Karl S. Williams and Mardi Wilson lead 2021 QMAs nominees

The nominations for the 2021 Queensland Music Awards (QMAs), which recognise the diverse people and places that make contemporary popular music an invaluable part of the state's cultural heritage, have been announced today. After a record number of artist submissions from all over the state, the impressive and extensive list of finalists includes emerging and established artists from the furthest reaches of Queensland’s thriving and diverse music communities.

The QMAs, presented by QMusic, have spotlighted or unearthed a pantheon of Queensland music greats, including Kate Miller-Heidke, Bernard Fanning, The Grates, Hungry Kids of Hungary, and Emma Louise. They've also recognised the chart-topping success of artists like Keith Urban and the Veronicas, and the lifelong contributions of the Bee Gees, Carol Lloyd, Ed Kuepper and Grant McLennan.

Nominees were announced in blues/roots, childrens, contemporary classic, country, electric/dance, heavy, indigenous, jazz, pop, rock, schools, folk/singer-songwriter, soul/funk/r’n’b, world, regional, remote, and video categories. Also announced were the finalists for the annual Billy Thorpe Scholarship as well as the nominees battling it out to win the People’s Choice Awards. All entries go in the draw to win a double pass to the award ceremony. You can vote here.

Leading with the most relevant nominations is singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, visual artist and poet, Karl S. Williams, who scored nods in the country, blues/roots, and folk/singer songwriter categories. Mardi Wilson follows with two nominations in the blues/roots and folk/singer-songwriter categories.

Other nominees in the country category include Melody Moko, Ruby Gilbert, and Vixens of Fall, with HaydenGoSeek - Old Friend and Jessica Emily Odgers - This Ain't Over highly commended.

Along with Williams and Wilson, Billie Rose and LT, with Hussy Hicks, Jack Bratt and PEACH FUR highly commended are also nominated in the blues/roots category. Folk/singer songwriter finalists include Williams, Greta Stanley, Hazlett, and Jaguar Jonze, with Asha Jefferies, Austen, Wilson and Dami Im highly commended.

QMusic CEO Angela Samut says, “The Queensland Music Awards have become an important date in the calendar for our music community and despite the hardship of the last twelve months, our artists have proven that they are among the best in the world. We had a vast number of exceptional submissions in every category, more than any previous year. Our judges certainly haven’t had an easy job narrowing it down, but we are thrilled to present such a remarkable group of talented finalists. The creativity emanating from our state is both exciting and inspiring and I'm proud that the QMAs can be the place for Queensland to celebrate our musicians' success"

Winners are to be presented under the decadent chandeliers of the Fortitude Music Hall on Wednesday 5 May in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley. Tickets start from $55 and are available here.

Country Finalists

Karl S Williams - Columbus Ohio
Melody Moko - Like Hank Would
Ruby Gilbert - No Vacancy
Vixens of Fall - The Long Game

Highly Commended   
HaydenGoSeek - Old Friend
Jessica Emily Odgers - This Ain't Over

Blues | Roots Finalists

Billie Rose - Company With Regret
Karl S Williams - God Is A Bomb
LT - Hold Ya
Mardi Wilson - Runaway

Highly Commended
Hussy Hicks - Mountain Peak
Jack Bratt - Will You Ever
PEACH FUR - Preloved

Folk | Singer Songwriter Finalists

Greta Stanley - Soak Into This
Hazlett - Monsters
Jaguar Jonze - MURDER
Karl S. Williams - Never Let Me Go

Highly Commended
Asha Jefferies - Dancefloor
Austen - Worse Things
Dami Im - Marching On
Mardi Wilson - Runaway

A full list of finalists is available here.

For more information, go to: www.queenslandmusicawards.com.au

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Image: Supplied