UNDER STRICT EMBARGO UNTIL 10PM EDST, SATURDAY 26 JANUARY 2019

Stars shine bright on country music’s golden night

The winners of the 47th Country Music Awards of Australia –
The Toyota Golden Guitar Awards

The 2019 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards celebrated a remarkable year for the Australian country music
industry, with a line-up of standout performances by this year’s nominated artists at the Tamworth
Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre (TRECC) on Saturday 26 January 2019.

The Wolfe Brothers were the big winners of the night. Taking home four awards from their five
nominations, the boys collected the coveted TOYOTA ALBUM OF THE YEAR Award for their highly
acclaimed fourth studio album, Country Heart, along with CONTEMPORARY COUNTRY ALBUM OF
THE YEAR, COUNTRY MUSIC CAPITAL NEWS GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR and APRA AMCOS
SONG OF THE YEAR for Ain’t Seen It Yet.

The band thrilled the audience, performing their hit single Country Heart, which pays tribute to their
country roots and their home in rural Tasmania, where the brothers run their family farm, in addition to
their successful career as one of Australia’s leading country bands.

Andrew Swift is also celebrating after collecting two awards from his four nominations. The rising Alt-
Country artist won QANTAS NEW TALENT OF THE YEAR for his single Runaway Train and ALT
COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR for Call Out For The Cavalry.

Swift’s performance of his upbeat single Runaway Train was a highlight of the evening for the thousands
of country music fans that attended the awards.

Kasey Chambers & The Fireside Disciples took out TRADITIONAL COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
for their album, Campfire with the group performing The Campfire Song, which pays homage to
Chambers’ upbringing in the remote outback of Australia.

MALE and FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR went to Travis Collins and Beccy Cole.

This is Collins’ 7th Golden Guitar Award with his latest album Brave & The Broken receiving high praise.
His performance of Its Just Music was very poignant, speaking to the power and importance of story-
telling through song and the way it unites us all.

It is the 11th Golden Guitar for Cole and 5th FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR Award. Her latest album,
Lioness is an all-female outfit, produced and performed by females.
BUSH BALLAD OF THE YEAR went to John Williamson for Please Don’t Forget Me and HERITAGE
SONG OF THE YEAR went to Troy Cassar-Daley for Shadows On The Hill.

The event also saw the awarding of previously announced 2018 SANITY TOP SELLING ALBUM OF
THE YEAR Golden Guitar Award, which went to country music superstar Keith Urban for his latest album
Graffiti U.

Morgan Evans, whose latest single Day Drunk was the #1 played song on Australian radio across all
genres, won him SINGLE OF THE YEAR.

COCA COLA INSTRUMENTAL OF THE YEAR went to Tommy Emmanuel for Wheelin’ And Dealin’.
BLUEGRASS RECORDING OF THE YEAR went to Kristy Cox for Ricochet.

Fanny Lumsden was awarded CMC Video of the Year for Elastic Waistband.

Bennett, Bowtell & Urquhart and the late Karl Broadie picked up the REGIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK
VOCAL COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR. Outstanding singer/songwriters in their own right, the
powerful group performed their single Every Hello from their latest Album Weeds.

“The diversity of talent across the country music industry is well represented tonight. It’s an exciting time
for Australian country music,” Dan Biddle, Chair of the Country Music Association of Australia said.

Toyota Australia’s Chief Marketing Officer, Wayne Gabriel said, “On behalf of Toyota Australia, we’d
like to congratulate all of the finalists and winners of the 2019 Golden Guitar Awards on their
achievements.

“Toyota has been a proud supporter of the Country Music Festival in Tamworth for over 27 years. It has
grown to be one of Australia’s most iconic events, a true celebration of a vibrant industry.”

Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson said, “The Toyota Country Music Festival is recognised world-
wide and Tamworth is the heart of Australian country music.

“Through Destination NSW, we will continue to support events such as this. They are incredibly
important for our economy and bring enormous benefit to Tamworth and NSW year-round.”

The 47th Toyota Golden Guitar Awards were hosted by Adam Brand and Amber Lawrence.

The 47th Country Music Awards of Australia – the Toyota Golden Guitar Awards are proudly supported
by Toyota, the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, APRA
AMCOS, Country Music Capital News, QANTAS, Regional Australia Bank, Coca-Cola and the Country
Music Association of Australia (CMAA).

The Toyota Golden Guitar Awards are the only industry affiliated country music awards in Australia and
the greatest celebration of Australian country music talent. The awards are the pinnacle event of the
Toyota Country Music Festival, Tamworth.
 47th COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS OF AUSTRALIA WINNERS

Alt Country Album of the Year: Call Out For The Cavalry
Andrew Swift | Producer: Matt Fell

Contemporary Country Album of the Year: Country Heart

The Wolfe Brothers | Producer: Matt Fell

Traditional Country Album of the Year: Campfire

Kasey Chambers & The Fireside Disciples
Producers: Kasey Chambers, Jordan Power, Brandon Dodd, Bill Chambers, Alan Pigram

Male Artist of the Year: Travis Collins

Brave & The Broken

Female Artist of the Year: Beccy Cole

Lioness

Country Music Capital News Group or Duo of the Year: The Wolfe Brothers
Country Heart

Regional Australia Bank Vocal Collaboration of the Year:

Bennett, Bowtell & Urquhart feat Karl Broadie
Every Hello

Bush Ballad of the Year: Please Don't Forget Me

John Williamson | Songwriter: John Williamson

Heritage Song of the Year: Shadows On The Hill

Troy Cassar-Daley | Songwriter: Troy Cassar-Daley

Coca Cola Instrumental of the Year: Wheelin’ And Dealin’

Tommy Emmanuel

Bluegrass Recording of the Year: Ricochet

Kristy Cox

Qantas New Talent of the Year: Andrew Swift

Runaway Train
 APRA AMCOS Song of the Year: Ain’t Seen It Yet
The Wolfe Brothers | Songwriters: Tom Wolfe, Nick Wolfe, Brodie Rainbird, Erik Dylan

CMC Video of the Year: Elastic Waistband

Fanny Lumsden | Directors: Anna Phillips and Sam Brumby

Single of the Year: Day Drunk

Morgan Evans

2019 TOYOTA ALBUM OF THE YEAR: COUNTRY HEART

The Wolfe Brothers | Producer: Matt Fell

<ENDS.>

Media Contact: Susie Laurence: susie.laurence@c7even.com.au / 0439 655 715

Media Assets:
www.tcmf.com.au/media
TOYOTA GOLDEN GUITAR AWARDS BACKGROUND:
The Awards were first held in 1973 in Tamworth, one of New South Wales' major regional centres, around the
same time the city began promoting itself as Australia's Home of Country Music. Since they began, the Awards
have played the key role in developing and promoting Australian country music. Under the CMAA, they continue
to grow and develop as the primary focus for country music in Australia.

Originally, the Awards were staged in the historic Tamworth Town Hall with a capacity audience of around 1,000.
Over the years, the Awards venue has ranged from school halls to a giant 'big top' and converted factory. Since
1999, they have been presented in Country Music Capital's $6 million Tamworth Regional Entertainment &
Conference Centre (TRECC) in front of a capacity audience of 5,000 fans, artists, industry people, and visitors.

THE GOLDEN GUITAR TROPHY:

Today the famous Golden Guitar trophies, which sparkle on the stage at the Country Music Awards Of Australia,
are recognised all over the nation as a symbol of country music and Tamworth. Over forty years ago they were
just an idea. In late 1972, 2TM‘s Mr. Hoedown, John Minson, and 2TM Station Manager, Max Ellis agreed the
trophy would have to be rock solid and truly representative of country music. After deciding on the concept of a
bronze guitar, local artist Harry Frost was commissioned to produce a detailed design based on a semi cut-away,
dual pick-up, hollow-bodied guitar. It was a recognition of both traditional design, and modern amplified electric
guitar. The finished trophy stands 24cm high (with base) and weighs 1.5kgs.