Live Review: 2016 Queensland Music Awards

There’s never a dull moment when Queensland Music Awards bring the sunshine state’s best and brightest talent together, and last night at the Powerhouse was no exception.

triple j host and comedian Gen Fricker had the audience in stitches with her microphone dramas and discussions of her Maori princess status and cystic acne. Offsetting the serious discussion of Australian arts funding, she jokingly remarked that, surrounded by musicians, a barista could have been the most highly-paid person in the room.

The Belligerents started the night on the right foot, pairing their 2014 hit In My Way with crazily energetic dance moves. Next, Sunshine Coast indie songstress Ayla gave a rousing performance of her tune Waiting, reappearing on stage five minutes later to accept the Regional Award for the song.

7-piece hip hop outfit Astro Travellers took out the Urban Award with Move Actively, and when they took over the stage to perform, it was easy to see why. The group’s boundless energy and frontman Ali The Great’s impressive rap skills made it a memorable piece.

When the Heavy Award went to Marigold by Caligula’s Horse, frontman Jim Grey swapped a standard acceptance speech for a rousing slam poem about refugees. His repeated line “we should all carry a coin for the boatman” struck a chord with everyone in the room.

Gold Coast songstress Amy Shark’s impressive performance of Golden Fleece left the audience in awe of her powerful vocals and attention-grabbing stage presence, and she was back on stage soon afterwards to receive the Pop Award for the song. Album Of The Year went to psychedelic 4-piece Blank Realm for ‘Illegals in Heaven’ and everyone’s favourite heavy rockers Violent Soho took out the Rock Award as well as Song Of The Year for Like Soda.

Luke Daniel Peacock finished the night on a high with his  performance of We’ve Come a Long Way, Darling, the title track from his latest album. The song marked his third onstage appearance of the night after taking out the Billy Thorpe Scholarship and the Indigenous Award for Fruits Of Our Labour.

Every year the Queensland Music Awards truly are a celebration of the state’s best and brightest emerging talent, and this year was no exception. Even at this difficult time, it’s heartening to see Queensland’s music industry combatting the lockout laws and low funding for the arts with good humour and amazing live music.

Check out our Photo Gallery from the night HERE, and check out AAA’s 5th B’day party at The Foundry feat. Ayla & Sahara Beck HERE

2016 Queensland Music Award Winners

POP
Golden Fleece
Amy Shark

ROCK
Like Soda
Violent Soho

ELECTRONIC / DANCE
Tenderness
Standby Empire

BLUES / ROOTS
Impolite
Bearfoot

HEAVY
Marigold
Caligula’s Horse

JAZZ
Hope in My Pocket 
Berardi/Foran/Karlen

SCHOOLS
Pristine
Doolie

INDIGENOUS
Fruits of Our Labour 
Luke Daniel Peacock

URBAN
Move Actively 
Astro Travellers

COUNTRY
Spinning Wheels 
Dana Hassall

WORLD
Nightwatch
MZAZA

FOLK SINGER / SONGWRITER
Mother Mother 
Sahara Beck

CHILDREN’S MUSIC
Kangaroo Dance A Roo 
Carolyn Simpson/ The Kangagang

REGIONAL
Waiting
Ayla

MUSIC VIDEO
TV
Eves The Behavior

BOQ PEOPLE’S CHOICE MOST PROMISING FEMALE SONGWRITER Deena

BOQ PEOPLE’S CHOICE MOST PROMISING MALE SONGWRITER Joe Aguis (The Creases)

BOQ PEOPLE’S CHOICE MOST PROMISING SONGWRITING TEAM Avaberee

ALBUM OF THE YEAR AWARD ‘Illegals In Heaven’ Blank Realm

SONG OF THE YEAR AWARD Like Soda Violent Soho

BILLY THORPE SCHOLARSHIP AWARD Luke Daniel Peacock

GRANT MCLENNAN LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Noel Mengel