from The Amp Shortlist considered to have a bright future here and overseas.

At this year's ceremony, Jack Ladder was announced as the recipient of the 2008 Red Bull Award - In Recognition Of Outstanding Potential for his album 'Love Is Gone'. Rolling Stone Magazine has described the album as “white boy jazz and soul delivered with a refreshingly simple swagger”.

“The Red Bull Award - In Recognition Of Outstanding Potential provides a great platform to help original acts on their journey to success. Previous winners include Gotye and bluejuice. Jack Ladder was selected this year for his original and progressive musical style. We’re proud to be involved in supporting the best Australian music,” said Tom Sigelski, Cultural Marketing Manager, Red Bull Australia.

The Amp is heading into its fifth year in 2009 and will open again for entries in October. For more information head to www.australianmusicprize.com.au. As in previous years, the award will be open to Australian artists across all genres who release original album-length works during 2009.

Eddy Current Suppression Ring Official Website
Eddy Current Suppression Ring MySpace

Jack Ladder MySpace

Australian Music Prize Official Website

Red Bull Bedroom Jam is returning in 2009 larger than ever.

Kicking off on Monday 23 February 2009 at 5:00pm will see My Passion streamed live from their hotel room on tour as well as a very special guest being interviewed in the studio.

Season 2 sees Red Bull Bedroom Jam move out of the bedroom and onto the stage. This exciting development will see the creation of an Under 18 festival platform for many of our previous artists to perform at events such as The Camden Crawl and Underage Festival.

Watch video Red Bull Bedroom Jam trailer:

Red Bull on amazon.co.uk

Season 3 runs from 14th September to 30th November, culminating in the grand finale of the year which will be a live tour of the UK in a specially kitted out tour bus by the 'lighthouse' bands of the Bedroom Jam scheme.

A key feature of 2009's innovations will be the transformation of the Bedroom Jam live stream gig into a fully fledged interactive 'TV show' style experience.

Featuring exclusive behind the scenes interviews and chat with established artists, Red Bull Bedroom Jam will be the most exciting playground for unsigned bands, fans and music interested teens this year.

Red Bull Bedroom Jam's aim is to provide a live musical outlet for young bands and musicians, aged 19 years or younger. It is the first online platform ever to combine a user generated video music content jukebox with a LIVE peer-to-peer streaming facility.

Bands and artists upload their videos to www.redbullbedroomjam.com and then users vote for their favourite video. The most popular video gets selected for a live-streamed performance directly from their bedrooms.

On broadcast day, the Red Bull Bedroom Jam crew collect the musicians and selected mates and fans, and the winners rock out in front of the camera.

For more information, go to:

Red Bull Bedroom Jam Official Website

Out of the bedroom and onto the stage, Red Bull Bedroom Jam is proud to be creating the Liverpool Sound City's only venue for 2008 that will be open to under 18's. Expect to see some of the UK's most talented young bands from both the Red Bull Bedroom Jam network and the Liverpool Sound City's esteemed roster.

The venue will be Heebie Jeebies on Seel Street in Liverpool and will feature 7 bands Friday, 30th May 2008 from 3-9pm. The line up will include The Wombats, Dykeenies, Cheeky Cheeky and the Nosebleeds and many more.

The event if free to all those under 18's. For those under 18 and unable to get Liverpool Sound City tickets Red Bull will be running a special guest list for access to the Red Bull Bedroom Jam venue.

Details on how to apply for the guest list are available on:

Red Bull Bedroom Jam

Red Bull Bedroom Jam (http://www.redbullbedroomjam.co.uk) allows young bands and musicians, who would otherwise struggle to get an outlet for their music due to venue age restrictions, to upload their videos and have the opportunity to have one of their gigs livestreamed across the Internet, helping them gather that all important fan base. Red Bull Bedroom Jam launched in September 2007 with a live gig online by Kerrang award nominees, youmeatsix. This has been followed by several performances from other young bands (Furthest Drive Home, Linchpin, The Press, Area 15, Saving Aimee, Lyrikal Squad, Lil Rascals and Maverik), from around the UK. In 2008 it is growing to host 3 series of 8 shows, and of course grow from the bedroom to the world.

Out of the bedroom and onto the stage, Red Bull Bedroom Jam is proud to be creating the Camden Crawl's only venue for 2008 that will also be open to under 18's on the 18th and 19th April 2008. Expect to see some of the UK's most talented young bands from both the Red Bull Bedroom Jam network and the Camden Crawl's esteemed roster.

Red Bull Bedroom Jam is a site that allows young bands and musicians, who would otherwise struggle to get an outlet for their music due to venue age restrictions, to upload their videos and have the opportunity to have one of their gigs live streamed across the Internet, helping them gather that all important fan base.

This month, April 2008, Red Bull Bedroom Jam have an opening for a slot on the Red Bull Bedroom Jam stage at the Camden Crawl and are looking for talented musicians to upload their jam videos to the Bedroom Jam site, one of which will be cherry picked and chosen by the Red Bull judges to play on stage at the event.

The Bedroom Jam site is also a place to discover new talent, so users can submit their votes on which bands they rate are the best.

Latest: Camden Crawl weekend tickets have now sold out but for those under 18, Red Bull will be running a special guest list for access to the Red Bull Bedroom Jam venue.

Details on how to apply for the guest list plus all the above can be found on the official site:

Red Bull Bedroom Jam