THE Hunter might proudly boast blue-collar rock’n’roll roots, but it’s the region’s country music which is gearing up to shine the brightest.
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At the 45th Australian Country Music Awards in Tamworth on Saturday night, Hunter artists Travis Collins, Lyn Bowtell, Kirsty Lee Akers, Catherine Britt and Katie Brianna will be vying for 16 golden guitars.
Cessnock’s Collins and Greta’s Bowtell could potentially be the biggest winners at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre.
Collins has six nominations, including the blue ribbon categories of album of the year and best male artist for his fifth record Hard Light. Collins is also in contention for heritage song of the year with Troy Kemp (Hometown Calling), song of the year with Damien Leith (Call Me Crazy), video of the year (Call Me Crazy) and single of the year (Just Another Girl).
“With these six I’ve been nominated 18 times in total, but I’ve never walked away with one,” Collins said. “I’d like to hope that this January I might be able to bring one home and it’s more of an award for everybody around me, not just myself.
“A lot of the people I know have a hand in selecting these finalists. I’ve looked up to them for so long, so it means a lot to me.”
Bowtell has five nominations for her collaboration with Kevin Bennett and Felicity Urquhart. The album Bennett Bowtell Urquhart is in contention for best alternative country album, country album, best group or duo, heritage song (Goulburn Valley Woman), best bluegrass recording (I Hear Them All) and APRA song of the year (Goulburn Valley Woman).
Bowtell has another two chances to win best vocal collaboration for her songs Bartender Blues with Adam Harvey and F U Cancer with Newcastle’s Britt, Kasey Chambers, Beccy Cole, Josh Pyke, Wes Carr, and Wendy Matthews.
“You kind of think you’ve got enough odds in there that you’ll at least win one, but you never know,” Bowtell said. “It really is an honour to be nominated for that many. To me it says the industry are liking what I’m doing and the fans will hopefully too.”
Kurri Kurri-bred songstress Akers is also considered a massive chance to finally win best female artist after the breakthrough success of her Country ARIA No.1 album Burn Baby Burn. It’s been 10 years since the then 18-year-old won the Star Maker competition and nine from when she claimed her only golden guitar for best new talent.
An outside chance of a golden guitar is Elermore Vale’s Katie Brianna, whose sophomore record Victim or the Heroine will compete with Bowtell for best alternative country album. It comes a decade after her only other nomination.
Josh Leeson
Josh Leeson is an entertainment and features journalist, specialising in music, at the Newcastle Herald. He first joined the masthead in 2008 after stints at the Namoi Valley Independent and Port Stephens Examiner and has previously covered sport including the Asian Cup, A-League, Surfest, cricket and rugby league.
Josh Leeson is an entertainment and features journalist, specialising in music, at the Newcastle Herald. He first joined the masthead in 2008 after stints at the Namoi Valley Independent and Port Stephens Examiner and has previously covered sport including the Asian Cup, A-League, Surfest, cricket and rugby league.
