Nationals Member for Tamworth, Kevin Anderson, says the future of country music in the nation's country music capital is in good hands, with local artists standing out in the nominations for the 52nd Golden Guitar Awards.
Mr Anderson said hearing local names read out as part of the announcement of the Award nominees was a proud moment for the local community.
"Tamworth bristles with country music artists and fans, and the countdown is on to the Tamworth Country Music Festival on Friday the 19th of January 2024," Mr Anderson said.
"This week, the countdown to the festival officially began with the nominees for the 52nd Golden Guitar awards announced at the Tamworth Town Hall.
"It was great to see local talent shine brightly as part of the ceremony, with four local artists picking up nominations across a range of categories."
Mr Anderson said homegrown multiple Golden Guitar winners Felicity Urquhart and Ashleigh Dallas continue to shine, with Felicity receiving six nominations and Ashleigh two.
"I'm also extremely proud of Lane Pittman and Loren Ryan who were both nominated as New Talent of the Year.
"I've had the privilege of knowing Lane and Loren throughout their careers and it's outstanding to see them recognised for their prodigious talent and hard work.
"Congratulations to this year's nominees. We wish our local artists the best of luck when it comes award time and look forward to seeing the crowds in January."
Toyota 52nd Golden Guitar Awards
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Got It Good – James Johnston
Runnin' The Country – Travis Collins & The Wolfe Brothers
Size Up – Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham
Summer Nights – Casey Barnes
What Are You Waiting For – Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley
CMT VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Boots 'N All – Kaylee Bell - Directed by Shae Sterling
Size Up – Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham - Direct by Duncan Toombs, The Filmery
You'll be Fine – Fanny Lumsden - Directed by Anna Phillips
Steel on Steel – Duncan Toombs - Directed by Duncan Toombs, The Filmery
We Grew Up On – James Johnston - Directed by Jay Seeney, Blacklist Productions
VOCAL COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR
Luke O'Shea & Ashleigh Dallas – Next Best Thing
Adam Brand & Matt Cornell – Our Church
Travis Collins & The Wolfe Brothers – Runnin' The Country
James Johnston and Zac & George – Some Things Never Change
Tori Forsyth & Shane Nicholson – Sometimes
INSTRUMENTAL OF THE YEAR
Betoota Stomp – Brendan Radford
Ghost Train – Wicker Suite
Honey Alba – Michael Carpenter and The Banks Brothers featuring Hamish Davidson
Saltbush Express – Michael Fix
Voice From The Heart – John Williamson & Lindsay Waddington
BLUEGRASS RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Big Ole Feelings – Gareth Leach & Davidson Brothers
If You'd Have Told Me – Michael Carpenter and The Banks Brothers
Old Pickup Line – Wicker Suite
The One in Lonesome – Angus Gill
Waiting on a Train – TC Cassidy & Angus Gill
HERITAGE SONG OF THE YEAR
1861 - Written and Recorded by Duncan Toombs
Hey Jumbulla (The Ghost of Mickey Brennan) - Written by Luke O'Shea, Zane Banks - Recorded by Luke O'Shea
Lennie You're A Legend – Written and Recorded by Matt Scullion
Ugly Flowers - Written by Edwina Lumsden - Recorded by Fanny Lumsden
Uluru Forever - Written and Recorded by John Williamson
BUSH BALLAD OF THE YEAR
Million Dollar Farm - Written by Allan Caswell, Lindsay Waddington, Manfred Vijars - Recorded by Allan Caswell
That's Why I Love Our West - Written by Angus Gill & Alan Mackey - Recorded by Angus Gill & Anne Kirkpatrick
Walkabout Waters – Written by Neville Anderson - Recorded by Dean Perrett
The Bush Takes Care of Its Own – Written and recorded by Matt Scullion
Dust Kids - Written by Sara Storer, Greg Storer - Recorded by SToReR
NEW TALENT OF THE YEAR
Lane Pittman
Loren Ryan
Max Jackson
Sara Berki
Zac & George
COUNTRY MUSIC CAPITAL NEWS GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley
Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham
The Pleasures
The Wolfe Brothers
Zac & George
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Andrew Swift
Brad Cox
Casey Barnes
James Johnston
Travis Collins
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Ashleigh Dallas
Fanny Lumsden
Kaylee Bell
Max Jackson
Melanie Dyer
SONG OF THE YEAR
Boys Like Me - Written by Casey Barnes and Jordan Dozzi - Recorded by Casey Barnes
Country Music, You And Beer - Written and Recorded by Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley
Here's To The Ones - Written by Nick Wolfe, Tom Wolfe, Brodie Rainbird and Erik Dylan - Recorded by The Wolfe Brothers
Raise Me - Written by Travis Collins and Jason Duke - Recorded by Travis Collins
Size Up - Written by Josh Cunningham - Recorded by Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham
ALT COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Blood Red – Busby Marou - Produced by Tom Eggert
East Of Everything – Brad Butcher - Produced by Brad Butcher, Benjy Pocock and Marc Swersky
Hey Dawn – Fanny Lumsden - Produced by Matt Fell and Fanny Lumsden
Suburban Dream – Melody Moko - Produced by Melody Moko, Neilson Hubbard, Michael Moko, Dylan Alldredge and Juan Solorzano
The Beginning of the End – The Pleasures - Produced by Lachlan Bryan, Catherine Britt and Damian Cafarella
CONTEMPORARY COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Acres – Brad Cox - Produced by Brandon Hood
Any Less Anymore – Travis Collins - Produced by Stuart Stuart and Andrew Cochrane
Livin' The Dream – The Wolfe Brothers - Produced by Rod McCormack, Nick Wolfe, Matt Fell and Johnny Gasparic
Raised Like That – James Johnston - Produced by Justin Wantz, Liam Quinn, Gavin Carfoot, Ilya Toshinskiy and Michael DeLorenzis & Michael Paynter (Msquared)
Up, Down & Sideways – Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley - Produced by Robby De Sa
TRADITIONAL COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Birdsong – Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham - Produced by Felicity Urquhart, Josh Cunningham and Matt Fell
Different Drum – Luke O'Shea - Produced by Luke O'Shea and Matt Fell
Nothin's Gonna Stop Us – Tom Curtain - Produced by Garth Porter
She Loves Me To The Moon – Pete Denahy - Produced by Simon Johnson
SToReR - StoReR - Produced by James Gillard
TOYOTA ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Any Less Anymore – Travis Collins - Produced by Stuart Stuart and Andrew Cochrane
Birdsong – Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham - Produced by Felicity Urquhart, Josh Cunningham and Matt Fell
Livin' The Dream – The Wolfe Brothers - Produced by Rod McCormack, Nick Wolfe, Matt Fell and Johnny Gasparic
Raised Like That – James Johnston - Produced by Justin Wantz, Liam Quinn, Gavin Carfoot, Ilya Toshinskiy and Michael DeLorenzis & Michael Paynter (Msquared)
Up, Down & Sideways – Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley - Produced by Robby De Sa
The 2024 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards will be held Saturday 27 January 2024
