Country music legend Troy Cassar-Daley led the nominations for the 2022 Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) awards, which marks its 50th anniversary in January.
Key points:
- The nominees for the Golden Guitar Award were announced at Tamworth today for its 50th anniversary, to be held in Tamworth in January next year.
- Country music legend Troy Cassar-Daley tops the list with eight nominations, including Album of the Year and Male Artist of the Year
- Wolfe Brothers, Amy Shark, Keith Urban, Felicity Urquhart, Ashleigh Dallas and Brad Cox also made the list.
Nominations for the Golden Guitars were announced today at Tamworth Town Hall, where they were first awarded in 1973.
The number of entries submitted was the highest the CMAA has received with 760 requests, surpassing last year’s record numbers.
Cassar-Daley is in contention for the most gongs with eight nominations.
He’s no stranger to the Golden Guitars, who have racked up 37 in total since 1996 and were inducted into the Australian Roll of Renown in 2017.
His album ‘The World Today’ saw him win awards including Album of the Year and Male Artist of the Year.
The Wolfe brothers landed 7 nominations with their sentimental album “Kids on Cassette”.
The group’s fifth record was nominated for Album of the Year and Contemporary Country Album of the Year.
The album’s title track is in competition for Song of the Year and Video of the Year.
“Small Town Song” is shortlisted for Heritage Song of the Year and “Startin ‘Something” was nominated for the Vocal Collaboration Award.
To top off the brothers’ series of nominations, they were also nominated for Group or Duo of the Year.
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Brisbane-based singer-songwriter Shane Nicholson has landed five nominations for next year’s Golden Guitars.
His record “Living in Color” is also up for album of the year and the Alt Country Album award.
The track “And You Will Have Your Way” is shortlisted for song and single of the year, while the artist himself was named top male artist.
More … than 30 artists are in the running for nominations, including Amy Shark (feat. Keith Urban), Fanny Lumsden, Ian Moss and Tamworth local Ashleigh Dallas.
Adam Harvey and Beccy Cole have been announced as the hosts for the January award.
Tamworth “humiliated” for return of live music
Tamworth Deputy Mayor Phil Betts said the awards were a milestone not only for country music but also for the regional city.
“We have never been so thrilled to welcome our country music family to Tamworth.
“It will be an extremely humbling moment.”
CMAA Vice President Natalie Waller said live music is now new to Australians emerging from pandemic restrictions.
“We are delighted to see the live events return and to see the artists connecting with the audience”
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Regardless of the prices, the Tamworth Country Music Festival took a hiatus last year due to COVID-19 restrictions.
With the state borders opening and travel to New South Wales, organizers predicted an influx of hundreds of thousands of tourists and musicians into the city in January.
The city in the spotlight of music has also spent the last few months preparing for visitors.
In October, Tamworth’s Big Golden Guitar received its first makeover since the early 1990s.
Tamworth Regional Council Visitor Economics Coordinator Kate Baker said the 12-foot-tall icon was a staple of music awards celebrations.
“It’s really important, so many people come and have pictures in front, so it’s important that we make it look good again.”
