The Gap band Miss Mardy, a five-piece that has been developing its post-punk and indie-rock sound together since 2023, is one of 12 finalists in The QUBE Effect 2026, with public voting open for the People’s Choice Award.
The Gap Band’s Sound Takes Shape
Miss Mardy has been working on songs, recordings and its evolving musical style together since 2023. The Brisbane five-piece combines post-punk and indie rock, while its live shows are characterised by experimentation and high energy.
That work has led to a place in this year’s 12-act QUBE Effect field. The annual development program is designed for young and emerging Brisbane solo artists and groups, with successful applicants taking part in workshops, mentoring, music-video production and live performance opportunities.
The program has also given this year’s finalists a chance to record their music and produce their own videos. Those videos now form the basis of the People’s Choice Award, allowing members of the public to watch the finalists and select a favourite.
Public Vote Gives Listeners a Say
Voting opened at 10am on Tuesday, 4 August and closes at 4pm on Thursday, 27 August 2026.
The People’s Choice Award goes to the video that receives the highest number of public votes through the program website. The prize includes a $1,000 Store DJ voucher, a $1,000 Silk & Squeeg merchandise creation pack and a press shots package with Darcy Goss.
For Miss Mardy, the public vote sits alongside the development side of the program. Finalists can take part in group workshops and individual mentoring sessions while building industry knowledge and receiving feedback on their performance and musical development.
The 2026 mentor list includes Bernard Fanning, Ian Haug, Hope D, John Collins, Jeremy Neale, Adele Pickvance and other recording artists and music-industry professionals.
Beyond the Finalist Vote
The program also provides opportunities to perform and compete for other awards and prizes. Performance prizes listed for 2026 include CMC Rocks, Crafted Festival, Festival of the Stone, the Ekka and Valley Fiesta.
Eligibility keeps the program focused on younger Brisbane musicians. Entrants must be aged from 12 to 25 and live within the Brisbane Local Government Area. For musical groups, at least half of the members must meet the age requirement and at least half must live within the Brisbane Local Government Area.
Miss Mardy’s music can also be found on Spotify, YouTube and Instagram, giving listeners another way to hear the five-piece beyond its QUBE Effect entry.
Voting for the 2026 People’s Choice Award closes at 4pm on Thursday, 27 August, with award and prize winners to be announced at the awards night in October.
Published 18-August-2026