Cassar-Daley sweeps Golden Guitars
Troy Cassar-Daley stormed the 44th Toyota CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia – The Golden Guitars – on Saturday night by scooping five of the seven categories he was nominated for. He has now won 32 of the guitar-shaped trophies.
The Brisbane singer songwriter’s frequent walks to the winner’s podium at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre was due to his Freedom Ride album. His wins were for Male Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Toyota Heritage Song of the Year, APRA AMCOS Song of the Year and Single of the Year with Take A Walk In My Country.
Lee Kernaghan continued his triumphant run. His platinum selling Spirit Of The Anzacs – filled with songs carved out of letters and stories of Australian soldiers from World War 1 to the present – had debuted at #2 on the ARIA chart and sold platinum.
It won Vocal Collaboration, Video Clip (he donated this Golden Guitar trophy to the Australian War Memorial) and Sanity Top Selling Australian Album. His tally of Golden Guitar trophies now climbs to 36, second only to Slim Dusty’s 38.
One of the highlights of the night’s live performances were Kernaghan joined by New Talent of the Year finalists Christie Lamb, Brothers3, Seleen McAlister, Caitlyn Shadbolt and Mickey Pye on Spirit Of The Anzacs.
Another multi-winner was Pete Denahy, for Instrumental for Cluck Old Hen and BHP Billiton Bluegrass Recording for Singin’ Shoes.
There were some emotional highs for artists and audience through the night. Cassar-Daley’s Freedom Ride commemorated the 50th anniversary of the protest convoy lead by indigenous activist Charles Perkins with 33 fellow students from the University of Sydney through NSW country towns in 1965. They often faced hostility and violence for highlighting racism and discrimination and demanding Aboriginal rights. Two years later, the country’s Aboriginal population – including Cassar-Daley’s grandparents who lived in regional Grafton, NSW and faced segregation – got the vote for the first time.
“Freedom Ride is an amazing story and I’m happy I was able to share it with people,” Cassar-Daley said as he picked up the Album gong. He and co-writer Paul Kelly teamed up to finish the night with a performance of the song.
Another emotional moment was Catherine Britt’s winning Female Artist, as she continues to tour behind the Boneshaker album between treatment for breast cancer. “Last year was really hard for me, this means so much,” she admitted to cheers, as she thanked her new husband James Beverly for “being there for me all the way.”
Shane Nicholson’s sixth album Hell Breaks Loose won Alternative Country Album. A few days before, there were gasps at his club show at The Pub when ex-wife Kasey Chambers came on unannounced to sing their duet hit Rattlin’ Bones. It was their first performance together since they split in 2013.
The three guitar Adam Eckersley Band had a rapid ascent in the past 12 months. Last year they won Best New Talent. This year it was Group Of The Year.
Other winners were Christie Lamb (Qantaslink New Talent), and Allan Caswell and Manfred Vijars (Bush Ballad with One Last Muster).
Veteran singer songwriter Graeme Connors became 49th inductee into the Roll of Renown. After his debut album And When Morning Comes was produced by US country superstar Kris Kristofferson, he went on to sell multi-platinum and win 14 Golden Guitars and continues to have success as his 60th birthday looms in April.
Performing on the night were winners Britt, Nicholson, Denahy, Caswell and Adam Eckersley Band along with Beccy Cole, Adam Brand & The Outlaws, Pye and Roo Arcus.
The 15th anniversary of Kasey Chambers’ Barricades & Brickwalls was remembered. It was a landmark achievement for Australian country music when her record label marketed her as a rock act and proved country acts could sell 350,000 units (7 x platinum) if placed in the front of a wider audience. In honour, Kevin Bennett, Lyn Bowtell and Felicity Urquhart teamed up for I Still Pray.
Other singing tributes were paid by Sara Storer to the 30th anniversary of the release of John Williamson’s triple platinum Mallee Boy, Mustered Courage to The McClymonts’ debut EP released ten years ago, and Graeme Connors to the 40th anniversary of his debut And When Morning Comes.
Country Music Association of Australia President Dobe Newton (whose own band The Bushwackers celebrated their 45th anniversary) observed, “This year’s Golden Guitar Awards have been a great success and once again demonstrate the diversity of Australian country music through the performances of our incredibly talented artists.
“I would like to thank all those that were involved in staging the Awards, particularly our valued sponsorship and media partners for their outstanding support.”
This year’s festival marked a 30% jump in ticket sales, with 50,000 attending between January 15 to 24. However, heavy 20 millimetre rain reduced attendance to the opening night John Williamson-headlined concert to 3,000 from the expected 8,000.