Winners crowned at Toyota 52nd Golden Guitar Awards

Toyota 52nd Golden Guitar Awards

The best in Australian country music has been celebrated in the nation’s country music capital, with the top artists and rising stars recognized and winners crowned at the 52nd Golden Guitar Awards in Tamworth, NSW. 

Presented by Tamworth Regional Council, the awards focused on recordings released between 1 October 2022 and 30 September 2023, with 17 Golden Guitars presented celebrating the latest and greatest Australian country music talents.     

The Wolfe Brothers took home three awards from their six nominations, including the highly coveted Toyota Album of the Year for their album Livin’ the Dream, Country Music Capital News Group or Duo of the Year, as well as Vocal Collaboration of the Year with Travis Collins for their single Runnin’ the Country. The duo also took to the stage to perform the title track from their award-winning album. 

Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham also claimed three Golden Guitar Awards, with their track Size Up named Song of the Year and Single of the Year. The duo also took home Traditional Country Album of the Year, for their album Birdsong. Audiences were also treated to a performance of their award-winning track Size Up. 

Brad Cox, who was unable to attend the awards night, was named Male Artist of the Year, while his album 2 Acres was awarded the Contemporary Country Album of the Year and Top Selling Country Album of the Year. 

2023 Golden Guitar Award winner, Kaylee Bell was crowned Female Artist of the Year, while 2022 Toyota Star Maker, Max Jackson picked up her first ever Golden Guitar, New Talent of the Year. 

Eight-time Golden Guitar and ARIA award winner Fanny Lumsden took home Alt Country Album of the Year for her album Hey Dawn, while Duncan Toombs picked up two gongs, including Heritage Song of the Year for his track 1861 and CMT Video of the Year, which was co-directed by himself and The Filmery for his track Steel on Steel. 

The newly formed duo Wicker Suite claimed their first ever Golden Guitar, picking up two awards, including Instrumental of the Year for their track Ghost Train and Bluegrass Recording of the Year for their track Old Pick-Up Line, while SToReR’s track Dust Kids was named Bush Ballad of the Year. 

While recognising and celebrating the success of the industry’s top artists and emerging talent, the Toyota 52nd Golden Guitar Awards was also a moment to honour and acknowledge one of Australia’s most recorded songwriters, Allan Caswell, who was tonight announced as the 2024 inductee into the Australasian Country Music Roll of Renown – country music’s Hall of Fame. Allan Caswell joins previous inductees Beccy Cole, Kasey Chambers, Lee Kernaghan, Slim Dusty, and John Williamson. He has won a total of eight Golden Guitars, 14 TSA awards, one ARIA, one APRA award and two gold singles over his 53-year musical career. 

The Toyota 52nd Golden Guitar Awards also featured another special presentation with the Country Music Capital Award presented to long time radio presenter Ray Hadley OAM for his continued support and promotion of Australian Country Music. The Country Music Capital Award, first awarded in 1977, recognise individuals who are not singers, musicians, composers, or music producers and therefore not covered by the regular criteria for the Awards, but who’ve had made an outstanding and sustained contribution to the industry over a long period. 

Ray presents The Ray Hadley Country Music Countdown each week, featuring the best country music songs across Australia. The two-hour show features interviews with the biggest names, Top 20 hits, plus profiles of the best new talent in country music - with a focus on emerging Australian artists. As of October 2023, there had been 533 editions of the countdown, which can be heard in 134 different markets across Australia (NSW, ACT, VIC, QLD, SA, NT). The show continues to be the number one rating radio program on Sydney radio each week. Ray also uses his record-breaking Mornings program, The Ray Hadley Morning Show, to promote Australian country music. 

The night also featured performances from this year’s top nominees and winner’s including Travis Collins, James Johnston, who took to the stage with Zac and George, as well as Brooke McClymont and Adam Eckersley, Fanny Lumsden, Max Jackson, SToReR, Allan Caswell, The Pleasures, Troy Cassar-Daley who sang his new song Let’s Ride, while Luke O’Shea performed a song paying tribute to the late great Joy McKean. 

Shoba White, Senior Manager, Regional Operations attended on behalf of Toyota Australia and congratulated all the winners and finalists of the 2024 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards for their impressive musical achievements and contributions to the country music industry. 

"For 32 years, Toyota Australia has been a proud partner of the Tamworth Country Music Festival, and we are thrilled to continue supporting Australia’s country music industry and celebrate the talented musicians and artists seen at the Toyota Golden Guitar Awards," she said. 

NSW Minister for the Arts, Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy and Minister for Jobs and Tourism, John Graham, said: “As the state’s first Minister for Music, it’s great to be back in Tamworth 3 tonight to congratulate the winners of the 2024 Golden Guitars – the highest honour in Australian country music. The country music industry is in great shape and attracting a new and often younger audience while also forging greater links with the world’s biggest market, the United States. 

“We have an incredible depth of home-grown talent in country music and we are building back our live music scene across NSW to provide more stages for that talent to shine - and more unforgettable moments for music fans. 

“The Tamworth Country Music Festival is an example to the rest of the state of what can be achieved in the promotion of Australian music and creating a precinct that allows fans to walk between venues from gig to gig.” 

Chairman of the Country Music Association of Australia, Mr. Dobe Newton said: “The Golden Guitar Awards continue to demonstrate the diversity and strength of Australia’s country music industry and this year’s winners are a testament to the incredible breadth of talent that is on display.” 

Tonight’s results reflect an industry that is diverse, inclusive, and growing from strength to strength and as a community of artists, we are proud that the industry is in safe hands.” 

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 on the Australian country music calendar and are presented LIVE by Tamworth Regional Council and supported by the CMAA.  

The NSW Government is proud to support the Tamworth Country Music Festival via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.   

We encourage everyone to save the date for 53rd Toyota Country Music Festival, Tamworth, set to take place from 17 – 26 January 2025.   For more information and to keep up to date head to www.tcmf.com.au/awards.
* Maddie Kulk at maddie.kulk@c7even.com.au