The new crop of Queensland songwriters has been unveiled with Q Music announcing the finalists in the 2006 Q Song Awards. In its inaugural year, Q Song is rewarding our finest artists through the largest state-wide hunt for Queensland’s best songs ever staged, with winners sharing in a $25,000 pool of cash and prizes. In total 866 songs were submitted in 15 categories ranging from world and folk, to rock and hip-hop. Q Music executive officer Denise Foley said the judges had a tough time selecting the finalists. “We have been completely overwhelmed with the depth of talent in this state," she said. The winners of each category will be announced on Tuesday, October 17th at the Q Song Gala Awards Ceremony. Q Music has also announced the eight nominees for the The Courier-Mail Q Song People’s Choice Award which gives you the chance to collect a $5000 music library simply by voting for your favourite song. The eight artists will be featured on the Courier Mail website from Thursday September 7th and a member of the public stands to take home a $5000 music library just by SMSing their vote. Each week one artist will be eliminated. The campaign runs until Monday October 2nd and the winner of the music library will be published on The Courier-Mail website on Wednesday October 18th. For more information on The Courier-Mail Q Song People’s Choice Award head to www.qmusic.com.au or www.news.com.au/couriermail The Finalists for Q SONG 2006 are: Category / Artist / Track Title The Courier-Mail Q Song People’s Choice Award Chrisse Feros – Better Way Transport – Sunday Driver Robin Waters (The Boat People) – Unsettle My Heart Lydia Eglin – It Was You Phil Usher (Grand Atlantic) – Coolite 26 – Friendly Fire The Tonights – Trace Charlie Thomson (The Winnie Coopers) – Analgesic Remix Primary School Christalla Pippos – Listen To me Proudly presented by Warner Music Australia Secondary School Sean Gagen – What is It? Jack Griffin – The Jist Of Things No Parking – Twisted Talia Pallant – Invisible Proudly presented by Warner Music Australia Mixed/Alternative Jackie Marshall – The Freeloader Regrets Tara Simmons – Everybody Loves You Robin Waters (The Boat People) – Unsettle My Heart Edward Guiglielmino – Tacky Song Proudly presented by SugarRush Records Blues/Roots Ryan Dobbrick – Jump Up Ben Salter (The Gin Club) – Honey Don't Mason Rack – Sick 8 Ball Aitken – Sagas & Dramas Proudly presented by EMI Music Australia R&B Dakuta – Pulp Funky Ben Craven/B Douglas – Freed by the Funk Nat Trimarchi – 24 Carat Blues Nigel Hart – Comin’ Home Proudly presented by Nightlife Music and Video World and Folk Chrisse Feros – Better Way Ros Pappalardo (Women in Docs) –Times Like These Andrew Vievers – Guajiras Peter Hunt (Kooii) – Beads On A String Proudly presented by MGM Distribution Punk/Metal Loss of Autonomy – Self Confrontation Monkeybone – Plausible Deniability Art of Abduction – Roll The Mason Rack Band – Seen Her B4 Proudly presented by Club 299 Indigenous Freddie – Native Language Song Esmay Deakin and Herbertson Foot – Melman River Song Lydia Eglin – It Was You Herb Yunkaporta – Rainbow Across the Sky Proudly presented by Mission Australia Jazz Sean Foran – Mesmerisation Sean Foran – Fin Emma Dean – Chai Tea Wendy Murray – Angel Wings Proudly presented by Pinnacles Music Gospel/Spiritual Ben Stewart – Help Me Find My Way Rozann Lovell – I Will Arise Jordan B Clark – Liquid Bound Hayden Scotter - Ballad of a Young Man Proudly presented by Q Music Hip Hop Halfkast – Living To Dream Halfkast – What Could She Be Thinking? Charlie Thomson (The Winnie Coopers) – Analgesic Remix Kryptamistik – Consuman Beings

Published: 31 Aug 2006 by Q Music Newsdesk