THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN
MUSIC AWARDS (SAM)

reveal nominations for 2020

THE SAM AWARDS ALSO REVEAL VENUE & EVENT DETAILS FOR NOVEMBER

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This November 3rd, the 2020 South Australian Music (SAM) Awards will be celebrating the achievements of musicians, producers, videographers and venues from what’s been a decidedly unpredictable 12 months. Today, the SAM Awards reveal their nominees for this year’s event, along with the all-important venue and event details for the November ceremony.

With COVID-19 affecting how many events are being executed around the country, the organisers of the SAM Awards are delighted to announce that they’ve been able to confirm a greenlit roll out of a physical event with an audience for their November event.

In accordance with South Australia’s current restrictions and COVID-19 safe protocols, the SAM Awards will take place at the University of Adelaide’s Cloisters and Lawns alongside the UNIBar.  Moving the event from its usual seated dinner format, to a larger semi- outdoor one, not only provides safety for everyone involved, but it also gives attendees a chance to take advantage of a warmer climate, laidback energy and celebratory vibe. 

Excited to be one of the only awards ceremonies that can take place with an audience during Australian Music Month, the organisers of the SAM Awards are looking forward to celebrating with the South Australian music community, while looking forward to 2021. As a UNESCO City of Music, Adelaide has become a hub of creativity for musicians in recent years, with national and international attention being drawn to the amount of artists who have been taking their art beyond SA, out to the world. 

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Minister for Innovation and Skills David Pisoni said South Australia was in the fortunate position to be able to celebrate its brightest stars in this format. “The music industry has suffered more than most this year, and I’m very pleased we’ll be able to get together safely to acknowledge South Australia’s incredibly talented musicians,” Minister Pisoni said.

Today’s announcement sees a broad range of genres represented in the major/ industry award nominees that were decided by the local judging panel before they go to the nationally inclusive panel to now decide the winners, reflecting the incredible diversity that is South Australian music right now. While there’s plenty of familiar names amongst the nominees for the 2020 SAM Awards, there’re plenty of first time entrants such as EAST AV3, J-Milla, SEABASS and slowmango points towards the exciting time South Australian music is currently experiencing at present. 

The People’s Choice Awards finalists are also announced today after again hitting over 8,000 votes, with finalists including a host of winners from last year including TOWNS, Jess Day and Horror My Friend, along with plenty of fresh faces.

As always, the SAM’s Industry and Major awards will be decided by a panel of 15 national and local judges who represent and work across various facets of the industry and are valued members of the overarching Australian music community.

Tickets for the 2020 SAM Awards are available now via Moshtix for an incredibly affordable $40; entry and drinks inclusive. Food will be available to purchase throughout the event. 

Capacity is limited, so get in early. 

Tickets available HERE

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2020 SOUTH AUSTRALIAN
MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES

INDUSTRY VOTED AWARDS

BEST STUDIO ​
(Presented by Adelaide Music Collective) 

Adelaide Recording Studios
Ghostnote
Island Recording Studios
Spare Second Studio
Stone Shed Studio
Wundenbergs Recording and Rehearsal Studio

BEST STUDIO ENGINEER
​(Presented by SAE Institute Adelaide)

Chris Panousakis
Kiah Gossner
Jimmy Balderston
Lewis Wundenberg
Mario Spate

BEST LIVE TECHNICIAN ​
(Presented by Novatech)

Lisa Lane-Collins
Luke Hancock
Noni Espinosa
Patrick Lockwood
Peter Wing

BEST MAJOR FESTIVAL/EVENT

Day of Clarity
Porchland 
St Jerome’s Laneway Festival – Adelaide 
Thebartonia

BEST SMALL FESTIVAL/EVENT
(Presented by UniBar Adelaide

Field Good Festival
Freefall Festival
PAK: Live at Wundenbergs
Stonecutters
The Porch Sessions

BEST VENUE
​(Presented by AHA – SA Branch​)

Crown and Anchor Hotel
Grace Emily Hotel
Jive
Lion Arts Factory
The Wheatsheaf Hotel

BEST COVER ART ​
(Presented by Version Design)

Dave Court (DyspOra)
Jack Fenby (Cat Lucky)
Jack Fenby (The Empty Threats)
Julie Thornberg-Thorsoe (Kaurna Cronin)
Todd Fischer (Lost Woods)

BEST MANAGER ​
(Presented by Association of Artist Managers)

Alex Karatassa
Diana Sautelle
Matthew Khabbaz
Planet shhh!
Sue Germein

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BEST MUSIC VIDEO 

Bottleneck Studios (Uomo)
EAST AV3
Harry Nelli (Venice Queens)
Lonelyspeck
Motez, Pilot Studio, Mapped Design, Daggers Production, Kelsee Pedler (Motez)

BEST SONG ​
(Presented by APRA AMCOS)

EAST AV3
Stellie
Jess Day
St Jacques
Naomi Keyte

BEST NEW ARTIST
​(Presented by WOMADelaide)

Cat Lucky
EAST AV3
SEABASS 
Siberian Tiger
Slowmango

BEST GROUP
​(Presented by Derringers Music)

EAST AV3
Slowmango
SEABASS
TOWNS
Venice Queens
Wing Defence

BEST ABORIGINAL/TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER ARTIST
(Presented by Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music – CASM) 

J-Milla
Jessica Wishart
Nathan May
Sonz of Serpents
Tunu

BEST SOLO ARTIST​
(Presented by Adelaide Festival Centre) 

Jess Day
Kaurna Cronin
Lonelyspeck
Motez
Ollie English
Stellie

BEST RELEASE ​
(Presented by themusic.com.au)

EAST AV3
Lonelyspeck
Motez
Ollie English
Wing Defence

BEST MUSIC EDUCATOR
(Presented by SAMII) 

Grayson Rotumah
Kultar Ahluwalia
James Alberts
Naomi Keyte
Nick O’Connor

BEST INNOVATION​
(Presented by CityMag)

Mosaic Audio Visual
Play/Pause/Play
Space Jams
Sunny Side Uploads
Thursday Night Knock Offs – Sparkke at the Whitmore
WheatyLIVE

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PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS FINALISTS 

BLUES & ROOTS ​
(Presented by Radio Adelaide) 

JimmyBay
Lucky Seven 
Ollie English
Rat Tamango
The Streamliners

COUNTRY ​
(Presented by Grace Emily Hotel) 

Cassidy Rae Gaiter 
Cookie Baker
Jessica Wishart
Matt Ward 
Nathan May

ELECTRONIC
(Presented by Moshtix)

Hartway
Jethro 
Lonelyspeck
Motez
Zac Eichner 

EXPERIMENTAL ​
(Presented by Ancient World) 

Heinous Crimes
Slowmango
SODA
Sons of Zoku
The Empty Threats

FOLK​
(Presented by The Wheatsheaf Hotel) 

Katie Pomery 
Loren Kate
Naomi Keyte
Siberian Tiger
Tom West

HEAVY ​
(Presented by Enigma)

Alt.
Dirty Pagans
Hidden Intent
NO NO NO NO NO
Terminal Zero 

HIP HOP
(​Presented by The Gov​)

DyspOra
East AV3
Laitisi Diesa
Outside Lines 
We Move Like Giants

JAZZ​
(Presented by Elder Conservatorium)

Alex Taylor
Django Rowe
Er@ser Description
Nick Pennington & Angus Mason
The Boys Club

POP ​
(Presented by Jive)

Ashton Fraser
Germein
Jess Day
MANE
The Montreals

PUNK​
(Presented by Three D Radio)

Bitchspawn
Chelsea Manor
Collateral Damage
The Lizards
Wing Defence

ROCK​
(Presented by Crown and Anchor) 

Horror My Friend
Oscar the Wild
SEABASS
TOWNS
Venice Queens

SOUL/FUNK/R&B​
(Presented by Woodville Town Hall) 

Elsy Wameyo
Isaac Thomas
Legs of Ivar
Leni
Wanderers 

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2020 SOUTH AUSTRALIAN
MUSIC AWARDS

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2020

UniBar Adelaide,
Cloisters and Lawns
Kaurna Land
Entrance from Victoria Drive
Tickets available via Moshtix

The SAM Awards is looking ahead to the future in continuing their commitment to celebrating the thriving community of musicians that really make SA Great.

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Official Website
Facebook – Instagram – YouTube

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AMNPLIFY – DB