Close to 70 finalists for 2022 Queensland Music Awards
A diverse array of 68 finalists have been announced across 17 song and video categories for the 2022 Queensland Music Awards (QMAs).
The awards will be held on Tuesday, March 29 at the Fortitude Music Hall, and produced by QMusic.
QMusic CEO Kris Stewart noted the calibre of performers associated with this year’s event.
“We have some of Australia’s most exciting names in music up for awards including The Jungle Giants, Ball Park Music, DZ Deathrays, WAAX, Casey Barnes, Eves Karydas, Nat Dunn, Sampology, and Golden Vessel.
“The QMAs is also a golden opportunity to be among the first to hear from the next big names in music.”
He cited alt pop rock act Hope D; rapper, model and artist Zheani; Meanjin/Brisbane singer, songwriter and producer Felivand (aka Felicity Vanderveen); singer-songwriter and producer Hallie; folk duo Freight Train Foxes; country music performer Hayley Marsten; Gold Coast duo Hollow Coves; and Ghana hailed rapper iiiConic.
Long-time QMA judge and 98.9fm station manager Dan Rennie was delighted with the number of Indigenous nominees.
“From punk to soul, from Beddy Rays – who are one of the tightest bands I’ve seen in a long time – to the RnB of Miiesha; these are bands and artists so proud to fly that First Nations flag.”
He praised the many music platforms and venues who showcased these acts.
Jem Cassar-Daley
Four emerging artists will vie for the $10,000 Billy Thorpe Scholarship, which is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
They are Jem Cassar-Daley (Brisbane), Alex Edwards (Brisbane), Cloe Terare (Toowoomba) and DENNIS. (Gold Coast).
The winner gets to record with a professional producer and receive career planning from Chugg Entertainment.
Minister for the arts Leeanne Enoch congratulated the four hopefuls.
“Queensland’s contemporary music sector continues to pave a pathway of hope, healing and happiness,” the minister said.
“These four talented nominees are just a small part of live music’s significant and dynamic contribution to our state’s diverse arts and cultural offering.”
She added: “The Palaszczuk Government recognises the power and value of music for the community and has invested $13.7 million in the live music sector as part of our response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Three People’s Choice awards will be announced during the event.
THE FINALISTS LIST
BLUES | ROOTS
Blues Arcadia – Follow The Leader
Freight Train Foxes – Cardboard Satellites
Mardi Wilson – Salty
Sue Ray – Take Me Away
Highly Commended
Andrea Kirwin – Love’s Fool
Jamie-Lee Dimes – Sierra
CHILDREN’S MUSIC
Angela Small – Dino Boogie
Fabulous Lemon Drops – Dinosaur Boogie
The Mini Moshers – New Shoes
The Wobble Bus – It Hurts
Highly Commended
Grumpelstiltskin – Happy Singing Kids
The Pack Up Song – Flutter The Fairy
CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL
Australian Vocal Ensemble (AVÉ) – Suburban
Corrina Bonshek – Dreams Of The Earth
Danny Widdicombe – Spiro
Thomas Green – Five Quick-Tempered Dances (Movement 3)
Highly Commended
Martin Kay – Tardigrades In Space
Tristan Barton – Momentum
COUNTRY
Casey Barnes
Brad Butcher – Cutting People’s Grass
Camille Trail – I Know I’m Hard To Love
Casey Barnes – God Took His Time On You
Hayley Marsten – Drowning Myself
Highly Commended
Melody Moko – Mama
Ruby Gilbert – Die Young
ELECTRONIC
Golden Vessel – getforward
The Jungle Giants – Treat You Right
Nat Dunn, Hayden James, Gorgon City – Foolproof
Sampology – Running Around
Highly Commended
Austen – How To Be Alone
COLLAR – TRIPPING OVER MYSELF
FOLK
Andrea Kirwin – Beautiful Morning
Asha Jefferies – Crybaby
Hollow Coves – Blessings
Tim Hart – Steady As She Goes
Highly Commended
LT – How Would It Feel
Ziggy Alberts – searching for freedom
HEAVY
DZ Deathrays – All Or Nothing
Mass Sky Raid – Arrows
The Stranger – Eleventh Hour
Zheani – Fuck The Hollywood Cult
Highly Commended
A Somerset Parade – ALPHA
Wildheart – Backburner
HIP HOP
Creed Tha Kid – Body
DAY1 – Limit
iiiConic – Okay
Nebzy – Catalyst
Highly Commended
Sachém – Motherland
SAFETY CLUB – JUICE
INDIGENOUS
Beddy Rays – Wait A While
ELEEA – Red Wine
Jem Cassar-Daley – Letting Go
Sachém – Motherland
Highly Commended
AYA J – Shine
GLVES – Legacy
JAZZ
IMPULSE Orchestra – Sonorous Figurine
Luke Cuerel Quintet – MARPG
Milton Man Gogh – See You Round The Traps (For John Condon)
Valtozash – Pedalling E
Highly Commended
Kellee Green and Andrew Butt – Home
Pending? – Fun
POP
Asha Jefferies – Crybaby
Eves Karydas – Lemonade
The Jungle Giants – Love Signs
Sycco – My Ways
Highly Commended
The Goon Sax – In The Stone
Hanni – Talking To Myself In The Mirror
Hope D – Happy Hangover
Ball Park Music
ROCK
Ball Park Music – Sunscreen
Hallie – Babysitter
Hope D – Addict
WAAX – MOST HATED GIRL
Highly Commended
Beddy Rays – Week On Repeat
Eliza & The Delusionals – Save Me
Nice Biscuit – Candle
SOUL | FUNK | RNB
FELIVAND – Where Were You
iyah may – XO Girl
Miiesha – Made For Silence
Yb. – Coffee Shop
Highly Commended
DOOLIE – Woke Up Feeling Dramatic
Namaste & Lemaire – Rocket Ship
WORLD
Andrea Kirwin – Firenze
Day Of Embers – Oceans Apart
Matt Hsu’s Obscure Orchestra – Welcome To The Neighbourhood: Taiwan
Menaka Thomas – On The Horizon
Highly Commended
Greshka – To Prune A Triffid
Tully – Plant More Trees
YOUTH (AGES 10 – 17)
Abi Muir – Still The Same
Amy Elise – Only 16
Bella Mackenzie – Ain’t For You
Paulina – Parasite
Highly Commended
Jake Murdoch AKA Jakeycakes – Just Like A Rocket
REGIONAL / REMOTE
Miiesha – Damaged
Nat Dunn, Hayden James, Gorgon City – Foolproof
Sahara Beck – Crave Me
Tia Gostelow – Valley Nights feat. Sahara Beck and Hope D
Highly Commended
Fragile Animals – Lonely In The Sun
Freight Train Foxes – Cardboard Satellites
VIDEO
Deena Lynch – WHO DIED AND MADE YOU KING? | Jaguar Jonze
Jennifer Embelton – Where Were You | Felivand
Macario De Souza, Allan Hardy, Dayna Yates, Cam Pianta, Tyson Lloyd, Kelly Holden – Every Single Time | Example (Ft. What So Not & Lucy Lucy)
Natalie Sim – Astronaut | Jaguar Jonze
Highly Commended
Allisa Tsukimori, Oliver Marshall, Daniel Vilimaa – Hell of It All | Tessa Fleur
Julian D’Arcy – MOST HATED GIRL | WAAX
PEOPLE’S CHOICE
HOTA Home of the Arts
METRO VENUE OF THE YEAR
The Fortitude Music Hall, HOTA Home of the Arts, The Junk Bar, Miami Marketta, Mo’s Desert Clubhouse, Lefty’s Music Hall, The Princess Theatre, Studio 188, The Tivoli , Tomcat Bar, The Triffid, The Zoo.
REGIONAL VENUE OF THE YEAR
NightQuarter, Solbar, Eleven, Dive Bar, Tanks Arts Centre.
FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR
Agnes Blues, Roots & Rock, Airlie Beach Festival of Music, The Birdsville Big Red Bash, Buskers by the Lake, Earth Frequency, Hidden Lanes, Jungle Love, NOOSA alive! Waghorn to West Yonder.