Major Finalists for SA Music Awards Announced

9 October 2024 | 1:00 pm | Emily Wilson

“The South Australian Music Awards have become a cornerstone event for our vibrant music industry,” says Christine Schloithe, CEO of MusicSA.

Major Finalists Announced

Major Finalists Announced (Supplied)

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 

BEST SONGSponsored 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 ARTISTSponsored by WOMADelaide

aleksiah | 24 
Coldwave | No Conflict 
My Cherie | Darkness & Gold 
Swapmeet | Ceiling Fan 
The Genevieves | Adore You 

BEST REGIONAL ARTISTSponsored 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 GROUPSponsored 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 RELEASESponsored 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

BEST STUDIOSponsored by Northern Sound System

Cactus Cactus Sound 
Forest Range Studios 
House of Sap 
Wundenberg’s Recording Studios 

BEST STUDIO ENGINEER/PRODUCERSponsored by Novatech

Jess Day 
Lucinda Machin 
Ryan Martin John 
Sam Lench 

BEST LIVE TECHNICIANSponsored by Adelaide Guitar Festival

Lachlan Sheehan 
Luke Hancock 
Matt Adams 
Ryan Martin John 

BEST SMALL FESTIVAL/EVENTSponsored by Woodville Town Hall

Heavy SA Fest 
Housing Boom 
I Am Not A Burden Fest 
IndieFest 
Space Jams 

BEST MAJOR FESTIVAL/EVENTSponsored 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 EVENTSponsored 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 VENUESponsored by Australian Hotels Association 

Ancient World 
Crown & Anchor 
Grace Emily 
Hindley Street Music Hall 
UniBar ADL 

BEST MANAGERSponsored by ThreeD

Hannah Louise 
Rachel Whitford (27 Music) 
Sam Szabo (PAK) 
Sebastian James (27 Music) 
Tayla Carlaw (Pretty Good Thanks) 

BEST COVER ARTSponsored 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 VIDEOSponsored 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 PHOTOGRAPHSponsored 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 EDUCATORSponsored 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

Creative Australia