"Let's get to it, Adelaide!" began emergent rapper DyspOra at the Tam O'Shanter Place laneway stage, immediately proving why he was chosen to kick off Music SA's inaugural Scouted live music showcase — a great initiative accompanying the AIR Awards and two-day conference Indie-Con.
An ironic showcase name, given the fact you don't have to look far for talent in Adelaide.
The African-Australian artist’s short and sharp songs driven by honest and engaging hooks had punters shuffling closer to the stage with each beat. When DyspOra truly hones in on his sound in a couple of years, he'll be a force to be reckoned with.
DyspOra
Stepping inside Producers Bar, it was a completely different world with Nakatomi's soaring vocals and a thick fog rendering the vibe something you'd expect well into the night. They'd kickstarted the party and it didn't slow down from there, as their minimalist beats and synth lines gave a refreshing new air to indie electronica.
Nakatomi
Up the street at beloved watering hole Crown & Anchor, upbeat acoustic vibes from Kelly Menhennett warmed up a quickly growing crowd, who delivered deep soulful/pop vibes.
Hands down one of the best songwriters on the Scouted bill, solo punk rocker Bec Stevens had Cranker’s mainroom pumping as she rolled through classics from her debut EP, More Scared Than Me. Keep an eye on Stevens.
Bec Stevens
The contrast between the steady electronica of Hunt and the quirky/playful indie pop vibes of Heaps Good Friends - both performing within a stone's throw away from one another - truly highlighted the line-up's diverse nature. Each band had their own unique vibe, too - Heaps Good Friends unleash a dangerous amount of fun, while Rin McArdle delivered a touching crash course on lush soul pop.
Heaps Good Friends
After soaking up the acoustic folk vibes of Ollie English at Crown & Anchor, walking into the mainroom to catch punks Young Offenders was a shock to the system. For a three-piece, they make a stack of noise, with the same energy and style as the forefathers of the genre. It was clear why they'd already hit the global stage, only a month earlier playing Glastonbury.
Young Offenders
Fast-rising folk singer Alana Jagt found the perfect combination of smooth melodic vocals and burst of gritty aggression, grinning ear from ear in the Producers Bar beergarden, which, as night came, felt like someone's backyard; a suitable atmosphere for Jagts' easy going, polished rock.
Jagt truly hit her stride when dishing up a solo rendition of Wilderness - a single taken from a forthcoming EP of the same name.
With haunting vocals and a sound most spend an entire career trying to lock down, Mane, aka Paige Renee Court, proved to be one of the most promising acts of the night at the laneway stage. Tight, crisp guitar riffs and uplifting harmonies coupled with emotional piano runs raised her voice up another level.
Mane
Walking back into Producer Bars' main room, Electric Fields were performing to a packed room and unleashed the most eclectic set of the night. It's hard to pinpoint their sound exactly - the Adelaide duo’s diverse set was another reminder of the state's innovative nature.
There's something so affable about the Adelaide population in general and that seems to come across in certain band's music; a prime example being charming indie folkers Tom West, who rocked out floor-show style next to the bar in Cranker. Two frontrow punters danced so close to the band they might of well have been in it.
It was more balls-to-the-wall rock back in Cracker's mainroom as Battlehounds unleashed a wall of noise you'd imagine from a band with such a name. Cut through the thick bass and fuzzed-out guitar to the core of the three piece and you have solid songwriting.
Battlehounds
Those who weren’t rounding out the night with a rock whirlwind were chilling in in Producers’ beer garden to the smooth, calming sounds of Timberwolf, the moniker of Christopher Panousakis.
Panousakis’ voice was so rich he could have done away with the guitar and delivered his song a cappella. His skillset climaxed with a cover of Childish Gambino's Redbone that erupted into a flurry of soulful electronica.
Timberwolf
Indie-Con was all about independent music and there was no better way to cap the event than by celebrating the local live music scene. The bands on Scouted weren't just some of the best in Adelaide – the showcase delivered world-class talent.
You'll likely look back at the Scouted bill a few years from now and spot a handful of acts who are well on their way to becoming career musicians. Adelaide never disappoints.
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