Indie rockers Horror My Friend have added three South Australian Music Awards (SAM Awards) to their resume (Best Group, Best Song and Best Music Video directed by Ryan Sahb) at a glittering gala ceremony staged last night (Nov 22) at Bonython Hall in Adelaide.
“It’s definitely nice to be recognized after being active for a while,” Horror My Friend told us last week about their SAM Awards nominations. “Happy to be acknowledged, we’ll be happy if we win and happy if we don’t.”
Adrian Eagle and Electric Fields both came away with two awards each; Adrian, who won Best New Artist at last year’s SAM Awards scored the gongs for Best Solo Artist and Best Release (‘A.O.K’). “I’m so thankful. Very honored,” Adrian told us.
Electric Fields took out the Best ATSI Artist and the People’s Choice award in the electronic category. While Jess Day claimed Best New Artist. “It means the world to me to feel so supported by the South Australian music community,” Jess said.
“I’m also super excited about it because my parents and my Nan are over the moon about the idea of me winning an award for my music. It feels good to be able to make them proud.”
Rising stars Wing Defence grabbed the punk award, Wanderers won soul/funk/R&B taking out their second People’s Choice award, and Adam Page won his fourth SAM Award in the jazz category (previously a winner in jazz and world music categories).
In the People’s Choice category, Ollie English took home the blues and roots award for the second year running, The Cut Snakes won the country category, Sons of Zōku took out the experimental award and Ukulele Death Squad snagged the folk award.
Music engineer Neville Clark was presented the Music SA Lifetime Achievement Award, and the coveted APRA AMCOS Emily Burrows Award (presented for the first time at the SAM Awards) was taken out by four-piece country-rockers Dead Roo.
The gala provided a stellar line-up of entertainment, with live performances by Kelly Menhennett, Jimblah, Stellie, and SAM Award winners Jess Day and Horror My Friend, with Electric Fields closing the night with a surprise performance.
2019 SAM AWARDS
Best Studio
Wundenberg’s Recording and Rehearsal Studios
Best Studio Engineer
Mario Spate
Best Live Engineer
Luke Hancock
Best Festival/ Event
Porchland/ Stonecutters
Best Venue
Lion Arts Factory
Best Cover Art
Jack Fenby (Dress Code)
Best Manager
Alex Karatassa
Best Music Video
Ryan Sahb (Horror My Friend)
Best Song
Horror My Friend – Turned Loose
Best New Artist
Jess Day
Best Group
Horror My Friend
Best ATSI
Electric Fields
Best Solo
Adrian Eagle
Best Release
Adrian Eagle – A.O.K
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS
Blues & Roots
Ollie English
Country
The Cut Snakes
Electronic
Electric Fields
Experimental
SONS OF ZÖKU
Folk
Ukulele Death Squad
Heavy
Hidden Intent
Hip Hop
Elsy Wameyo
Jazz
Adam Page
Pop
Germein
Punk
Wing Defence
Rock
TOWNS
Soul/Funk/R&B
Wanderers
OTHER HONOURS
UNESCO, City of Music, Best International Collaboration Award
Slava and Lenny Grigoryan with Beijing Duo, as party of Adelaide Guitar Festival
Music SA Lifetime Achievement Award
Neville Clark
APRA AMCOS Emily Burrows Award
Dead Roo