Debut names in country music’s Golden Guitar finalists list

Image: Fanny Lumsden

The 2017 Golden Guitar award finalists were unveiled at a ceremony at Sydney’s Carriageworks by the Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) and the Tamworth Regional Council. 

“The Finalists for the 2017 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards are a great mix of new faces and favourite country music artists,” said Dobe Newton, Chairman of the CMAA.

“And whilst it’s always good to see some familiar faces, the finalists’ 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.”

While the finalists included major names as Troy Cassar-Daley, Kasey Chambers, Sara Storer, Wolfe Bros, Graeme Connors, Luke O’Shea, Travis Collins, Allan Caswell and Kristy Cox, there were also debuts to the list.

These included The Weeping Willows (four nominations for their sophomore album Before Darkness Comes A-Callin’),Fanny Lumsden, Katie Brianna and The Wilson Pickers.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Caught Up In The Dreaming - Luke O’Shea Producer: Luke O’Shea & Benjy Pocock

Silos - Sara Storer Producer: Matt Fell 

This Crazy Life - The Wolfe Brothers Producer: Luke Wooten 

Hard Light - Travis Collins Producer: Travis Collins 

Things I Carry Around - Troy Cassar-Daley Producer: Troy Cassar-Daley

ALTERNATIVE COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Bennett, Bowtell & Urquhart - Bennett, Bowtell & Urquhart Producer: Glen Hannah

Victim Or The Heroine - Katie Brianna Producer: Shane Nicholson

Part Of Me - Kristy Cox Producer: Jerry Salley

Before Darkness Comes A-Callin’ - The Weeping Willows Producer: Laura Coates & Andrew Wrigglesworth

You Can’t Catch Fish From A Train - The Wilson Pickers Producer: The Wilson Pickers

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Allan Caswell

Dug Bruce

Luke O’Shea

Travis Collins

Troy Cassar-Daley

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Amber Lawrence

Kirsty Lee Akers

Kristy Cox

Sara Storer

Seleen McAlister

COUNTRY MUSIC CAPITAL NEWS GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR 

Bennett, Bowtell & Urquhart

Sunny Cowgirls

The Weeping Willows

The Wolfe Brothers

Warren H Williams & Dani Young

REGIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK VOCAL COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR 

Bartender Blues - Adam Harvey & Lyn Bowtell

Cheers to the Girls - Amber Lawrence with Catherine Britt & Fanny Lumsden

Orchid Street - Anne Kirkpatrick & Jeff Brown

F U Cancer - Catherine Britt with Kasey Chambers, Beccy Cole, Lyn Bowtell, Josh Pyke, Wes Carr, and Wendy Matthews 

My Diamond - Sara Storer & Greg Storer

BUSH BALLAD OF THE YEAR

A Truckie Up In Queensland - Allan Caswell Songwriters: Allan Caswell & Manfred Vijars

The Veteran - Dean Perrett Songwriters: Allan Caswell, Drew McAlister, Dean Perrett

Ghosts Of The Murranji - Graham Rodger Songwriter: Graham Rodger

God Given Rain - Jeff Brown Songwriter: Jeff Brown

Amazing Night - Sara Storer Songwriter: Sara Storer

TOYOTA HERITAGE SONG OF THE YEAR

Goulburn Valley Woman - Bennett, Bowtell & Urquhart Songwriter: Kevin Bennett

The Old Man’s Shed - Luke O’Shea Songwriters: Luke O’Shea & John Krsulja 

Red, White & Blue - Roo Arcus Songwriter: Roo Arcus

Purple Cockies - Sara Storer Songwriter: Sara Storer

Hometown Calling - Travis Collins Songwriters: Travis Collins & Troy Kemp

INSTRUMENTAL OF THE YEAR 

Twenty Five - Lindsay Waddington

Cosmopolitan Blues - Michael Fix 

Buckle Up - Mickey Pye

Roundabout - Runaway Dixie

Song for Manaia - Stuie French

BLUEGRASS RECORDING OF THE YEAR

I Hear Them All - Bennett, Bowtell & Urquhart 

Losing My Blues Tonight - Dean Perrett 

Another Weary Mile - Kristy Cox

Cumberland Gap - The Hillbilly Goats

River Of Gold - The Weeping Willows

QANTASLINK NEW TALENT OF THE YEAR

Caitlyn Shadbolt

Fanny Lumsden

Justin Standley Heyfield

Michael Waugh

The Weeping Willows

APRA AMCOS SONG OF THE YEAR

Goulburn Valley Woman - Bennett, Bowtell & Urquhart Songwriter: Kevin Bennett

Land of Gold - Fanny Lumsden Songwriter: Fanny Lumsden

60 Summers - Graeme Connors Songwriter: Graeme Connors

Ain’t No Little Girl - Kasey Chambers Songwriter: Kasey Chambers

Call Me Crazy - Travis Collins Songwriters: Travis Collins & Damien Leith

CMC VIDEO CLIP OF THE YEAR

60 Summers - Graeme Connors Director: Ben Bishop, 

Tropical Exposure Ain’t No Little Girl - Kasey Chambers Director: Duncan Toombs, Filmery

The Truth Walks Slowly (in the Countryside) - O’Shea Director: Mark O’Shea

Raise Your Glass - Simply Bushed Director: Duncan Toombs, Filmery

Call Me Crazy - Travis Collins Director: Duncan Toombs, Filmery

SINGLE OF THE YEAR 

Land of Gold - Fanny Lumsden 

60 Summers - Graeme Connors

Ain’t No Little Girl - Kasey Chambers

The Truth Walks Slowly (in the Countryside) - O’Shea 

Just Another Girl - Travis Collins