First Nations hip hop group DEM MOB, Paul Kelly among the artists honoured at the SA Music Awards

A First Nations hip hop group and a beloved Aussie music icon were among the local artists honoured at this year’s SA Music Awards. See all the winners.

APY Lands hip hop sensations DEM MOB were the big winners at the South Australian Music Awards on Wednesday night.

The group, featuring Elisha Umuhuri, Jontae Lawrie and Nason Lawrie, took home five major prizes, including Best Regional Artist, Best Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Artist and Best Hip Hop at the gala ceremony, held at Woodville Town Hall.

The trio also secured the Best Music Educator gong and the prestigious Emily Burrows award, which includes a $5,000 grant for professional development.

APY rap act DEM MOB were the big winners at the South Australian Music Awards on Wednesday night.

In pictures: SA turns it up at Music Awards

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It’s been a huge year for DEM MOB, who were the first artists to rap in their native Pitjantjatjara language. The group were selected as one of only 50 global acts to perform at Barcelona’s Primavera Sound festival in June, alongside the likes of the Pet Shop Boys, Blur, Kendrick Lamar and New Order.

Other award winners on Wednesday night included The Empty Threats (Best New Artist and Best Song), rockers Bad//Dreems (Best Group) and singer Alana Jagt (Best Solo Artist).

Iconic nightspot Crown & Anchor was crowned this year’s Best Live Music Venue, while the Adelaide Guitar Festival – On the Road 2023, was named Best Regional Live Music Venue or Live Music Activation.

As announced last week, Adelaide-born singer-songwriter Paul Kelly was honoured with entry into SA’s Music Hall of Fame.

Kelly accepted the award in person, thanking his parents, siblings and old friends as he shared his fondest musical memories from Adelaide.

He also sang two songs, including a new track, Going To The River with Dad, which he performed live for the first time.

MusicSA chief executive Christine Schloithe that this year’s awards were a great success.

“This year’s SA Music Awards have been fiercely contested with some categories literally decided by one or two votes,” she said.

“We celebrate the award winners and congratulate all nominees – the bar was set very high this year.”

ALL THE WINNERS

SPECIAL AWARDS

NEVILLE CLARK AWARD

Winner: Todd Pergallini

Winner: Jase Ess

EMILY BURROWS AWARD

Winner: DEM MOB

BEST INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION

Winner: Adam Page

COMMUNITY ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Winner: Girls Rock! Adelaide

MAJOR AWARDS

BEST NEW ARTIST

Winner: The Empty Threats

BEST REGIONAL ARTIST

Winner: DEM MOB

BEST ABORIGINAL OR TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER ARTIST

Winner: DEM MOB

BEST SOLO ARTIST

Winner: Alana Jagt

BEST SONG

Winner: The Empty Threats

Work: Evil Eye

BEST RELEASE

Winner: Slowmango

Work: Hypercolour Miscellaneous

BEST GROUP

Winner: Bad//Dreems

INDUSTRY AWARDS

BEST MANAGER

Winner: Rachel Whitford

BEST REGIONAL LIVE MUSIC VENUE OR LIVE MUSIC ACTIVATION

Winner: Adelaide Guitar Festival – On the Road 2023

BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUE

Winner: Crown & Anchor

BEST STUDIO

Winner: Wundenbergs

BEST COVER ART

Winner: Kaspar Schmidt Mumm & The Bait Fridge

Work: Hypercolour Miscellaneous by Slowmango

BEST MUSIC VIDEO

Winner: Conor Mercury Movies

Work: Bill’s by Carla Geneve

BEST MUSIC EDUCATOR

Winner: SAMii

Work: DEM MOB’s Kurunpa Kunpuntjaku

BEST STUDIO ENGINEER/PRODUCER

Winner: Lewis Wundenberg

BEST LIVE TECHNICIAN

Winner: Nathan D’Agostino

BEST SMALL MUSIC FESTIVAL OR EVENT

Winner: Some Shine Festival

BEST MAJOR MUSIC FESTIVAL OR EVENT

Winner: Vintage Vibes Festival

PEOPLE’S CHOICE

MOST POPULAR BLUES & ROOTS

Winner: Dojo Rise

MOST POPULAR COUNTRY

Winner: Mark Curtis and the Flannelettes

MOST POPULAR ELECTRONIC

Winner: Electric Fields

MOST POPULAR EXPERIMENTAL OR ART MUSIC

Winner: SONS OF ZÖKU

MOST POPULAR FOLK

Winner: Ukulele Death Squad

MOST POPULAR HEAVY

Winner: Stabbitha and the Knifey Wifeys

MOST POPULAR HIP HOP

Winner: DEM MOB

MOST POPULAR JAZZ

Winner: 5 SIDED CUBE

MOST POPULAR POP

Winner: The Tullamarines

MOST POPULAR PUNK

Winner: Teenage Joans

MOST POPULAR ROCK

Winner: Mums Favourite

MOST POPULAR SOUL, FUNK OR RNB

Winner: Mum Thinks Blue