Clea, Tia Gostelow, Emily Wurramara and Amy Shark rule 2019 QMAs

Amy Shark continued her winning ways at the 2019 Queensland Music Awards on Tuesday night in Brisbane, snagging the singer songwriter trophy, while Clea and Tia Gostelow beat out some big names to take out the evening’s top prizes.

Unlike last year when Shark dominated with five awards, the Gold Coaster was in the room for the annual ceremony. Shark performed “I Said Hi” early in the evening, though she was on a flight by the time her name was called out as a QMAs winner.

Clea had her hands full with two wins, her song “Dreaming” taking out song of the year and the pop award. The Brisbane singer-songwriter now earns a piece of prime Brisbane real estate. With her SOTY victory, Clea is immortalised with a plaque on Fortitude Valley’s Walk of Fame in the Brunswick Street Mall, and receives a promotional prize pack worth $20,000.

Clea performs at the 2019 QMAs

Another two-time winner was Emily Wurramara, the Groote Eylandt-raised singer and songwriter who won the blues/roots and indigenous categories.

In one of the night’s big surprises, Tia Gostelow’s Thick Skin beat out LPs by Amy Shark, Ball Park Music and others to win album of the year. “I never ever thought I’d be up against some of Australia’s finest artists,” the rising indie artist said during her acceptance speech.

Meanwhile, Pool Shop received the Billy Thorpe Scholarship, world-beating electronic duo Confidence Man claimed the export achievement award and veteran indigenous artist Henry “Seaman” Dan was on hand to receive the Grant McLennan Lifetime Achievement Award.

Other winners included The Jungle Giants (rock), The Kite String Tangle (electronic), Resin Dogs (hip-hop), Sahara Beck (regional), Dead Letter Circus (heavy), Emma Beau (country) and Asha Jeffries (world/folk), who thanked “sushi and Taylor Swift” in her acceptance comments. DZ Deathrays, Clea and Resin Dogs were among the performers.

Resin Dogs celebrate at the 2019 QMAs

During his opening address, QMusic president Michael Crutcher gave an update on September’s Bigsound summit, which “has grown to something massive” and “gets bigger every year.”

All told 23 awards were handed out at the QMAs, held for the second year at the Royal International Convention Centre at the Brisbane Showgrounds with politicians Larissa Waters (Greens) and Leeanne Enoch (Labor) among its guests.

Read the full list of winners.

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.