Dawning of golden era
TOWNSVILLE music is having a moment in the spotlight with four local artists earning their place on the Triple J Unearthed Charts.
The Triple J Unearthed platform is known for kicking off the careers of many independent Australian artists, with musicians using the website to upload and share their tracks with music lovers and fellow artists.
Townsville music royalty King Social is on the charts, with the crowd favourite band ranking at No. 5 on the hip- hop charts and 33 overall, but some lesser- known artists are also staking a claim.
Psychedelic punk folk band The Sexies is holding No. 2 and No. 4 on the roots chart, No. 22 on rock charts and 45, 65 and 69 overall. Hip- hop artist Hood Rich is charting at No. 80 overall.
Singer Dawn and her group Band of Dawn are sitting at No. 7 on the roots chart.
Dawn, whose real name is Kimberley Lysons, is a music teacher at Townsville Grammar School’s Annandale campus.
She said she was really proud to see Townsville musicians in the rankings. “I’m really passionate about ensuring people down south hear and care about the music,” she said.
“We all really do support each other.
“When any of these bands in North Queensland is succeeding, we all celebrate it. There’s so much talent up here.”
Lysons grew up in Townsville before spending about 10 years in Brisbane, where she wrote the songs that are now earning their place on the charts.
She released her first EP, The Spinning Jenny Volume I, in 2013, collaborating with Tea Party frontman Jeff Martin.
But not all the tracks written at the time were used, and The Spinning Jenny Volume II, is set to be released in August.
The delay between the EPs coincides with Lysons’ return to Townsville three- and- a- half years ago, taking a break from performing and touring up until recently.
“A bout of ill health made me re- evaluate and take some time out to concentrate on education ... another aspect of my passion for music,” she said.
“It wasn’t easy waiting and waiting and waiting to release these songs.”