Full list of winners announced at first Sunshine Coast Music Awards
Celebrities, dignitaries, and hardworking musos gathered for one of the biggest events on the Sunshine Coast music calendar.
Sunshine Coast
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The first round of winners at the Sunshine Coast Music Awards have been revealed.
The awards ceremony saw musicians and industry professionals unite at Birtinya music venue The Station for a night of live music, celebration and recognition of the industry.
A girl band took out three awards and a Coolum mum scored a year’s worth of free tickets to almost every venue on the coast among the glitz and glamour of a “Sunny Coast Formal” dress code.
Attending dignitaries included Deputy Premier and local member for Kawana Jarrod Bleijie, Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli and QMusic chief executive Kris Stewart.
Mr Bleijie congratulated all the award winners and the Sunshine Coast Music Industry Collective (SCMIC) committee, who organised the event as volunteers.
“Thank you to the Sunshine Coast Music Industry Collective for bringing this event to life and shining the spotlight on the talented musicians, creatives and venues we have right here on the Sunshine Coast,” he said.
The unpaid volunteers of SCMIC secured funding and support from Council and local businesses in order to uplift the profile of the Sunshine Coast Music Industry and show the nation what this region has to offer.
Betty Taylor won big last night, taking home three awards from their four nominations.
Those three were among the most coveted of the new awards, including Live Act of the Year, Song of the Year and Rising Star of the Year.
As recipients of the Rising Star of the Year category, the all-female line-up scored a spot onstage at the Coast’s flagship music event, the Big Pineapple Festival, on November 1.
Betty Taylor, with their heartfelt lyrics and dreamy harmonies, shot from backyard shows in 2022 to major festival slots, surpassing one million online streams, and making their US debut at SXSW this year.
Triple J radio legend Sarah Howells, who co-hosted the night with TV’s celebrity producer Ian “Dicko” Dickson, joined presenters such as singer/songwriter Andrea Kirwin, University of the Sunshine Coast’s Dr Lachlan Goold aka two time ARIA award-winning producer “Magoo”, and Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli.
Mayor Natoli gave a speech recognising the impact of live music on the Coast’s economy and reiterated her strong support for funding for the arts in the council’s economic development plan.
Artist of the Year went to superstar Ziggy Alberts while Musician of the Year went to freakishly-talented guitar virtuoso and blues artist Minnie Marks.
Ocean Street’s main music destination, Solbar, took out Venue of the Year, while teenage brothers Frank and Louis beat Ampersand and Wave Raiders to claim the Young Artist of the Year award.
The First Nations Award went to industry stalwart Uncle Kevin Starkey, while Kiel Mountain’s Yama Nui Studio was named Recording Studio of the Year.
Out of 11 categories, the Punter of the Year award proved to be a popular one, with the one-of-a-kind award giving a nod to the efforts of gig-loving Coolum mum Leigh Kuryj.
Ms Kuryj was celebrated as the Coast’s biggest patron of music, scoring a year of free tickets to five local music venues, Norton Music Factory, The Presynct, Solbar, The Station and Kings Beach Tavern as part of the prize.
Performances from Betty Taylor, Frank and Louis, Nana’s Pie and Chamber Lane excited the crowd with Betty Taylor’s closing set absolutely lighting up the buzzing attendees.
Everyone in attendance was bringing the fashion with the “Sunny Coast Formal” dress code inspiring a dazzling array of outfits.
The vibrant mix of yellow, fruity-inspired fashion pieces, included an original design from SCMIC Vice Chair Sarah Howells, who bedazzled in a handmade dress featuring the names of more than 60 local bands emblazoned across it.
Full list of winners
Artist of the Year: Ziggy Alberts
Song of the Year: Betty Taylor for “Young Dumb Immature”
Live Act of the Year: Betty Taylor
Venue of the Year: Solbar
Rising Star of the Year: Betty Taylor
Recording Studio of the Year: Yama Nui
Young Artist of the Year: Frank and Louis
Musician of the Year: Minnie Marks
First Nations Award: Kevin Starkey
Artwork of the Year Award: Lahni Thorogood
Punter of the Year: Leigh Kuryj
Nominees recognised included bands, musicians, venues, artists and studios such as Ampersand, Big Rock Studios, Built From Boxes, Buttermello, Daddy Frank, Glasshouse Studios, High Tropics, Jeunae Elita, Josiah Niven, Norton Music Factory, Pat Tierney, Raw Ordio, Sunny Coast Rude Boys, The Station and Wave Raiders.
The Sunshine Coast Music Awards will return for 2026.
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