Launched seven years ago by the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), the LIBERA AWARDS have become a hot-ticket event in New York City. A hybrid of a low-key Grammy and a hipper Billboard Award ceremony, the Libera Awards bring together members of the independent label sector who all converged on the Best Buy Theatre on June 22^nd.

Singer-songwriter (and Section 101 client) Aimee Mann treated the packed house to a song and then crossed the river to perform a full set an hour later at Celebrate Brooklyn. Aimee won the Best American Roots/Folk Album for 2017’s Mental Illness, which was released on her own SuperEgo Records. Other winners included Nick Cave (Best Live act), Jason Isbell (Best Country/Americana Album), Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings (Best R&B Album) and The National (Best Rock Album). Epitaph founder Brett Gurewitz was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award