Friday 31 January 2014

Country Music Awards of Australia 2014

CMAA 2014

CountryRoutesBlog take a look at the 2014 CMAA Awards and the main events of The Tamworth Country Music Festival, it includes:
CMAA 2014 show report, CMAA Show Timeline,  2014 CMAA Winners and Nominee listing, 2014 CMAA Red Carpet, Photo and Gallery Links, 2014 Toyota Star Maker Finalists and Telstra Road to Discovery

CMAA 2014 Report

The 42nd CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia were staged on Saturday, 25th January, 2014 at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment & Conference Centre (TRECC) just one day before Australia Day which was celebrated on Sunday 26th January.


CMAA 2014 Golden Guitar Winners CLICK to ENLARGE

Lee Kernaghan and Sara Storer walk away as the Big CMAA 2014 Winners

Australia’s country music industry celebrated their pinnacle night in Tamworth with prestigious Golden Guitar trophies awarded with Lee Kernaghan and Sara Storer scooping the pool.

  • Female trio The McClymonts were the hosts for the awards event which provided the audience with a bevy of performances on-stage and backstage throughout the night. They were previously announced as the headline act of the Australia Day concert in Toyota Park (Bicentennial Park) on Sunday 26 January.
  • Lee Kernaghan adding another four Golden Guitar trophies to his already impressive collection bagging Male Artist Of The Year, CMC Video Clip Of The Year, Single Of The Year and the Sanity Top Selling Australian Album Of The Year. Kernaghan’s award winning song ‘Flying with the King’, a tribute to Slim Dusty was part of the night’s theme, with the country music icon and his wife, Joy McKean saluted throughout the show’s presentation.
  • “Lady of the Land”  written by Luke O'Shea & Drew McAlister (recorded by Luke O'Shea) won Apra Song Of The Year which was as a tribute to Slim’s Dusty’s wife, Joy McKean.
  • Sara Storer’s return after a hiatus was heralded with no less than three Golden Guitars. She took the coveted Album Of The Year award was the icing on the country cake that also included Female Artist Of The Year and Vocal Collaboration Of The Year with John Williamson for the song “Pozie” (Press Room Photo).
    Lee Kernaghan & Sara Storer
    Storer almost gave up writing after having children. The country music singer was emotional when accepting the Album of the Year win saying: "I'm just so thankful, these are tears of happiness." Williamson, who has acted as a mentor during Storer's career, said he was proud of the songstress. "She was born just up the road from where I was born and I'm just so proud of her," he said. "Every time she picks me to do a song with her we win a Golden Guitar." Storer moved to the Top End to be with husband David O'Hare five years ago and started a family, having three boys. She grew up in the Malle district in Victoria but after falling in love she knew the place to be was in the NT. Her latest album LOVEGRASS was named after a noxious weed which was a love song to her husband. "Now I feel the pressure is off, I can be a mum and an artist together," she said
  • Pete Denahy kept the crowd entertained with hilarious back stage crosses to award winners and country stars, then had to leave his post to collect his Golden Guitar for Instrumental Of The Year.
  • Ashleigh Dallas, a Tamworth local discovered by Kasey Chambers was a first time Golden Guitar winner snagging Best New Talent. >> Meet Ashleigh (video)
  • Ted Egan was presented with The Lifetime Achievement Award. With a career spanning over forty years, Egan has recorded thirty albums, written ten books and presented on thirteen episodes of the hour long documentary ‘This Land Australia. Egan’s contribution to the country industry was recognised with a performance of his song “Drover’s Boy” by Dean Perrett and Jeff Brown.
  • Performers included: The Wolfe Brothers, Lee Kernaghan, Kaylee Bell (“Heart First” Live photo), Kaylens Rain, Ashleigh Dallas, Jasmine Rae, Pete Denahy, Mustered Courage, Sara Storer, Lachlan Bryan & The Wildes, Luke O’Shea, The Adam Eckersley Band, Dean Perrett and Jeff Brown.
CMAA: The Winners 2014 ($21.99) : A CMAA Winners compilation has returned for another year featuring the very best of Australian country music. The album comprises of a CD and DVD of the nominees for the 42nd CMAA Awards.  The DVD component is the video clips to the songs listed – See Product Page

Tamworth Country Festival Music 2014   Click to ENLARGE

CMAA Facts
  • The Tamworth Country Festival Music Festival (sponsored by Toyota) ran from Fri Jan 17 - Sunday Jan 26, 2014. It’s the largest music festival in the southern hemishere.
  • There were 2,743 events and activities staged over the official 10 days of the festival plus a seven-day countdown period from Friday January 10, featuring 800 artists performing in 120 venues. It is distributed across dozens of diverse venues all over the town of 50,000 people, but the spinal column is Peel Street, named for the river that runs through the heart of the city. During the festival, it’s closed to traffic and becomes busker’s row, where for decades, folks have played on the street, sometimes with a guitar over an open case and sometimes with ambitious PA systems, backing tracks and merch operations.
  • On Fri, 24 January 2014 a special moment in the history of Tamworth, Australia’s Country Music Capital unfolded with the unveiling of a bronze statue of the late Slim Dusty and Joy McKean in Peel Street. The committee commissioned Newcastle-based sculptor Tanya Bartlett to create the almost life-sized work and raised $183,000 to fund it.
  • On Sat, 25 January 2014 thousands lined Peel Street for Country Music Cavalcade with country music icon Joy McKean and family blown away with the tributes to Slim Dusty as part of the 2014 cavalcade theme “Songs of Slim”. The winners (Best Commercial, Best Non-Commercial/Community and Best Non-Vehicle) will be presented with their prizes and plaques at a special presentation to be held in February. >> Watch Cavalcade Slideshow (83 Pics)
  • TCMF14 Highlights #TCMF14 >> YouTube What Do Kids Think Of Tamworth 2014? >> YouTube see more youtube/OfficialTCMF
  • The Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre (TRECC) stages the CMAA awards (since 1999) in front of 5,000 people.
  • The Golden Guitar trophys are 24cm high and weighs 1.5 kilograms. Over 500 have been awarded. Aussie legend Slim Dusty won 37. The original design was sculpted by local Tamworth artist Harry frost, it was cast in bronze.
  • Gallery Festival Photos and Articles - northerndailyleader.com.au – Twitter Feed #tcmf14
2014 CMAA PRESS ROOM (Photos)

The 42nd Country Music Award Winners Of Australia – PHOTO
Ashleigh Dallas - Press Room
Drew McAlister and Luke O'Shea - Press Room
Lee Kernaghan wins 'Single of The Year' - Press Room
Lee Kernaghan and Duncan Toombs win 'CMC Video Clip Of The Year' – Press Room
Pete Denahy - Press Room
Sara Storer - PHOTO 

2014 CMAA Winners

List of 42nd Toyota CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia Nominations, Winners

A full listing can be found HERE.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Beautiful Noise - Lee Kernaghan, produced by Garth Porter
Fuse - Keith Urban, produced by Keith Urban & various (Dan Huff, Butch Walker, Zach Crowell, Stargate for 45th & 3rd Music, Mike Elizondo, Nathan Champman, Jay Joyce, Ross Copperman)
If I Want To - Jasmine Rae, produced by Luke Wooten
Lovegrass - Sara Storer, produced by Matt Fell   WINNER
The Great Country Songbook - Troy Cassar-Daley & Adam Harvey, produced by Troy Cassar-Daley & Adam Harvey

ALTERNATIVE COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
A Side B Side Seaside - Karl Broadie, produced by Karl Broadie
Australian Songbook Three-The Bushwackers, produced by Roger Corbett
Black Coffee - Lachlan Bryan and The Wildes, produced by Lachlan Bryan, Mat Duniam, Shaun Ryan and Rod McCormack WINNER - Facebook Page

Powerlines - Mustered Courage, produced by Jimi Maroudas
Sweetheart of the Sun - The Greencards, produced by Gary Paczosa

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Keith Urban - Little Bit Of Everything
Lee Kernaghan - Flying With The King   WINNER
Luke Austen - Let's Just Go With It
Pete Denahy - Sayonara Nakamura
Russell Morris - Squizzy

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Aleyce Simmonds – Believe
Ashleigh Dallas – Me
Dianna Corcoran – Therapy
Jasmine Rae - If I Want To
Sara Storer – Lovegrass  WINNER  Press Room Photo

GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
Kaylens Rain - Waiting On A Bus
O'Shea - Thank You Angels  WINNER  - Photo (video link up)
The Greencards - Black, Black Water
The Sunny Cowgirls - Green and Gold
The Wolfe Brothers - The Girl, The Bottle, The Memory

VOCAL COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR
Beyond These City Lights - Jayne Denham &  Shannon Noll
Lights On The Hill - Troy Cassar-Daley & Adam Harvey
Pozie - Sara Storer & John Williamson   WINNER
There's No Place Like Home - O'Shea & McAlister Kemp
Turn The Page - Travis Collins, Luke Austen, Luke Dickens & Liam Brew

TOYOTA HERITAGE SONG OF THE YEAR
Ballad Of Les Darcy - written by Russell Morris & Garry Paige, recorded by Russell Morris
Flying With The King - written by Lee Kernaghan, Colin Buchanan, Garth Porter, recorded by Lee Kernaghan
Lady of the Land - written by Luke O'Shea & Drew McAlister, recorded by Luke O'Shea
Lights On The Hill - written by Joy McKean, recorded by Troy Cassar-Daley & Adam Harvey
Pozie - written by Sara Storer, Greg Storer, Tom McCullough, recorded by Sara Storer & John Williamson WINNER

BUSH BALLAD OF THE YEAR
Albert Campbell - written by Bec Hance & Vaughan Baker, recorded by Bec Hance
Brumby- written by Dean Perrett & Shirrelle Jackman, recorded by Dean Perrett
I Love Australia - written by Keith Jamieson, recorded by Jeff Brown   WINNER - Photo 
I Worship the Water (He Walked On) – written & recorded by Ernie Constance
The Stockman - written by Ray Rose, recorded by Tom Maxwell

INSTRUMENTAL OF THE YEAR
Allegheny - Mustered Courage
Blackberry Blossom - Bob Corbett & The Roo Grass Band
Cotton Eyed Joe - Pete Denahy   WINNER  Press Room Photo
I Won't Last A Day Without You - Tommy Emmanuel & Martin Taylor
Paddle the Torrens - The Greencards

QANTASLINK NEW TALENT OF THE YEAR
Adam Eckersley Band - Long Enough to Disappear
Ashleigh Dallas – Me   WINNER  - Photo
Kaylee Bell (2013 Toyota Star Maker) - Heart First
Kaylens Rain - Waiting On A Bus
The Wolfe Brothers - The Girl, The Bottle, The Memory

APRA SONG OF THE YEAR
Come On Rain - written by Sara Storer & Greg Storer, recorded by Sara Storer
Flying With The King - written by Lee Kernaghan, Colin Buchanan, Garth Porter, recorded by Lee Kernaghan
Lady of the Land - written by Luke O'Shea & Drew McAlister, recorded by Luke O'Shea   WINNER - Photo Press Room
Thank You Angels – written by Mark & Jay O’Shea & Matt Scullion, recorded by O'Shea
The Girl, The Bottle, The Memory - written by Nick Wolfe, recorded by The Wolfe Brothers

CMC VIDEO CLIP OF THE YEAR
Flying With The King - Lee Kernaghan, directed by Duncan Toombs   WINNER >> Official Video
Harder To Tame - McAlister Kemp, directed by Matt Inglis
Lights On The Hill - Troy Cassar-Daley & Adam Harvey, directed by Rusty Gate Films
Thankyou Angels - O'Shea, directed by Duncan Toombs
Two Worlds Collide - The McClymonts, directed by Duncan Toombs

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Flying With The King - Lee Kernaghan  WINNER
If I Want To - Jasmine Rae
Lights On The Hill - Troy Cassar-Daley & Adam Harvey
Little Bit Of Everything - Keith Urban
Lovegrass - Sara Storer

INTERNATIONAL TOP SELLING ALBUM OF THE YEAR
40 Years of Pride – Charley Pride (Sony Music)
Based on a True Story – Blake Shelton (Warner Music)
Golden – Lady Antebellum (Universal Music)
Red – Taylor Swift (Universal Music)  WINNER  (#1, 3x Platinum, 66 weeks on  ARIA Country Chart)
Thirty Miles West – Alan Jackson (Sony Music)

SANITY AUSTRALIAN TOP SELLING ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Beautiful Noise – Lee Kernaghan (ABC Music)  WINNER
Fuse – Keith Urban (EMI)
It’s On – The Wolfe Brothers (ABC Music)
Life is a Highway – Jason Owen (Song Music)
The Great Country Songbook – Troy Cassar-Daley & Adam Harvey (Sony Music)

THE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - presented to Ted Egan  

2014 CMAA Awards Tamworth Timeline [SOURCE]

7:40pm: The ceremony begins with the National Anthem.
Jasmine Rae takes the stage to perform.
7:45pm: Award: Lee Kernaghan's 'Flying with the king' has received the Golden Guitar for Single of the Year.
7:55pm: Award: The Golden Guitar for Group or Duo of the Year goes to O'Shea for 'Thank You Angels.
8pm: Award: The Golden Guitar for Bush Ballad of the Year is for 'I love Australia', written by Keith Jamieson, recorded by Jeff Brown.
8:15pm: Award: The Sunny Cowgirls (photo) present the award for Vocal Collaboration of The Year.  Sara Storer and John Williamson are the lucky winners for their track 'Pozie'.
Award: Lee Kernaghan also picks up the Sanity Australian Top Selling Album of the Year for 'Beautiful Noise'.
8:25pm: Top Selling International Album of the Year is awarded to Taylor Swift for 'Red'.
8:45pm: Award: And the Golden Guitar for Toyota Heritage Song of The Year goes to “Pozie” (recorded by Sara Storer & John Williamson).
8:50pm: Producer of the year has been awarded to Troy Cassar-Daley. Musician of the Year has been awarded to Ian Lees.
Ted Howard has been announced Engineer of The Year.
9pm: Award:  The Golden Guitar for Alternative Country Album of the year goes to Lachlan Bryan and The Wildes for 'Black Coffee'
Award:  The Lifetime Achievement Award goes to Ted Egan
9:10pm: Award:  Instrumental of the Year goes to Pete Denahy for Cotton Eyed Joe.
9.25pm: Award:  Qantaslink New Talent of The Year goes to Tamworth's own Ashleigh Dallas.
9:35pm: Sara Storer has been named Female Artist of the Year for 'Lovegrass'.
9:55pm: Award:  Lee Kernaghan has been named as Male Artist of The Year for 'Flying With The King'.
10pm: Award:  APRA Song of The Year goes to Luke O'Shea for Lady of The Land, written by Luke O'Shea and Drew McAlister.
10:15pm: Award:  The final award is Total Country Album of the Year and it goes to Sara Storer for Lovegrass,produced by Matt Fell.

The closing act of the night was a performance of ‘Losin’ My Blues Tonight’ (photo) by a number of artists, such as Pete Denahy, Ashleigh Dallas, Lachlan Bryan, Sara Storer and a few more (part of a Remembering Slim Tribute)

2014 CMAA Red Carpet

It was Tamworth’s big night of nights for Country music featured colourful fashions on the red carpet.

The lovely singer-songwriter Tamara Stewart along with Dublin-born Colin Buchanan a 9 time Golden Guitar, APRA and ARIA award winner were one of the first to arrive at the red carpet (photo). They were there entertaining the crowd that gathered as they both hosted the 42nd Australian Country Music Awards carpet arrivals.
Tamara looked stunning proudly wearing a Rachel Gilbert nude strapless Blair gown with black-beaded stripes all over. The beautiful actress Laura Vandervoort was seen wearing this at the NBC/Universal Golden Globes after-party. It also recalled Cassadee Pope sexy entrance at the CMA Awards in Nov 2013 in a form-fitting, metallic-and-black, strapless Corset Jovani gown.
The Blair gown with 100% nylon tulle with nude lining can be found on sale online for $750.00 (was $1,250.00) emporiastore.com.au With a cluster of A-listers striding the red-carpet in her creations, designer Rachel Gilbert is becoming a leading fashion figure in Australia and across the globe. A strapless version dress with asymmetrical hemline cut above the knee is also available (Blair Dress AUD  $825 $330 at rachelgilbert.com) Rachel Gilbert Melbourne Boutique is open located at 1042 High Street, Armadale, VIC.
Tamara Stewart wearing Rachel Gilbert

Later Tamara Stewart changed into another Rachel Gilbert white beaded sleeveless gown when she was on hand to present Lee Kernaghan with Top Selling Australian Country Album.

Tamara Stewart is dressed by Rachel Gilbert (Photo by @Lisa Mangion)

Female Artist Of The Year nominee Aleyce Simmonds dazzled in a Bariano dress! This Chole Geometric sleeveless floor length gown with amazing beaded detail is available at bariano.com.au (AUD $569.95 Code: B3D23 Price: AUD $569.95)
Bariano is a Melbourne based designer dedicated to being at the forefront of global fashion trends, escaping into a world of glamour, femininity and elegance with a sophisticated edge. The Bariano girl was born in 2004, and the promise to fascinate & charm, dazzle and allure began. Since launching the label nationally in carefully selected boutiques in 2006 Bariano is now also stocked internationally. Their first flagship store was unveiled on Melbourne’s Chapel St in 2006. Since that time a further 6 stores sprung up across Melbourne and Sydney’s fashion precincts.


TOP: Aleyce Simmonds (Bariano), Ashleigh Dallas (ASOS), Catherine Britt and
Chelsea Basham (Raymonds)
BOTTOM: Dianna Corcoran, Felicity Urquhart, Jasmine Rae and Kaylee Harrison 


 Ashleigh Dallas the newly crowned New Talent of the Year Tamworth singer songwriter wore her hair up and looked pretty in
A black Embellished Rose Skater dress. This comes from the ASOS Collection and is made from a woven poly fabric with crew neckline, floral sequin embellished overlay that has keyhole button reverse fastening. To get the look this is a snip at £31.00 online at asos.com. Her matching black booties were raided from Kasey Chambers cupboard!

Catherine Britt the former  2013 Female Artist Of The Year winner looked very happy attending the awards in a Black dress with an attractive white flower print pattern and matching booties and tights. Her lovely golden cascading curls completed her look.

Chelsea Basham last year stood out in her bright yellow gown and silver sequin bodice. In 2014 she opted for black for an outstanding look in a full length glittery gown with beaded stripes. Her partner Kingsley picked it for her at Raymonds in Subiaco! He has indeed great taste! Carrying a silver clutch and wearing black beads and a bright red lippie this was another winning look!

#1 singer-songwriter Dianna Corcoran pulled off a wonderful look donning a multi-coloured intricate print design full length gown and black open toe pumps. Flowing golden locks and a dazzling smile will have melted CMAA hearts.

One year on from her glowing pregnant Grecian gown style the Tamworth darling and singer/songwriter Felicity Urquhart sported a delightful post baby look wearing a light-weight flowing silky outfit having black print embellishments. The singer, TV and Radio host completed her CMAA look with an auburn coloured updo, black jewels, beads and heels.  

Jasmine Rae the 3x ARIA Nominated singer/songwriter and a 2014 Female Artist Of The Year nominee looked hot in a  cut above the knee glittery purple sleeveless dress. The “If I Want” singer had cascading curls, wore open toe pumps and accessorized with a black clutch and had a radiant CMAA smile!

Red and yellow vibrant colours came courtesy of performer and nominated Kaylee Harrison (one halve of contemporary country/rock brother/sister duo Kaylens Rain). She blew the clouds away in a lovely full length lemon gown featuring cut-out detailing around the shoulders. She wore sandals, had wavy side bangs a pretty pink pout and carried a smart white clutch to rounded out her look.

Shelley & Melinda
Sydney-based singer-songwriter Melinda Schneider wore a plunging deep-pink gown embellished with crystals wearing open-toe sandals and jewels and attractive short hair-do. Singer-songwriter Shelley Minson (wife of Golden Guitar Australian guitarist Lawrie Minson)  joined her looking as pretty as a picture in a yellow gown with yellow/silver beading. This stunning gown was sourced from local Tamworth shop aptly called Just Irresistible (Address: 347 Peel St, Tamworth, NSW, 2340)! Shelley’s skin complexion looked faultless. She donned gorgeous Nalin - Handmade custom hair accessories from Peacock & Lotus Designs (See Facebook Page and Website) , jewellery was from Lucy Luxxe (see Facebook Page and Website) and a bright red lippie matched her nail polish to complete her look – See Image.

Last years 2013 Toyota Star Maker Kaylee Bell was once again a “CMAA Lady In Red”. The performer donned a Riley Racer Cut Lace tangerine-coloured Pleated Gown from the Bariano collection (AUD $299.95 Code: B4D25 Price: AUD $299.95 - bariano.com.au) Her lovely Kiwi friends Camille French and Kylie Price joined her on backing vocals for her GGAwards performance.

Country music star Beccy Cole with partner and sassy performer Libby O'Donovan hit the red carpet and played for the cameras having fun with Adam Harvey and wife Kathy Harvey. Holding hands Beccy went with a black plunging cut-away silky number and open-toe pumps whilst Libby O'Donovan rocked an off the shoulder white dress with an rockabilly hair swirl, red heels and the pair had bright red lippies and black eye lining. Having rich vocal chemistry they perform as The Cowgirl And The Showgirl act with a World Premiere at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival – “two sassy, funny, engaging and explosive entertainers who together are a match made on a stage in heaven. Individually, these talented women leave audiences breathless”.
(L-R) Kaylee Bell (Bariano), Libby & Beccy, Sara Storer and Tamara Stewart




















Winning 3 Golden Guitars Sara Storer looked elegant in a black knee length dress with lace reveal detailing and gold strap heels.

CMAA 2014 GALLERY / Slideshows

42nd CMAA Golden Guitar Awards Red Carpet CountryAllOverOz/photos (Facebook)
Red Carpet Gallery - northerndailyleader.com.au
Awards and Performances Gallery - northerndailyleader.com.au
Tamworth Country Music Festival media/set (Facebook)  
Red Carpet arrivals "Country All Over" Facebook Photoset - www.facebook.com

A – Z  Country star Photo links of the 2013 CMAA Red carpet action

Arrivals at the 42nd Country Music Awards Of Australia on January 25, 2014 in Tamworth, Australia. The Tamworth Country Music Festival is an annual event held in Tamworth to celebrate Country music and its heritage.
(Source: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Adam Harvey and wife Kathy Harvey - PHOTO
Aleyce Simmonds - PHOTO
Ashleigh Dallas - PHOTO - PHOTO
Beccy Cole taking part in the Country Music Cavalcade – PHOTO
Catherine Britt - PHOTO - PHOTO
Chelsea Basham - PHOTO - PHOTO - PHOTO
Dianna Corcoran - PHOTO
Felicity Urquhart - PHOTO
Jasmine Rae - ** PHOTO - PHOTO
John Williamson and wife Meg Doyle - PHOTO
Kasey Chambers and son Talon - PHOTO
Kaylens Rain - PHOTO - PHOTO
Lachlan Bryan and The Wildes - PHOTO
Lawrie Minson & wife Shelley Minson in the Country Music Cavalcade - PHOTO - PHOTO
Lee Kernaghan and Robbie Kernaghan - PHOTO
Libby O'Donovan and Beccy Cole - PHOTO
Luke O'Shea and Colin Buchanan - PHOTO
Lyn Bowtell in the Country Music Cavalcade - PHOTO
Melinda Schneider - PHOTO
Mollie McClymont, Brooke McClymont and Samantha McClymont of The McClymonts - PHOTO - ** PHOTO
Sara Storer -  PHOTO and partner Dave O'Hare -  PHOTO
The McClymonts taking part in the Country Music Cavalcade - PHOTO
Taylor Swift’s Golden Globe - PHOTO
Ted Egan - PHOTO
The Sunny Cowgirls - PHOTO
The Wolf Brothers - PHOTO
Troy Cassar-Daley and Laurel Edwards - PHOTO
Troy Cassar-Daley in the Country Music Cavalcade - PHOTO
Travis Collins and partner Rebecca Ingle - PHOTO

Australian Bush Laureate Awards 2014
Presented in the Tamworth Town Hall (Jan 21), The Bush Laureate Awards are one of the highlights of the Tamworth Country Music Festival. They started in 1995 and were established to recognise excellence in Australian rhyming bush verse.
Photo (from left): David Campbell, Norma O'Hara Murphy,
Trisha Anderson, Tania Kernaghan (accepting Lee's award)
and Greg North
.

Poets David Campbell, from Beaumauris in Victoria, and Greg North, from the NSW Blue Mountains, won two each of the six judged awards. A nationally recognised poet, David won the prestigious Book of the Year with his publication “Riders On The Wind” and Published Poem of the Year for “The White Man’s Way”.
Greg, famous for his comedy poems, won the much sought after Album of the Year title with his release “Frackin’ Fricker”. The title track from the album also won Single Recorded Performance of the Year.
Norma O’Hara Murphy, of Bony Mountain, Queensland, won Traditional Song Lyric of the Year with her song “Gilbert, O’Meally & Hall”. Norma is a multiple Golden Guitar winner (five wins, career spanning more than 30 years) and this song comes from her latest album THE CELTIC CONNECTION. (>> Listen on Spotify). This was O'Hara Murphy's first Australian Bush Laureate nomination, with the song from an album of songs about Canowindra. "I thought why not? - I'll throw my hat in the ring," she said. "It's an interesting song - I wrote it a few years ago." The song was inspired by a tale about three bushrangers who stopped over for a night in the town of Canowindra. Read more
The Contemporary Song Lyric of the Year category was won by the hugely successful songwriting team of Lee Kernaghan, Garth Porter and Colin Buchanan with the song recorded by Lee, “Flying With The King”.
A seventh award, the Judith Hosier Heritage Award (named in honour of the Awards founder) was presented to long time supporter and promoter of Australian bush verse Trisha Anderson from Queensland. (bushlaureate.com.au/winners)

2014 Toyota Star Maker Finalists

Heralded as Australia’s most prestigious country music talent contest, the Toyota Star Maker, now in its 35th year was this year held over 2 nights. The Grand Final Friday was held on the Fri 24th January in Bicentennial Park which was free to the public.
For the past 34 years, Star Maker has provided a crucial launching pad for many of today’s big Australian country stars, including Lee Kernaghan (1982), James Blundell (1987), Keith Urban (1990), Gina Jeffreys (1991), Beccy Cole (1993), Brendon Walmsley (1999) and, more recently, with popular new stars Travis Collins (2004), Samantha McClymont (2005), Cat Southern (2006), Kirsty Lee Akers (2007), Talia Wittmann (2008), Liam Brew (2009), Luke Austen (2010), Luke Dickens (2011), Bob Corbett (2012) and  Kaylee Bell (2013)

Brisbane-based Jared Porter won this year’s Toyota Star Maker competition, joining the likes of Lee Kernaghan, Keith Urban, Beccy Cole and Samantha McClymont who have all used the competition as a springboard for their careers.
Toyota Star Maker 2014 Finalists
First held in 1979, the competition one of the highest accolades for young country artists and Porter was adjudged to be this year’s standout at a concert at Tamworth’s Bicentennial Park during the current Country Music Festival.
Porter, who grew up in American, beat out Tori Drake, Damien Agius and Jonny Taylor for the prize. They were the four finalists from aproximately 50 entries.
Looking shocked when his name was read out; Porter’s first words were “first and foremost I want to thank my Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.” “I think this is an incredible boost to go after what I was wanting,” he said after coming offstage. “Everyone’s got their own dreams and goals in life, I’m going to keep them close to me because I’ve had them since I was little.”
As part of the prize Porter will now receive a 12-month mentorship with Lee Kernaghan, who performed shortly after the announcement.

About Jared Porter:
TINBEERWAH, Queensland
His name, Jared Cole Porter, emulates the love for music that is rooted in his family history with his father born and raised in the Appalachian Mountains and his mother from the desert valley of Mesa Arizona.  Jared was born in a small gold mining town of Grass Valley in the Sierra Mountains in northern California.
Jared Porter
The outdoors is where he spent most of his time playing sports, camping, riding dirt bikes and fishing. At 15, Jared moved to Australia with his mother and soon after suffered a serious rock climbing accident falling 4m, breaking his tailbone and displacing a disc in his lower back.  Sport was no longer an option for him and his love of music came to the fore.  He first played in a punk and alternative rock band until the honky tonk, blues and Motown music his dad raised him on resurfaced and he realised that it was country that was in his soul.  He was accepted into the Qld Conservatorium for the Bachelor of Popular Music and in February 2013 he released his first single and video Under The Sun. The 5-piece Jared Porter Band (photo) had a very busy start to 2013, with invitations for live interviews and on air plays on numerous radio stations in Queensland and Victoria, and received air play around Australia, USA and UK. (Source)  Road to the final instagram.com/jaredcoleporter
For More information - www.facebook.com/JaredPorterBand
His debut country song >> "Under the Sun" is available on iTunes.au and UK iTunes

Meet the ten 2014 Toyota Star Maker Finalists and listen to their songs: tamworthcountrymusic.com.au . View the Finalist Night Photo Gallery

Telstra Road to Discovery WINNERS

TAMWORTH Country Music Festival organisers were dealt a bitter blow amid news the major talent search would not hold its grand final at this year’s 2014 event.
The Telstra Road to Discovery, formerly known as the Telstra Road to Tamworth, grand final was held in Melbourne, after being held in Tamworth since 2004.
A Telstra spokeswoman said while Telstra continued to be a sponsor of the Tamworth Country Music Festival, a special opportunity  meant the grand final had to be held in November. “This year we’ve had a unique opportunity afforded to us. Through the Telstra Thanks program, we’re partnering with Bon Jovi,” she said.
The winners will go on the Because We Can Bon Jovi tour, which is in December, so the grand final had to run in November.
It’s a money-can’t-buy experience. We couldn’t pass that up for the performers.”
We’re very, very committed to the Tamworth Country Music Festival and Telstra still plays an integral role in the festival,” she said.

Telstra Road To Discovery named their four winners with two of them selected to perform as opening act for Bon Jovi Australian tour!
Following the highly competitive Telstra Road to Discovery final event at the Forum Theatre in Melbourne 25 year old Christopher Coleman from Hobart and 24 year old Helen Shanahan from Perth have been crowned the 2013 winners in the performer and songwriter categories respectively.
Christopher and Helen received a 12-month music mentorship package, including a return trip and showcase performance at the Americana Music Festival, local gigs in Australia and face to face time with some of the nation’s biggest music names, plus a $14,000 tailored music development fund.
In addition, finalists Jesse Teinaki, 21 from Somerset, Tasmania and Angie McMahon, 19 (Photo) from Alphington, Victoria have been selected by Bon Jovi to perform as the opening act for the band’s ‘Because We Can’ Australian tour in December 2013. See the Telstra Final Photo Galleries

Note: At the Tamworth Country Music Festival the finalists took part at TelstraRoad Sunset Sessions with live performances from the top 10 2013 finalists & a special guest.
For Performer/Songwriter Entry rules and Competition Prizes visit:

People's Choice Awards 2014
Dale Duncan and Brothers3 topped the winners list on Weds Jan 22nd at the Australian Country Music People's Choice Awards in Tamworth.
Dale won Best Song for his Miracle Girl, which he recorded as a duet with Johanna Hemara, and Best Bush Ballad for his recording of Heart Of Australia, written by Billy Wye, Shaza Leigh and Dale. Brothers3 again won Best Group and picked up their first Best Album gong with LET IT DRIFT.
Dianne Lindsay won her second Best Female Vocal award while Graham Rodger took home his third Best Male Vocal award.
Troy Cassar-Daley and Adam Harvey won Best Vocal Event for their duet recording of the Slim Dusty classic “Lights On The Hill” . See complete winners list at www.peopleschoiceawards.com.au

Tamworth Country Music Festival – Festival Queens
Lucinda Whitehorn was crowned Queen of Country Music (PhotoHI RES Photo) during a special function at the Tamworth Racecourse Function Centre. Susie Coombes (photo (L)) was crowned 2014 Princess while Anna Maher was judged by her fellow entrants as 2014 Miss Congeniality (photo).  
All entrants had been busy throughout the Festival undertaking numerous duties including helping major event organisers with ushering. Part of the prize for the new Queen and Princess is a trip to New Zealand Sister City Gore during that city's annual Gold Guitar Country Music Week.

LISTEN
>> Spotify Web Player Online Playlist - CMAA 2014
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SOURCES – CountryAllOverOz (Facebook), northerndailyleader.com.au, news.com.au, sunshinecoastdaily.com.au,