Thanks for joining us for our 10th annual Gold Coast Music Awards.
Let’s get ready to celebrate!
We’ve always had just one goal for these Awards and that’s to make the Gold Coast a city known for its diverse live music. Along the way we’ve engaged with thousands of Gold Coast musicians and music businesses: helping them learn new skills, meet the right people, navigate complicated business relationships, release new music, get grants and stay connected.
Over the past 10 years we have seen artists do incredible things and we’re super proud that we’ve been there to help them find their feet and support them as their careers flourish.
These awards would not be possible without the very dedicated team of women who make magic happen. It’s hard to believe that a one-night event takes a whole year to pull off, but that’s absolutely the case for these Awards.
Thank you to the whole team for such a massive commitment to local, original music, not just tonight, but through the entire year. Kirsty, Issy, Shannon, PJ, Emily and Rachael – you’re absolute superstars!
We’d like to acknowledge our partners for backing our vision and supporting local music. Our partners don’t just throw their weight behind the awards event, but also offer other contributions throughout the year with venue hire, catering, production, talent and moral support. We simply cannot achieve these outcomes without you.
Finally, we’d like to thank the artists who continue to create music, and all of the people in the music sector who are working behind the scenes – whether as sound engineers, music teachers, publicists, photographers, event managers or therapists – this city is so much richer because of you. Not everyone can be a winner – or a finalist for that matter – but your art, your music, is critical to a flourishing society. We are so thankful for everything you do to keep the Gold Coast humming.
Happy 10th anniversary, Gold Coast Music Awards!
Sam, Chloe and Amanda
Gold Coast Music Awards Co-Founders
Acknowledgement
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we live, work and play. Sovereignty has never been ceded! We honour Elders past and present. We celebrate the rich contribution First Nations people make to society – especially through storytelling, art and music. We pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Order of events
5:00pm
Red Carpet arrivals with complimentary Burleigh Brewing beer on arrival provided and pop-up performance by Hanlon School of Music student Myles O’Grady
6:00pm
Theatre doors open, ready for the Awards ceremony start at 6:30pm sharp. Grab a drink and settle in for the show!
6:30pm
2024 Gold Coast Music Awards ceremony begins, hosted by Tania Doko and Andrew Very
Welcome to Country – Lann Levinge
Live performance by Sunny Luwe ‘We’ve Got The Power’ followed by JK-47 ‘RAIN’
Welcome from MCs Tania Doko and Andrew Very
welcome address by Councillor Bob La Castra
Release of the Year
– sponsored by City of Gold Coast and presented by Councillor Bob La Castra
Musician of the Year
– sponsored by TAFE Queensland and presented by Shane Palmada,TAFE Queensland, Executive Director of Education at TAFE Queensland Gold Coast and Mandi J Windus, MJ Music Studios & Gold Coast Music Awards judging panel member
Studio Producer of the Year
– sponsored by Sound House Music and presented by Jessica Smyth, Sound House Music and Brad Hosking, Blind Boy Studio and LEVEL UP Your Music Production
7:10pm
Live performance by Lyric ‘Gravity’
Artist of the Year
– sponsored by Blues on Broadbeach and presented by Mark Duckworth, Experience Gold Coast, Director of Festivals and Events and Chris Cheney, The Living End
Gold Coast Music Prize
– sponsored by Friends of the Arts Foundation and presented by Ian Kennedy, Friends of the Arts and Lyric, 2023 Gold Coast Music Prize winner
Visual Creative of the Year
– sponsored by HOTA, Home of the Arts and presented by Yarmila Alfonzetti, Experience Gold Coast, Head of Arts and Culture and Elizabeth Sharpe, Ummagummamumma Photography, Good Call Live & Gold Coast Music Awards judging panel member
7:30pm
Live performance by Black Vatican Death Squad ‘Doom Scroll’
People’s Choice Award
– sponsored by Burleigh Brewing and presented by Peta Fielding, Burleigh Brewing owner and CEO and Michelle Le Plastrier, 2024 People’s Choice Award artist
Video of the year
– sponsored by The Edit Suite and presented by Kara Hamilton, The Edit Suite, Co-Founder & Production Manager and Mella Lahina, Miami Marketta, Operations and Local Talent Manager
Live Act of the year
– sponsored by Gold Coast Music and presented by Tamara Matheson, Gold Coast Music and Darren Middleton, songwriter, producer, composer
7:50pm
Live performance by Felicity Lawless ‘Tiger Rising’
Song of the Year
– sponsored by Lonely Lands Liquids and presented by Tash Sultana, Lonely Lands Liquids Co-Founder and Dana Lowrey-Palmer, Multi-instrumentalist, singer songwriter and producer
Breakout Artist of the Year
– sponsored by Hanlon School of Music and presented by Saia Hanlon, Hanlon School of Music Founder and Casey Barnes, Award winning musician
Venue of the Year
– sponsored by Oztix and presented by Brad Hinds, Oztix, Head of Music and Vivienne Mellish, Gyrostream & QMusic President
8:20pm
Live performance by Hussy Hicks all-star jam featuring special guests
8:30pm
Award ceremony close
8:30pm – 11:30pm
Gold Coast Music Awards after-party featuring Chutney and DJ Camila Rosa | HOTA Foyer
Meet the finalists
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Blues on Broadbeach
Allan Caswell
Girl and Girl
Hollow Coves
Hussy Hicks
JK-47
PACES
Saint Lane
Tijuana Cartel
Wildheart
BREAKOUT ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Hanlon School of Music
Bo’Ness Brothers
Chavez Cartel
Chloe Styler
Chutney
Lily Grace
Lyric
Majelen
MEZMURE
Parker
LIVE ACT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Gold Coast Music
Bootleg Rascal
Chutney
Girl and Girl
HAMMERS
Hussy Hicks
JK-47
Peach Fur
Tijuana Cartel
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by TAFE Queensland
Felicity Lawless
Jerome Williams
Josh Beattie
Julz Parker
Liam Kirk
Lily Grace
Majelen
Sue Ferrers
RELEASE OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by City of Gold Coast
Atticus Chimps – Space Exploitation
Chloe Styler – Side B
Cold Ghost – Red Gold
Eimhin – Fading Ember Hymn
Hollow Coves – Nothing to Lose
Hussy Hicks – Swimming in Uncertainty
Jim Ottaway – Infinite Universes
JK-47 – Revision For Regrowth
Karl S. Williams – Rainbows in the Gasoline
Peach Fur – Earth Radio
Selve – Red Desert Dream
TANISHA – Be The Reason
Tijuana Cartel – Alectura
SONG OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Lonely Lands Liquids
Atticus Chimps – Eyes Speak
Chloe Styler – Time Bomb
DENNIS. – Cold Tiles
ECB – Get The Money Up
Girl and Girl – Mother
HEAVY WAX – Let ‘em Talk
Hollow Coves – On The Way
JK-47 – Lullaby
Karl S. Williams – Built This Way
Lily Grace – The Summer That Got Away
Lyric – Gravity
Natalie Pearson – Not in These Boots
Parker – Local Paradise
TANISHA – How It Is
These Four Walls – Carousel
STUDIO PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Sound House Music
Cold Ghost
George Carpenter
Josh Beattie
Julz Parker
Lindsay Waddington
Lyric
Mattymadeit
Rob Rivers
VENUE OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Oztix
Den Devine
elsewhere
Mo’s Desert Clubhouse
Soho House Bar
Vinnies Dive
Whisky Lounge
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by The Edit Suite
Chaos Awaits – Unrectifiable Despondency
Chiffon Magnifique – Adore
Chloe Styler – Time Bomb
DENNIS. – Cold Tiles
ECB – Get The Money Up
Eimhin – Modern Mending
Girl and Girl – Hello
Natalie Pearson – Not In These Boots
Selve – Red Desert Dream
Sunday Sesh – 90’s Chick
The Sex Guys – We Are Not Your Friends
Tijuana Cartel – Believe In Nothing
VISUAL CREATIVE OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by HOTA Home of the Arts
Bianca Hinton
Damiano Mex
Jamie Hinton
Jared Hinz
Keely Baker
Simone Gorman-Clark
GOLD COAST MUSIC PRIZE
Sponsored by Friends of the Arts
Bo’Ness Brothers
Chloe Behrens
ECB
Parker
India Dupriez
Tomorrow’s Forecast
PEOPLE's CHOICE AWARD
Sponsored by Burleigh Brewing
Felicity Lawless
Lily Grace
Lyric
About our judges
Gold Coast Music Awards would not be possible without the dedication of many people in the local industry, but it’s our judges who give the most. Hours and hours of streaming songs, albums and videos, reading reams and reams of nomination information, cross-checking against criteria and then meeting for a full day to pull it all together. It’s a mammoth task and we’re deeply indebted to this awesome group of people for their massive contribution.
Our 2024 judges are:
Samantha Morris, Gold Coast Music Network – Co-Chairperson
Brad Hosking, Blind Boy Studios / LEVEL UP Your Music Production – Co-Chairperson
Kirsty Abrahams, Gold Coast Music Network – Awards Administrator
Adriana Steele-Boyce, City of Gold Coast
Andrew Very, TripleM (Southern Cross Austereo)
Benny D Williams,Producer / Musician
Christian Tryhorn, Beats Cartel / Mo’s Desert Clubhouse
Dana Lowrey-Palmer, Performer / Producer / Singer-Songwriter
Dani Teveluwe, Sunny Luwe
Daniel Carroll, City of Gold Coast
Danielle Lo Passo, Vocal Adrenaline
Elizabeth Sharpe, Ummagummamumma Photography / Good Call Live
George Carpenter, Producer / Musician
Johnno Keetels, Big Loud Records
Justin Hoareau, Georgia Hoareau / Wootton Major
Karen Waters, Red Rebel Music
Kuki Tipoki, Instrumentalist / Music Director
Leah Martin-Brown, Performer / Singer-Songwriter
Mandi Windus, MJ Music Studios
Omar Hanlon, Musician
Rachael Edwards, HOTA, Home of the Arts
Richard Macionis, Producer / Entertainer
Tara Hart, The Emerging Musician
Tyler McLoughlan, The Sound Pound
Zac Fahey, Experience Gold Coast
About the trophies
The now iconic trophy for the Gold Coast Music Awards was created in 2015 by Dion Parker who was engaged by SWELL Sculpture Festival to design something unique for the new event. The brief was pretty vague. As an organising team we knew we didn’t want a surfboard mounted on a piece of driftwood. We wanted something that would leave no doubt that the Gold Coast music industry had arrived and we were doing things differently to any other city. Don’t know about you, but we reckon Dion completely nailed that brief.
Every year, we also work with SWELL Sculpture Festival to commission a one-off trophy for the People’s Choice Award. This year Michelle Le Plastrier has created the stunning ceramic trophy, which has been designed to build on the Gold Coast Music Network’s connection with the music community by referencing the World Wide Web logo in the sphere, nestled amongst shapes, colours and patterns referencing the physical Gold Coast landscape: sun, sand, ocean and land.
Partners
Thanks for keeping the Gold Coast Humming
produced by
premier partner
presenting partners
GOLD COAST MUSIC NETWORK PARTNERS
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
BREAKOUT ARTIST OF THE YEAR
LIVE ACT OF THE YEAR
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
RELEASE OF THE YEAR
VENUE OF THE YEAR
GOLD COAST MUSIC PRIZE
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
SONG OF THE YEAR
STUDIO PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
VISUAL CREATIVE OF THE YEAR
Industry Partners
Event Partners
cultural Partners
Media Partners
Creative Partners
Acknowledgements
Gold Coast Music Network & Awards team
Chloe Popa, Co-Founder and Creative Director
Amanda Gorman, Co-Founder and Business Management Director
Samantha Morris, Co-Founder, Judging Panel Chair and Industry Director
Shannon Hart, Partnership Manager
Kirsty Abrahams, Industry and Program Coordinator
Issy Schoonenberg, Digital Marketing Manager & Awards Event Manager
Emily Halloran, Marketing and Event Coordinator
Phillippa Wright, Finance Manager
PR and Marketing
PJ Habner, PJ Media and Marketing
Photography
Simone Gorman-Clark
James Wills
Videography and screen graphics
The Edit Suite team
Kara Hamilton
Issabella Bassanelli
Social Media Support
Eleea Navarro
HOTA, Home of the Arts
Rachael Edwards, Lead Producer
Alex Fox, Technical Producer
HOTA front of house, production and food and beverage teams
Event Volunteers
Jordi Darrell
Ronan Maclean
Thanmayi Manjunath
Cody Nelson
Annaliese Lee
Molly Keen
Sophie Wilson
Margot Byrne
Millie Byrne
Nicole Jacobsen
Gigi Jacobsen
Stage Left Auslan Interpreters
Mickey Webb
Leo Woodfield
Performers and MCs
Award Ceremony hosts
Tania Doko and Andrew Very
VIP Welcome reception:
Myles O’Grady, Hanlon School of Music
Pop-up band:
Produced by Brad Hosking, Blind Boy Studio
Matt Armstrong – Trumpet
Mattymadeit – Matt Gray – Alto Sax
Adam Owens – Tenro Sax
Sam Busmen-Burt – Bass Drum
Mitch Finglas – Percussion
Rich Seymour – Snare drum
Guy Samin – Trombone
Me – Brad Hosking
Welcome to Country:
Lann Levinge
Awards Ceremony:
Sunny Luwe (Dani Tuveluwe, Matt Collins, Fraser Perrott )
JK-47 (Jacob Paulson)
Lyric (Lyric Hatezic, Lawson Mackriell, Cody Costa, Harry Norman)
Black Vatican Death Squad (Tommy Creeper & Samual Diklich)
Felicity Lawless (Felicity Lawless, Claire Cottone, Regotron Leayr & Geoff Green)
Hussy Hicks all-stars (Julz Parker, Leesa Gentz, Tracey Stephens, Saia Hanlon, Brad Hosking, Toan Le-Vo, Felicity Lawless, The Electric Lemonade Goldy Horns)
After Party:
Chutney (Matthew Hansford, Andy Reid, Patrick Norman, Callum Hughes, Josh Heaton)
DJ Camila Rosa
Award Presenters
Release – Councillor Bob La Castra
Musician – Shane Palmada & Mandi J Windus
Studio Producer – Jessica Smyth & Brad Hosking
Artist – Mark Duckworth & Chris Cheney
Gold Coast Music Prize – Ian Kennedy & Lyric
Visual Creative – Yarmila Alfonzetti & Elizabeth Sharpe
People’s Choice – Peta Fielding & Michelle Le Plastrier
Video – Kara Hamilton & Mella Lahina
Live Act – Tamara Matheson & Darren Middleton
Song – Tash Sultana & Dana Lowrey
Breakout Artist – Saia Hanlon & Casey Barnes
Venue – Brad Hinds & Vivienne Mellish
Gold Coast Music Awards team dressed by
Jess Hansen and Messy Threads
Fabric printed by Left Bank
Fabric illustration and artwork creation by Amanda Gorman Artist