2024 SOUTH AUSTRALIAN MUSIC AWARDS FINALISTS REVEALED

Here’s who is up for the major and industry awards at the November 7 celebration.

The major and industry nominees for the 2024 South Australian Music Awards have been revealed! This year’s finalists highlight the top talent found in the state’s vibrant music scene, with a record-breaking 693 nominations across the major/industry categories (plus a further 269 artists vying for the People’s Choice Awards). 

This year’s event will be held at the Dom Polski Centre as part of MusicSA’s Good Music Month. Leading the 2024 nominations is emerging indie band Swapmeet, who have four nods across major categories including Best Song for ‘Ceiling Fan’, Best Release, Best Group and Best New Artist. The outfit are also featured in two industry awards – Best Cover Art (created by frontperson Venus) and Best Live Music Photograph, shot by Ariadne Mercer. 

Electronic music producer Motez, indie darling aleksiah and APY Land hip-hop outfit DEM MOB are also up for three awards respectively. First-time nominees include The Genevieves, Molly Rocket and The Tullamarines – all who feature in the Best Song category alongside Motez and Swapmeet. Further, post-punk outfit Coldwave and industry heavyweights West Thebarton are up for Best Release. 

The 2024 South Australian Music Awards has introduced new category Best Live Music Photograph, reflecting the awards’ growing scope to celebrate all pockets of the industry. This year’s nominees include Ariadne Mercer, Deb Kloeden, Evie Wonder, Lucinda Corin and Nash Blight. Other notable nominations across the Industry Awards category includes multi-award-winning Ryan Martin John, who scooped three nods for his work at his own studio, Cactus Cactus Sound. Boutique mini fest, which just took place over the October long weekend, is also up for two awards for its 2023 efforts. 

"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 CEO of MusicSA, Christine Schloithe. 

"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.”

And that’s not all! The People’s Choice Awards, hosted by TheMusic.com.au and The Note, are now open for public voting until Tuesday, October 22. To cast your vote, head to: southaustralianmusicawards.com.au

The 2024 SA Music Awards promise a night of outstanding music and industry celebration, including the live induction of a South Australian Music Hall of Famer. Presenters and performers will be announced in the coming weeks. The ceremony will take place on November 7.

MAJOR AWARDS

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

BEST REGIONAL ARTIST
Alana Jagt and Ryan Martin John | I hope for you this Christmas
DEM MOB | DIP
Germein Sisters | City Lights
Rob Edwards | Dreaming

BEST GROUP
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
DEM MOB | DIP
Electric Fields | One Milkali (One Blood)
J-MILLA | On My Soul
Rob Edwards | Dreaming

BEST SOLO ARTIST
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
aleksiah | Who Are You When You're Not Performing?
Coldwave | No Conflict
Motez | Coalesce
Swapmeet | Oxalis
West Thebarton | Mongrel Australia

INDUSTRY AWARDS

BEST STUDIO
Cactus Cactus Sound
Forest Range Studios
House of Sap
Wundenberg's Recording Studios

BEST STUDIO ENGINEER/PRODUCER
Jess Day
Lucinda Machin
Ryan Martin
John Sam Lench

BEST LIVE TECHNICIAN
Lachlan Sheehan
Luke Hancock
Matt Adams
Ryan Martin John