Celebrating a Standout Year in Gold Coast Music

WORDS: Glenn Tozer PHOTOGRAPHY Spill & Simone Gorman-Clark

A star-studded night at HOTA honours the artists, producers and venues shaping the city’s vibrant sound.

Beckah Amani

The past year in Gold Coast music was significant so punters and artists alike made their pilgrimage to HOTA for the Annual Gold Coast Music Awards on a balmy Thursday night in late November. Gathering on the stairs outside the foyer, the event coincided with Aus Music T-Shirt Day, raising funds for music industry charity Support Act, so the fashion this year was inspired by local merch and our local scene’s fave Aussie acts. As the crowd bulged, Hanlon School of Music’s protégés, Melody Creative, kicked off proceedings on the steps of the theatre with some hip-hop stylings, setting the scene for what would be a genre-diverse night of nights for the Gold Coast music sector.

Bella Amor

Once inside, emerging rock-pop sensation Selve performed their finalist single Breaking Into Heaven, as people noticed Scotty French in another classic act (it seems whatever he touches turns to gold). Frontman Loki Liddle entertained, introducing himself as a Jabirr Jabirr man with a universal plan and rocking the stage to start the ceremony.

Bella Amor was next on stage after the customary introductory speeches, and her fantastic voice and syncopated tones showed why she’s a star on the rise at festivals and gigs across Australia. Sultry R&B queen, Tanisha, fresh off a support slot with Macy Gray, picked up Release of the Year for her album On My Terms. Robbie Bostock, regular tourer on lead guitar with Lee Kernaghan picked up Musician of the Year and gave a heartfelt shout-out to alma-mater Helensvale State High. Production legends of the city, Brad Hosking and Paul Blakey, presented colleague Luke Palmer with Studio Producer of the Year.

Lyric

In a highlight of the night, respected producer and session guitarist Louie Shelton performed a montage of his last 60 years or so in the industry, showing off his resume to classics he’d worked on in his esteemed career including the likes of Jackson 5, Whitney Houston, Neil Diamond, The Monkees and Lionel Ritchie. While the GCMAs always bring diverse genres, it was great to see the expressed respect of the audience for a giant of the music industry across the world in elder stateman Shelton, who has now called the Gold Coast home for a few decades.

Beckah Amani was next honoured, picking up Artist of the Year, after the year saw her new release out to rave reviews, including a profile on NME UK, and a guest performance slot with Coldplay in their Aussie concerts. Former All Saints College Principal presented the Friends of the Arts sponsored Gold Coast Music Prize to young up and commers Blind Corners.

Best on ground for the stage performances had to be Eimhin, who took the stage next. A haunting and beautiful folk track, accompanying his acoustic guitar and lead vocal with cello and harmonies, the audience was silenced and hypnotised in a moment that felt it should have been part of poignant scene in an award-winning feature film. Well played, Eimhin.

The Wrath

Visual Creative of the Year went to Jared Hinz, who gave a heartfelt shout out to charity Support Act, and then Bachelor Girls Tania Doko presented best video to Selve, who had already performed their winning track to much acclaim earlier in the evening. Tanisha performed next, her smooth vocals backed by saxophone tasting like a delicious liqueur at the end of a long day. Hollow Coves, currently in Mexico playing big festivals, deservedly picked up Live Act of the Year, and Bella Amor’s catchy track Rocks in My Pocket grabbed Song of the Year.

Young star, Parker, was next to perform as a prelude to Broadbeach’s own Den Devine picking up Venue of the Year. There were emotional scenes, as the family business who have been a mainstay of the local emerging music scene, shared the challenges of persevering as a live music in a difficult economic climate.

Eimhin

The People’s Choice award was collected by country lass Lecia Louise and the very talented Lyric, who had previously picked up Gold Coast Music Prize just two years earlier, was awarded Breakout Artist of the Year after standout festival performances including at BigSound, and a touring reputation that is growing as a must see Australian artist. The event closed out with hard rock staples The Wrath, complete with their traditional double bass (yes, in a heavy rock band) and frontman Tommy Creeper hungrily chewing his mic lead as he raised his voice at the crowd.

The 11^th Annual GCMAs was another success and kudos should be accredited to the wonderful team of impressive women at the helm, Sam, Chloe and Amanda.