Major Finalists for SA Music Awards Announced

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 scenes.

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, Venus O’brien).

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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

BEST NEW ARTIST – Sponsored by WOMADelaide

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

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

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

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

This piece of content has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body