Lee Kernaghan and Sara Storer swoop Golden Guitars

Despite the squabble on the eve of the Golden Guitar country music awards in Tamworth about what constituted “Australian country music”, the judges gave their verdict loud and clear. The traditionalists had it, with Lee Kernaghan and Sara Storer sweeping the awards this weekend at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment & Conference Centre.

Kernaghan, who was up for seven awards, took out four. He won male artist of the year and top selling Australian album (Beautiful Noise) while, Flying With The King took the single and video (directed by Duncan Toombs) categories.

The sentiments of Flying With The King, about the late pioneer Slim Dusty, was the theme of the night.

Sara Storer’s hiatus from the scene didn’t seem to lose her any fans: she took album (Lovegrass produced by Matt Fell), female, and vocal collaboration (for Pozie with John Williamson). Ten years ago she made history by taking out 7 Golden Guitars for her Platinum album Beautiful Circle.

::IN FOCUS – AUSTRALIAN COUNTRY MUSIC

The night was also a memorable one for husband and wife team O’Shea. They took group of the year, while Luke O’Shea’s Lady Of The Land, which he co-wrote with Drew McAlister as a tribute to Slim’s Dusty’s wife Joy McKean, romped in song of the year and heritage song.

Other winners were  Troy Cassar-Daley (producer), Kasey Chambers discovery Ashleigh Dallas (new talent for her debut album Dancing With A Ghost), Pete Denahy (instrumental, for Cotton Eyed Joe), Jeff Brown (bush ballad for I Love Australia) and Lachlan Bryan and The Wildes (alternative country album of the year for Black Coffee).

Taylor Swift’s Red was top selling international album of the year.

This year’s Star Maker was US-born Queensland-based blues singer Jared Porter. Star Maker previously launched the careers of Keith Urban and Gina Jeffries.

The Lifetime Achievement award went to Ted Egan, who in a career spanning 40 years, recorded thirty albums, written ten books and presented on thirteen episodes of the hour long documentary This Land Australia. His best known song Drover’s Boy was performed on the night.

Live performers on the night, hosted by The McCormacks, were winners Kernaghan, Storer. O’Shea, Dallas, Denahy and Bryan & The Wildes as well as The Wolfe Bros, Kaylee Bell, Kaylens Rain, Jasmine Rae, Mustered Courage and The Adam Eckersley Band.

The issue of Williamson’s exit as president of Country Music Association of Australia was broached. He said he stood by his actions and that he had a lot of support. Cassar-Daley, who was embroiled in the controversy, said it should have remained a private debate without tarnishing the image of the Austraiian country music industry.