The South Australian music community recently came together to celebrate the outstanding achievements of the industry’s finest at the 2023 South Australian Music Awards. With a total of 30 artists, industry professionals, festivals, and venues receiving awards, the event was a resounding success, showcasing the depth of talent within the South Australian music scene.
Leading the pack with an impressive five awards was DEM MOB, a First Nations Hip Hop group hailing from the APY Lands. Their exceptional year-long accomplishments earned them recognition in multiple categories, including the prestigious Emily Burrows Award, which comes with a $5,000 grant for professional development. DEM MOB also secured titles such as Best Regional Artist, Best Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Artist, and Best Hip Hop in the People’s Choice category.
In addition to their musical accolades, DEM MOB received the Best Music Educator award for their ‘Kurunpa Kunpuntjaku’ program. This initiative involves DEM MOB spearheading music programs and initiatives in the APY LANDS and Ceduna to engage young First Nations students in the curriculum using music as a culturally responsive pedagogy. Their collaboration with the SA Department of Education on policy development for future alternative pathways was also recognised.
‘We feel blessed and overwhelmed with the response at the South Australian Music Awards, and it drives us to continue developing a sustainable educational program and live musical career’, says DEM MOB. ‘The time we spent in the APY Lands allowed us to hone and develop our craft, vision, and the platform for the Kurunpa Kunpuntjaku program. The Awards also enable us to shine a spotlight on the opportunities offered to regional communities and artists.’
The Empty Threats, another notable winner, took home two awards for Best New Artist and Best Song for their hauntingly beautiful track ‘Evil Eye’. Slowmango also received two awards, with their latest release, ‘Hypercolour Miscellaneous’, earning the title of Best Release. Kaspar Schmidt Mumm & The Bait Fridge snagged the award for Best Cover Art on the album.
The Neville Clark Award, named after Disk Edits founder and sound engineer Neville Clark, recognised outstanding sound engineering students from TAFE and SAE. This year’s recipients were SAE student Jase Ess and TAFE student Todd Pergallini.
Adam Page’s global collaboration earned him the title of Best International Collaboration, courtesy of UNESCO, while Rachel Whitford was recognised as South Australia’s Best Manager.
In the live music category, the iconic Crown & Anchor was crowned this year’s Best Live Music Venue, while the Adelaide Guitar Festival – On the Road 2023 secured the title of Best Regional Live Music Venue or Live Music Activation. Nathan D’Agostino’s expertise earned him the title of Best Live Technician.
The Some Shine Festival was awarded the Best Small Music Festival or Event, celebrating the growth and vibrancy of music festivals in South Australia. Vintage Vibes Festival, a newcomer, resonated with audiences as it took home the Best Major Music Festival or Event for its inaugural festival.
Other noteworthy mentions included Girls Rock! receiving the Community Achievement Award, Wundenbergs winning the title of Best Studio, Conor Mercury Movies clinching the Best Music Video award for the evocative film clip for Carla Geneve’s ‘Bill’s’, Alana Jagt securing the Best Solo Artist category, and Bad//Dreems emerging as the Best Group.
MusicSA CEO Christine Schloithe expressed her satisfaction with this year’s awards.
‘This year’s SA Music Awards have been fiercely contested with some categories literally decided by one or two votes. We’ve seen record voting numbers in the People’s Choice categories and a groundswell of industry respect and support for everyone who entered into the awards process. We celebrate the award winners and congratulate all nominees—the bar was set very high this year!’
South Australian Minister for Arts Andrea Michaels MP also shared her congratulations.
‘Congratulations to the talented 2023 SA Music Awards winners and finalists. Every one of you has made an important contribution to our state and deserves to be recognised and celebrated. As Australia’s only UNESCO City of Music, the Malinauskas Government is committed to supporting our state’s incredible musicians and growing the South Australian music sector for the future.’
In addition to the awards, the event also saw Australian music icon Paul Kelly inducted into the South Australian Music Hall of Fame. The audience was treated to a live rendition of Kelly’s 1974 track ‘The Streets of Forbes,’ along with a new song, never before played live, titled ‘Going Down The River With Dad.’ The 2023 South Australian Music Awards featured performances by aleksiah, The Empty Threats, Carla Lippis + The Mondo Psycho, and singer-songwriter Nathan May, making it a memorable evening for all attendees.
More News
