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
