Festivals
Golden Guitar Nominations Announced For TCMF 2024
Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham, James Johnston, The Wolfe Brothers and Travis Collins all pick up 6 Golden Guitar Award nominations in total; Top winners from 2023 Golden Guitar Awards, Brooke McClymont and Adam Eckersley pick up 5 nominations.
Following a monumental number of entries and record-breaking number of submissions in several categories for the Toyota 52nd Golden Guitar Awards, Tamworth Regional Council, with the support of the Country Music Association of Australia Inc (CMAA), are pleased to announce the nominees for the 2024 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards.
Several artists are leading the charge into January’s awards, with Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham, James Johnston, The Wolfe Brothers and Travis Collins each picking up six nominations. The top winners from the 2023 Golden Guitar Awards, Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley picked up five nominations, while eight-time Golden Guitar and recent ARIA Award winner Fanny Lumsden picked up four nominations.
The full list of nominees for the 52nd Golden Guitar Awards were announced in Tamworth today, at a special event hosted by multi-Golden Guitar Award winner and ARIA nominated, Tania Kernaghan and 2014 Golden Guitar Award nominee Jason Owen.
Toyota Golden Guitar Awards Executive Producer, Mr. Peter Ross said: “This year’s list of nominees is a fantastic celebration of Australia’s vibrant and diverse country music industry. The 2024 Awards will acknowledge their hard work and passion and recognise their creativity and ingenuity. On behalf of Tamworth Regional Council, I would like to congratulate all the nominees in the Toyota 52nd Golden Guitar Awards.”
Overall, 762 entries were received for the 2024 Golden Guitar Awards, which is equal to the record-breaking number received in 2022. The highest number of entries were received in several individual categories, including Song of the Year, Alt Country Album of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, and Bluegrass Recording of the Year.
Following his first Golden Guitar win in 2023, James Johnston returns to the nominee list with six nominations, including Male Artist of the Year, CMT Video of the Year for his track We Grew Up On, Single of the Year for his song Got It Good, and Toyota Album of the Year and Contemporary Country Album of the Year for his debut album Raised Like That. He’s also nominated for Vocal Collaboration of the Year with Zac & George for their track Some Things Never Change.
Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham have secured six nominations including Country Music Capital News Group or Duo of the Year, while their album Birdsong has been nominated for Traditional Country Album of the Year and Toyota Album of the Year. Their track Size Up has also been nominated in three categories, including Song of the Year, CMT Video of the Year and Single of the Year.
Six-time Golden Guitar Award winners and ARIA nominated, The Wolfe Brothers are in the running for six awards, nominated for Country Music Capital News Group or Duo of the Year. Their sixth-studio album Livin’ The Dream is in contention for Toyota Album of the Year and Contemporary Country Album of the Year, while their track Here’s To the Ones is nominated for Song of the Year. They’re also nominated for Vocal Collaboration of the Year and Single of the Year for their track with Travis Collins, Runnin’ The Country.
On top of his two nominations with The Wolfe Brothers, eight-time Golden Guitar Award winner and 2018 & 2020 ARIA nominated, Travis Collins is also up for Male Artist of the Year, while his eighth studio album Any Less Anymore is up for Toyota Album of the Year and Contemporary Country Album of the Year. His track Raise Me is also nominated for Song of the Year.
Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley are nominated for five awards, including Country Music Capital News Group or Duo of the Year, while their debut album Up, Down & Sideways is nominated for Toyota Album of the Year and Contemporary Country Album of the Year. They’re also up for Single of the Year, for their track What Are You Waiting For, while their song Country Music, You And Beer is nominated for Song of the Year.
Newly crowned 2023 ARIA Award winner Fanny Lumsden has been nominated in four categories, including Female Artist of the Year, while her fourth-studio album Hey Dawn is up for Alt Country Album of the Year. Her track Ugly Flowers is nominated for Heritage Song of the Year and her song You’ll Be Fine is a contender for CMT Video the Year.
2023 Toyota Album of the Year winner, Casey Barnes picked up three nominations, as well as Luke O’Shea and Angus Gill. Zac & George make their Golden Guitar Awards nominations debut picking up three nominations. Dual nominations went to John Williamson, Ashleigh Dallas, Kaylee Bell, 2022 Toyota Star Maker Max Jackson, Brad Cox, Duncan Toombs, Matt Scullion, Michael Carpenter & The Banks Brothers, SToReR, Wicker Suite and The Pleasures which features Lachlan Bryan, Catherine Britt and Damian Cafarella.
There were 24 artists with single nominations including 2023 Male Artist of the Year Andrew Swift, Shane Nicholson, 2023 Toyota Star Maker Loren Ryan, Adam Brand, Allan Caswell, Anne Kirkpatrick, Brad Butcher, Busby Marou, Dean Perrett, TC Cassidy, Lane Pittman, Lindsay Waddington, Matt Cornell, Melanie Dyer, Melody Moko, Gareth Leach, Hamish Davidson, Michael Fix, Brendan Radford, Pete Denahy, Sara Berki, The Davidson Brothers, Tom Curtain and Tori Forsyth.
The Toyota 53rd Golden Guitar Awards lit up Tamworth last night, celebrating the very best in Australian country music. With 17 categories recognizing work from October 2023 to September 2024, the evening was filled with historic wins and unforgettable performances.
Troy Cassar-Daley dominated the night, taking home five awards, including Male Artist of the Year, Toyota Album of the Year, and Song of the Year for “Some Days.” His total tally of Golden Guitars now stands at an incredible 45, cementing his place as Australia’s most decorated country artist.
Global country superstar Keith Urban added a new accolade to his collection with the prestigious Roll of Renown induction and Top Selling Australian Country Album for HIGH. Reflecting on his journey from Peel Street to global stardom, Urban described the honour as a dream come true.
Max Jackson, last year’s New Talent of the Year, added two more awards to her name, including Female Artist of the Year, while delivering a stunning performance of her winning single, “A Little More Country.”
Local favourite Ashleigh Dallas celebrated another win with Setting Suns crowned Traditional Country Album of the Year, and Casey Barnes’ upbeat album Mayday secured Contemporary Country Album of the Year.
Collaborations shone brightly as The Wolfe Brothers and Kaylee Bell’s “Beer in a Bar” earned Vocal Collaboration of the Year. Meanwhile, bluegrass queen Kristy Cox picked up her seventh Golden Guitar for Let It Burn.
Emerging talent also took centre stage. Lane Pittman, currently on tour with Luke Combs, was named New Talent of the Year, marking an exciting chapter for the former Tamworth local.
The night reflected the heart and talent of country music in Australia, wrapping up one of the busiest and most vibrant festival’s in recent memory.
Rising country music star Felicity Kircher has been named the 45th Toyota Star Maker, following an electrifying Grand Final at the 53rd Tamworth Country Music Festival. Representing Tingalpa, Queensland, Kircher captivated the audience with heartfelt performances of her original songs Dear Rose and Ultimatum, securing her place as one of Australia’s most promising emerging artists.
Kircher, a seasoned performer and multi-instrumentalist, has spent over a decade honing her craft on stages across Australia. From touring with Kasey Chambers to standout appearances at festivals like Gympie Muster and Savannah in the Round, she has solidified her reputation as a powerhouse in contemporary country music. Her recent single, I Am Cry, has been making waves on radio and streaming platforms, further showcasing her versatility and talent.
The competition, held at Toyota Park, featured 10 finalists backed by the renowned Sam Hawksley Allstar Band. Each delivered two songs, but it was Kircher’s unique voice, stage presence, and artistic depth that won over the judges.
Star Maker Coordinator Cheryl Brown praised Kircher’s readiness to embrace the next phase of her career: “Felicity is an inspiring artist who continues to test musical boundaries. We are excited to see her flourish with the support of the Star Maker program.”
As the Toyota Star Maker winner, Kircher receives a prize package worth over $100,000, including 12 months’ use of a Toyota vehicle, fuel cards, and recording opportunities. The Star Maker program has a legacy of propelling its winners into the spotlight, and Kircher’s victory promises an exciting future for the young artist.
Congratulations to Felicity Kircher on this remarkable achievement!
Australian country music sensation Keith Urban has clinched the prestigious Golden Guitar Award for Top Selling Australian Country Album of the Year with his latest album, High. Released on September 20, 2024, the album has captivated fans across Australia and beyond, solidifying Urban’s legacy as a powerhouse in country music.
High, Urban’s 11th studio album, features 11 tracks, including chart-topping hits like “Messed Up As Me” and “Chuck Taylors,” as well as a memorable duet with Lainey Wilson on “Go Home W U.” The album has enjoyed 16 weeks in the ARIA Top 20 Australian Country Albums chart, holding the coveted #1 spot as of January 13, 2025.
Announced ahead of the Toyota 53rd Golden Guitar Awards, the recognition is based on ARIA chart data and award eligibility criteria, honoring High as the top-selling Australian country album for the calendar year 2024.
The other standout albums rounding out the top five include Troy Cassar-Daley’s Between The Fires, Kasey Chambers’ Backbone, Casey Barnes’ Mayday, and Lily Grace’s Old Enough to Know Better.
Peter Ross, Executive Producer of the Toyota Golden Guitar Awards, praised Urban’s accomplishment: “High is an incredibly versatile album showcasing Keith Urban’s exceptional talent as a singer, songwriter, and musician.”
The 53rd Golden Guitar Awards will take place on Saturday, January 25, 2025, during the Tamworth Country Music Festival, the largest country music event in the Southern Hemisphere. Fans can join the celebration live at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre or via the festival’s online livestream.
Stay updated on the festival and awards via www.tcmf.com.au and official social media channels.
Golden Night in Tamworth: Winners Announced for 53rd Golden Guitar Awards
Felicity Kircher Crowned Toyota Star Maker 2025
