Cub Sport, The Teskey Brothers Lead Finalists for 2024 AIR Awards

Cub Sport, The Teskey Brothers and Jem Cassar-Daley will take great form into the 2024 AIR Awards, set for Thursday, Aug. 1 at Queen’s Theatre in Adelaide.

Cub Sport is hunting a triple. The Brisbane electronic pop foursome is shortlisted for best independent dance or electronica and independent album of the year for their ARIA No. 1 collection, Jesus At The Gay Bar, and their Adam Munnings-directed clip for “Keep Me Safe” is up for independent music video of the year. Cub Sport pounced for two wins at last month’s 2024 Queensland Music Awards.

Also at the AIR Awards, The Teskey Brothers, led by Josh and Sam, are up for best independent blues and roots album or EP and independent marketing team of the year (Ivy League, Mushroom).

The Teskeys are fresh from winning the songwriter of the year at the 2024 APRA Music Awards, and best record at the 2024 Rolling Stone Australia Awards for their ARIA No. 1 album The Winding Way, and their manager, Jeremy Furze, was named manager of the year at the 2024 AAM Awards.

Meanwhile, Jem Cassar-Daley’s “King of Disappointment” could be crowned song of the year, though it faces competition from works by Genesis Owusu (“Leaving The Light”), Maple Glider (“Don’t Kiss Me”), RVG (“Nothing Really Changes”) and Teen Jesus And The Jean Teasers (“I Used To Be Fun”).

Cassar-Daley, daughter of homegrown country great Troy Cassar-Daley, won a brace at the 2024 QMAs, including the night’s top honor – song of the year (for “King of Disappointment”).

Best independent label will be contested by ABC Music, Dot Dash Recordings, Ourness, Poison City Records and Spinning Top Records.

Now in its 18th year, the AIR Awards are a celebration of the best and brightest from Australia’s independent music community. This year’s edition welcomes two new categories, recognizing best independent music video and best independent producer.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to recognize the work the independent music industry does in providing talented and emerging artists and music businesses with a platform to share their art with a wider audience,” comments minister for arts. Andrea Michaels, member of parliament.

This year’s ceremony will once more be bookended by the Indie-Con Australia conference, a gathering that focuses “on issues that are specifically relevant to the independent music sector,” say organizers, the Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR). The South Australian Music Development Office is major sponsor for the annual awards. Details on the program and lineup of speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.

The 2024 Air Awards Nominees:

Best Independent Blues And Roots Album Or EPDan Sultan – Dan SultanDope Lemon – KimosabèGeorgia Mooney – Full Of MoonLeah Senior – The Music That I MakeThe Teskey Brothers – The Winding Way

Best Independent Hip-Hop Album Or EPGenesis Owusu – StrugglerJk-47 – Revision For RegrowthTeether &Amp; Kuya Neil – StressorUrthboy – SavourZiggy Ramo – Sugar Coated Lies

Best Independent Country Album Or EPFanny Lumsden – Hey DawnHenry Wagons – South Of EverywhereMaple Glider – I Get Into TroubleThe Wolfe Brothers – Livin’ The DreamTravis Collins – Any Less Anymore

Best Independent Jazz Album Or EPElixir – A Small Shy TruthGrievous Bodily Calm – CascadesLance Gurisik &Amp; Jeremy Rose – Cull PortalMike Nock – HearingThe Rookies – Feed The Fire

Best Independent Classical Album Or EPAustralian Chamber Orchestra / Richard Tognetti – Beethoven Symphonies 1, 2 & 3‘Eroica’Karen Jacobsen – Misogyny OpusNeil Gaiman & Fourplay String Quartet – Signs Of LifeRussell Morris – The Real Thing Symphonic ConcertSlava Grigoryan – Gratitudes

Best Independent Children’s Album Or EPAmber Lawrence – A Very Aussie Aussie ChristmasEmma Memma- Ballet TimeJosh Pyke – It’s Gonna Be A Great, Great Day!The Wiggles – Ready Steady WiggleWhistle & Trick – Bananas And Other Delicious Things

Best Independent Dance, Electronica Or Club SingleConfidence Man – On & On (Again)Fisher & Kita Alexander – AtmosphereMemphis Lk – Black And BlueOdd Mob & Omnom – Losing ControlThe Jungle Giants – Trippin Up

Best Independent Punk Album Or EPEnola – All Is Forgiven EPLuca Brasi – The World Don’t Owe You AnythingPrivate Function – 370HSSV 0773HRadio Free Alice – Radio Free AliceTeenage Joans – The Rot That Grows Inside My Chest

Best Independent Heavy Album Or EPC.O.F.F.I.N – Australia StopsGlitoris – GlitorisPolaris – FatalismRedhook – Postcard From A Living HellVoid Of Vision – Chronicles

Best Independent Dance Or Electronica Album Or EPBig Wett – Pu$$YCub Sport – Jesus At The Gay BarHaiku Hands – Pleasure BeastSimona Castricum – SinkSkeleten – Under Utopia

Best Independent Rock Album Or EPAlex Lahey – The Answer Is Always YesPacific Avenue – FlowersRoyel Otis – Sofa KingsRVG – Brain WormsTeen Jesus And The Jean Teasers – I Love You

Best Independent Soul/RnB Album Or EPBumpy – Morning Sun EpImmy Owusu – Lo-Life!Ruby Jackson – Sweeter For MeWilsn – Those Days Are OverWomen Of Soul Collective – Feel Good

Best Independent Pop Album Or EPHatchie – Giving The World Away (Deluxe)Jack River – Endless SummerKate Ceberano – My Life Is A SymphonyMolly Millington- 5 StagesNat Vazer – Strange Adrenaline

Breakthrough Independent Artist Of The Year – Presented By PPCABig WettChloe DaddEnolaPacific AvenueRoyel Otis

Independent Song Of The YearGenesis Owusu – Leaving The LightJem Cassar-Daley – King Of DisappointmentMaple Glider – Don’t Kiss MeRvg – Nothing Really ChangesTeen Jesus And The Jean Teasers – I Used To Be Fun

Independent Album Of The YearCub Sport – Jesus At The Gay BarGenesis Owusu – StrugglerJen Cloher – I Am The River, The River Is MeMaple Glider – I Get Into TroubleRvg – Brain Worms

Best Independent LabelABC MusicDot Dash RecordingsOurnessPoison City RecordsSpinning Top Records

Independent Marketing Team Of The YearDomestic La La – Teen Jesus And The Jean Teasers, I Love YouI Oh You, Mushroom – Dma’s, How Many Dreams?Ivy League, Mushroom – The Teskey Brothers, The Winding WaySlow Clap- Private Function, 370hssv 0773hThe Annex, Ourness, Awal – Genesis Owusu, Struggler

Independent Publicity Team Of The YearI Oh You, Mushroom – DMA’s, How Many Dreams?Janine Morcos – Teenage Joans, The Rot That Grows Inside My ChestJessica Searle – Jen Cloher, I Am The River, The River Is MeThinking Loud – Genesis Owusu, StrugglerThis Much Talent – Nat Vazer, Strange Adrenaline

Independent Music Video Of The YearAdam Munnings – Cub Sport, Keep Me SafeChris Cowburn – Emma Donovan, Blak NationHayden Somerville – Rvg, Nothing Really ChangesSean Higgins – Adam Noviello, FumblingTobias Willis – Georgia Mooney, War Romance

Independent Producer Of The YearBonnie Knight – Enola, All Is Forgiven EpKonstantin Kersting – DMA’S, How Many Dreams?Oscar Dawson – Teen Jesus And The Jean Teasers, I Love YouPnau – Multiple Singles In 2023Tom Iansek – Maple Glider, I Get Into Trouble