Sunshine Coast musicians are vibrant, diverse and experienced, with many established veterans with decades of gigs and industry experience under their guitar straps.
But alongside this old guard of talent comes a new generation of young fledgling musos, carving out their own place in the music community.
These under 20-somethings are independent, driven, gigging every month, and doing whatever it takes to make the most of their music careers.
They are also delightful human beings: professional and humble, even with a constant flow of glowing affection from their loyal local followings.
11 artists (in alphabetical order) to watch:
Ampersand
A Noosa band which is like a second family to each other, Ampersand has spent the last two years gigging across the Coast.
Ampersand’s polished, engaging sounds and infectious youthful energy allows them to effortlessly improvise and converse musically, with their original music securing them residencies, festivals and headline gigs across Queensland.
This entertaining, energetic and ever-evolving nu-funk/soul/pop fusion band features two spectacular lead vocalists (Isi Semmler and Katie Brown) backed by a tight, innovative trio of keys (Jarrod Tutbury), bass (Jed Green) and drums (Orlando Hamilton-Craig).
Built from scratch with nothing but the team’s varied skillsets and unshakeable support of each other through thick and thin, Ampersand’s spark comes from having the humble goal of learning from the journey.
Performances include: Caloundra Music Festival, Noosa Alive, Noosa Social, Solbar, Ric’s Bar, Noosa Triathlon, Offbeat Music Festival, Maleny Music Festival, UniSC Variety Festival, Maleny Lane, Peregian Beach Hotel, The Dock, Peregian Beach Carols and Coolum Carols.
The band recorded their debut EP at Yama Nui Studios recently, with a new single to come in the new year. Insta: @ampersandbandnoosa. Web: https://linktr.ee/ampersandbandnoosa.
Ella Joy
“Songwriting is my passion and I love sharing my music with other people. It’s incredible to find someone who resonates with your own song.” – Ella Joy.
Still discovering her sound, this 20-year-old writes superb lyrics and she is a passionate, dedicated performer.
Thanks to over four years of industry experience, Ella is equipped to perform at any gig with a repertoire of popular music in band and solo settings.
With her songbook in hand, she plans to rock the music industry with her unique compositions.
Check out Ella’s singles, “Never Fascinated”, and “Beat you at your own Game,” on Spotify and other streaming platforms, and stay tuned for her future releases. Insta: @ella_joy_music. Web: https://www.ellajoyofficial.com.
Frank and Louis
Frank and Louis are two brothers with a growing following and talent beyond their years.
Louis is the main singer and has a mesmerising indie-folk vocal style, and is accompanied by Frank’s close harmonies, fingerstyle guitar, harmonica and foot drums.
They are winners of the under-18 Australian National Busking Championships and, like their musical heroes, work hard at their craft, busking almost every weekend since they were 11 and 12.
Their original songs gained them a place in Caloundra Music Festival and Bluesfest, and they won Rockfest 2022, and The Australian Battle of the Bands, with original song, “Lame Excuses”. Insta: @frankandlouismusic. Website: frankandlouis.com.
Harriette and Tatum
Harriette and Tatum are a young duo aged 16 based on the Sunshine Coast.
United by a shared passion for creating music, Harriette and Tatum perform soulful covers and originals.
Performing with their own unique indie pop style, these two best mates fuse angelic harmonies, and mellow guitar and percussion to create an enchanting and immersive atmosphere live.
Experienced multi-instrumentalists who work with multiple bands, Harriette and Tatum can frequently be found gigging and busking around the Sunshine Coast.
In 2023 they won the highly contested Noosa “Stars” Alive competition, earning a place in the 2024 Noosa Alive Festival.
Harriette and Tatum have multiple original songs that they perform at gigs. Insta:@harriette.tatum_music.
Henry Catania
Henry is a 13-year-old singer/guitarist/songwriter from Conondale, who started his career busking extensively across the Coast.
This led to him being a regular in the local music scene with regular gigs including “FrontUp” at Maleny Lane.
He has played at Horizon Festival, opening for Emily Wurramara and Andrea Kirwin, and was one of the six finalists at the 2023 Gympie Country Music Muster Youth Talent Search.
Henry recently won the Caloundra Live & Local Songwriting Competition which led to him scoring a spot at at this year’s Caloundra Music Festival.
Henry covers a wide range of genres, but loves to write and perform his original songs.
He’s currently recording his first EP and hopes to release it early 2024. Stay tuned. Insta: @henry_catania. Web: https://linktr.ee/henry_catania.
Layla Havana
Layla Havana is a young First Nations artist with an old spirit.
From Peregian beach, her style of songwriting comes straight from the heart.
Winner of the Gill Rees – Promising Young Musician Award 2022 at the National Folk Festival, Canberra, Layla can move her audience emotionally, even at such a young age.
The 14-year-old has performed with Archie Roach, Katie Noonan, Isaac Hurren, Clare Bowditch, Sahara Beck, Asha Jefferies, Mark Moroney, Ben Hauptmann, Zoe Hauptmann, James Hauptmann, Declan Kelly, Oj Newcomb, Steele Chabau, Sarah King, Louise King, Andrea Kirwin and Dexter Hurren.
This year, Layla released debut single, “Bright New Day” followed by debut EP, “Beneath The Surface”. Insta: @laylahavanamusic. Web: https://www.laylahavana.com.
Phoebe Rose
A rising star, Phoebe Rose has been playing guitar since age seven, and she taught herself piano during the 2020 lockdown.
During this time songwriting has became a natural, cathartic process.
A true multi-instrumentalist, Phoebe is renowned for her unforgettable stage presence and effortless ability to fuse styles of country and folk that leave the audience mesmerised.
In 2022, her opening performance for the award-winning Emily Wurramara at Horizon Art Festival gained resounding praise.
Drawing inspiration from the poetic moodiness of Phoebe Bridgers, Jewel, Meg Mac and Noah Cyrus, her vocals are heavenly and beautifully compliment expressive, melancholic songwriting.
She creates a powerful musical experience, and there’s a raw vulnerability and maturity to her performance style that transcends her years.
Phoebe was also a featured artist for Sounds of Life Touring 2023, which she credits as a catalyst for her music.
She was named in the top six finalists at the 2023 Gympie Music Muster NAB Junior Talent Search.
Her debut single, “Meet You Halfway”, delves deep into the intricacies of human relationships and the poignant struggle of letting go.
She is passionately working towards releasing more music, collaborating with fellow musos, and enchanting audiences with more soul-stirring melodies. Insta: @phoebe_rose_music. Web: https://linktr.ee/Phoeberosemusic.
Sari Abbott
A powerhouse vocalist and songwriter tackling topical issues and deep reflections, Sari Abbott is unapologetically honest.
The combination of her lyrics, vocals and acoustic stylings never fail to evoke a strong emotional responses from her audience, making her a dynamic performer.
Sari has supported Ashleigh Dallas, Adam Brand and Taylor Moss, and co-written with Golden Guitar nominees and winners James Johnston, Max Jackson and Taylor Moss.
She’s released eight singles, with rotation on the iTunes charts and ABC Country, ABC Grass Roots and Aussie Country.
Over the past few years Sari has performed at Tamworth Country Music Festival, Gympie Muster, Caloundra Music Festival and Brisbane EKKA.
Her latest work is “Two Way Street”. Insta: @sariabbottmusic. Web: https://sariabbottmusic.com.au.
Shanleigh Rose
With a contemporary fusion of alternative country and folk, Shanleigh Rose creates a vibrant tapestry of sound that is hard not to love.
She’s grounded and dedicated, and is this year’s winner of the NAB Gympie Muster Junior Talent Search.
The hinterland singer/songwriter graduated from the CMAA Junior Academy this year, and performed at the Tamworth Country Music Festival and Rangebow Festival.
Shanleigh’s music is an authentic representation of her soul, inspired by artists such as Taylor Swift, Fanny Lumsden, Luke O’Shea, Olivia Rodrigo, and Missy Higgins.
Her songs are a reflection of her soul, drawing from both personal experiences and universal themes, and are simultaneously intimate and memorable.
Shanleigh has released three tracks, with her last single “Boy Next Door”, released in April and was featured on ABC Radio’s Saturday Night Country, and popular Apple Music playlist: Aussie Country. Insta: @shanleighrosemusic. Web: https://linktr.ee/ShanleighRose.
Wave Raiders
These boys create catchy tales of sun-soaked adventures, and they tackle the real issues that resonate with the youth of today.
Their highlight this year was being pulled from the stage at Caloundra Music Festival (pictured) by Spiderbait to play to thousands.
The Wave Raiders draw inspiration from global legends such as The Chats and Green Day and they’ve shared the spotlight with greats such as James Reyne, Kingswood, and Choir Boys.
The band is already taking the music scene by storm gracing stages at Airlie Beach Festival of Music, Kick Ass Festival and Buskers by the Lake.
They are Pete, the 13-year-old frontman extraordinaire on lead guitar and vocals, and rhythmic prodigies, 11-year-old Tom on drums and Jayden on bass guitar and vocals.
With their passion and undeniable natural talent, these young punk rock rebels have already left their mark in the studio too, having recently laid down tracks at the prestigious Yama Nui Studios.
A sneak peek of their upcoming single, “Loosen Up” on ABC radio earned massive acclaim.
Their first music video is also currently in production. Insta: @wave_raiders_official. Web: https://waveraiders.com.au.
Zara
You can see Zara gig around Noosa, most often at Noosa Junction on Saturday mornings and Friday nights.
She performs with both guitar and piano with a super eclectic mix of old and new songs, making covers her own.
The 17-year-old singer/songwriter has been accepted into the Queensland Conservatorium for full-time study next year.
She has been involved in the Eumundi School of Rock and Sunshine Sounds Festival and is a proud ambassador for Altitude Scholarahips, performing at various events.
She was also an opening act for the Sunshine Coast Business Awards this year. Insta: @zaramusicofficial.
