Ekka Country Music Showdown Winners Revealed

Stephen Green

Jessica Holbrok announced the big winner in the Ekka's 150th year.

Molly Harrison, Peter Rogers, Jessica Holbrok, Goldie Cosgrove, Ellarie Armstrong
Molly Harrison, Peter Rogers, Jessica Holbrok, Goldie Cosgrove, Ellarie Armstrong(Stephen Green)
More Jessica Holbrok Jessica Holbrok

The annual Ekka Country Music Showdown continues to grow in stature every year, with the competition held on Saturday hitting another high note as twenty-two amazing artists across open and junior categories played to have their names etched on the trophy for the final time in the Stockman’s Bar.

It was a big year for the Ekka, not just because of its 150th anniversary, but because it’s the final year we’ll see Machinery Hill and the Stockman’s Bar in operation ahead of major redevelopments ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games. The annual showdown has become a must-do on the country music calendar with the previous two years’ winners Jarred Wrigley and Mack Geiger going on to huge success.

This year, victory went to local Jessica Holbrok who wowed the judges with a heartfelt original song dedicated to her father who passed away last year after a battle with cancer along with an acoustic version of Dasha’s Austen. It has been a huge year for Holbrok, already sporting a trophy on her shelf from this year’s Tamworth Country Music Festival where she was winner of Best of the Buskers. Runners up were Rockhampton’s Peter Rogers and the Darling Downs’ Goldie Cosgrove. People’s Choice went to Ellarie Armstrong.

In the junior category, Kiwi artist Molly Harrison took the top gong in a super-competitive field that had singers and songwriters up to seventeen years old competing for the prize. Runners-up were guitar slinger Torin Peat and thirteen-year-old songwriter Keira Humphries.

Judging duties this year were taken care of by Toyota Starmaker director Cheryl Brown, iHeartRadio Content Director Justin Thomson, Mothertone manager Kate Hathaway, True South director Johnno Keetels, Queensland Music Trails director Daryl Raven, Countrytown publisher Stephen Green and guest judge for the junior category, last year’s winner, Tia Hannah.

The winners walked away with a huge prize pack including cash ($2,000 for senior and $500 for junior winners), media coverage, studio time, paid performances and festival slots.

The Ekka came to a close on Sunday after steep increases in crowds for its anniversary year. Hat tip to the fireworks this year which used an all-Aussie soundtrack, creating the perfect feast for local ears. Didn’t go home with that massive teddy you had your eyes on at the sideshow alley? There’s always next year.