A mix of established Queensland stars alongside a stack of emerging talent from the Sunshine State have been honoured at the 2024 Queensland Music Awards.
Staged in Brisbane at The Fortitude Music Hall (17 September), the Awards were hosted by Myf Warhurst and Michael Tuahine, with locally beloved musician Matt Hsu handling the live music as the evening's musical director. Hsu's group Obscure Orchestra launched the ceremony with an impassioned cover of indie legends Regurgitator's 'Song Formerly Known As'.Other live performances included Jem Cassar-Daley captivating the audience with her song 'King Of Disappointment' (she was accompanied onstage by Hsu as well, and would return to the stage twice more to collect awards), and rapper-poet Sachém harnessing the energy of the room with his tune 'My City', before Obscure Orchestra returned later in the evening to play tribute to 'Bluey'.
Country Award nominees Hayley Marsten, Melody Moko and Tori Forsyth then joined forces to pay homage to Lifetime Achievement Award winner James Blundell, performing his hit song 'Way Out West'.
Multiple award winners on the night were alternative stalwarts Cub Sport (Album Of The Year for 'Jesus At The Gay Bar' and Electronic Award), the aforementioned indie pop artist Jem Cassar-Daley (Song Of The Year for 'King of Disappointment' and Pop Award), and music composer Joff Bush who collected the Children's Music Award ('Dance Mode') and Music For Screen Award ('Cricket') both of which were written for the juggernaut TV show 'Bluey'.
Other winners included Busby Marou (Blues-Roots), Tori Forsyth (Country), DZ Deathrays (Heavy), Tia Gostelow (Indigenous), Sahara Beck (Soul, Funk & R&B) and LT (Regional).
In a glittering career spanning 34 years, 14 studio albums, 9 CMAA Golden Guitars, induction into the CMAA Role of Renown and the CMC Hall of Fame, James Blundell is one the most influential Australian male country artist of his generation.
Asked what receiving the QMA Award means to him, the icon said with a twinkle in his eye: "It is an acknowledgement of survival. I say to all the young artists I work with that longevity is a major part of the equation.
"You can be fabulous for a nanosecond but to sustain a career, well you've got to be a bit more interesting (laughs). Now I have never claimed or intended to be an interesting artist, but I have lived very honestly and very much in the public eye. So, I am very grateful to receive this award."
The scholarships gifted at the Queensland Music Awards – who share $75,000 of funding – this year went to Lottie Mcleod (Billy Thorpe Scholarship), Jo Davie (Carol Lloyd Award), Kristal West (Dennis 'Mop' Conlon Scholarship), Georgia Potter (Grant McLennan Fellowship) and Ethan Roberts (Dalwood-Wylie Foundation Scholarship).
