Rising music stars and industry legends have been lauded at a breakthrough awards night.
Betty Taylor, Ziggy Alberts and Yama-Nui Recording Studio were among those to claim top gongs, otherwise known as golden pineapples’ at the inaugural Sunshine Coast Music Awards at The Station at Birtinya on Sunday.
The awards included a night of networking, live performances and long-awaited recognition.
Indie pop group Betty Taylor, finalists in four categories, claimed three 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-femme lineup scored a spot on stage at the region’s flagship music event, the Big Pineapple Festival, on November 1.
Betty Taylor, with heartfelt lyrics and dreamy harmonies, shot from backyard shows in 2022 to major festival slots, surpassing a million online streams and making their US debut at SXSW this year.
Ziggy Alberts was judged Artist of the Year.
With his folk pop melodies, Ziggy is best known for his album Laps Around the Sun.
Talented guitar virtuoso and blues artist Minnie Marks won Musician of the Year.
Industry stalwart Uncle Kevin Starkey won The First Nations Award while Yama-Nui Recording Studio became Recording Studio of the Year.
Iconic music destination Solbar took out Venue of the Year, while teenage brothers Frank and Louis stole the Young Artist of the Year award from Ampersand and Wave Raiders.
Guests were treated to performances from Betty Taylor and Frank and Louis, with shows from punk-rock favourites Chamber Lane, indie-rock sensation Nana’s Pie and hip-hop star Harlum.
A ‘Sunny Coast formal’ dress code saw a vibrant mix of yellow, fruity-inspired fashion pieces, including an original design from radio presenter and Sunshine Coast Music Industry Collective Vice Chair Sarah Howells, who bedazzled in a hand-made dress featuring the names of more than 60 local bands emblazoned across it.
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Sarah, who co-hosted the night with TV celebrity producer Ian “Dicko” Dickson, joined presenters such as singer-songwriter Andrea Kirwin, University of the Sunshine Coast’s Dr Lachlan Goold, who is also known as award-winning producer Magoo, and Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli.
The event started with a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony from Lyndon Davis, followed by a warm-up act from break-out First Nations rapper Harlum.
Out of 11 categories, the Punter of the Year award proved to be a popular one.
Gig-loving Coolum mum Leigh Kuryj won the one-of-a-kind award. She was celebrated as the Coast’s biggest patron of music, scoring a year of free tickets to five local music venues as part of the prize.
Woodford Folk Festival also gave away a double-day pass to a lucky door winner.
SCMA award winners
- Artist of the Year: winner Ziggy Alberts; finalists Betty Taylor, High Tropics and Raw Ordio.
- Artwork of the Year: winner Lahni Thorogood; finalists builtfromboxes and jeunae elita
- First Nations: winner Kevin Starkey; finalist Daddy Frank
- Live Act of the Year: winner Betty Taylor; finalists Raw Ordio and Sunny Coast Rude Boys
- Musician of the Year: winner Minnie Marks; finalists: Josiah Niven and Pat Tierney
- Punter of the Year: winner: Leigh Kuryj; finalist: Letricia (Letty) Delaney
- Recording Studio of the Year: winner: Yama Nui Studios; finalists Big Rock Studio and Glasshouse Studios
- Rising Star of the Year: winner Betty Taylor; finalists Frank and Louis and Wave Raiders
- Song of the Year winner: Betty Taylor “Young, Dumb and Immature”; finalists Buttermello “Let Me Down Easy”, Ziggy Alberts “I’m With You” and Frank and Louis “FAT MAN”
- Venue of the Year: winner Solbar; finalists Norton Music Factory and The Station
- Young Artist of the Year: winner Frank and Louis; finalists: Ampersand and Wave Raiders
