Festival Of The Year Nominees
BLEACH* FESTIVAL
Image: DJ Dameeeela @ BLEACH 2020. Pic by Maleika Halpin
What does Queensland music mean to you?
"As an independent, not for profit contemporary arts festival based in South East Queensland it is our mission to support local artists and the cultural ecology of the Gold Coast and wider Queensland music industry, especially in a time when artists have been so highly impacted by COVID-19."
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BRISBANE FESTIVAL
Image: Megan Washington @ Brisbane Festival. Pic by Lachlan Douglas
What does Queensland music mean to you?
"Brisbane is home to a wealth of talented musicians of all genres who hold the soul of our city and keep this state buzzing with vibrancy, imagination and inspiration. This remarkable creative community of musicians and artists provides Brisbane Festival with an enviable pool of world-class talent from which to create our Boldly Brisbane program. Queensland music at its core represents a fierce pride and independence and celebrates all that makes us Queenslanders. Brisbane Festival’s commitment in the COVID ravaged world that was 2020, was to employ and support many local artists and musicians and to create a vast number of performance opportunities."
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EARTH FREQUENCY FESTIVAL
Image: Earth Frequency Festival 2020
What does Queensland music mean to you?
"Supporting local music, celebrating diversity and our unique homegrown sounds."
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HORIZON FESTIVAL
Image: The Dreggs @ Horizon Festival 2020. Pic by Nic Morley
What does Queensland music mean to you?
"Our festival’s mission is to celebrate, showcase and nurture local creative talent and engage local and visiting audiences with the best that our region offers. We feel privileged to work with the amazing array of artists across artforms, but particularly the incredible musicians who call the Sunshine Coast home. These artists embody the spirit, energy, and beauty of our region."
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MOUNTAIN GOAT VALLEY CRAWL
Image: Tia Gostelow @ Mountain Goat Valley Crawl. Pic by Robbie Atkin-Robertson
What does Queensland music mean to you?
"Queensland music to me brings a close family knit community. Everyone here knows each other somehow, but is also very supportive and champion each other a lot. There's an unpretentious feel to it that you don't see as much over in other states. It's special."
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WOODFORD FOLK FESTIVAL
Image: Woodford Folk Festival
What does Queensland music mean to you?
"Queensland music means great quality, a collegiate nature and brilliant opportunity. Artists are into collaborating and helping each other get a leg up - opportunities are shared, people are made to feel welcome and there's a great diversity of artists across the state. We're lucky that we have venues that showcase that diversity too - great clubs through to places like BEMAC, not to mention advocates on our local radio stations at 4ZZZ and 43b. Conferences like BIGSOUND have followed up on Brisbane's reputation by putting Queensland on the map as a discovery location. I love to see the community on the Sunshine Coast developing too - you could see that happening in the Gold Coast a while ago and it was only a matter of time before the SC hit critical mass. We booked 98% Qld artists for our 2020 Bushtime events and it actually a pleasure to be confined to local artists."
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YONDER
Image: Citrus Daze @ Yonder 2020. Pic by @jaysvisuals__
What does Queensland music mean to you?
"Queensland music is strong, resilient and moving. I am proud of the homegrown talent we have in Queensland and we are driven to provide showcase opportunities for local artists."
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Metro Venue Of The Year Nominees
BANSHEES BAR & ARTSPACE
Image: Death by Carrot @ Banshees Bar & Artspace. Pic by Nina Weaver
What does Queensland music mean to you?
"The Queensland live original music artists who share their original compositions and lyrics in our venue honour us by providing multiple unique points of reference in time for their audience of who we are as a society now and a vision of what we could become. We especially like to book and witness Qld artists who compose and deliver countercultural messages in their art challenging us to change and be better."
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BLACK BEAR LODGE
Image: Robert Forster @ Black Bear Lodge. Pic by Will Johnstone
What does Queensland music mean to you?
"Throughout COVID, Black Bear Lodge became a place for Qld musicians to play as well as hang out. It filled a spot in Brisbane and became the local spot for the music scene even when shows were cancelled. The Brisbane music scene is super supportive and understanding and Black Bear Lodge feels privileged to be a part of it."
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BRISBANE JAZZ CLUB
Image: Funky Miracle @ Brisbane Jazz Club. Pic by Geoff Norris
What does Queensland music mean to you?
"It is our very own rich and deep connection to who we are as a culture and arts community. Queensland music represents an untapped potential of amazing artists, present, future and emerging. It is the voice and feeling of Queensland. The Brisbane Jazz Club has been presenting live jazz, blues and beyond for almost 50 years. As a live community music venue, it tells a story of the people of Queensland and their love of performance, storytelling and sharing in each other's diversity."
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EATONS HILL HOTEL
Image: BONKA @ Eatons Hill Hotel. Pic by David Fell
What does Queensland music mean to you?
"Queensland music to us is a means of showing support to all local artists, these artists help grow the local economy, community and allow for Queensland venues to remain operational, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Showing our support to Queensland musicians means we get to have new, upcoming talent perform at our venue every weekend."
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IPSWICH CIVIC CENTRE
Image: Ipswich Civic Centre. Pic by Rayment Photographics
What does Queensland music mean to you?
"Queensland music isn't any one specific thing. Queensland music is varied across genre, artist, topic, place and time. Queensland music is a voice of the people who call Queensland home, a medium to share their experiences, loves, hates and feelings that may resonate with many or just one who connects with the artist."
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LEFTY'S MUSIC HALL
Image: LR Marsh @ Lefty's Music Hall. Pic by Ali Rasoul
What does Queensland music mean to you?
"Queensland music is about sourcing, promoting and supporting local artists and giving them the platform to succeed in the music industry. Lefty's heavily supports young and upcoming bands, giving them the assistance they need to make an impact in the music industry."
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MO'S DESERT CLUBHOUSE
Image: Osaka Punch @ Mo's Desert Clubhouse. Pic by Samantha Townsend (Melting Wax Photography)
What does Queensland music mean to you?
"Mo's was created in the absence of there being somewhere that actively supported and was created with the sole intent of supporting creative industry. Queensland music is what the venue is built on. The name of the venue alone is indicative of this. The Desert is a space that is so awe-inspiringly beautiful and is a perfectly built canvas within the natural environment. This is the theme of Mo's Desert Clubhouse. An inspiring canvas to create. The term 'Clubhouse' was carefully selected as the space needed to provide a safe haven, a home for creative individuals. Somewhere they didn't feel judged, looked upon or threatened. Somewhere they could just be. Somewhere they could radically express themselves in a radically inclusive way. Queensland music and art is why Mo's Desert Clubhouse is here."
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STUDIO 188
Image: John Keenan @ Studio 188. Pic by Damien Bredberg
What does Queensland music mean to you?
"Studio 188 firmly believes in the value of supporting artists in your own back yard. Local live music not only extends to musicians, but the industry professionals that manage and support them, the photographers that shoot them, the media partners that report on them, the venues, restaurants and nightlife culture that all benefit from their existence. As a venue, we believe in the power of a strong local music community and use this to drive the venue strategy, and now almost everything we do is underpinned by the need to serve not only the local music community, but the general Ipswich community as well. We see that by supporting Queensland artists, we are investing into the future of our city and state's live music makers and industry pioneers."
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THE BRIGHTSIDE
Image: Raave Tapes @ The Brightside. Pic by Will Johnston
What does Queensland music mean to you?
"We feel honoured to play a part in the Queensland music scene and are happy to have our own spot within Brisbane. Without having touring acts throughout the majority of 2020, 90% of acts that played at The Brightside were from Qld. The Qld scene is really supportive and full of talent and we saw Qld audiences and musicians want to support the venue throughout the challenges we faced in 2020."
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THE FORTITUDE MUSIC HALL
Image: The Flaming Lips @ The Fortitude Music Hall. Pic by Claudia Ciapocha
What does Queensland music mean to you?
"To us Queensland music is diverse, community-focused and punches above its weight within the global music industry."
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THE TIVOLI
Image: Hands Like Houses @ The Tivoli. Pic by Lachlan Douglas
What does Queensland music mean to you?
"We are incredibly proud to be a part of the Queensland music ecology. There is a wonderful sense of community and collaboration that exists within our city, a sense of comradery that has emerged out of the outdated perception that Brisbane is a big country town. Now Queensland boasts some of the country's finest music venues, exciting festivals, BIGSOUND, and produces artists that rank amongst the most high profile in the country. We also acknowledge that we're living and working on stolen Indigenous land. With that, we inherit a responsibility to continue to work towards creating space for Indigenous-led music activity - and as a state, we still have more work to do here. Most importantly - it is our home and our identity, it's in our DNA. We strive to represent our hometown as best as we can on both a national and international platform."
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THE TRIFFID
Image: Bernard Fanning @ The Triffid. Pic by Kate Jean
What does Queensland music mean to you?
"Queensland music has always held its own place in the industry. I love that there isn't a definitive Queensland sound, its all-inclusive nature is what makes it original."
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THE ZOO
Image: The Zoo
What does Queensland music mean to you?
"This year I have seen the Queensland music community come together tighter, in 2021 we have emerged closer than I have ever seen before. It's like the competitive nature of the music industry has been put aside and in its place is almost this quiet solidarity between one another. It's been a really beautiful thing to see happen and I am grateful for that."
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VINNIES DIVE
Image: VOIID @ Vinnies Dive. Pic by Peter Wheeler
What does Queensland music mean to you?
"I wouldn't be here without it. Growing up with it, and now working with it has made me an extremely happy person. I love watching Gold Coast grow and love how well all the venues here are doing - Mo's Desert Clubhouse, Miami Marketta, HOTA, BBQ Bazzar & Eddie's Grub House have all influenced me heaps."
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WOOLLY MAMMOTH MANE STAGE
Image: Woolly Mammoth Mane Stage. Pic by @ummagummamumma
What does Queensland music mean to you?
"Australian and Queensland music is special to us, not just because it's our livelihood but because once you immerse yourself into this industry you realise it's just one big family. These last 12 months have seen everyone rally together with the same goal, to keep live music going. Importantly the local bands, artists and promoters that have allowed venues to put these shows on and keep doors open really gives you an even greater appreciation to their art and dedication."
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Regional Venue Of The Year Nominees
EMPIRE THEATRE
Image: Stu Larsen @ Empire Theatre. Pic by Jarrad Seng
What does Queensland music mean to you?
"Queensland music contributes to the vibrancy of our communities and the liveability of our cities and towns. Especially in regional Queensland, music at the local pub or performing arts centre allows for socialisation, connection and a shared sense of place and time. Queenslanders are very possessive and proud of their homegrown musicians and that is because we breed them in the small community places of gathering first – before they become commercial commodities."
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NIGHTQUARTER
Image: NightQuarter Live Stage. Pic by Lisa Pearl
What does Queensland music mean to you?
"Resilience. After the year that was 2020, we know first hand the resilience required to keep a music dream alive through the lockdown and the decimation of the industry due to COVID. When it finally came to booking bands again in late 2020, it was inspiring to hear all the ways that local artists had kept their music alive during lockdown producing new music, reinventing their sound, performing online and learning new instruments. A global pandemic can’t keep us down."
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OTHERWISE BAR
Image: Alex Lahey @ Otherwise Bar. Pic by Luke Mcleod
What does Queensland music mean to you?
"Queensland music has always been a very important part of my life. Queenslanders are really authentic and passionate people and this shows through the bands, artists and punters of our state. I feel very grateful to live in such an amazing part of the world surrounded by awesome music!"
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SANDSTONE POINT HOTEL
Image: PNAU @ Sandstone Point Hotel. Pic by Curdin
What does Queensland music mean to you?
"Queensland music has a special place in my heart, it's the sound of home. There are so many talented vocalists and musicians in the state, I am constantly floored by what Queensland has to offer."
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SOLBAR
Image: The Dreggs @ Solbar. Pic by Hayden Cervi
What does Queensland music mean to you?
"Queensland has such a strong commitment to its artists and industry, and the music that it helps to create is an amazing representation of a state that encompasses a huge variety of cultures and lifestyles. In truth, people don’t usually think of Queensland when they think of Australian music... However, you only have to look at the underdog state properly to see just how much talent and diversity is bred ‘up north’. From The Go-Betweens to Savage Garden, Powderfinger to Cub Sport and Amy Shark to The Saints, Queensland has helped shape the soundscape to a number of Australian’s lives."
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THE EVENTS CENTRE, CALOUNDRA
Image: Adrian Eagle @ The Events Centre. Pic by QMusic
What does Queensland music mean to you?
"It means much more than it ever did following the COVID closure. It was really hard seeing artists, musicians, production staff, hospitality staff, etc. all out of work over such a long period. Live music is such an essential part of life, and it’s not until you have none that you really appreciate its importance. Especially for local artists, bands and crew who suffered financially and emotionally during such an uncertain period of time."
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