Last night QMusic presented the 2015 Queensland Music Awards at the Brisbane Powerhouse (30 March), as the local, music industry united for an outstanding evening of performance, artist recognition and social awareness.
The sold-out event featured an array of sparkling, musical showcases that kicked off with Yarwah's (fronted by the QMAs co-host, Fred Leone aka Rival MC) soul-stirring, contemporary performance of 'Welcome To Country'.
Also heating up the stage were sterling performances by Blank Realm, MKO, Halfway, Airling, Sahara Beck, Katie Noonan and We All Want To, who delivered a climatic end to the 2015 awards night.
Fred was joined by veteran Triple J and fellow QMA host Sarah Howells, the duo handling the MC duties with aplomb, particularly Fred, who displayed comedic chops that wouldn't have been out of place at the recent Brisbane Comedy Festival.
The evening was a conduit for introducing the Queensland music industry to the launched-this-week #noton campaign – making a noise to end violence against women. Hosts and artists alike reinforced the message and touched on personal experience. They encouraged attendees to buy the messaged merchandise, which adorned both artists and amps, and to take the message forth.
It was an unfortunate irony that guest of honour, Premier Anna Palaszczuk, was unable to attend — an absence caused by over-the-weekend political distractions, not least of which was an allegation of domestic violence against a now-expelled MP from the ALP. No doubt thanks from all concerned that Grace Grace MP seamlessly performed the necessary and the issue evaporated.
On the award front, the night's highly anticipated award was the Album of the Year Award, which went to 'Hungry Ghost' from Brisbane rock legends, Violent Soho. Other major-award winners on the night were: Halfway (Song Of The Year, Country), Airling (Pop), The Grates (Rock), Dubmarine (Urban), Michelle Xen (Electronic/ Dance), Guards Of May (Heavy) and The Medics (Indigenous).
Long regarded as one of Queensland rock & roll's most venerable singer-songwriters, the Screaming Tribesmen frontman Mick Medew was awarded the Grant McLennan Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Queensland music.
QMusic’s Executive Officer Joel Edmondson said: "Time and again, the Queensland Music Awards prove that Queensland produces some of Australia's most talented and exciting musicians. The 2015 QMAs were no different. Queensland's music industry is fuelled by a unique kind of community spirit, giving emerging artists that extra bit of support they need to succeed. You can feel that spirit in the room at the QMAs.”
