Finalists for the Major and Industry Award Categories of the South Australian Music Awards have just been revealed by MusicSA.
The SA Music Awards celebrate the most exciting and inspiring talent that South Australia has to offer – in all capacities, from those wowing audiences onstage, front and centre, to those holding everything together behind the scened. This year, a record-breaking 693 nominations have been received across Industry and Major Awards categories. A whopping 269 artists across twelve categories have been nominated for the People’s Choice Awards.
“The South Australian Music Awards have become a cornerstone event for our vibrant music industry and it’s no surprise to see the incredibly high level of talent represented across this year’s nominations,” says Christine Schloithe, CEO of MusicSA.
Last year saw The Empty Threats and Dem Mob win big. This year’s colourful list of nominees sees emerging indie rock band Swapmeet leading the charge, having been nominated across five different categories, including Best Song, Best New Artist, Best Group, Best Release for their debut EP Oxalis and Best Cover Art (which was designed by the band’s front-person and guitarist, Venue O’brien).
aleksiah is close behind, having also been nominated for Best New Artist, Best Solo Artist, Best Release for her debut EP Who Are You When You’re Not Performing? and Best Cover Art, designed by Lucinda Corin.
Other notable nominees include Dem Mob, Coldwave, The Genevieves, My Cherie, and many, many more.
This year sees the introduction of a new awards category: Best Live Photograph. Nominated photographers Ariadne Mercer, Deb Kloeden, Evie Wonder, Lucinda Corin, and Nash Blight are achieving some well-deserved recognition.
There is further excitement to be felt, as Music SA is also excited to announce that People’s Choice Voting is now open. Music-lovers throughout South Australia are encouraged to support those who contribute artistically to their community by submitting their votes and having their say in the much-anticipated outcome of the SA Music Awards. Voting will close on October 20th.
Minister for Arts Andrea Michaels MP says, “With a record number of nominations, it’s clear that South Australian contemporary music continues to grow, innovate, and punch above its weight locally and nationally. We are so very proud to celebrate and amplify the achievements of these artists and music businesses, and we look forward to what promises to be a spectacular night.” She extends her warmest congratulations to this year’s “incredible” finalists. She continues, “South Australia has a strong legacy of producing extraordinary musicians and you have all made an important contribution to our state’s musical history. I look forward to celebrating with you all and unveiling this year’s South Australian Music Hall of Fame inductee.”
The event, fondly known as South Australian music’s “night of nights”, will be taking place this year at Dom Polski Centre, on Thursday November 7th. Early bird tickets to the awards ceremony are available on the South Australian Music Awards website. Presenters and performers will be announced in the coming weeks.
Check out all the nominees below.
MAJOR AWARDS FINALISTS
Sponsored by The Music
BEST SONG – Sponsored by Wonderlick
Molly Rocket | God Damn
Motez | Make Way (Feat. Elsy Wameyo)
Swapmeet | Ceiling Fan
The Genevieves | Adore You
The Tullamarines | I’m So
BEST NEW ARTIST – Sponsored by WOMADelaide
aleksiah | 24
Coldwave | No Conflict
My Cherie | Darkness & Gold
Swapmeet | Ceiling Fan
The Genevieves | Adore You
BEST REGIONAL ARTIST – Sponsored by Country Arts SA
Alana Jagt and Ryan Martin John | I hope for you this Christmas
DEM MOB | DIP
Germein Sisters | City Lights
Rob Edwards | Dreaming
BEST GROUP – Sponsored by Moshtix
DEM MOB | DIP
Oscar the Wild | She’ll Be Right
SONS OF ZOKU | ENDLESS
Swapmeet | Oxalis
Teenage Joans | The Rot That Grows Inside My Chest
West Thebarton | Mongrel Australia
BEST ABORIGINAL or TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER ARTIST – Sponsored by the University of Adelaide
DEM MOB | DIP
Electric Fields | One Milkali (One Blood)
J-MILLA | On My Soul
Rob Edwards | Dreaming
BEST SOLO ARTIST – Sponsored by General Admission Entertainment
Adam Page | Stasis and Flux: Evolution I
aleksiah | Who Are You When You’re Not Performing?
MANE | Caught In The Undertow
Motez | Make Way (Feat. Elsy Wameyo)
BEST RELEASE – Sponsored by Hindley Street Music Hall
aleksiah | Who Are You When You’re Not Performing?
Coldwave | No Conflict
Motez | Coalesce
Swapmeet | Oxalis
West Thebarton | Mongrel Australia
INDUSTRY AWARDS FINALISTS
Sponsored by Moshtix
BEST STUDIO – Sponsored by Northern Sound System
Cactus Cactus Sound
Forest Range Studios
House of Sap
Wundenberg’s Recording Studios
BEST STUDIO ENGINEER/PRODUCER – Sponsored by Novatech
Jess Day
Lucinda Machin
Ryan Martin John
Sam Lench
BEST LIVE TECHNICIAN – Sponsored by Adelaide Guitar Festival
Lachlan Sheehan
Luke Hancock
Matt Adams
Ryan Martin John
BEST SMALL FESTIVAL/EVENT – Sponsored by Woodville Town Hall
Heavy SA Fest
Housing Boom
I Am Not A Burden Fest
IndieFest
Space Jams
BEST MAJOR FESTIVAL/EVENT – Sponsored by Adelaide Backline Production Hire
Adelaide Beer & BBQ Festival
Cry Baby Fest
Froth & Fury Fest
Nice Day to Go To The Club
Spin Off Festival
BEST REGIONAL MUSIC VENUE, FESTIVAL OR EVENT – Sponsored by Australian Hotels Association
Big Easy Radio – McLaren Vale
South East Beer & BBQ Fest – Mt Gambier
Space Jams – Inman Valley
The Three Brothers Arms – Macclesfield
Yabaardu – Ceduna
BEST VENUE – Sponsored by Australian Hotels Association
Ancient World
Crown & Anchor
Grace Emily
Hindley Street Music Hall
UniBar ADL
BEST MANAGER – Sponsored by ThreeD
Hannah Louise
Rachel Whitford (27 Music)
Sam Szabo (PAK)
Sebastian James (27 Music)
Tayla Carlaw (Pretty Good Thanks)
BEST COVER ART – Sponsored by Version Design
Coldwave | Designer – Aysh Field | Released – 9th August 2023
aleksiah | Designer – Lucinda Corin | Released – 28th May 2024
Druid Fluids | Designer – Pia Gynell Jorgensen | Released – 27th October 2023
Swapmeet | Designer – Venus O’Brien | Released – 12th April 2024
BEST MUSIC VIDEO – Sponsored by JCDecaux
DEM MOB / Natasha Wanganeen – “DIP”
Kitchen Witch / Kristoffer Lucia – “Lost”
LOLA / Bryce Kraehenbuehl – “Game Over”
My Chérie / Bryce Kraehenbuehl – “Darkness & Gold”
TOWNS / Luke Franceschini – “Birthdays”
BEST LIVE MUSIC PHOTOGRAPH – Sponsored by Atkins Photo Lab & Atkins Pro
Ariadne Mercer | Swapmeet @ Crown & Anchor, 15th March 2023
Deb Kloeden | The Empty Threats @ Woodville Town Hall, 8th November 2022
Evie Wonder | Molly Rocket @ Crown & Anchor, 23rd December 2022
Lucinda Corin | aleksiah @ Jive, 8th June 2023
Nash Blight | The Empty Threats @ Lion Arts Factory, 19th April 2023
BEST MUSIC EDUCATOR – Sponsored by Carclew
Annie Siegmann
Hayley Wedding
Peter Spiniello