The Biggest Night in Australian Club Entertainment History
Over 550 people attended the 20th Annual Australian Club Entertainment (ACE) Awards held in the Grand Ballroom at Bankstown Sports Club, to show support and gratitude for the best in Club entertainment. Guests walked the red carpet, leading into the Grand Ballroom foyer, to be surprised by Billy Field playing the baby grand with his bass player, and two beautiful ‘Martini Glass Dancers’.
The awards ceremony was hosted by Actor, Producer and Comedian, George Kapiniaris and covered 26 award categories, including Country Performer, which was won by the McClymonts, Original Music Performer, won by Daryl Braithwaite and Dance Production, won by Burlesque Spectacular.
Newcomers to the industry, Platinum Harmony, took out the Rising Star Award. The Venue Awards for Excellence and Commitment to Club Entertainment were won by Revesby Workers Club (large venue) and Coffs C-ex (small venue).
Backed by a 14-piece orchestra, the crowd enjoyed performances by some of Australia’s most adored club entertainers, including Ria Pirrelli, Chris Connolly, C Major, Glenn Cunningham, Mark Vincent, Paulini and country music icons Brooke McClymont and Adam Eckersley.
Recent Club Burwood talent quest winner, Michelle Mutyora, was given teh opportunity to perform on the same stage as her idols, and kept the audience mesmerised with her stellar performance.
Celebrity presenters were Australian Music icons Grace Knight, Jeff Duff, Wendy Matthews and comedian Buddy Goode.
St Johns Park Bowling Club CEO and ACE Awards Chairman, David Marsh was proud to present the ACE Awards.
‘The event has grown over the past couple of years and it is a fantastic platform to showcase the amazing club entertainers and venues we have in Australia. The success of the ACE Awards is due to the overwhelming and generous sponsorship received by clubs and their suppliers, and is the one night of the year we come together to thank our club entertainers for their hard-work and dedication’.
Being an avid supporter of nurturing new talent, the ACE Awards presented the Talent Development Project (TDP) with a cheque for $5,000. The funds will be used to sponsor a young student through the TDP program.
The TDP is now the most successful youth training and development program in the music and entertainment industry in Australia, with up to 50 public school students selected each year to participate. The many TDP success stories are testimony to the success of the project and opening doors for young Australian Performers, who are debuting in the industry. Graduates include Paulini, The McClymonts, Anja Nissen and Human Nature.
ClubsNSW on behalf of the registered club industry, are also proud major partners of the TDP.