Gold Coast Music Awards announces the finalists of 2021

Back for its seventh year is the Gold Coast Music Awards the best awards brunch in the business, and here's the jam-packed list finalists

Back for its seventh year is the Gold Coast Music Awards the best awards brunch in the business, and they’ve just announced the jam-packed list of fifty finalists ahead of the September 4 event.

Award-winning hip hop artist Jesswar and indie rockers Peach Fur are front runners in the awards, with each earning finalist positions in more than four categories, along with defending Artist of the Year Casey Barnes, who is fresh off his “Back in Town Tour” 

Several first-time finalists were also recognised, including acoustic sensation Beckah Amani, chasing Breakout Artist Of The Year after huge Queensland Music Award wins and a Tones and I support slot and new indie-pop duo Geniie Boy; and First Nations artist-fronted hitmakers, Selve and AYA J.

“For a year that saw the music industry gutted with uncertainty, reduced venue capacities and cancelled events, Gold Coast’s musicians and our beloved venues have outdone themselves. While we can only give away a small number of awards, we really want to acknowledge the immense achievements of all nominees,” said Gold Coast Music Awards chairperson Samantha Morris.

“More and more Gold Coast artists are growing into national and international exports, including our alumni: Amy Shark, Hollow Coves, Eliza and the Delusionals, Jacob Lee and Wolfmother’s Ian Peres. It’s exciting to have seen and supported their progression over the years and we can’t wait to see what this year’s crop achieves in the future,” Ms Morris said.

Despite a challenging year industry-wide, the entrants all showed levels of excellence, and we hear made it incredibly hard on the judges with more than 650 nominations received, “Judges passionately debated each category, and for the first time, we even released the judging shortlist to acknowledge the quality of talent in the region.”

Gold Coast Music Awards 2021 Finalists

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

sponsored by Southern Cross University

Casey Barnes

Eliza and the Delusionals

Hollow Coves

Jesswar

Karl S Williams

Mass Sky Raid

Peach Fur

BREAKOUT ARTIST OF THE YEAR

sponsored by Griffith University and the Queensland Conservatorium

Beckah Amani

Buttered

Daste.

DOOLIE

Greatest Hits

Jesswar

Peach Fur

Rave Radio

Rene Le Feuvre

LIVE ACT OF THE YEAR

sponsored by Gold Coast Music

Busby Marou

Casey Barnes

Donny Love

Hussy Hicks

Jesswar

Karl S Williams

Peach Fur

Selve

Tijuana Cartel

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR

sponsored by TAFE Queensland

Ella Fence

Fletcher Babb

Harry J Hart

Jackson Dunn

JVMIE

Lindsay Waddington

Majelen

Mitch King

Scott French

RELEASE OF THE YEAR

sponsored by Blank Street Press

Casey Barnes – Town of a Million Dreams

DOOLIE – Hope You Like My Mixtape

Hussy Hicks – Gather Up The People

Jesswar – Tropixx

Karl S Williams – Lifeblood

Peach Fur – Awake

Saint Lane – If You Leave Me In The Fire

These Four Walls – This Is Not A Future

SONG OF THE YEAR

sponsored by CBD Live

AYA J – Shine

Beckah Amani – Standards

Casey Barnes – Come Turn Me On

DVNA – All My Friends

DENNIS. X FDVM – Run Little House

Eliza and the Delusionals – Sentimental

Geniie Boy – Fool’s Play

Jesswar – Venom

Lastlings – Take My Hand

Peach Fur – Preloved

Saint Lane – When Did We Grow Up?

These Four Walls – White Lies

VENUE OF THE YEAR

sponsored by Oztix

CBD Live

elsewhere

Miami Marketta

Mo’s Desert Clubhouse

Soundlounge

Wallaby Hotel

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

sponsored by QT Gold Coast

American Doubles ft JVMIE – Can’t Let Go

Baltimore Gun Club – Universe City

Beckah Amani – Standards

boWsER – Supersonic

DENNIS. – What You Do ft. Professor Paul

Eliza and the Delusionals – Sentimental

Jesswar – Venom

Selve – The Pink Hotel

Tijuana Cartel – Minimal Stuffing

GOLD COAST MUSIC PRIZE

sponsored by Friends of the Arts

Chloe Styler

EUCA

Girl and Girl

Harry J Hart

Liv Heyer

Pure Milk

Selve

Talia Rose

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

sponsored by Burleigh Brewing Co.

Open to all finalists – open for public voting Thursday 19 August

Picture of Owen George
Owen George

Editor & Chief of Gold Coast Magazine is a lover of great coffee and sharing the stories of the people, places, and events that make the Gold Coast such a great city