Golden Guitar Awards 2024: Wolfe Brothers, James Johnston, Travis Collins lead nominees
Four acts each shared six nominations for the annual Golden Guitar Awards, announced on Tuesday, and their ascent speaks to the health of an evolving sector. | FULL NOMINEES LIST
Finalists for the annual Golden Guitar Awards for country musicians were announced in Tamworth on Tuesday, with four acts each sharing six nominations apiece.
The artists leading the pack included Tasmanian sibling rock duo The Wolfe Brothers, rising star James Johnston, singer-songwriter Travis Collins, and country/folk couple Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham.
While some of these artists may not be familiar to a casual listener of Australian country music, their collective ascent speaks to the health of an evolving sector.
“There was a period there, five or six years ago, where we weren’t seeing the rejuvenation or the succession planning in the journey of some of the artists,” Peter Ross, executive producer of the Golden Guitar Awards, told The Australian.
“But we’re seeing those seeds that were planted a couple of years ago are starting to grow,” he said. “We’ve got really strong A-listers, but we’ve also now got these really strong second and third tiers.”
Though absent of household names and multi-award-winning artists such as Kasey Chambers, Troy Cassar-Daley and Lee Kernaghan, the current crop of contemporary talent represent rich green shoots for a genre whose audience continues to grow nationally, particularly among younger listeners.
“For the longevity of the genre, it’s really important that we are supporting and encouraging strong talent that can become a Troy or a Lee; that has the ability to last the test of time,” said Ross.
“Some people may think James Johnston has come from nowhere, but he’s done his hard yards: he started busking at the Tamworth Country Music Festival as a young kid,” he said. “He’s a great example of an artist being really savvy, and building his fan base through social media and online – but at the end of the day, he’s a damn great musician, with a great voice.”
As well, said Ross, “People like the Wolfe Brothers and Travis Collins are nudging themselves into that top-tier, through their longevity: they keep delivering, and they keep doing great things that helps grow the art form.”
The top winners from the 2023 Golden Guitars, Brooke McClymont and Adam Eckersley, were also nominated in five categories, while recent ARIA Award-winner Fanny Lumsden received four nominations.
Organisers received 762 entries to the awards, an amount which equalled the record-breaking number received last year.
The Golden Guitar Awards will conclude the annual music festival, with a ceremony to be held at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre on January 27 and live-streamed online.
2024 Golden Guitar Award nominees
Alt Country Album of the Year
Blood Red – Busby Marou – Tom Eggert
East Of Everything – Brad Butcher – Brad Butcher, Benjy Pocock, Marc Swersky
Hey Dawn – Fanny Lumsden – Matt Fell, Fanny Lumsden
Suburban Dream – Melody Moko – Melody Moko, Neilson Hubbard, Michael Moko, Dylan Alldredge, Juan Solorzano
The Beginning of the End – The Pleasures – Lachlan Bryan, Catherine Britt, Damian Cafarella
Contemporary Country Album of the Year
Acres – Brad Cox – Brandon Hood
Any Less Anymore – Travis Collins – Stuart Stuart, Andrew Cochrane
Livin’ The Dream – The Wolfe Brothers – Rod McCormack, Nick Wolfe, Matt Fell, Johnny Gasparic
Raised Like That – James Johnston – Justin Wantz, Liam Quinn, Gavin Carfoot, Ilya Toshinskiy, Michael DeLorenzis & Michael Paynter (Msquared)
Up, Down & Sideways – Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley – Robby De Sa
Traditional Country Album of the Year
Birdsong – Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham – Felicity Urquhart, Josh Cunningham, Matt Fell
Different Drum – Luke O’Shea – Luke O’Shea, Matt Fell
Nothin’s Gonna Stop Us – Tom Curtain – Garth Porter
She Loves Me To The Moon – Pete Denahy – Simon Johnson
SToReR – StoReR – James Gillard
Male Artist of the Year
Andrew Swift
Brad Cox
Casey Barnes
James Johnston
Travis Collins
Female Artist of the Year
Ashleigh Dallas
Fanny Lumsden
Kaylee Bell
Max Jackson
Melanie Dyer
Group or Duo of the Year
Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley
Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham
The Pleasures
The Wolfe Brothers
Zac & George
Vocal Collaboration of the Year
Next Best Thing – Luke O’Shea & Ashleigh Dallas
Our Church – Adam Brand & Matt Cornell
Runnin’ The Country – Travis Collins & The Wolfe Brothers
Some Things Never Change – James Johnston and Zac & George
Sometimes – Tori Forsyth & Shane Nicholson
Bush Ballad of the Year
Million Dollar Farm – Allan Caswell – Allan Caswell, Lindsay Waddington, Manfred Vijars
That’s Why I Love Our West – Angus Gill & Anne Kirkpatrick – Angus Gill & Alan Mackey
Walkabout Waters – Dean Perrett – Neville Anderson
The Bush Takes Care Of Its Own – Matt Scullion – Matt Scullion
Dust Kids – StoReR – Sara Storer, Greg Storer
Heritage Song of the Year
1861 – Duncan Toombs – Duncan Toombs
Hey Jumbulla (The Ghost of Mickey Brennan) – Luke O’Shea – Luke O’Shea, Zane Banks
Lennie You’re A Legend – Matt Scullion – Matt Scullion
Ugly Flowers – Fanny Lumsden – Edwina Lumsden
Uluru Forever – John Williamson – John Williamson
Instrumental of the Year
Betoota Stomp – Brendan Radford
Ghost Train – Wicker Suite
Honey Alba – Michael Carpenter and The Banks Brothers (feat Hamish Davidson)
Saltbush Express – Michael Fix
Voice From The Heart – John Williamson & Lindsay Waddington
Bluegrass Recording of the Year
Big Ole Feelings – Gareth Leach & Davidson Brothers
If You’d Have Told Me – Michael Carpenter and The Banks Brothers
Old Pickup Line – Wicker Suite
The One in Lonesome – Angus Gill
Waiting on a Train – TC Cassidy & Angus Gill
New Talent of the Year
Lane Pittman
Loren Ryan
Max Jackson
Zac & George
Song of the Year
Boys Like Me – Casey Barnes – Casey Barnes, Jordan Dozzi
Country Music, You And Beer – Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley – Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley
Here’s To The Ones – The Wolfe Brothers – Nick Wolfe, Tom Wolfe, Brodie Rainbird, Erik Dylan
Raise Me – Travis Collins – Travis Collins, Jason Duke
Size Up – Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham – Josh Cunningham
Music Video of the Year
Boots ‘N All – Kaylee Bell – Shae Sterling
Size Up – Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham – Duncan Toombs, The Filmery
You’ll be Fine – Fanny Lumsden – Anna Phillips
Steel on Steel – Duncan Toombs – Duncan Toombs, The Filmery
We Grew Up On – James Johnston – Jay Seeney, Blacklist Productions
Single of the Year
Got It Good – James Johnston
Runnin’ The Country – Travis Collins & The Wolfe Brothers
Size Up – Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham
Summer Nights – Casey Barnes
What Are You Waiting For – Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley
Toyota Album of the Year
Any Less Anymore – Travis Collins – Stuart Stuart, Andrew Cochrane
Birdsong – Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham – Felicity Urquhart, Josh Cunningham, Matt Fell
Livin’ The Dream – The Wolfe Brothers – Rod McCormack, Nick Wolfe, Matt Fell, Johnny Gasparic
Raised Like That – James Johnston – Justin Wantz, Liam Quinn, Gavin Carfoot, Ilya Toshinskiy, Michael DeLorenzis & Michael Paynter (Msquared)
Up, Down & Sideways – Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley – Robby De Sa
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