It has been an epic night of music and celebration of South Australia’s music community and industry, as the 2020 South Australian Music (SAM) Awards took place on the grounds of UniBar Adelaide’s College Green.
Across 29 Industry Voted and People’s Choice Award categories, the event saw some of the State’s best songwriters, performers and industry personnel walk away with trophies including multiple award winners Motez and Wing Defence, as well as other local legends like Ollie English, Naomi Keyte, Towns and Siberian Tiger.
In a first for the SAM Awards noted producer/songwriter Motez and Pop punk duo Wing Defence tied for Best Release. Both artists took home three awards each in total with Motez also taking Best Video and People’s Choice Electronic Artist. Wing Defence added Best Group and People’s Choice Punk Artist to their accolades.
Minister for Innovation and Skills David Pisoni said congratulations to all the finalists and winners of the 2020 South Australian Music Awards on their achievements and success.
“The SAM Awards are a wonderful opportunity to recognise and celebrate South Australia’s talented performers, songwriters and our local music industry which makes an enormous contribution to our economy and wellbeing,” Minister Pisoni said.
This year’s SAM Awards, hosted by Three D Radio’s Isaac Selby, was an outdoor affair, taking over the University of Adelaide’s historic Cloisters and Unibar Lawns, which hosted incredible performances from 2020 SAM Award nominees J-MILLA, Lonelyspeck, Chelsea Manor and SEABASS.
As one of the first major scale awards ceremonies of its kind to be able to be rolled out at its full capacity, in its full format, anywhere around the country this year, the organisers of the 2020 SAM Awards have noted the all-in effort made by production crews and staff who allowed the event to go off with a bang.
“It was so wonderful to be able to gather for the SAM Awards. It was a beautiful night and the perfect way to celebrate the depth and breadth of talent here in SA, especially after such a tough time for the industry. Congratulations to all of the winners and nominees and to the team of great people that worked hard to make this event possible.” Kim Roberts, Music SA General Manager
2020 SOUTH AUSTRALIAN MUSIC AWARDS – WINNERS
ADELAIDE UNESCO CITY OF MUSIC AWARD FOR BEST INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION
FARHAN SHAH AND UDAN KHATOLA
MUSIC SA COMMUNITY ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
CRAIG ARMSTRONG
INDUSTRY VOTED AWARDS
BEST STUDIO – Presented by Adelaide Music Collective
GHOSTNOTE RECORDING STUDIOS
BEST STUDIO ENGINEER / PRODUCER – Presented by SAE institute Adelaide
MARIO SPATE
BEST LIVE TECHNICIAN – Presented by Novatech
LUKE HANCOCK
BEST MAJOR FESTIVAL / EVENT – Presented by Pirate Life
ST. JEROME’S LANEWAY FESTIVAL – ADELAIDE
BEST SMALL FESTIVAL / EVENT – Presented by Unibar Adelaide
THE PORCH SESSIONS
BEST VENUE – Presented by AHA (SA Branch)
LION ARTS FACTORY
BEST COVER ART – Presented by Version Design
TODD FISCHER
LOST WOODS (Shaping Distant Memories)
BEST MANAGER – Presented by Association of Artist Managers
MATTHEW KHABBAZ
BEST MUSIC VIDEO – Presented by Channel 44
MOTEZ, PILOT STUDIO, MAPPED DESIGN, DAGGERS PRODUCTION, KELSEE PEDLER
MOTEZ (‘Soulitude’)
BEST SONG – Presented by APRA AMCOS
JESS DAY (‘Affection’)
BEST NEW ARTIST – Presented by WOMADelaide
SIBERIAN TIGER
SLOWMANGO
BEST GROUP – Presented by Derringers Music
WING DEFENCE
BEST ABORIGINAL / TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER ARTIST – Presented by Centre For Aboriginal Studies In Music (CASM)
JESSICA WISHART
BEST SOLO ARTIST – Presented by themusic.com.au
JESS DAY
BEST RELEASE – Presented by themusic.com.au
MOTEZ (‘Soulitude’)
WING DEFENCE (‘Friends’)
BEST MUSIC EDUCATOR – Presented by SAMII
NICK O’CONNOR
BEST INNOVATION – Presented by Citymag
PLAY / PAUSE / PLAY
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS
BLUES AND ROOTS – Presented by Radio Adelaide
OLLIE ENGLISH
COUNTRY – Presented by The Grace Emily Hotel
JESSICA WISHART
ELECTRONIC – Presented by Moshtix
MOTEZ
EXPERIMENTAL – Presented by Ancient World
SONS OF ZOKU
FOLK – Presented by The Wheatsheaf Hotel
NAOMI KEYTE
HEAVY – Presented by Enigma Bar
NO NO NO NO NO
HIP HOP – Presented by The Gov
WE MOVE LIKE GIANTS
JAZZ – Presented by Elder Conservatorium
DJANGO ROWE
POP – Presented by Jive
GERMEIN
PUNK – Presented by Three D Radio
WING DEFENCE
ROCK – Presented by Crown & Anchor Hotel
TOWNS
SOUL / FUNK / R&B – Presented by Woodville Town Hall
WANDERERS
