The nominees for next year's Golden Guitars have been announced, with local talent shining brightly.
Tamworth's own Ashleigh Dallas was proud to be among a list of locals to get the nod ahead of the January event.
"Everyone has a story about Tamworth," she said on Tuesday.
"I was born here, and I feel very proud that this is my hometown and we have this world-class event. The amount of Tamworth bloodlines through this year's awards is amazing."
The rising star, who snared two nominations, is in good company with fellow Tamworthians Felicity Urquhart, Lane Pittman, and Loren Ryan also nominated.
The 2024 Golden Guitar Awards had more than 762 entries, equalling the record-breaking number received in 2022.
Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham, James Johnston, The Wolfe Brothers, and Travis Collins all picked up six nominations each.
The biggest winners from 2023, Brooke McClymont and Adam Eckersley, earned five nominations.
James Johnston, who performed to a Tamworth audience on Sunday night, said the nominations were an incredible way to end his extremely successful year.
"I have had an incredible run with people coming to my shows, and singing my song. I'm just enjoying the ride at the moment," he said.
"It's crazy to feel what has happened in the last year and now be up for so many nominations, and being up for male artist of the year is amazing. I have had so much support from Tamworth and the organisation around the festival."
Fresh off a multinational tour, Lane Pittman did not expect to see his name appear on the screen.
"It was a pinch-myself moment," he said.
"Three weeks ago, I was sitting in an exam hall doing my HSC and now to be here and be nominated for new talent of the year against some really good country artists and some really good artists. I'm definitely looking forward to it."
Full list of Golden Guitar nominations:
Alt Country Album of the Year Artist Producer/s
- Blood Red Busby Marou, produced by Tom Eggert
- East Of Everything, Brad Butcher, produced by Brad Butcher, Benjy Pocock, Marc Swersky
- Hey Dawn, Fanny Lumsden, produced by Matt Fell, Fanny Lumsden
- Suburban Dream Melody Moko, produced by Melody Moko, Neilson Hubbard, Michael Moko, Dylan Alldredge, Juan Solorzano
- The Beginning of the End The Pleasures, produced by Lachlan Bryan, Catherine Britt, Damian Cafarella
Contemporary Country Album of the Year Artist Producer/s
- Acres Brad Cox, produced by Brandon Hood
- Any Less Anymore Travis Collins, produced by Stuart Stuart, Andrew Cochrane
- Livin' The Dream The Wolfe Brothers, produced by Rod McCormack, Nick Wolfe, Matt Fell , Johnny Gasparic
- Raised Like That James Johnston, produced by Justin Wantz, Liam Quinn, Gavin Carfoot, Ilya Toshinskiy, Michael DeLorenzis & Michael Paynter (Msquared)
- Up, Down & Sideways Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley, produced by Robby De Sa
Traditional Country Album of the Year Artist Producer/s
- Birdsong Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham, produced by Felicity Urquhart, Josh Cunningham, Matt Fell
- Different Drum Luke O'Shea, produced by Luke O'Shea, 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 James Gillard
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
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
Vocal Collaboration of the Year Song
- 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
Bush Ballad of the Year Artist Songwriter Name/s
- Million Dollar Farm Allan Caswell, written by Allan Caswell, Lindsay Waddington, Manfred Vijars
- That's Why I Love Our West Angus Gill & Anne Kirkpatrick, written by Angus Gill & Alan Mackey
- Walkabout Waters Dean Perrett, written by Neville Anderson
- The Bush Takes Care of Its Own Matt Scullion, written by Matt Scullion
- Dust Kids SToReR Sara Storer, written by Greg Storer
Heritage Song of the Year Artist Songwriter Name/s
- 1861 Duncan Toombs, written by Duncan Toombs
- Hey Jumbulla (The Ghost of Mickey Brennan) Luke O'Shea, written by Luke O'Shea, Zane Banks
- Lennie You're A Legend Matt Scullion, written by Matt Scullion
- Ugly Flowers Fanny Lumsden, written by Edwina Lumsden
- Uluru Forever John Williamson, written by John Williamson
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Rachel Clark
Rachel is a journalist at the Northern Daily Leader, covering education, politics, environment, and features. Have a tip? rachel.clark@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Rachel is a journalist at the Northern Daily Leader, covering education, politics, environment, and features. Have a tip? rachel.clark@austcommunitymedia.com.au
