Australian country music’s brightest stars shone in Tamworth last night as the Toyota 53rd Golden Guitar Awards celebrated excellence across 17 categories. The awards, hosted by Tamworth Regional Council, honoured recordings released between October 1, 2023 and September 30, 2024, showcasing the depth and diversity of talent in Australasia’s country music scene.
Artists from the New England region were honoured on Australian country music’s night of nights.
Tamworth’s own Ashleigh Dallas celebrated another career milestone as her album Setting Suns, produced by her father Brett Dallas, won Traditional Country Album of the Year, while Lane Pittman won New Talent of the Year. He was not at the awards night as he is currently on tour with Luke Combs and was playing Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
Troy Cassar-Daley was the standout performer of the night, adding five Golden Guitars to his already record-breaking tally, which now stands at 45. His 2024 album Between the Fires earned both the coveted Toyota Album of the Year and Alt/Americana Country Album of the Year. Cassar-Daley was also named Male Artist of the Year, while his powerful track Some Days won Song of the Year, and Windradyne claimed Heritage Song of the Year. His performance of Some Days was one of the evening’s emotional highlights.
Global superstar Keith Urban also stole the spotlight, accepting the prestigious Australasian Country Music Roll of Renown honour and the Golden Guitar for Top Selling Australian Country Album of the Year for HIGH.
“To be honoured with the Roll of Renown and Top Selling Country Album award is truly humbling. When I think back to my first time in Tamworth, just a kid on Peel Street, I never could’ve imagined this moment,” he said.
“Tamworth’s always been the heartbeat of Aussie country music—where artists, songwriters, and fans come together. To be recognised alongside the legends of this genre is a dream come true. I’m extremely grateful for this honour, and really looking forward to coming back here and touring Australia in August.”
Keith Urban was inducted to the Australasian Country Music Roll of Renown with TCMF founder Max Ellis. (Tamworth 72)
Max Jackson, the 2024 New Talent of the Year and Tamworth Country Music Festival Ambassador, continued her winning streak, taking home two awards. She was named Female Artist of the Year, and her hit A Little More Country won Single of the Year. Jackson’s performance of her award-winning single captivated the audience.
Casey Barnes’ Mayday, an upbeat album produced by Michael DeLorenzis and Michael Paynter, was awarded Contemporary Country Album of the Year.
Other winners included Colin Buchanan for Bush Ballad of the Year (Laura & Giselle), Kristy Cox for Bluegrass Recording of the Year (Let It Burn), and Lindsay Waddington with Brendan Radford for Instrumental of the Year (The Red Centre).
Country-rock duo The Wolfe Brothers, along with New Zealand’s Kaylee Bell, were awarded Vocal Collaboration of the Year for Beer in a Bar, while Tasmanian duo Zac & George earned Group or Duo of the Year. Rising star Lane Pittman, who is currently touring with Luke Combs, was named New Talent of the Year.
The evening also recognised the impact of visual storytelling with Luke O’Shea’s Dharawal winning CMT Video of the Year. Directed by O’Shea and Jay Seeney, the video was praised for its compelling narrative.
The Toyota Golden Guitar Awards Executive Producer, Peter Ross, said the night was a “true reflection of the diversity of talent across Australia and New Zealand”. NSW Minister for the Arts, John Graham, highlighted the importance of supporting live music and festivals like Tamworth’s to foster Australian talent.
The night featured 14 stunning performances, a testament to the artistry and passion of the country music community.
Toyota 53rd Golden Guitar Awards Winners
- Toyota Album of the Year: Between the Fires – Troy Cassar-Daley
- Alt Country Album of the Year: Between the Fires – Troy Cassar-Daley
- Contemporary Country Album of the Year: Mayday – Casey Barnes
- Traditional Country Album of the Year: Setting Suns – Ashleigh Dallas
- Male Artist of the Year: Troy Cassar-Daley
- Female Artist of the Year: Max Jackson
- Group or Duo of the Year: Zac & George
- Vocal Collaboration of the Year: Beer in a Bar – The Wolfe Brothers & Kaylee Bell
- Bush Ballad of the Year: Laura & Giselle – Colin Buchanan
- Heritage Song of the Year: Windradyne – Troy Cassar-Daley
- Instrumental of the Year: The Red Centre – Lindsay Waddington feat Brendan Radford
- Bluegrass Recording of the Year: Let It Burn – Kristy Cox
- New Talent of the Year: Lane Pittman
- Song of the Year: Some Days – Troy Cassar-Daley
- CMT Video of the Year: Dharawal – Luke O’Shea
- Single of the Year: A Little More Country – Max Jackson
- Top Selling Album of the Year: HIGH – Keith Urban
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