2022 SAM Awards Finalists Announced

The South Australian Music Awards (SAM Awards) have unveiled the finalists of this year's event, which will celebrate the artists, venues, and industry professionals that make the state's music scene thrive.

Kenyan-born and Adelaide- raised Elsy Wameyo leads the announcement as a finalist across six categories, including Best Song for River Nile, Best Release for her Nilotoc EP, Best Solo Artist, Best Music Video for Nilotoc - directed by Wameyo & Richard Coburn, and People's Choice Award for hip-hop artist of the year. She is also the sole artist with a nomination for work behind the mixing desk; she's a Best Studio Engineer/Producer finalist.

Nukunu musician Tilly Tjala Thomas and Electric Fields are also up in four categories - Thomas is a Best Song finalist for her track, Ngai Yurlku Nhiina, and in the Best Regional Artist, Best Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Artist, and Best Solo Artist categories. Electric Fields, meanwhile, are in the running for Best Music Video with the Jack Bielby-directed Catastrophe, Best Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Artist, Best Group, and People's Choice Award for pop artist of the year.

Adelaide punks LOLA are finalists in the Best Release (for their album, Don't Tell My Mum), Best New Artist, Best Music Video (the Jed Newton-directed What's The Point), and People's Choice Award for punk artist of the year.

Up in three categories are The Empty Threats - Best Release for their self-titled EP, Best Group, and People's Choice Award for experimental artist of the year - and TOWNS for Best Song with Season 5 (Break My Fall), Best Group, and People's Choice Award for rock artist of the year. Last year's record-breaking seven-award-winning Teenage Joans are Best Song (Terrible) and Best Music Video for the same track (directed by Lemonade City) finalists.

MusicSA CEO Christine Schloithe shared that the SAM Awards celebrate what makes the South Australian music sector great. "The depth of the finalists announced for the SAM Awards today is a testament to the health and strength of the South Australian music community. Across all genres and industry fields, the South Australian music sector is challenging the industry leaders, and the rest of the country is taking notice.

"This 2022 SAM Awards is set to be the biggest awards yet and will offer the local industry a chance to come together and celebrate the past 12 months of music in our great state."

Premier of South Australia, Peter Malinauskas, said that the state is leading the country's music scene on the COVID bounce back. "The music industry is a vital part of our economy, and it suffered through the pandemic; that's why my government is investing $10 million in grants and vouchers to help cater for live performances. 

"We're determined to see the industry recover, rebuild and get back to doing what it does best – delivering $116 million to our economy and supporting more than 1100 full-time equivalent jobs."

Buy tickets to attend the event here.

View the complete list of finalists below.

BEST SONG

Teenage Joans - Terrible

Horror My Friend - Devotion

Tilly Tjala Thomas - Ngai Yurlku Nhiina

TOWNS - Season 5 (Break My Fall)

Elsy Wameyo - River Nile

WANDERERS - Nothing in This World

BEST NEW ARTIST

Ethanol Blend

Molly Rocket

LOLA

The Vains

Twine  

BEST REGIONAL ARTIST

Ella & Sienna

Germein

Tilly Tjala Thomas

Ellen Tefanis

PTL

BEST ABORIGINAL OR TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER ARTIST

MARLON X RULLA

Tilly Tjala Thomas

Electric Fields

Rob Edwards

DEM MOB  

BEST GROUP

Slowmango

SONS OF ZÖKU

The Empty Threats

Electric Fields

TOWNS

BEST SOLO

Elsy Wameyo

Tilly Tjala Thomas

Jess Day

Motez

Lucas Day  

BEST RELEASE

LOLA – Don't Tell My Mum

The Empty Threats – The Empty Threats

Elsy Wameyo – Nilotic

WANDERERS – WANDERERS

SONS OF ZÖKU – SÜN