The Triffid ProfileIt was back in 2016 that beloved Brisbane venue The Triffid set out to recognise some of the best talent coming out of Queensland.
The idea was a simple one – to celebrate the best emerging artists in the state by way of an award that recognised the local album that resonated the most.
Thus, the annual The Triffid Album Of The Year award was born, with enough votes being counted for Halfway's The Golden Halfway Record to take out the inaugural honour.
Over the years, it's been taken out by some of the best and brightest in the local music scene, with winners – which have included Cub Sport, The Chats, Tia Gostelow, and most recently, Full Flower Moon Band – also receiving the spine of their winning record painted on The Triffid's iconic wall.
This year, the Triffid Album Of The Year Award returns for its eleventh edition, with the likes of 2charm, Clea, Platonic Sex, Radium Dolls, The Jungle Giants, and Tom Busby in contention for the top honour. Voting wraps up on Friday, November 6th.
With the winner set to be announced the following week, The Music caught up with John “JC” Collins – the bassist of newly-reunited icons Powderfinger, Queensland’s Night-Life Economy Commissioner, and co-owner and director of the Fortitude Music Hall and The Triffid – to chat about what an award such as this and venues such as The Triffid means to not just the wider state, but him as well.
"I've always put a massive importance on producing records," JC admits. "Going back to the days when I was in a band – and I continue to do that – and I think the Triffid Album Of The Year is a great opportunity to celebrate artists who put a collection of songs together, much like the '70s and '80s, that era where records were really, really important.
"For me, it's just an extension of that and saying, 'Good on you artists, you've done something great, and we're here to celebrate and, and promote you as well.'"
When the award was first handed out to Halfway in November 2016, few could have foreseen that it would still be going a decade later.
Few could have assumed it would expand to offer winners prizes such as merch credit from American Apparel and an eight-hour production day at The Triffid, few could have predicted the list of artists who would adorn the winner's list, and the wall outside the venue itself.
However, JC explains that what was very easy to see was the connection that the award had been Queensland musicians and their fans.
"When we first started the award, it was sort of hard to say this is what it is," he recalls. "You know, 'You're gonna get your name on this Hero Wall with some great Queensland artists', and it's just got stronger every year.
"As we go on, there's just more people that are getting involved, and the artists are really backing it as well. And what I really like about the connection is between the artists and the fans who vote.
"There's people who get out there and vote for their favourite artists," he adds. "So there's that real connection and it shows how important it is for the artists to have that connection with their fans, and then they get to celebrate it on the Triffid Hero Wall."
Importantly, it's also become a vital part of the Queensland music scene itself, not just championing the artists, providing a point of pride for fans, but helping to become a prominent way of proving just how good the quality of music created by Queensland artists is.
"It's an opportunity for people who've never heard of an artist, they might come to The Triffid for lunch one day and go, 'What's that band's name?'" JC explains. "They might go home, Google it, download their record on Spotify, and listen to it.
"It's good for Queensland artists. We do punch above our weight.
"I think it's really important for the Queensland music scene, but also just the grassroots music industry across the board," he continues. "We've seen across Australia and internationally, there's a lot of pressure on grassroots music venues and artists.
"So if an award like this highlights the great things that artists are doing and builds that connection between the venue and the artist, it's a winning thing for me."
When it comes to the impact that it's had on the local scene, JC notes you don't have to look far to see some of the previous alumni who have gone on to big things.
Even more impressive is the fact that these artists maintain that connection to their origins, ensuring they are still connected to venues like The Triffid in regard to where they've come from, and what's next.
"I've loved all the artists who've won the award, I'm so grateful that they come along and get involved," JC notes. "We've got Full Flower Moon band up the wall from last year. They're opening for the Foo Fighters at Suncorp Stadium. How good is that?
"These opportunities open other doors for bands to do stuff, so that's really important. I've loved seeing the bands come down here and, and take off and play the bigger venues, not only in Brisbane but across Australia.
"I think from an artist perspective, you can tell it means something to them because they come to the awards night," he adds. "That's the feedback I'm getting from the artists. So we'll keep doing it if it means something to the bands."
Ultimately, while these artists are out there creating great records which end up in contention for the award each year, it's venues like The Triffid which provide a place for them to cut their teeth, to play to their expanding fanbases, and serve as a launchpad for greatness.
"We started off playing in grassroots music venues across the state and across Australia," JC says of his time in Powderfinger. "Venues like this are everything to me. Venues like this where you can learn, whether it be a small stage in a beer garden, then play in the main room.
"That's where you learn, that's where you get better. That's where you become a good artist or good musicians. So to me, it's really important that these stages remain and we get behind them, and also it's where people see you for the first time. It's where artist development and also your fan development – your crowd development – happens.
"So to me, it's the most important part of the infrastructure of the whole ecosystem of the music industry," he concludes. Queensland keeps punching well above its weight when it comes to music.
"There's no shortage of talent in this state, and it's great that the people of Queensland get behind their artists. So that's why this award is very important."
Voting for The Triffid's Album Of The Year is open until November 6th.
