“I’m over the moon to be nominated for Alt Country Album of the Year”: Gretta Ziller on Golden Guitar Awards

The 2018 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards – the 46th Country Music Awards ofAustralia – will see new Album of the Year categories.

They are for Contemporary Country Album of the Year and Traditional CountryAlbum of the Year – which along with the Alt Country Album of the Year, will seethe winners from these categories vie for the overall Country Music Album of theYear award to be announced in Tamworth, NSW, in January.

The new categories were announced, along withthis year’s finalists, by TamworthRegional Council and the Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) at astar-studded event at ABC Studios in Sydney, hosted by Adam Eckersley and BrookeMcClymont.

Leading the finalists with six nominations each were Kasey Chambers, TheMcClymonts, and Travis Collins & Amber Lawrence (collaborating on their firstalbum Our Backyard).

The Bushwackers had five, while Lee Kernaghan, Shane Nicholson, and The DavidsonBrothers were up for four apiece.

Up for three berths each was this year’s New Talent winner Fanny Lumsden andnewcomer Brad Butcher.

Rising starGretta Ziller(pictured) is also a finalist in the Alt-Country Album of the Year category for her critically acclaimed debut,Queen of Boomtown. The record was produced by New Zealand-born and Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Paul Ruske.

“I wanted to make an album that I’d still be proud of in 20 years time. I’m honoured and I’m proud of Queen of Boomtown and I’m over the moon to be nominated for Alt Country Album of the Year,” Ziller tells TMN of her nomination.

Other multi-nominees included Adam Brand, Ashleigh Dallas, O’Shea, TaniaKernaghan, Darren Coggan, Matt Cornell and Tom Curtain.

See www.tcmf.com.au for the full list.

CMAA Chairman Dobe Newton explained the category changes, “With the manydifferent styles and genres of country music being performed and enjoyed today,the decision to introduce new Album of the Year categories ensures the albumawards are more inclusive, and creates further opportunities to welcome moreartists who work in country music into the Awards.

“The finalists in the 2018 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards are testaments to thisand today’s finalists’ announcement has demonstrated the quality and depth oftalent we have in Australian country music across a range of genres, with manyartists receiving their first nomination and others multiple nominations.

“The event has certainly set the stage for an incredible showcase in Tamworth onJanuary 27 when we announce the winners.”

The Golden Guitar Awards are supported by Toyota, the NSW Government via itstourism and major events agency Destination NSW, APRA AMCOS, Country MusicCapital News, QANTASLINK, Regional Australia Bank, Coca-Cola and the CMAA.

They are held at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre, areheld as part of the Toyota Country Music Festival, held from Friday 19 toSunday 28.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said the NSW Government wasproud to support such a renowned regional event.

“The Tamworth Country Music Festival is recognised worldwide, attractingsignificant overnight visitation to the State and delivering important economicand community benefits,” he said.

“It’s an absolute standout on our NSW Events Calendar and we look forward towelcoming the many artists and visitors to the region next year for 10 days ofgreat entertainment and regional NSW hospitality.”