Australian country music’s night of nights, the 38th CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia, presented by Jayco, were delivered tonight to a capacity crowd in Australia’s Country Music Capital, Tamworth. The Awards were hosted by country music sister trio, The McClymonts.

The night belonged to Troy Cassar-Daley who walked away with a total of 6 Awards for his ARIA Award winning album, I Love this Place. The impressive win brings Troy’s cumulative total of Golden Guitar trophies to 20.

The country music singer/songwriter, who was a finalist in 8 Awards’ categories in total, won Album of the Year (co-produced with Rod and Jeff McCormack), Male Artist of the Year, APRA Song of the Year and Single of the Year (both for Big Big Love), Heritage Song of the Year for Chasin’ Rodeo and Vocal Collaboration of the Year for Ain’t Gonna Change For You with The McClymonts.

The Jayco Country Theatre erupted with applause when Tamworth born, Felicity Urquhart, was awarded her first solo Golden Guitar as Female Artist of the Year. Felicity’s album, Landing Lights, has received critical acclaim since its release in 2009.

International country music sensation, Keith Urban, was awarded the Top Selling Album of the Year for his album Defying Gravity. Urban could not attend the Awards, having commitments overseas, and accepted the Award via a recorded video message.

Having received 3 finalist placings, Jetty Road, the quartet featuring identical twin sisters Lee and Paula Bowman, topped off a hugely successful year with their track Million Miles scoring them their first Golden Guitar trophy for Group or Duo of the Year.

The Bushwackers collected their second CMAA Country Music Award of Australia, having won their first Award almost 20 years ago (1981). Their Bush Ballad of the Year win was secured for their single The Road to Thargomindah which was penned by Colin Buchanan.

2005 CMAA College of Country Music graduate, Victoria Baillie, won the Maton New Talent Award for her single Make Me from her 2009 album, Start Brand New.

Brother and sister finalists, Greg Storer and Sara Storer, created a family celebration winning Video Clip of the Year for their duet When I Was A Boy. The clip, directed by Duncan Toombs, was created using thousands of still images of the two performing to give a unique animated impression.

Victorian Bluegrass duo and graduates of the CMAA Australian College of Country Music, The Davidson Brothers, returned to the winner’s arena once again collecting their second consecutive Fender Instrumental of the Year Award, this time for Fox On The Freeway.

The Telstra Horizon Award is a new inclusion in the Awards program this year and was presented to Sydney’s Amber Lawrence. The Award was developed to recognise a young ambassador of Australian country music. The criteria for this CMAA Board selected Award is that the recipient is always improving their skills, including touring, recording, song writing and performing and whilst being young themselves, are excellent mentors. Amber Lawrence fit the criteria perfectly and was chosen to be the inaugural winner.

Also presented during tonight’s program was, for the first time in the history of the CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia, a Lifetime Achievement Award. John Williamson, who is celebrating his 40th year in the business in 2010, presented this special “Golden Guitar” to Chad Morgan. Chad, known fondly as “The Sheik of Scrubby Creek”, released his first album in 1952 and is well known as an Australian comedic singer/guitarist renowned for his vaudeville style of comic country and western songs, his prominent teeth, and goofy stage persona. During his long career he has toured extensively, including the Slim Dusty Show, the All Star Western Show and his own Chad Morgan Show. He has been prolific in his recorded output and his live performances and was inducted into the Australasian Country Music Roll of Renown in January 1987, and awarded an OAM in 2004.

The 38th Country Music Awards of Australia, presented by Jayco, are the pinnacle event of the annual Tamworth Country Music Festival. The 2010 Tamworth Country Music Festival has welcomed thousands of fans to its city over the past nine days and will conclude tomorrow.

The 38th CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia will broadcast on CMC on Foxtel Digital and Austar from 7.00pm on the evening of Thursday, 11 February, 2010, followed by an encore screening on Southern Cross Television and Network Ten nationally on Saturday, 13 February, 2010, at 1.30pm.

Winners in the 38th CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia, presented by Jayco

APRA Song of the Year Big Big Love - written and recorded by Troy Cassar-Daley

Vocal Collaboration of the Year Ain’t Gonna Change For You – Troy Cassar-Daley & The McClymonts

Bush Ballad of the Year The Road to Thargomindah - written by Colin Buchanan, recorded by The Bushwackers

Video Clip of the Year When I Was A Boy – Greg Storer & Sara Storer, directed by Duncan Toombs

Single of the Year Big Big Love – Troy Cassar-Daley

Fender Instrumental of the Year Fox On The Freeway - Davidson Brothers

Group or Duo of the Year Jetty Road – Million Miles

Heritage Song of the Year Chasin’ Rodeo - written and recorded by Troy Cassar-Daley

Top Selling Album of the Year Defying Gravity – Keith Urban

Maton New Talent of the Year Victoria Baillie - Make Me

Female Artist of the Year Felicity Urquhart - Rollercoaster

Male Artist of the Year Troy Cassar-Daley – I Love This Place

Album of the Year I Love This Place – Troy Cassar-Daley Produced by Rod McCormack, Troy Cassar-Daley & Jeff McCormack

Special CMAA Award Presentations
Telstra Horizon Award – Amber Lawrence

CMAA Lifetime Achievement Award – Chad Morgan

2009 Industry Achiever Awards

• Producer of the Year – Nash Chambers & Shane Nicholson
• Engineer of the Year – Nash Chambers
• Musician of the Year – Jeff McCormack
  

Want your own piece of country memorabilia? The CMAA has launched its very own online auction with items donated by many of the most popular Australian country musicians.

Running until February 2010, the auction gives the chance for fans to bid for rare items and collectables including the top worn by Kasey Chambers during her 2004 ARIA Award performance, a Fender guitar signed by The McClymonts and other merchandise and collectables. Clcik on the banner below to take you straight to the auction site.

The Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) is the national peak industry body who organise and promote a range of country music events and concerts and develop ongoing programs for industry research, professional development and promotion in the industry.

These initiatives will help ensure that the CMAA can continue to organise, promote, develop and encourage country music within Australia.

With just days to go until the start of the 2010 Tamworth Country Music Festival, the Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) is pleased to announce the final performers and presenters in what will be the biggest line up of Australian country music talent seen all year for the 38th CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia to be held at the Jayco Country Theatre on Saturday, 23rd January, 2010.

The final three performance places are now locked in and set to join country music luminaries Lee Kernaghan, Troy Cassar-Daley and Adam Brand on stage are brother and sister nominees, Sar and Greg Storer, performing When I Was a Boy which is up for two Golden Guitar trophies in the Heritage Song of the Year and Video Clip of the Year categories; Finalist in the Maton New Talent of the Year and Video Clip of the Year categories for two different songs, Lianna Rose; and Bush Ballad of the Year Finalist, and one of bush balladry’s shining singer/songwriters, Dean Perrett.

A guaranteed highlight of the night will be a special tribute performance honouring Australian icon, John Williamson. The 'True Blue' singer/songwriter will watch on from the audience as his colleagues Troy Cassar-Daley, Shane Nicholson, Melinda Schneider and the Songbirds (Gina Jeffreys, Beccy Cole and Sara Storer) deliver a medley of some of his most recognised songs, as they pay tribute to his 40 years in the entertainment industry.

Also confirmed to perform at the 38th CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia, presented by Jayco, are: Carter & Carter, Kasey Chambers, Poppa Bill and the Little Hillbillies, Paul Costa, Adam Harvey & Guy Sebastian, Harmony James, Jetty Road, Amber Lawrence, The McClymonts and Felicity Urquhart.

Joining this sensational list of talent appearing on the night as presenters will be Adam Brand (with his 'Dancing with the Stars' partner, Jade Hatcher), Adam Harvey, Amber Lawrence, Dianna Corcoran, Felicity Urquhart, Guy Sebastian (just announced as having the highest selling single of the past decade), The Sunny Cowgirls, Tania Kernaghan, Travis Collins and hosts, The McClymonts, alongside the already confirmed Beccy Cole, Catherine Britt, Gina Jeffreys and Melinda Schneider.

Tickets for the 38th CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia, presented by Jayco, are on sale now and can be purchased online from Tourism Tamworth at www.tcmf.com.au or by calling (02) 6767 5300.  For a full list of Finalists, click here.

The 2010 Tamworth Country Music Festival will take place 15 to 24 January, 2010. The 38th CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia, presented by Jayco, will take place at the Jayco Country Theatre (Tamworth Regional Entertainment & Conference Centre) on Saturday, 23rd January, 2010.

The 38th CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia will broadcast on CMC on Foxtel Digital and Austar from 7.00pm on the evening of Thursday, 11 February, 2010, followed by an encore screening on Southern Cross Television and Network Ten nationally on Saturday, 13 February, 2010, at 1.30pm.

As Tamworth gears up for its annual country music event from 15 to 24 January, 2010, Tamworth Regional Council, Tourism Tamworth and the Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) have announced today that Jayco, Australia’s leading caravan manufacturer, have taken their partnership with the Festival and Awards a step further by extending their sponsorship to include the entire Festival.

Their involvement with the 2010 Tamworth Country Music Festival both cements and compliments Jayco’s ongoing association with Australian country music and to celebrate they will take over naming rights of the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre (TRECC) for the period of the Festival.

For the period from 15 to 24 January, 2010, TRECC will become the Jayco Country Theatre and Jayco will have a product display area outside the venue.

Jayco is one of the most recognised brands in Australia; an established and familiar household name. Each year, a Jayco is ‘home away from home’ for hundreds of thousands of Australians and is a company which prides itself on being a “family company”. Now in its fourth decade, the company - with some 725 employees - is one of the great success stories of Australian manufacturing.

Jayco have seen instrumental brand recognition and growth amongst country music fans through their relationship with the Festival and Awards and its Marketing Director, Andrew Ryan, said they are “thrilled to grow the partnership between Jayco and such strong national events as the Tamworth Country Music Festival and the Country Music Awards of Australia in 2010”.

Tickets for the 38th CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia, presented by Jayco, which is undeniably the biggest night in Australian Country Music, are on sale now to the general public and can be purchased online from Tourism Tamworth at www.tcmf.com.au or by calling (02) 6767 5300.

Already confirmed to perform at the 38th CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia are: Adam Brand, Carter & Carter, Troy Cassar-Daley, Kasey Chambers, Poppa Bill and the Little Hillbillies, Paul Costa, Adam Harvey + Guy Sebastian, Harmony James, Jetty Road, Lee Kernaghan, Amber Lawrence, The McClymonts and Felicity Urquhart. The McClymonts, Brooke, Sam and Mollie, will host the Awards for the very first time and also confirmed to present on the night are Gina Jeffreys, Beccy Cole, Catherine Britt and Melinda Schneider.

Further details will be announced for the 38th CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia, presented by Jayco, over the coming weeks. For a full list of Finalists click here.

The 2010 Tamworth Country Music Festival will take place 15 to 24 January, 2010. The 38th CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia, presented by Jayco, will take place at the Jayco Country Theatre (Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre) on Saturday, 23 January, 2010.

The very best in Australian Country Music.

The double CD set, The Winners 2010, which features the finalists in the 2010 CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia, presented by Jayco, was released by EMI Music Australia on December 4.

Each year, the CMAA is proud to present the cream of both traditional and contemporary country music. The Winners 2010, featuring 32 of the biggest songs in country music this year, demonstrates perfectly the wonderful diversity of our local talent.

With artists spanning all styles of country music – Keith Urban, Troy Cassar-Daley, Harmony James, John Williamson & Adam Harvey, Adam Brand, The McClymonts, Davidson Brothers, Catherine Britt, Adam Harvey, Greg & Sara Storer, Jetty Road, Melinda Schneider & The Australian Girls Choir, The Songbirds, The Bushwackers, Amber Lawrence, James Blundell, Paul Costa and more - The Winners 2010 is the must have country music album of 2009 and the perfect Christmas gift.

And stay on the lookout for The Winners 2010 DVD that will be released through EMI on January 15, 2010. The DVD will include video clips of those songs nominated for the 2010 CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia plus bonus tracks.

The 38th CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia, presented by Jayco, will be held at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Convention Centre (TRECC) on Saturday, January 23, 2010. Produced by the Country Music Association of Australia and presenting partner Jayco, the Awards are the longest-running music ceremony and concert in Australia.

The Winners 2010 full track listing

CD 1
1.    Troy Cassar-Daley - Big, Big Love
2.    Felicity Urquhart - Girl In The Mall
3.    Paul Costa - Survivor 1932
4.    Jayne Denham - Shake This Town
5.    Adam Brand - Ready For Love
6.    Amber Lawrence - Don't Do Lonely Well
7.    James Blundell - Good Wood
8.    Graham Rodger - The First Lady Of Country
9.    Harmony James - Precious Little
10.    Tommy Emmanuel - Jolly Swagman
11.    Troy Cassar-Daley feat. The McClymonts - Ain't Gonna Change For You
12.    Victoria Baillie - Make Me
13.    Greg Storer & Sara Storer - When I Was A Boy
14.    Tania Kernaghan - Second Time Around
15.    Jetty Road - Million Miles
16.    Carter & Carter - Surviving Black Saturday

CD 2
1.    Keith Urban - Sweet Thing
2.    Adam Harvey & John Williamson - King Of The Road
3.    The McClymonts - Shotgun
4.    Liam Brew - Girls With Girlfriends
5.    Melinda Schneider & The Australian Girls Choir - Courageous
6.    Lianna Rose - Jack
7.    Davidson Brothers - A Showman's Life
8.    Dean Perrett - The Dust Of Kalkadoon
9.    Ronni Rae Rivers - Running On Fumes
10.    Lawrie Minson - Waiting At The Station
11.    The Bushwackers - The Good Old Days
12.    Joe Robinson - It's Not Easy
13.    The Bobkatz - The Long Haul
14.    Tracy Coster - Old Black Quart
15.    Songbirds - Sara Storer, Gina Jeffreys & Beccy Cole - You've Got A Friend (Live)
16.    Australian Country Music Unites - Tangerine Sky