Tasmanian berry farmers and musicians The Wolfe Brothers have taken out the top honour at the Australian country music industry’s major awards night.
The pair overcame pandemic isolation and the tragedy of their mother’s sudden passing to produce the album of the year along side two other awards, The Group or Duo and Vocal Collaboration of the Year.
Brothers Tom and Nick Wolfe had to isolate themselves in a studio while producing their Livin’ The Dream album during COVID-19 restrictions, working with writers around the world over video chat.
Tragedy came just before the album’s release when their mother, Lee Wolfe, passed away suddenly from an illness.
The brothers paid tribute to both of their parents on Saturday night as they took home their ninth Golden Guitar.
“Mum was an incredible woman, we wouldn’t have had our career without her,” Tom said.
“A lot of stuff happened this week that mum and dad would have been over the moon to see,” Nick said.
“We know that they are watching over us.”
Urquhart and Cunningham take trio
Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham were the other big winners of the night, with their song, Size Up, winning Song of the Year and Single of the Year.
Coming off their album, Birdsong, which won Traditional Country Album of the year, they said they felt blessed to win.
“The song Size Up is the story of my childhood and is about my family, so I have to give a lot of thanks to them,” Urquhart said.
Cunningham had previously won awards as part of folk rock band, The Waifs, but said it was the first time his name had been on an award since primary school.
“But the most meaningful thing is because it’s alongside Felicity Urquhart, and that’s the name of the woman who means the most to me, the person who means the most to me in the world,” he said.
Brad Cox also won three awards — Male Artist, Contemporary Country Album, and Top Selling Album of the Year — but did not attend the awards.
Leading the next generation
Newcastle’s Max Jackson continued her rise in the country music scene after winning New Talent of the Year.
Having focused on encouraging the next generation of country artists as ambassador during the Tamworth Country Music Festival, she said she was incredibly proud.
“I always come at [country music] as a fan first, my favourite singers always gave me the time of day and I hope to do the same,” she said
“I hope when [young artists] listen to my music they just feel inspired and feel like they can do it too because, really, anyone can.”
