JACK BRATT 

Wins 2019 

GRANT MCLENNAN FELLOWSHIP

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Brisbane guitarist, songwriter and producer Jack Bratt has been awarded the prestigious $25,000 Grant McLennan Fellowship for 2019 at a ceremony held in Brisbane tonight.

Now in its 13th year, the Grant McLennan Fellowship honours the musical legacy of the late Grant McLennan, singer-songwriter and co-frontman of The Go-Betweens, and is jointly-funded by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, APRA AMCOS and presented by QMusic. The Fellowship offers the recipient an opportunity to follow in Grant’s footsteps and travel to New York, London or Berlin for up to six months and immerse themselves in a different culture while providing valuable time and space for creative inspiration and career development. Congratulating winner Jack Bratt and the other finalists for the award, Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said the fellowship was a fantastic opportunity for Queensland contemporary songwriters to take their career to the next level.

“The Grant McLennan Fellowship helps strengthen Queensland’s contemporary music sector, offering a songwriter, or songwriting duo, support to develop their skills internationally,” Minister Enoch said. “Grant McLennan left a mark as one of Australia’s foremost songwriters and this prize in his name is a wonderful tribute to his legacy, honouring the inspiration he continues to provide to many musicians today.

“Previous winners, including Jeremy Neale, Helen Franzmann (McKisko), John Busby and Chris Dale (Halfway), and many more, have greatly benefited from their experiences overseas and have gone from strength to strength in their careers, contributing significantly to the fabric of Queensland’s music industry,” Minister Enoch said. “Congratulations to Jack Bratt and other fellow shortlisted finalists Harriette Pilbeam (Hatchie), Georgia Potter (Moreton) and Leanne Tennant,” said QMusic CEO Angela Samut. “This Fellowship is career-changing and will allow Jack to develop his artistic skills whilst widening his global networks. Jack has his sights on writing and releasing music under his own self-titled project in the near future and has plans to dedicate his time in New York to this. We wish him all the best in his international endeavours.”

“Supporting and providing assistance to local songwriters at pivotal career points can lead to incredible international opportunities that otherwise might not have materialised,” said APRA AMCOS Chief Executive Dean Ormston. “APRA AMCOS is proud to be a partner of The Grant McLennan Fellowship, which provides great support and like the man it was named after, a lot of heart and soul! We look forward to hearing much more from Jack following his travels.”

A layered musical collaborator of 15 years, Jack has built a full-time career through live performance, songwriting and producing, as well as becoming a highly sought-after session guitarist. Jack currently writes and performs with Golden Age of Ballooning and has co-produced Clint Boge’s debut album ‘The Butterfly Effect’ and recorded guitars on ‘Star’ by Greg Chipello for SBS television series ‘Robbie Hood’.

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Bobby Rein Photography

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“I’m beyond excited to be the recipient of the 2019 Grant McLennan Fellowship,” said Jack Bratt.

“Not only is it an absolute pleasure to be recognised amongst the other finalists who are amazing songwriters, but to receive an award named after the late great Grant McLennan means so much to me,” said Mr Bratt.

“I can’t wait to travel to New York to write songs for my debut solo album, and soak up everything the city has to offer. Thank you so much to QMusic, APRA AMCOS, Arts Queensland, the judging panel and the McLennan family for this incredible honour, I’m over the moon.”

Judges Sally McLennan, Ian Haug, Adele Pickvance, Kellie Lloyd and 2018 Grant McLennan Fellowship recipient Danny Harley expressed that Jack’s research on the music industry in his city of choice, the process he would undertake, and the legacy of the Grant McLennan Fellowship set him apart. Sally McLennan said,

“All finalists were worthy and extremely talented, however this year’s recipient seemed to embody somehow the essence of the Fellowship’s spirit.”

Of the Fellowship, Ian Haug said, “The right person doesn’t need to be the person with the biggest team, the most runs on the board or the networking opportunities lined up. It’s the connection to the place, the spirit of the Fellowship and the way the recipient will make use of their time.” Kellie Lloyd further mentioned, “This will allow Jack to be able to pursue the goals that he might not otherwise be able to achieve.”

At the Fellowship Award Ceremony in Brisbane tonight, 2018 Fellowship recipient Danny Harley presented his legacy item to the State Library of Queensland for inclusion in the Grant McLennan Memorial Archive which included an audio-visual collage of his experiences in Berlin.

Previous winners of the Grant McLennan Fellowship are:

2018: Danny Harley (The Kite String Tangle)
2017: Jeremy Neale (Velociraptor) 
2016: Hannah Macklin (MKO Sun) 
2015: Tim Steward (WE ALL WANT TO, Screamfeeder) 
2014: Thomas Calder (The Trouble With Templeton)
2013: Seja Vogel
2012: Louise O’Reilly and Paul Hannan (Laneway)
2011: Scott Spark
2010: Danny Widdicombe & Andrew Morris (The Wilson Pickers)
2009: Helen Franzmann (McKisko)
2008: John Busby and Chris Dale (Halfway)
2007: Greg Charles

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AMNPLIFY – EH