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Queensland is set to enjoy a spectacular month of music magic as Queensland Music Festival returns in July, celebrating its 20th year.

Officially launching the festival’s program tonight in Brisbane, Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said it was one of the state’s iconic events showcasing musical talent from across Queensland.

“In this 20^th anniversary year, more than 800 events will be held in over 40 locations, from Mount Isa to Moranbah, and Barcaldine to Birdsville,” Minister Enoch said.

“The 2019 program features a fantastic line-up of musical experiences that will help tell our uniquely Queensland stories, and strengthen and celebrate our cultural identity.”

The biennial festival runs from 5 to 28 July and harnesses the power of music to unite and delight Queenslanders of all ages.

Minister Enoch also announced the Carol Lloyd Award at the launch to Sunshine Coast singer-songwriter Sahara Beck.

“Congratulations to Sahara on winning the Carol Lloyd Award for 2019, which provides $15,000 to support the next stage of her music career.

“Sahara is a fantastic Queensland talent and a hard worker. I’m excited to see where she goes in her career,” Minister Enoch said.

“The Palaszczuk Government recognises the important role woman have in the music industry and, through Arts Queensland, we are proud to support the Carol Lloyd Award.”

Minister Enoch said the Queensland Music Festival celebrates the diversity of our musical talent, helps build local pride and delivers cultural tourism benefits to our regions.

“Since 1999, Queensland Music Festival has captivated more than one million people and involved more than 100 communities across the State, inspiring a love of music and leaving lasting legacies,” she said.

“This year the program includes unique experiences that tell rich stories celebrating the beauty and resilience in regional Queensland.”

More QMF 2019 program highlights include:

• Play Me, I’m Yours – 20 brilliantly painted street pianos are waiting to be discovered across Brisbane in this work by British artist Luke Jerram that has toured internationally since 2008.
• The Night Parrot – world premiere chamber music work by celebrated Australian composer, Jessica Wells, telling an extraordinary Queensland story.
• Frank and Fearless – feminist activist, author and academic Merle Thornton in conversation with her daughter, actor Sigrid Thornton, interspersed with the songs that made Merle’s life.
• The Genius of John Rodgers – the incredible story of one of Queensland’s most renowned and eclectic musicians, multi-instrumentalist and composer John Rodgers. This concert will bring together John’s creative collaborators, including Kate Miller-Heidke, Erkki Veltheim, and Paul Grabowsky AO, along with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.

For the full Queensland Music Festival program and information on the Carol Lloyd Award, go to