2017 Queensland Music Awards finalists announced

A mix of established and emerging artists make up the contingent of finalists for this year’s Queensland Music Awards. 24 category finalists were selected by more than 60 esteemed industry judges over the course of a few months.

Queensland region artists leading the nominations bill with indie-rock act Tia Gostelow from Capricornia, followed closely by Leanne Tennant, the sultry songstress from the tropics.

Previous category winners Amy Shark, Cub Sport and Dubmarine are also featured nominees this year. First time nominees, Good Boy, Hanlon Brothers and ROMY are testament to the strength of Queensland music.

The winners will be announced at the QMA awards ceremony at the Brisbane Powerhouse on March 27. The annual event is presented by Hutchinson builders and Bank of Queensland, with support from APRA AMCOS.

Furthermore, the BBQ People’s Choice Awards will allow fans to have their say in various acclaimed categories including Most Popular Female, Most Popular Male and Most Popular Group. Voting for the BBQ People’s Choice Awards starts on February 28.

As well as recognising the winners at the ceremony in March, Arts Queensland will bestow the $10,000 Billy Thorpe Scholarship to an emerging Queensland-based contemporary musician or band. Four finalists have been nominated for the scholarship: WAAX, Marville, Josh Steward (The Ninjas/High Tropics) and Ella Fence.

With an emphasis on supporting new local talent, the scholarship is an initiative of the Queensland Government in a continued effort to foster and sustain the local music industry in Queensland.

The 2017 QMA Finalists playlist is available to stream on Spotify or via the QMA website. Limited tickets for the general public are available through the Brisbane Powerhouse box office.

See below for the full list of finalists for the 2017 Queensland Music Awards:

BLUES & ROOTS     

Silent Feature Era - House of Thieves, Brisbane West

Kingfisha - The Gold, Brisbane South Shukura

Chapman - One by One, Brisbane South East

Leanne Tennant - Gentle Annie, Cairns       

COUNTRY    

Alex & Bec Crook - Suitcase, Moreton Bay Region

Josh Rennie-Hynes - Fiddlewoods, Moreton Bay Region

Halfway - Three In And Nothing But The Stars, Brisbane South East

Leanne Tennant - Lay Me Down, Cairns       

ELECTRONIC /DANCE     

Confidence Man - Boyfriend (Repeat), Brisbane North East

Miss Pompeii - Haru Haiku, Brisbane South

Mosaic x Thiefdude - 422, Gold Coast

The Belligerents - Caroline, Brisbane       

FOLK / SINGER-SONGWRITER   

Moreton - The Water, Brisbane South

Angharad Drake - Baby, Brisbane North West

Tia Gostelow - Vague Utopia, Mackay

Tia Gostelow - State of Art, Mackay       

HEAVY     

Lagerstein - Drink the Rum, Brisbane South East

A Breach Of Silence - Falling Away, Brisbane North

In Death... - Malignancy Eradicated, Logan City

Evol Walks - Tear it Down, Gold Coast       

INDIGENOUS     

Emily Wurramara - Ngayuwa Ngelyeyiminama (I Love You), Brisbane North

Robbie Miller - Fire, Brisbane South

Tia Gostelow - State of Art, Mackay

Dubmarine - Solar Flare Fire, Brisbane South       

JAZZ     

Abbreviations Orchestra - Quiet Wisdom, Brisbane East

Andrew Butt Trio + - Blueberry Ash, Brisbane West

Sean Foran - Une Fille, Moreton Bay Region

Abbreviations Orchestra - The Alley, Brisbane East       

POP     

Morning Harvey - Susanne Monday, Brisbane West

AYLA - Like The Other Kids, Sunshine Coast

Cub Sport - Come On Mess Me Up, Brisbane North

Amy Shark - Adore, Gold Coast       

REGIONAL     

Amy Shark - Adore, Gold Coast

Hanlon Brothers - Diamonds, Gold Coast

Tia Gostelow - Vague Utopia, Mackay

Leanne Tennant - Gentle Annie, Cairns       

ROCK     

Good Boy - Poverty Line, Brisbane North East

Some Jerks - The Hunter, Somerset Region

The Creases - Impact, Brisbane City

Good Boy - S.O.G.K., Brisbane North East       

SCHOOLS     

Asha Jefferies - On the Inside, Brisbane East

Tangs - In Dreams (feat. Asha Jefferies), Brisbane South

Tia Gostelow - State of Art, Mackay

Tia Gostelow - Vague Utopia, Mackay      

URBAN     

Hanlon Brothers - Diamonds, Gold Coast

Mallrat - Tokyo Drift, Brisbane South

Dubmarine - Solar Flare Fire, Brisbane South

ROMY - Wild Heart, Gold Coast      

VIDEO     

Hey Geronimo - Boredom, Brisbane North

SS.Sebastian - Nightmare of 1984, Moreton Bay

ROMY - Wild Heart, Gold Coast

Cub Sport - Come On Mess Me Up, Brisbane North       

WORLD     

High Life - Aware, Sunshine Coast

Innessa - Yasen, Sunshine Coast

Tenzin - Snow Lion, Brisbane West

The Mouldy Lovers Civilised Crossfire Logan City