Image Credit: Alex Wall
Adelaide’s indie music scene is gearing up for a big night as the AIR Awards return to the city this winter, thanks to continued support from the South Australian Government’s Music Development Office.
The invite-only event will take over Adelaide Town Hall on Thursday, July 31, bringing together some of the country’s brightest independent music talents for a night of celebration, recognition, and community.
Minister for Arts Andrea Michaels MP says it’s a proud moment for the state.
“It’s fantastic to see the AIR Awards back in Adelaide – Australia’s only UNESCO City of Music,” she says.
“The awards play a vital role in celebrating the independent sector and helping emerging artists and music businesses reach new audiences. We’re thrilled to support that.”
Since launching, the AIR Awards have honoured more than 250 artists and music businesses, with many winners going on to gain national and international traction.
Previous recipients include names like Genesis Owusu, Courtney Barnett, Sampa the Great, Flume, Confidence Man, G Flip, and King Stingray—artists who’ve helped shape the sound of Australian music in recent years.
Queue the drum roll. The 2025 Air Awards nominees are….
Best Independent Blues and Roots Album or EP
Emma Donovan – Til My Song Is Done
Little Quirks – Little Quirks
Mia Dyson – Tender Heart
Queenie – New Moult
Steph Strings – Cradle Mountain
Best Independent Hip Hop Album or EP
3% – Kill The Dead
Dobby – Warrangu; River Story
Lithe – What Would You Do?
Miss Kaninna – Kaninna
Ziggy Ramo – Human?
Best Independent Country Album or EP
Henry Wagons – The Four Seasons
Kasey Chambers – Backbone
Lane Pittman – Lane Pittman
Michael Waugh – Beauty & Truth
The Whitlams Black Stump – Kookaburra
Best Independent Jazz Album or EP
Claire Cross – Sleep Cycle
Lucy Clifford – Between Spaces of Knowing
Molly Lewis – On the Lips
Parvyn – Maujuda
Sam Anning – Earthe
Best Independent Classical Album or EP
Australian Chamber Orchestra – Memoir of a Snail
Electric Fields x Melbourne Symphony Orchestra – Live in Concert
Katie Noonan & Karin Schaupp – Songs of the Southern Skies Vol 2
Nat Bartsch – Forever Changed
Simon Mavin – Some Days EP
Best Independent Children’s Album or EP
Bunny Racket – Power
Emma Memma – Twirly Tunes
Teeny Tiny Stevies – The Green Album
The Quokkas – Songs for Silly Billies
The Wiggles – The Wiggles Sound System: Rave of Innocence
Best Independent Dance, Electronica or Club Single
Alice Ivy – Do I Need to Know What Love Is? feat. Josh Teskey
Confidence Man – I Can’t Lose You
Haiku Hands – Kicks
Moktar – Haraka ’حركة’
Odd Mob – Vertigo feat. Ed Graves
Best Independent Punk Album or EP
Don’t Thank Me, Spank Me! – Don’t Thank Me, Spank Me!
Dune Rats – If It Sucks, Turn It Up
Gut Health – Stiletto
Radio Free Alice – Polyester
Regurgitator – Invader
Best Independent Heavy Album or EP
Northlane – Mirror’s Edge
Ocean Grove – Oddworld
Redhook – Mutation
The Amity Affliction – Let the Ocean Take Me (Redux)
The Southern River Band – D.I.Y
Best Independent Dance or Electronic Album or EP
1TBSP – Megacity1000
Alice Ivy – Do What Makes You Happy
Confidence Man – 3AM (La La La)
Ninajirachi – Girl EDM
PNAU – Hyperbolic
Best Independent Rock Album or EP
Amyl and the Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness
King Stingray – For the Dreams
Party Dozen – Crime in Australia
Royel Otis – Pratts & Pain
The Rions – Happiness in a Place It Shouldn’t Be
Best Independent Soul/RnB Album or EP
Beckah Amani – This Is How I Remember It
Don West – Don West
Ella Thompson – Ripple on the Wing
Milan Ring – Mangos
Radical Son – Bilambiyal
Best Independent Pop Album or EP
Annie Hamilton – Stop and Smell the Lightning
Asha Jefferies – Ego Ride
Emma Russack – About the Girl
Good Morning – Good Morning Seven
Sheppard – Zora
Breakthrough Independent Artist of the Year – Presented by PPCA
3%
Gut Health
Miss Kaninna
Queenie
The Dreggs
Independent Song of the Year
Alice Ivy – Do I Need to Know What Love Is? feat. Josh Teskey
Amyl and the Sniffers – U Should Not Be Doing That
Jem Cassar-Daley – Big Container
Ocean Alley – Tangerine
Sycco – Meant to Be
Independent Album of the Year
Amyl and the Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness
Emily Wurramara – Nara
King Stingray – For the Dreams
Royel Otis – Pratts & Pain
The Dreggs – Caught in a Reverie
Best Independent Label
ABC Music
Dinosaur City
Etcetc.
I Oh You
Impressed Recordings
Independent Marketing Team of the Year
ABC Music, The Annex – Emily Wurramara, Nara
Future Classic, The Annex – Sycco, Zorb
Gyrostream – Lithe, Fall Back
I Oh You, Mushroom Music – Confidence Man, 3AM (La La La)
Ourness, The Annex – Royel Otis, Pratts & Pain
Independent Publicity Team of the Year
I Oh You, Mushroom Music – Confidence Man, 3AM (La La La)
Liz Ansley – Emily Wurramara, Nara
Super Duper – Radio Free Alice, Polyester
Thinking Loud – Royel Otis, Pratts & Pain
Twenty Three PR – The Rions, Happiness in a Place It Shouldn’t Be
Independent Music Video of the Year
Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore – Emily Wurramara, Lordy Lordy ft. Tasman Keith
Nick Rae, Jordan Ruyi Blanch – 3%, Won’t Stop feat. Jessica Mauboy
Pond – Pond, (I’m) Stung!
Rosemary Whatmuff – Kasey Chambers, Backbone (The Desert Child)
Stephanie Jane Day – Emma Russack, Everything Is Big
Independent Producer of the Year
Alice Ivy – Do What Makes You Happy
Bonnie Knight – Coldwave, The Ants/Italia ’06
Dave Hammer – Lime Cordiale, Enough of the Sweet Talk
Nick Didia – Ocean Alley, Tangerine
Nina Wilson – Ninajirachi, Girl EDM
AIR has introduced the Independent Mix, Studio or Mastering Engineer of the Year industry award to recognise an Australian/Australian-based Mix, Studio or Mastering Engineer responsible for an Australian Independent release during the eligibility period.
The nominees are…
Nick Herrera – Miss Kaninna, Kaninna
Robert Muinos – Rowena Wise, Senseless Acts of Beauty
Rohan Sforcina, Lachlan Carrick – Emma Donovan, Til My Song Is Done
Steven Schram – Crowded House, Gravity Stairs
Tom Iasek – Tom Snowdon, Lonely Tree
Shining a spotlight on the challenges facing the independent music sector, AIR’s Indie-Con Australia Conference and A2IM’s Indie Week Australian Edition will take place from Wednesday, July 30 to Friday, August 1 at Mercury Cinema. The event will be followed by Scouted. Details on speakers and the full program will be revealed in June. Early bird tickets are available for purchase here.
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