triple j’s 100 Best Unearthed Discoveries: The Complete List

triple j Unearthed have revealed the initiative’s 100 Best Discoveries as a supplementary list to the recent Hottest 100 Of Australian Songs. The countdown was shared on Unearthed’s digital radio station throughout the week, with the winner being revealed last night (July 31st) as Missy Higgins. Higgins, who came fourth in the Hottest 100 Of Australian Songs with her 2004 hit ‘Scar’ and also placed 52nd with ‘The Special Two’, was famously entered into triple j Unearthed by her sister, without her knowledge, back in 2001. The now ARIA Hall-Of-Famer was only 17 years old at the time. Higgins’ entry, her debut single ‘All For Believing’, ended up winning that year’s competition.

Coming in at number two were Sydney electronica trio RÜFÜS DU SOL, who first uploaded music to Unearthed in 2011 and have gone on to become one of the most in-demand touring acts in electronic music. The band will return to Australia in November 2025 for their first-ever national arena tour. In third place were Gang Of Youths, who uploaded their debut single ‘Evangelists’ in 2013 and also went on to arena tours, multiple ARIA Awards and platinum-selling success as a band.

Missy Higgins – ‘All For Believing’

The data for the 100 Best Unearthed Discoveries countdown was collated from the 2.6 million votes cast for the Hottest 100 Of Australian Songs. The list tallied the votes put towards artists that have either uploaded music to the triple j Unearthed website, which has had an online presence since 2006, or were part of Unearthed’s initial formation as a yearly competition – such as Higgins, Grinspoon (the original Unearthed winners circa 1995, #10) and Killing Heidi (1996 competition winners, #13). Interestingly, only the top 14 artists were in the Hottest 100 Of Australian Songs.

View the full list below.

triple j Unearthed’s 100 Best Discoveries

1. Last Dinosaurs
2. Dear Seattle
3. The Kite String Tangle
4. Emma Louise
5. Bad//Dreems
6. Sycco
7. Adam Newling
8. Emily Wurramara
9. Luca Brasi
10. E^ST
11. Birdz
12. The Vanns
13. Alpine
14. Busby Marou
15. MAY-A
16. Meg Washington
17. Northeast Party House
18. The Buoys
19. Miami Horror
20. Sly Withers
21. WAAX
22. Montaigne
23. Sampa The Great
24. SAFIA
25. Alex The Astronaut
26. Stand Atlantic
27. Big Scary
28. Ziggy Ramo
29. The Terrys
30. Northlane
31. Teenage Dads
32. Client Liaison
33. Pacific Avenue
34. Gretta Ray
35. Trophy Eyes
36. DZ Deathrays
37. Cloud Control
38. Luude
39. Confidence Man
40. Stella Donnelly
41. Genesis Owusu
42. Slowly Slowly
43. Alex Lahey
44. Teen Jesus And The Jean Teasers
45. Little Red
46. Dune Rats
47. Tones And I
48. Julia Jacklin
49. Beddy Rays
50. The Rions
51. Ziggy Alberts
52. Polaris
53. Allday
54. Hockey Dad
55. Meg Mac
56. Holy Holy
57. Peach PRC
58. Methyl Ethel
59. The Jezabels
60. Baker Boy
61. Seth Sentry
62. Tash Sultana
63. The Jungle Giants
64. Ruby Fields
65. King Stingray
66. Middle Kids
67. Skegss
68. The Preatures
69. Cub Sport
70. The Smith Street Band
71. The Kid LAROI
72. San Cisco
73. Chase Atlantic
74. The Middle East
75. The Rubens
76. Courtney Barnett
77. Royel Otis
78. Mallrat
79. Art vs Science
80. Troye Sivan
81. Angie McMahon
82. The Chats
83. Amy Shark
84. Boy & Bear
85. Lime Cordiale
86. G Flip
87. Peking Duk
88. Killing Heidi
89. Thelma Plum
90. Matt Corby
91. Grinspoon
92. Sticky Fingers
93. Vance Joy
94. Ocean Alley
95. Ball Park Music
96. Flume
97. Spacey Jane
98. Gang Of Youths
99. RÜFÜS DU SOL
100. Missy Higgins

Further Reading

Grinspoon Announce 30th Anniversary Tour With Bad//Dreems

Night At The Barracks And The Parkland 2025: Missy Higgins, Cut Copy, Icehouse + More

G Flip Announces 2026 ‘Dream Ride’ Aussie Album Tour With The Beaches