And the finalists are …
- · Travis Collins
- · Sara Storer
- · Laura Coates and Andrew Wigglesworth of The Weeping Willows (debut nomination)
- · Katie Brianna (debut nomination)
- · Fanny Lumsden (debut nomination)
- · Justin Stanley (debut nomination)
- · Kasey Chambers
- · Troy Cassar-Daley
- · Kevin Bennett, Lyn Bowtell & Felicity Urquhart of Bennett, Bowtell & Urquhart
- · Luke O’Shea
- · Kristy Cox
- · Allan Caswell
- · Amber Lawrence (co-host)
- · Warren H Williams & Dani Young
- · Kristy Lee Akers
- · Catherine Britt
- · Simply Bushed
- · Seleen McAlister
- · Caitlyn Shadbolt
- · Mickey Pye
IN a sure sign the Tamworth Country Music Festival is getting closer, the biggest names in the industry got together on Tuesday where the finalists for the 2017 Golden Guitar Awards were announced.
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The who's who of country music gathered at the Carriage Works in Sydney where the names were announced to many hopeful musicians after a cracker of a year.
Among them were fan favourites including Troy Cassar-Daley who was nominated for both Male Artist of the year and Album of the Year.
The standout finalists of the day were Travis Collins who received an outstanding six golden guitar finalist nominations for categories including, Male Artist of the Year, Album of the Year along with Sara Storer who is a finalist in five categories including Bush Ballad of the year and female artist of the year.
In her 10th anniversary since winning Toyota Starmaker Kirsty-Lee Akers was nominated for Female Artist of the year on the back of the success of her Burn Baby Burn album.
Tamworth Country Music Festival ambassador Amber Lawrence was also nominated for two golden guitar awards.
Chairman of the Country Music Association of Australia, Dobe Newton paid tribute to nominated artists and described next year's mix of finalists as diverse.
“The Finalists for the 2017 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards are a great mix of new faces and favourite country music artists,” Mr Newton said.
"whilst it's always good to see some familiar faces, the finalist’s announcement for 2017 has really opened up opportunities for our emerging artists and sets the stage for a very special evening in Tamworth on January 28 when the winners are announced.”
With stellar individual careers and multiple Golden Guitar Awards between them, Kevin Bennett, Lyn Bowtell and Felicity Urqhhart are a powerhouse combination and their self-titled album Bennett, Bowtell &Urquhart has also been nominated for five awards. The trio are hot contenders for alternate country album.
With three nominations a piece is Kasey Chambers, Graeme Connors, Luke O’Shea and Kristy Cox.