Queensland Music Awards 2013: Preview and Predictions

Hey there. You're looking for a little weekday holiday to Brisbane in August, aren't you? Of course you are. I'm going to run with the assumption that you're a fan of music one would deem to be 'most excellent' as well, given that this is a music blog. So August 13, 2013... you might as well head to Queensland music's night of nights... the Queensland Music Awards! Acts like Emma Louise, Texas Tea and Ball Park Music are vying for awards which will be handed out in one of Brisbane's finest live music venues, The Tivoli. You'll also be able to enjoy performances from some of the most talented emerging Queensland artists like The Jungle Giants, The Trouble With Templeton, Seja and Thelma Plum. Best of all, it only costs $30 if you're not a QMusic member. You're ready to buy some tickets? Well head on over to Oztix now, my friends!


Since I'm a big fan of predicting who'll walk away a winner at these sorts of events, I thought I'd share my picks for some of the big awards, while also giving you a chance to enjoy some amazing Queensland music. I should also mention that my win/loss record for predictions isn't that great... but that's neither here nor there. Right?

QUEENSLAND MUSIC AWARDS 2013:

A Guessing Game

by Matt Bond

Category: ROCK!

 'Shepherd And The Sheep' by Alan Boyle

'Pilot' by Fushia

'Six Months In A Cast' by The Trouble With Templeton

'Neighbour Neighbour' by Violent Soho

I Choose You: 'Six Months In A Cast' by The Trouble With Templeton

The Trouble With Templeton have had a good year and it looks like it will only get better with the release of the new album, Rookie (and hopefully a shiny QMA or two). 'Six Months In A Cast' has been embraced by triple J, 4zzz and it came in at #93 on our own list of the top songs of 2012. 

Category: POP!

'Come on. Stand out.' by 7bit Hero

'Surrender' by Ball Park Music

'C'mon' by Seja

'Around Here' by Thelma Plum

I Choose You: 'Around Here' by Thelma Plum

Really, you'd be happy with a win for any of these nominees, but it's Thelma Plum's 'Around Here' that has all the hallmarks of a great 'pop' song. It's catchy as anything, with a hook that will stay in your head for forever and a day. And you never get sick of it. You can singalong, dance around and brighten your day with just one listen. But one listen is never quite enough... 

Category: EXPORT ACHIEVEMENT AWARD!

Emma Louise

Katie Noonan

Sheppard

The Trouble With Templeton

I Choose You: Emma Louise

She had a song on Grey's Anatomy. Check and mate.  

Category: ALBUM OF THE YEAR!

Museum by Ball Park Music

Vs Head Vs Heart by Emma Louise

Sad Summer Hits by Texas Tea

Come Up Invisible by WE ALL WANT TO

I Choose You: Sad Summer Hits by Texas Tea

Come on Texas Tea! Look, I love Ball Park Music and Emma Louise as much as the next music fan and WE ALL WANT TO... I have to admit I've just heard you and you sound great and I'm going to look into you more... but, Texas Tea have one of the best albums of all time. All time! If they don't get it, someone's gon' have to go all Kanye up in the Queensland Music Awards. 

For more information on the Queensland Music Awards as well as a full rundown of nominees, head on over to the QMA website.

 

It's My Kind Of Interview - Mardi Lumsden



Mardi Lumsden!


As a follow up to our 'New To The Scene' post on the most awesome-ly awesome Brisbane group, Mardi Lumsden and the Rising Seas, we've got a special little treat lined up for you today! Singer-songwriter Mardi Lumsden was kind enough to take some time to answer a couple of our questions which is a big deal for a couple of reasons. Firstly, she puts the Mardi Lumsden in Mardi Lumsden and the Rising Seas. Secondly, we love her music. Finally... this is our first ever artist interview on It's My Kind of Scene!! Even better? It's definitely not going to be our last artist interview... we've got some more lined up for the next couple of weeks. This is 'It's My Kind Of Interview' with the uber-talented Mardi Lumsden. Get excited!


Q. When the year is done and dusted, what do you hope Mardi Lumsden and the Rising Seas have accomplished?


ML: By the end of this year I want to have started recording our debut album. My husband / banjo player and I have just bought a church which we are converting into a home so I am hoping it will be an inspiring space and give us room to set up a bit of a home studio.

 
Q. You're no stranger to winning Q Music Awards, walking away the winner of the Folk/Ballad 'Q Song' prize in 2010 for the incredibly infectious track 'Classified (WVTM).' Have you set your sights on the revamped Queensland Music Awards for 2012?


ML: You've got to be in it ... I have a couple of new tracks I might enter but I'm particularly excited about the new Queensland Music Awards category, Children's Music. I think there are a lot of people making fantastic music in Queensland and QMA is a great way to find new music and recognise talent.

Q. Congratulations! You've just been selected to undertake a tremendous space voyage to Mars. It takes a lot of time to get to Mars... so what albums will you be taking to pass the time AND why?


ML: Hmmm ... I am assuming I am taking my iPod so I can take most of my collection. :) Sufjan Stevens' Age of Adz is fantastic and has a good spacey vibe to it, so that would have to come. A good amount of Iron and Wine (I have Around the Well on repeat at the moment), Bon Iver, Gillian Welch and Lucie Thorne would be necessary and I like the irony of listening to lo-fi folky music while on a space mission. Also a hefty dose of some of my favourite Brisbane artists (Alan Boyle, Chris Pickering, Sue Ray, Tim Carroll, Cam Elliott, Dan Parsons, Emma Louise, Steve Grady, Cub Scouts, Inland Sea ... shall I go on?) to keep me from getting homesick.


Q. Brisbane's music scene is pretty darn exciting right now. Have any of your contemporaries caught your eyes and ears?


ML: See list above (and many more). There is so much good music coming our of Brisbane (and Queensland). There aren't a lot of places to go and hear the kind of music I love so it is about knowing what is happening and getting there. I love The Round, a songwriter's space at Dowse Bar on a Wednesday night. It is three songwriters talking about their songs and playing in a striped back setting. The room is always completely attentive and as a songwriter there is no greater compliment.

 
Q. Where can we see Mardi Lumsden and the Rising Seas over the next couple of months and what can fans expect from the shows?


ML: I am focusing on writing this year so we won't be playing too many shows. Saying that, Pennay and I are doing duo sets at the West End Twilight Markets on 14 April (with Pear and the Awkward Orchestra and Inland Sea) and supporting Phil Monsour at his album launch at South Leagues Club in west end on 21 April.

A big thank you to Mardi for taking the time to have a virtual chat! Head on over to Mardi Lumsden and the Rising Seas official website for more fun and more awesome music.

Out On The Town - QLD Music Awards 2012 Launch

Queensland Music Awards Launch

@ Black Bear Lodge

We put our scheduled interview with Adele on hold last night* to head on down to the Black Bear Lodge for this year's launch of Queensland's biggest music awards. Following a successful debut in 2011, the Queensland Music Awards will be back on August 14 at the Old Museum and nomination are open now for all the exciting acts coming out of Brisbane and beyond. Last year's big winner, emma louise (Song of the Year - 'Jungle'), will surely be in contention once more, as will It's My Kind of Scene favourites Inland Sea and The Medics. The latter were also winners last year, walking away with the Indigenous music award for 'Beggars.' 

You can also expect to see some nominations for new favourites, Timothy Carroll and Mardi Lumsden. Both artists performed mini-sets at the launch and by each act's third number, I was already planning to hunt down their music and find out where and when they're playing live. The debonair, engaging and overall fantastic Timothy Carroll will be playing Woodland next Friday (March 9). Do I dare brave the hipsters for quality music. Yes. Yes I shall. You should too, because Carroll's voice is quite possibly the best Australian male voice I've heard since Matt Walters. Combining the sounds of Kim Richey, She and Him and Feist, Mardi Lumsden was enchanting alongside her banjo playing husband. She looks like an uber-Lisa Loeb/Zooey Deschanel love child too... extra points! I see that Mardi Lumsden and the Rising Seas will be supporting Phil Monsour's CD launch in West End, April 21... at Souths Leagues Club. They deserve a more kick ass venue.

So... back to the Queensland Music Awards. Know some friends in awesome local bands? Tell them to get their nominations in now through the Q Music website! You can find all the info on how to enter, plus read about last year's winners! For the emerging talent... I've got a little something for you too. The Billy Thorpe Scholarship is up for grabs again in 2012, offering new local bands or solo artists the chance to win a $10 000 grant to put towards building their profile. Not too shabby. Get your application in quick, because this could be the chance of a lifetime for a new artist. Entries close April 30.

Alright, that's it... spread the word kids. Let your friends in local bands know and get those nominations in!

*By interview with Adele, I meant getting my daily dose of Grey's Anatomy. What of it?