L-R Former Go-Betweens member Robert Forster, and 2008 Fellowship recipients John Busby and Chris Dale

The $20,000 annual Fellowship, established in honour of the late singer-songwriter from The Go-Betweens, was awarded at a ceremony at the State Library of Queensland in July.

Queensland music industry identities attended the event to honour Grant's contribution to our contemporary music sector and celebrate his legacy.

Fellowship recipients can travel to either London, Berlin or New York for up to two months; cities which had a lasting impact on Grant's songwriting and career.

The selection panel, comprised of Robert Forster, Adele Pickvance and Glenn Thompson from The Go-Betweens, sought a contemporary music songwriter or songwriting team with both experience and exceptional talent.

As co-writer partners for more than ten years, John and Chris are passionate about creating songs that explore the connection between people and places, past and present.

Both are from Rockhampton, and Central Queensland features as a backdrop to many of their songs. Now based in Brisbane, they are at work on their third album.

Other shortlisted songwriters were Heinz Riegler, Kate Cooper and duo Ben Thompson and Meredith McHugh.

The announcement coincided with the official launch of the Grant McLennan Archive at the State Library of Queensland, where Fellowship recipients donate a legacy item upon their return from overseas.

Inaugural 2007 Fellowship recipient Greg Charles, who recently returned from his trip to New York, donated the song Strange Bees and God's Head to the archive. The song, written, recorded and performed during his time overseas, incorporates street sounds of New York city.

The archive will continue to grow in the coming years as a valuable resource for contemporary music in Queensland. For more information and to watch an interview with Greg about his trip to New York vist the Grant McLennan Memorial Fellowship site

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