AWARD: Howl band members Lachlan Morrish, Galen Strachan, Jonathon Crawford, Michael Belsar and Daniel Marie. Picture: Daniel Hartley-Allen FOR Ballarat indie rock band Howl, 2009 has been a year of awards and accolades. Howl, who took their name from a poem by American poet Allen Ginsberg, won the coveted Triple J Unearthed best high school band competition in August.Things have since taken off for the band. Yesterday, Howl was surprised to receive a Federal Government award from the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Stephen Conroy. The band _ Daniel Marie, Galen Strachan, Michael Belsar, Jonathon Crawford, Tim Street and Lachlan Morrish _ filled the office of Ballarat MHR Catherine King for the award presentation."It's weird getting recognised by the government," lead singer Michael Belsar said.Since the Triple J win, the band has been to record its song in the Triple J studios. The song Blackout is on high rotation at Triple J, being played three to four times a day.All band members are in the final preparations for their Year 12 VCE exams but are looking to record a new EP beginning Monday, to be out by December, in time for a tour starting early 2010."The tour will start in Brisbane in January and end in Melbourne with us playing some festivals on the way," Belsar said.