Format change for SA Music Awards

This year’s South Australian Music Awards will have a format changed, organiser Music SA announced this morning.

“For the first time the SAM Awards will be celebrated in a formal seated format, with a long-table three course dinner and live entertainment on offer as part of the evening,” the state’s peak music association revealed.

The event will take place on Friday November 11 at the Norwood Concert Hall. Nominees and live performances will be announced shortly.

There will also be an appearance by the Adelaide All-Star Band, made up of SA musicians assembled by bassist, composer and producer Ross McHenry who is music director. They will mark South Australian songwriting with their own reinterpretations of the 2016 Best Song nominees.

The South Australian Music Awards were previously known as the Fowler’s Live Music Awards, set up by the Fowler’s Live music venue in 2012. Music SA took it over last year and rebranded the event.

Tickets for the awards are on sale through presenting partner Moshtix.

Earlybird tickets are $400 +bf for a table of eight, or $200 +bf for a table of four. All tickets include a three-course dinner, wines by Delinquente Wine Co and beers by Little Bang Brewing Co. Earlybird tickets are on offer until Sunday September 4, after which date prices will increase. There’s more information at www.southaustralianmusicawards.com.au.

Public-voting for the genre award categories – introduced for the first time in 2016 – is now open over at www.themusic.com.au/samawards. The top five artists will be announced on Monday October 10.

The genre awards cover blues/roots (presented by the Adelaide Roots & Blues Association), country (Derringers Music), electronic (Fresh 92.7), experimental/ avant –garde (Ancient World), folk/acoustic (SCALA), heavy (ARMI Australian Rock & Metal Institute), hip hop (the Gov), jazz (Jazz SA), pop (AU Review) and rock (Three D Radio).

The Major Awards cover best song (presented by APRA AMCOS), new artist, Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander release, group, female, male and best release.

The Industry Awards cover best studio, engineer, festival/ music event, music venue, manager, cover art, music video and the Ryan Freeman Live Music Award.

All winners take home an SAM Awards trophy created by local designers Daniel Emma.