South Australian Music Awards 2025 Finalists

A beaming spotlight on South Australia's contemporary music scene, this year's South Australian Music Awards feature more than 115 acts, managers, and industry representatives nominated across the 3 sections.

The People's Choice, Industry, and Major Award categories feature 31 separate awards, with First Nations hip hop group DEM MOB leading the way with 5 nominations, including Best Regional Artist and Best Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Artist.

With four nominations, including Best Song and Best New Artist, is Ella Ion (who recently showcased at BIGSOUND). While Electric Fields, Oscar the Wild (who playing Harvest Rock later this month), The Dainty Morsels, The Genevieves, and Rob Edwards each have received three nods.

"We're beyond proud to share that DEM MOB has been named FINALISTS in FIVE categories at the 2025 SA Music Awards 🙌🏾💯!

"Massive love to everyone supporting our journey – family, friends, schools, radio, and every young one picking up the mic after seeing us 🙏🏾. Let's keep the fire burning 🔥✨!"



Now stalwarts of the scene, Electric Fields are still humbled by the recognition. "We are beyond thrilled and honoured to be nominated for three awards at this year's SA Music Awards ⚡️⚡️!"

Oscar the Wild are simply thrilled to be nominated. "Well, well, well, this is pretty exciting 🤩🫶🏻! So stoked and grateful to be up for Best Group, Best Release and the Rock Award at this year's South Australian Music Awards 🥹💖. We're up against a mighty fine crop in all categories and we're just so happy to be recognised alongside them ❣️."

Those artists with two nominations are aleksiah, Bromham, Erin Buku, Kultar Ahluwalia, My Chérie, Naomi Keyte, Parvyn, Purée, and TOWNS.

Music SA CEO, Christine Schloithe says the calibre of nominees reflects South Australia's continuing reputation as a national and international music leader.

"The SA Music Awards celebrate the very best in South Australian music. 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 shares: "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."

The South Australian Music Awards ceremony will be held at Adelaide Entertainment Centre Theatre on 28 October.

South Australian Music Awards 2025 Finalists

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 Jive'
Electric Fields - 'Live In Concert'

INDUSTRY AWARDS

Best Cover Art

Ella Ion - Ella Ion
Placement - Alex Dearman
TOWNS - Dan Steinart
Aleksiah - Lucina Corin
Soylent Green - Hari Koutlakis

Best Large Music Festival (1,000+ attendance)

Froth & Fury Fest
Adelaide Beer & BBQ
Festival City of Adelaide - Make Music Day
Nice Day To Go To The Club
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
Gully
Hannah Louise

Best Music Educator

Nic Jeffries
Mat Morison
DEM MOB
Paige Court
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