TALENTED teenagers from regional Queensland are tearing up the stage, with a number of aspiring artists from as far afield as Springsure and Julia Creek taking out the top prizes.
Winner of the inaugural Queensland Regional Song Competition (QRSC) was 17-year-old Harry Marshall, from Springsure, who won a mentorship with renowned Queensland music company Fretfest.
Stoked about receiving the award, Harry said the six-month mentorship with Alan Buchan from Fretfest would help him kick-start his music career.
"It's a really good opportunity," Harry said.
"Alan is full of insight for the industry and it is a real eye-opener to things I was doing before."
Harry was selected for the competition after he competed in the Catholic School Music Festival, where his band Marshall & The Crooks won gold.
"Our music had heavy influences from folk or acoustic instruments, to blues and rock 'n' roll," he said.
To enter, he had to write four songs, upload them to YouTube and send a link to the judges.
Harry said the most exciting part about winning the contest was the opportunity he now has to play gigs across the country.
"I love playing shows; there's really nothing better than playing in front of people. I'm looking forward to learning new stuff and breaking into the industry," he said.
He has a gig for the Fretfest end-of-year concert on December 13 at the Gold Coast, which is where his mentor Alan is based.
"I started my mentorship when I won the competition, but because I'm in such a rural town, it's hard to see people because everyone is based on the Gold Coast," he said.
Members of his band Marshall & the Crooks are set to move in different directions as they head off to university next year, but Harry plans to pursue his music career, well into the future.
"When I finish school, I'm going to go on an exchange program to France, so hopefully I can push my music internationally. I really want to get my music to the public," he said.
Harry said his biggest music inspiration came from indie and acoustic bands that originated from the UK.
"I've got a wide variety of songs that I listen to. People like Mumford and Sons and Ben Howard.
"My sound comes from that folk uprising that was brought over by the UK," he said.
And it wasn't just Harry who proved that regional Queensland has some talented young people.
Fifteen-year-old Laura Lavell, from Roma, 17-year-old Laura Flynn, from Miles, and 18-year-old Rachel Fels, from Julia Creek, were runners-up in the competition.
They've also won a six-month mentorship with Fretfest to develop their skills.
Alan said the QRSC allowed students living in regional areas to demonstrate not just their singing capabilities, but also their song writing.
"Hundreds of Queensland teenagers are being inspired to play songs but there's not a lot being done to promote song writing," he said.
Alan believes QRSC is a way of highlighting the talent that rural Queensland has to offer, and it leads the way in terms of getting music into the regions.
"We see the QRSC as the voice in the wilderness. Yes, Australia has got talent and we're looking for the next great Queensland singer-songwriters," he said.
And from listening to Harry's music online, the stripped-back vocals are clear and crisp, something so rare for someone only just starting out.
His songs can be found on YouTube by searching for Harry Marshall Music, as well as on Facebook and Triple J Unearthed.
