Qld musician to follow McLennan's path

A Toowoomba musician will seek to follow in the footsteps of The Go-Betweens' frontman Grant McLennan after winning a fellowship set up in the legendary singer-songwriter's name.

Greg Charles, 27, was announced as the first recipient of the Queensland government's inaugural $20,000 Grant McLennan Memorial Fellowship.

Charles will spend up to two months in New York - a city which played a big role in McLennan's career - where he will hone his songwriting skills.

Charles, who described his style as mix of folk, pop and avant garde, said he was heavily influenced by McLennan.

"I have a lot of respect for Grant and The Go-Betweens' music and I'm really honoured," he told reporters in Brisbane.

McLennan died at his Brisbane home from a heart attack, aged 48, last May.

Go-Betweens bandmate Robert Forster, who helped choose the winner, described Charles as an impressive artist.

"I think it was very important for the first year we got someone that we knew that Grant would 100 per cent approve of, and that's Greg," Forster said.

The Go-Betweens became heroes of the Queensland music scene during the 80s with songs such as Bachelor Kisses and Through the Streets of Your Town.