Troy Cassar-Daley, Max Jackson Clean Up At Tamworth's Golden Guitars

Troy Cassar-Daley has walked away as the big winner at this year’s Tamworth Country Music Festival Golden Guitars. Already holding the record for the most statues, the singer bagged five awards including Male Artist of the Year, Album of the Year and Alternative Country Album of the Year for his album Between the Fires. Heritage Song of the Year also went his way for Windradyne and Song of the Year for Some Days.

In an emotional speech, Cassar-Daley paid tribute to his family for being with him through what was a very emotional journey.

"I may have been a bit of a s**t to live with for a little while and I didn't really include everyone in what was going on but I didn't mean to push everyone away. Sometimes, to heal you have to take the journey on your own. Even my kids were pushed away a little bit, they still love me, they still call me their Da. Laurel, thank you for understanding the walk that we took through that bush to make this record." 

Newcomer Max Jackson backed up her 2024 win for best new talent with two big awards for Best Female Artist and Best Single for her track Little More Country which she also performed on the night.

As reported last week, Keith Urban was also honoured with an induction into the Roll of Renown. A grateful Urban thanked fans that were with him from the start.

"All of us artists know that it takes the early believers seeing something in you.”

Contemporary country album of the year was taken out by Casey Barnes for Mayday, while Zac and George took out best duo or group. New talent of the year went to Lane Pittman who is currently playing stadiums across Australia with Luke Combs.

The awards capped off a huge (and hot) week in Tamworth as the country community farewells the capital’s biggest week for another year.

53rd Country Music Awards of Australia 

Album of the Year: BETWEEN THE FIRES

Troy Cassar-Daley | Producers: Troy Cassar-Daley, Jeff McCormack, Jordan Power 

Alt Country Album of the Year: BETWEEN THE FIRES

Troy Cassar-Daley | Producers: Troy Cassar-Daley, Jeff McCormack, Jordan Power

Contemporary Country Album of the Year: MAYDAY

Casey Barnes | Producers: Michael DeLorenzis and Michael Paynter, MSquared

Traditional Country Album of the Year: SETTING SUNS

Ashleigh Dallas | Producer: Brett Dallas

Male Artist of the Year: TROY CASSAR-DALEY

Female Artist of the Year: MAX JACKSON

Country Music Capital News 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 | Songwriter: Colin Buchanan

Heritage Song of the Year: WINDRADYNE

Troy Cassar-Daley | Songwriter: 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 | Songwriters: Troy Cassar-Daley & Kevin Bennett

CMT Video of the Year: DHARAWAL

Luke O’Shea | Director: Luke O’Shea & Jay Seeney, Blacklist Productions

Single of the Year: LITTLE MORE COUNTRY

Max Jackson

Top Selling Album of the Year: HIGH

Keith Urban