Dem Mob, Ella Ion, Electric Fields Lead 2025 SA Music Awards Nominations

We’re only a few weeks away from this year’s South Australian Music Awards (SA Music Awards), and today, the 2025 finalists have been revealed.

More than 115 artists, managers, and industry representatives have been nominated across three categories: People’s Choice, Industry, and Major Awards. The awards are presented by MusicSA and held at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre Theatre on Tuesday, 28 October.

Leading the charge for this year’s ceremony is First Nations hip-hop group DEM MOB, who have received five nods, including Best Regional Artist and Best Hip-Hop Artist. Behind them is singer-songwriter Ella Ion with four nominations, including Best Song and Best New Artist.

Electric Fields follow with three nominations to their name, including Best Group and Best Release, alongside fellow three-time nominees, Oscar The Wild and The Genevieves, who feature prominently in the Major Award categories.

You can see the full list of nominees below. Tickets to attend this year’s event are available here, and you can find out more about the SA Music Awards on its website.

In a statement, MusicSA CEO Christine Schloithe highlighted the calibre of music coming out of South Australia.

“The SA Music Awards celebrate the very best in South Australian music,” Schloithe said. “This year’s finalists showcase the incredible range of independent voices and stories our community continues to produce – from brand-new acts to established icons.” 

South Australian Minister for Arts, Andrea Michaels MP, added: “Congratulations to our incredible 2025 SA Music Awards finalists.

“South Australia has a remarkable history 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 winners.” 

SA MUSIC AWARDS 2025

MAJOR AWARDS

Best Song

The Dainty Morsels – Hold Your Horses

aleksiah – Clothes Off

My Chérie – Life is

TOWNS – can’t blame yr dad

Ella Ion – Creature Skin

Best New Artist

BOUSTA

The Genevieves

The Dainty Morsels

Purée

Ella Ion

Best Regional Artist

Erin Buku

DEM MOB

Germein Sisters

Gratts

Rob Edwards

Best Solo Artist

Parvyn

Kultar Ahluwalia

Naomi Keyte

Lonelyspeck

aleksiah

Best Group

Oscar the Wild

Bromham

Purée

TOWNS

Electric Fields

Best Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Artist

Cringetrender

DEM MOB

J-MILLA

Rob Edwards

Electric Fields

Best Release (EP/Album)

Oscar the Wild – Blue

The Genevieves – Dog Dreams

aleksiah – Cry About It

LOLA – Live In A Dive

Electric Fields – Live In Concert

INDUSTRY AWARDS

Best Cover Art

TOWNS

aleksiah

Soylent Green

Ella Ion

Best Music Educator

Nic Jeffries

Mat Morison

DEM MOB

Paige Court

Placement

Best Large Music Festival (1,000+ attendance)

Froth and Fury Fest

Adelaide Beer & BBQ Festival

City of Adelaide - Make Music Day

Semaphore Music Festival

Best Live Music Photograph

William Coombs – Tonix

Elise De Simoni – Amyl And The Sniffers

Justin White – Slowly Slowly

Bronwen Caple – Lany

Skye Sampson – Lola

Best Live Music Venue

UniBar ADL

The Austral

The Scenic Hotel

Hindley Street Music Hall

Lion Arts Factory

Best Live Technician

Nathan D’Agostino

Ryan Martin John

Michael Murphy

Liam Roche

Luke Hancock

Best Manager

Chelsea Sinnott

Rachel Whitford

Sebastian James – 27 Music

Gully

Hannah Louise

Joseph Cheek – Home Recording Bootcamp

Best Music Video

The Tullamarines – Lying / dir. Myles McEwen

Lonelyspeck – Wishing / dir. Sione Teumohenga

Teenage Joans – Sweet and Slow / dir.  Scarlett Scherer

effie isobel – Moon Made / dir. Grace Stewart

LOLA – What Line? / dir. Bryce Kraehenbuehl

Best Regional Music Venue, Festival or Event

Caltowie Chilled Out ’n’ Fired Up Music Festival

Limestone Coast Beer & BBQ Festival

Adelaide Guitar Festival

On the Road – Kangaroo Island

Space Jams 2024

Best Small Festival (under 1,000 attendance)

Future Sounds Festival

Caltowie Chilled Out ’n’ Fired Up Music Festival

Dougstock Music Festival

Space Jams 2024

Porch and Recreation

Best Studio

Cactus Cactus Sound

Wizard Tone Studios

Forest Range Studios

Dänger Deer Studios

Songbird Society

Best Studio Engineer/Producer

Ryan Martin John

Sam Lench

James Brown

Mario Späte

Lucinda Machin

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS

Blues & Roots

Badland Caravan

Laura Hill

Cal Williams Jr

The Honey Badgers

63 Deluxe

Country

The Flying Squad

The Jeffries

River Rose

Brad Chicken and the Bootstraps

Rob Edwards

Electronic

Sexy As Shit

TONIX

L T Balkin

Alex Hosking

Georgia Oatley

Experimental & Art

Night Rites

Violet Harlot

James Brown

we see moons

Quirkestra

Folk

Naomi Keyte

Ned Baulderstone

Kellys Wayke

Bromham

Ella Ion

Heavy

Raccoon City

Falter

MACËY

Lumens

xGemmini

Hip Hop

Tommy Marsh

Kultar Ahluwalia

OC3ANEYES

DEM MOB

HeyHolly

Jazz

Parvyn

Alexander Flood

Live Slug Reaction

Soylent Green

Fuja

Pop

Bella Brinkworth

aleksiah

The Tullamarines

My Chérie

LILLI

Punk

Witch Spit

babyteeth

Teenage Joans

DONNI HEAT

LOLA

Rock

Oscar the Wild

The Genevieves

The Dainty Morsels

Molly Rocket

GREASY

Soul/Funk/R&B

Erin Buku

Dojo Rise

San Dragan

WANDERERS

Meena De Silva