Bad//Dreems, Tkay Maidza, among multi-winners at SA Music Awards

Bad//Dreems and Tkay Maidza were among multi-winners at the South Australia Music Awards, held on November 11 before a crowd of 500 at Norwood Concert Hall.

In a sign of the state’s music exuberance, no less than five acts won multi-awards on the night.

Bad//Dreems took out Best Group while their debut album Dogs At Bay went home with Best Release. The band put in an energetic performance of their new single Mob Rule.

The band posted later, “Thanks a million to everyone involved. We are very humbled and forever grateful for all of the work put in by each and every individual in the SA music industry. We would be nothing without you.”

Tkay Maidza, another Adelaide global export and one of Australia’s most exciting music exports, took Best Song for Ghost and Best International Collaboration for Do It Right with French producer Martin Solveig. When he moved into his current house groove sound, he wanted to work with “a real singer” who could deliver rap, R&B and rock.

Enigmatic chanteuse MANE (aka Paige Renee Court)’s blues-inspired indie pop saw her take Best Female Artist and Most Popular Pop Artist in the public-voted category.

“I’m stoked!” she said. “It’s been such a wild year (including picking up a Robert Stigwood Fellowship and playing MONDO N.Y.C 2016 in the wake of acclaim for her debut EP House Of Horror) and this is a super nice way to cap things off nearing the end of it. A big hoorah for SA music – we have some of the best, I tell ya!”

The night’s haul by provocative duo A.B. Original, made up of Funkoars rapper/producer Trials and Victoria’s Briggs, included Best New Artist and Best Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Artist. Their debut album Reclaim Australia is out later this month on The Hilltop Hoods’ label Golden Era and Brigg’s own label Bad Apples.

Just back from a 23-date European tour and already winning three SA songwriting awards for his Papillon CD, Ben Ford-Davies consolidated his rising status with two popular choice wins for folk/acoustic and blues/roots.

Jesse Davidson, whose Lagoon is out now, was voted Best Male Artist. It came in the wake of his ambition to break the international market, showcasing in the UK and signing with US agency Windish before touring there.

Remaining popular choice genre winners were Recreator (rock), Koolta (hip hop), Stabbitha And The Knifey Wifeys (heavy), Max Savage (country), Motez (electronic), Sparkspitter (experimental/avant-garde) and Adam Page & Ben Todd (jazz).

The Ryan Freeman Live Music Award, named after the enthusiastic live music fan who passed away in 2009, provided $4000 towards the career of singer-songwriter Kaurna Cronin.

In the industry awards, WOMADalaide won Best Festival/ Best Music Event for a second year. Grace Emily Hotel scored Best Music Venue, and 5/4 Entertainment’s Craig Lock Best Manager for a second consecutive year.

The cover art kudos went to James Packer for Brokers Resettler, music video to Aaron Schuppan for God God Dammit Dammit’s Kazoo, Tom Barnes for engineer and Mixmasters for best studio.

The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Gary Burrows, who has represented APRA AMCOS in the state for over 30 years, in addition to writing songs, performing and mentoring younger talents.

Among the performers were The Derringers All-Stars Band, put together by Ross McHenry, with a string quartet and 13-member choir, with guest appearances from Bad//Dreems, Taasha Coates, Jesse Davidson, Oisima, Rin McArdle, Dusty Lee, Naomi Keyte, Kelly Menhennett, Koolta, Billy Bob and Snooks La Vie.

This year’s awards was the second time they were run by Music SA. They were previously Fowler’s Live Music Awards, set up by the Flowers Live music venue. In 2016, the awards introduced a seated format.