2026 SOUTH AUSTRALIAN MUSIC AWARDS FINALISTS

MAJOR AWARD FINALISTS:

BEST ABORIGINAL OR TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER ARTIST
Sponsored by Novatech

A. Ware & Jusst
BOUSTA
Dem Mob
Marlon
Rob Edwardsse

BEST GROUP
Sponsored by Moshtix

Lola
Sacrificial Larynx
Swapmeet
The Empty Threats
The Tullamarines

BEST NEW ARTIST
Sponsored by WOMADelaide

Any Young Mechanic
Pash
Praise Mangena
Sacrificial Larynx
The Hazys
The Tullamarines

BEST REGIONAL ARTIST
Sponsored by Country Arts SA

Alison Newman & the Tassels
Dem Mob
Erin Buku
Gernz
Rob Edwards
Sexy As Shit

BEST RELEASE (EP / ALBUM)
Sponsored by Against The Grain

Any Young Mechanic – The Modern Shoe Is Ruining The Foot
Ella Ion – Liminal Archive
Molly Rocket – The Dogs Are Barking
My Chérie – Life is Short and Life is Long
Swapmeet – Mount Zero
The Tullamarines – Safety Blanket

BEST SOLO ARTIST
Sponsored by GA Entertainment

Ella Ion
Elsy Wameyo
Erin Buku
LILLI
Nat Luna

BEST SONG
Sponsored by Three D

effie isobel – Hidden Treasure
Ella Ion – My Love
My Chérie – 5 years
Oscar the Wild – Sunrise
Swapmeet – I Know!

INDUSTRY AWARD FINALISTS:

BEST COVER ART
Sponsored by Visualcom

Maryam Rahmani – Kamand by Kaspar Schmidt Mumm
Marlon – Blood In The Water
The Dandy Buzzkills – The Dandy Buzzkills (I Presume)
The Empty Threats – Happy Birthday by Emmaline Zanelli
The Tullamarines – Safety Blanket

BEST LARGE MUSIC FESTIVAL
Sponsored by Event Rigging Solutions

Adelaide Beer & BBQ Festival
Adelaide Guitar Festival
Gather Sounds
Side By Side
WOMADelaide

BEST LIVE MUSIC PHOTOGRAPH
Sponsored by The Austral

Deb Kloeden – Yungblud
Elise De Simoni – Oscar the Wild
Henry Maurin – LOLA
Justin White – I Killed the Prom Queen
Neasan McGuiness – My Chérie

BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUE
Sponsored by AHA|SA

Hindley Street Music Hall
Lion Arts Factory
Lowlife Basement Bar
UniBar Adelaide
Wheatsheaf Hotel

BEST LIVE PRODUCTION CREW
Sponsored by ALMBC

David Musch
Letisha Ackland
Luke Hancock
Nathan Smith
Ryan Martin John

BEST MANAGER
Sponsored by Adelaide Venue Management

Gully
Hannah Louise
Rachel Whitford
Sebastion James
Tayla Carlaw

 

BEST MUSIC EDUCATOR
Sponsored by Carclew

DEM MOB
Jennifer Trijo
Joseph Cheek
Keith Crellin
Martin Butler

BEST MUSIC VIDEO
Sponsored by JC Decaux

Bryce Kraehenbuehl – My Cherie (Box of Pencils)
Elsy Wameyo – Elsy Wameyo (WAMEYO)
Liam Woolcock / Rachel Whitford – TOWNS (Magnificent)
Mayah Salter – Swapmeet (Halfway)
Richie Coburn – Marlon (Blood In The Water)

BEST REGIONAL MUSIC VENUE
Sponsored by AHA|SA

Caltowie Chilled Out ’n’ Fired Up Music Festival
OC Soundfest
On The Road – Adelaide Guitar Festival
She Bop Festival
Space Jams

BEST SMALL FESTIVAL
Sponsored by Woodville Town Hall

Caltowie Chilled Out ’n’ Fired Up Music Festival
Coastal Sounds
Dougstock
Porch & Recreation
Space Jams

BEST STUDIO
Sponsored by SAE

Cactus Cactus Sound
Island Recording Studios
Songbird Society
Wizard Tone Studios
Wundenberg’s Recording Studio

BEST STUDIO ENGINEER/PRODUCER
Sponsored by Adelaide Backline and Production Hire

James Brown
Mario Spate
My Chérie
Ryan Martin John
Swapmeet

PEOPLE’S CHOICE FINALISTS:

BLUES & ROOTS
Sponsored by Derringers

Amin & Lachlan
Badland Caravan
Lucas Day
The Dead Regulars
The Sundials

COUNTRY
Sponsored by The Note

Brad Chicken & the Bootstraps
Caressa
Jo Page
Motorcycle Jones
Ryan Martin John

ELECTRONIC
Sponsored by StoreDJ

Lizzie Bradley & Inkswell
Seek N Destroy
Sexy As Shit
TONIX
V O E

EXPERIMENTAL & ART
Sponsored by Adelaide Festival

Awnings
Chemistry Music
Maajela
Praise Mangena
Rakali

FOLK
Sponsored by Novatech

Any Young Mechanic
Bromham
Ella Ion
Meg Carlin
Sienna Hart

HEAVY
Sponsored by Froth & Fury Festival

Heartline
MACËY
Sacrificial Larynx
xGemmini

HIP HOP
Sponsored by The Gov

A.Ware & Jusst
Dem Mob
Elsy Wameyo
LIL CUE
Tommy Marsh

JAZZ
Sponsored by ODDIO

JT Sextet
Live Slug Reaction
Tiffany Gaze
The Jackson Mack Big Band

POP
Sponsored by Hindley St Music Hall

Ben Sutto
effie isobel
My Chérie
RENAÉ
The Tullamarines

PUNK
Sponsored by Piratelife

Donni Heat
Lola
Molly Rocket
Stormy-Lou
TOWNS

ROCK
Sponsored by UniBar ADL

Greasy
Oscar The Wild
Swapmeet
The Dandy Buzzkills
The Genevieves

SOUL/FUNK/RNB
Sponsored by Nexstage

Elizabeth Ruyi
Maybe Hugo
Nat Luna
OPULENCE
San Dragan