"We’re gonna do the opposite to every other awards ceremony and start with the big one… Album Of The Year," announces MC Dom Alessio, formerly of Triple J’s ‘Home and Hosed’, now global pusher of Australian music with Sounds Australia.
Moments later, blues/ roots favourites and hectic tourers Hussy Hicks are onstage accepting the award, for their album ‘On The Boundaries’ – an unusual curtain call considering they were about to play on the free-to-the-public stage outside The Beach Hut, Surfers Paradise Beach a few minutes later.
Hussy Hicks perform at 2018 Gold Coast Music Awards - image © James Wills"The music industry doesn't ‘need’ an awards ceremony like this... this adds value to what you're doing," organiser Samantha Morris, Awards Director and Blank magazine founder proclaims to the artists and other industry people in the room.
Amy Shark took out Artist Of The Year for the second successive time, and understandably couldn’t attend, nor could folk duo Hollow Coves who were awarded Breakout Artist Of the Year and Song Of The Year for their heavily streamed track ‘Coastline’.
Venue of year, Miami Shark Bar expressed immense gratitude to their sound guys, individually naming them and decreeing them “the backbone of what makes this possible”. The venue reps also announced: “We’re still open for business: don’t believe the hype.”
“This is the best event since the closing ceremony of the Comm Games,” quips Mr Alessio, met with the response you can imagine.
Event Of The Year went to Shakafest (click here to read our review of 2017 Shakafest) and Alessio says: "I was so concerned no one was gonna throw a ‘shaka’ tonight." But the ceremony attendees didn’t let him down.
Hip hop duo Lane Harry x Ike Campbell scooped up Video Of The Year for ‘The Dash’.
Mason Rack accepted Live Act Of The Year on behalf of his band who were out to lunch or something, thanking his Dad for letting him play at jam sessions as a beginner. I to thanked his Dad, for shaping the next gen of musicians. Onya Dad.
Mel and Damo from The Twine, who you might remember from ‘Australia’s Got Talent’, were hanging out at the ceremony, thrilled with the chance to be catching up with friends (you know, us musos can only party on a school night, really). "Bobby Alu's just great," they agreed, while he was sharing his love with the crowd outside.
People’s Choice Award went to Baltimore Gun Club, who were just up the Avenue at Hard Rock Café ahead of playing a set there, so the presenters delivered the Golden Cassettes trophy to them off site.
Sets by Eliza & the Delusionals, Hussy Hicks, Bobby Alu and energetic ska legends Electrik Lemonade showcased the talent of the Gold Coast to a grateful crowd just chillin' out on a Thursday.
Congratulations Gold Coast, you’ve got it going on.
