The Aitsa Afrikaans music awards are just around the corner and will soon award a host of talented artists with an extremely unique Aitsa trophy and a cash prize of R10 000.
This event, presented by Pretoria FM, takes place on Tuesday 19 September at the Choose Life Auditorium in Moreleta Park.
This happened in 2019 for the very first time.
Celebrities such as Elandré, Eloff, Riana Nel, Corlea Botha and Irene-Louise van Wyk have already been rewarded with an Aitsa figurine, and this year’s event promises to impress again.
Artists, songwriters, producers, managers and record companies had until 26 May to enter new releases for the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023.
Judging of all entries took place between 7 and 9 June. A panel of independent judges, including Gisela de Villiers, AJ Opperman, Rian Swanepoel, Carlé van Deventer, Anaretha Naude and Henco Harmse, conducted the assessment.
The public will also once again have the opportunity to vote for their favorite artist, in a category known as the “MyArtist: Public Vote” award.
This award is only linked to the amount of public support and not to judge figures or streaming figures. It is also the only category in which the public can vote.
The voting lines for this category open on 1 July 2023 and close on 15 August 2023, after which the top 12 finalists will be announced on 18 August on Pretoria FM.
Tickets for the award night are already available on iTickets at R250 a ticket, but those who buy their tickets now will receive a 10% discount.
The finalists in the following categories were already announced last month on Pretoria’s special Aitsa awards insert, which can be heard at 20:05 on Friday evenings:
Country music song of the year
- Dagbreek peasant band: “Sounds from the Cliffs Waltz”
- Stephaan van Zyl and his friends: “Nice dance Uncle Jan Polka”
- The Teaspoon: “Dung Floor Seties”
- Oshoek peasant band: “Rosie van die Vrystaat”
Instrumental Song of the Year
- Jacques Rautenbach: “Harbor Island”
- Ruan Graaf: “Harmony”
- Rocco de Villiers: “My hands are my edges”
- Mauritz Lotz: “Phren”
- CH2: “Simoné”
- GT Oliver: “Whispers of the Calling Ocean”
Rookie of the Year
- Muller Brandt: “Braai buns”
- Dodo Nyoka: “Photos”
- Barto: “Impulsive”
- Anzelle: “Small bottle of big poison”
- Prop: “Kwaatjie”
- Wilma van Heerden: “SySoen”
Alternative/Rock song of the year
- Dream Syndrome: “Headshake Revolution”
- Elandré: “Lovely”
- Francois van Coke and Elandré: “Wake up”
- Zaan Sonnekus: “Monitor”
- Jan Bloukaas: “Floating”
- Christia Visser: “What the hell”
Pop song of the year
- Lianie May: “Little Benoni”
- Dodo Nyoka: “Photos”
- Riaan Benade and Ricus Nel: “Hey Hey”
- Barto: “Impulsive”
- Brendan Peyper: “Tour around the floor”
- Eloff: “White Flash”
Spiritual song of the year
- Ruth: “God goes before us”
- Bernice West: “Body”
- Jacques and Liezel: “Nothing can compare”
- Dewald Gouws: “Never alone”
- Retief Burger: “Crescent Moon”
- Richelle Grant: “Fill the house with Your glory”
