The very best of Queensland music during the last 12 months were honoured tonight (29 March) with the 2022 Queensland Music Awards (QMAs) staged at The Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane.
The glittering ceremony was attended by dozens of musicians alongside a who's who of Queensland's music industry and a select few members of the public (who snagged tickets to the sold-out event), who gathered under the sparkling chandeliers to celebrate and pay tribute to the QMAs class of 2022.There were a number of repeat winners from last year's awards including rapidly rising star Sycco, who again claimed the Song Of The Year and Pop crowns for 'My Ways'; while Indigenous artist Miiesha doubled up her Soul / Funk / R&B gong from 2021.
Stalwarts of the Queensland scene, The Jungle Giants were awarded Album Of The Year for 'Love Signs', which features the single 'Heavy Hearted' that won the Song Of The Year and Pop awards at the 2020 QMAs.
Amy Shark and Keith Urban also swapped their awards from the 2021 results, with Amy winning Highest Selling Album for 'Cry Forever', while Keith Urban (who features on 'Cry Forever') scoring the Highest Selling Single ('One Too Many' feat. P!NK) gong.
Last year's Regional award winner, Toowoomba-based, First Nations pop artist Cloe Terare is this year's recipient of the Billy Thorpe Scholarship that was presented to her by Billy's widow Lynne and Arts Minister Leanne Enoch.
The scholarship will provide Cloe with $10,000 to support her career with the opportunity to record with a local producer and receive career path planning advice from industry experts. QMusic CEO Kris Stewart expressed his delight in Cloe's scholarship success.
"The Billy Thorpe Scholarship is such an influential project, it allows incredible Queensland artists a platform to begin their careers and supplies them the tools they need to launch into the industry."
Also nabbing two awards was Capricornia's Zheani with the 'fairy-electronica-screamo-rapper' winning the Heavy category and the Emerging Artist Of The Year award.
While Nat Dunn also ended the night the owner of two QMA gongs – Electronic and Regional / Remote – for her joint with Hayden James Cand Gorgon City, 'Foolproof'.
Other notable winners included Casey Barnes (Country), Asha Jefferies (Folk) and WAAX (Rock).
The Jungle Giants, Troy and Jem Cassar-Daley (Jem won the Indigenous award), Sachem, Zheani, Cloe Terare and Felivand all performed live on the night, with father-daughter duo Troy and Jem's rendition of 'Brisbane Blacks', an iconic protest song written by Mop and The Dropouts' Dennis Conlin (who received the QMusic Lifetime Achievement Award later in the evening) receiving a standing ovation.
Both Metropolitan Venue Of The Year and Regional Venue Of The Year were awarded to the 2021 defending champions – The Tivoli and NightQuarter respectively. The 2022 Festival Of The Year was won by a newcomer – Airlie Beach Festival of Music.
"Tonight's award winners, nominees and exceptional artists represent a bright and positive future for Queensland's contemporary music sector and a celebration of hope, healing and happiness," Minister Enoch says.
"The Queensland Government acknowledges the significant contribution to our state's diverse arts and cultural sector, and the power and value of music as it unites our community.
"In response to the challenges of the last two years, our Government has invested $13.7 million into the state's live music sector since March 2020.
"Congratulations, to all the nominees and particularly to Cloe Terare as the 2022 recipient of the Billy Thorpe Scholarship."
The Queensland Music Awards are produced by QMusic, which is supported by the Queensland Government.
