Golden Guitar finalists announced

Some of the biggest names in Australian music including hosts Adam Brand and Amber Lawrence helped to reveal the nominees across 15 categories including Male Artist, Female Artist and Group or Duo of the Year.

Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) chairman Dan Biddle said artists involved in the Toyota Golden Guitar Awards were a testament to the success of the country music industry in Australia.

“One of the most exciting aspects of the country music industry right now is that we have an incredibly strong field of both emerging and established artists who are making their mark on the world," Mr Biddle said.

“Whether you’re a fan of Alt Country, Contemporary Country or Traditional Country styles there is something for everyone and the music coming out of Australia is world-class.”

KASEY Chambers and The Fireside Disciples have received a whopping seven Toyota Golden Guitar nominations in total, with four nominations for the hit song The Campfire Song featuring Alan Pigram. 

Chambers and The Fireside Disciples are contenders in the following categories: traditional country album of the year, Country Music Capital News group or duo of the year, Regional Australia Bank collaboration of the year, heritage song of the year, APRA AMCOS song of the year, CMC video of the year and single of the year

It’s been a big year for Chambers after being inducted into the 2018 Australasian Country Music Roll of Renown in January and recently being announced as the youngest female inductee to the ARIA Hall of Fame.

The Wolfe Brothers continue to go from strength-to-strength with their fourth album Country Heart being nominated across five categories including contemporary country album of the year, Country Music Capital News group or duo of the year, APRA AMCOS song of the year, CMC video of the year and single of the year.

Husband and wife duo, Adam Eckersley and Brooke McClymont picked up four nominations for their first album together, Adam & Brooke. 

The couple will vie for contemporary country album of the year, Country Music Capital News group or duo of the year, APRA AMCOS song of the year and single of the year.

Brooke and Adam have each enjoyed incredible careers, and between Brooke’s work with her sisters in the McClymonts and Adam’s eponymous Adam Eckersley Band (AEB), they’ve collected a swag of gongs to adorn the marital home.

In fact, up to this point in their musical careers, about the only thing Brooke and Adam hadn’t managed to do was record an album together. 

“Ever since we got together, we’ve talked about it,” says Brooke. “For eight years we have been like, ‘One day we’ll do an album together.’ We knew this would happen eventually.”

Adam Harvey’s latest album, The Nashville Tapes has landed him in the running for four Toyota Golden Guitar Awards in the categories of traditional country album of the year, male artists of the year, heritage song of the year and Regional Australia bank vocal colaboration of the year alongside Lee Kernaghan for their song Three Rivers Hotel.

Andrew Swift is making a big mark with his second album Call Out for the Cavalry being nominated in four categories. Swift finds him alt country album of the year and is also up for male artist of the year alongside self in the running for longstanding favourites, John Williamson, Travis Collins, Adam Harvey and Graeme Connors. Swift is also nominated with Catherine Britt for Regional Australia Bank vocal collaboration of the year and will vie for the Qantas new talent of the year Award along with 2018 Toyota Star Maker Winner Brad Cox, Tori Forsyth, Imogen Clark and 2017 The Voice Winner Judah Kelly.

With over 50 years in the music industry, John Williamson is as strong as ever, with his latest album, Butcherbird picking up four nominations in traditional country album of the year, male artist of the year, bush ballad of the year and heritage song of the year.

Rounding out the group of artists who have picked up four nominations is 2004 Toyota Star Maker winner Travis Collins. Collins has received praise for his album Brave & the Broken by being nominated for contemporary country album of the year, male artist of the year, CMC video of the year and single of the year.

Morgan Evans, whose latest single “Day Drunk” is currently the number one most played song on Australian radio across all-genres has received three nominations for APRA AMCOS song of the year, CMC video of the year and single of the year.

it’s been a whirlwind year for Novocastrian Morgan Evans, who, in between finding his 2017 single Kiss Somebody going platinum in Australia and number one on the US Country Aircheck/Mediabase radio airplay chart, also toured Australia with James Blunt and headlined his own sold out tour . After accumulating in excess of 70 million global streams on Kiss Somebody, latest single Day Drunk is currently earning strong radio play in Australia, with new album Things That We Drink To dropping in October 2018. 

Other nominees vying for top honours at the 2019 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards include Allan Caswell, Beccy Cole, Bennett, Bowtell and Urquhart, Catherine Britt and The Cold Cold Hearts, Dean Perrett, Fanny Lumsden, Graeme Connors, Hillbilly Goats, Jayne Denham and Troy Kemp, Jeff Brown, Karl Broadie, Kristy Cox, Lindsay Waddington, Missy Lancaster, Montgomery Church, Mustered Courage, Rex Dallas, Runaway Dixie, The Weeping Willows, Tommy Emmanuel and Troy Cassar-Daley.

Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson attended the finalists’ announcement at ABC Studios today and said the NSW Government was proud to support such a renowned regional event.

“The Toyota Country Music Festival, Tamworth is recognised world-wide, attracting an awesome number of visitors to Tamworth and the state and delivering important economic and community benefits,” Mr Anderson said.

“The Festival is an absolute standout on our NSW Events Calendar and we look forward to welcoming the many artists and visitors to the region next year for 10 days of great entertainment and regional NSW hospitality.

“Congratulations to all of the finalists announced today for the 2019 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards, the most prestigious award ceremony for the Australian country music industry.”

Toyota Australia chief marketing officer, Wayne Gabriel said: “As a proud long-term partner of the Toyota Country Music Festival, we love seeing Australian artists such as Lee Kernaghan and Brad Cox progress from Toyota Star Maker to Toyota Golden Guitar nominations. We look forward to seeing the nominated artists in Tamworth in January 2019.”

Built from humble beginnings in 1973, The Golden Guitar Awards are recognised today as the nation’s longest running music awards and one of the biggest promotions and developments for country music talent. The Toyota Golden Guitar Awards is the ultimate event of the Toyota Country Music Festival.

Barry Harley, Tamworth Regional Council’s Country Music Manager added: “We look forward to welcoming all of the artists and country music fans to the Toyota Golden Guitar Awards in Tamworth. It’s a true celebration of Australian country music – the perfect culmination of 10 days at Australia’s largest music festival.”

The Toyota Country Music Festival, Tamworth is supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.