Queensland Music Design Awards Winners

The Queensland Music Design Awards are now officially on the calendar – and the radar – of the broader Queensland Music industry.

Last night the QMDAs, conceived and driven by Queensland music identities Andrea Smith and Paul Robinson, awarded prizes in six creative categories. Put together with no government funding and no corporate dollar, Smith and Robinson's vision in creating the awards epitomises the very spirit they seek to reward with them.

The evening started as a low-key affair as attendees filled the New Globe Theatre's stylised and inviting, art deco-inspired foyer where they mingled earnestly in expectation.

The New Globe is a perfect locale for an artistic endeavours award ceremony because of course it has a fully functional theatrette — for the awarding of gongs and reviewing of works on-screen — 50 metres from Brunswick Street train station. Brisbane's evolved, in case you somehow missed it.

Click: Opening Night Photos

The evening was not without its challenges: those present will enjoy gloating rights in years to come as they alone witnessed the house lights which didn't go down, the uncertain presentation cues, and the temperamental audio — all of which somehow really did add to the pioneering flavour of the proceedings.

MC Jacqui Schwantes starred, and by night's end, she — and the audience — were just rolling with it all. William Lebihan's live performance prior to intermission added to the happy vibe and celebration of Queensland music.

Consensus at night's end — from younger folk to industry veterans — was that the QMDAs were a load of fun, and are a terrific initiative destined to attract fervent competition for justifiably coveted recognition in years to come. Roll on 2016!

Click: All Finalists

The 2015 QMDA winners

Best Website

Awarded to Daniel Coyne-Watego for the Apeman website

Best Poster Art

Awarded to Ari Freedman of Solitaire Creative for the Manifest Festival poster

Runner Up Photograph
Awarded to Bruce Heath – for the Reality – Switchblade Suzie photograph

Best Photograph

Awarded to Andrew Wade for the Gentle Ben and his Sensitive Side photograph

Best piece of Merchandise

Awarded to Judi Dransfield Kuepper for the Ed Kuepper teatowel

Best CD or Vinyl Cover

Awarded to Stephen Blundell & Kerry Thoonen for 3 Days in the Belly of a Whale - Pharoahs Playground album cover

Best Video Clip

Awarded to Virgil Carpentier - Astro Keneda for the Take Me Home - Sian Evans videoclip

Runner Up Video Clip
Awarded to 18 Deg Entertainment (Mel Poole, Nik Lachajczak, Dan Macarthur) – for the ContrADDICTION - Choon Goonz videoclip