Folk Tui finalists announced 2008

The finalists for New Zealand’s Best Folk Album of 2008 include an enduring crooner, a celebrated bluegrass band and a trio of relative new kids on the block.

Cardrona-based singer-songwriter Martin Curtis is joined by the evergreen Hamilton County Bluegrass Band and Dunedin trio Delgirl in the finalist line-up announced today 22 December by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ).

Curtis’ ninth album of New Zealand folk songs is titled ‘Sea To Summit’ and features a range of new songs, several of which have already attracted local and offshore interest. ‘Sir Ed’ has been picked up by Kiwi Kids Songs for inclusion in its next release and the album is airing regularly on BBC Radio in Cardiff and Gloucester.

Currently Curtis’ main focus is on school work, presenting a programme for primary children about New Zealand history, wildlife, conservation and way of life. The work has also spread to regular visits to schools in the UK, where he illustrates his ‘Kiwi’ show with posters and pictures of New Zealand.

Formed in the 1960s, the Hamilton County Bluegrass Band continues its legacy of authentic bluegrass music with a Kiwi twist. The band’s fifth and latest album is ‘Way Down South’ which features 13 tracks. The title song is a Paul Trenwith original, recounting his first appearance at American festivals where he was accepted as true Southerner and ‘bluegrass musician.’ The Hamilton County Bluegrass Band is still the first and only New Zealand band to play The Grand Ole Opry in theUSA. Compared to Curtis and the Hamilton bluegrass quintet, the Delgirl trio is a relative newcomer.

Formed eight years ago the girls admit to playing “skiffily, folky, country, jazzy, bluesy roots music with a Pacific edge bordering a swamp”. ‘Two, Maybe Three Days Ride’ is the debut album from Delgirl’s Deirdre Newall, Erin Morton and Lynn Vare. ‘Ride’ from the album has been selected by NZ Trade & Enterprise to feature on a music placement export disc entitled New Zealand-New Music which is distributed to music supervisors in TV/Film worldwide.

Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) CEO Campbell Smith likes the spread of folk styles across the finalist artists. “Folk music has wide appeal in New Zealand across many different styles,” Smith says. “And, it’s great to see that we have three finalists with quite different approaches”. The Folk Music Tui for the best album of 2008 is to be presented on Sunday 25 January at the final concert of the Auckland Folk Festival. The Auckland Folk Festival is held in Kumeu (West Auckland) from the 23 to 26 January 2009 (http://www.aucklandfolkfestival.co.nz/)

NOTE TO EDITORS:The Tui for Best Folk Album 2008 is for recordings released between 16 November 2007 – 15 November 2008The Folk category was introduced to the awards in 1984. Recent previous winners of the Tui for Best Folk Album

2005 - Lorina Harding for the album ‘Clean Break’

2006 - Ben the Hoose (Kenny Ritch and Bob McNeill) for ‘The Little Cascade’

2007 – Phil Garland for his 18th album ‘Southern Odyssey’.Or refer to http://www.nzmusicawards/ (see history section).

Finalists’ websites

Martin Curtis: http://www.martincurtis.co.nz/

Hamilton County Bluegrass Band: www.myspace.com/hamiltoncountybluegrassband

Delgirl: http://www.delgirl.co.nz/

2007 Country Music Award finalists announced.

News release May 4,
Two relative newcomers and one of New Zealand’s favourite country duos are the finalists for the Best Country Music Album of 2007. Perennial Kiwi country favourites The Topp Twins join Wellington’s Warren Love Band and Johnny Possum’s Good Time Hootin’ Band from Christchurch as the three to compete for this year’s Tui award. The winner is to be announced at the Gold Guitar Awards in Gore in June and will also be acknowledged at the New Zealand Music Awards in October.Jools and Lynda Topp have been selected as a finalist for their album “Flowergirls & Cowgirls”. The Waikato-born and Auckland-based duo aren’t strangers to the music awards stage after winning the best Country Album Tui in 2001 for their highly successful ‘Grass Highway’ album.

Former busker Warren Love’s debut album “Warren Love Band” comes off the street, teaming up with some of country’s leading New Zealand musicians. They include Warratahs’ accordionist Al Norman and local music icon Wayne Mason, writer of ‘Nature’.Formed in 2005, Johnny Possum’s Good Time Hootin’ Band’s debut CD “Tickets” features old and new country favourites as well as an original single called ‘Bluegrass Saved the Earth’. Taking their cue from traditional country music roots, the band has included several standard tunes with new arrangements whilst also digging deeper into 19th century blues to apply the special Possum treatment.

New Zealand Music Awards spokesperson Campbell Smith says the finalists represent a cross section of country music in New Zealand.“Jools and Lynda are New Zealand’s icons, superb songwriters and entertainers.“Johnny Possum and Warren Love bring a fresh new perspective to country music with their modern interpretations and wonderful story lines.

Country music is very much alive and well in New Zealand as the standard of these finalists shows,” Campbell says.“It’s fantastic to see our Country artists producing great music, and when they come together in Gore at the biggest Country music festival in New Zealand, it makes for a very special occasion. ”The winners are announced at the New Zealand Country Music Awards on Friday June 1 in Gore as part of the Gold Guitar celebrations. Attracting more than 5,000 country music fans during the festival, Gold Guitar week is in its 34th year. For more information visit: http://www.goldguitars.co.nz More information about the Country Music Album of the Year Award is available at http://www.nzmusicawards.co.nz

About RIANZ: The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand Inc (RIANZ) is a non-profit organisation representing major and independent record producers, distributors and recording artists throughout New Zealand. RIANZ works to protect the rights and promote the interests of creative people involved in the New Zealand recording industry.endsIssued for the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) by Pead PRRIANZ Best Country Music Album (Tui award)For more information including award criteria and history, and finalist information please contact:
Pead PR ContactBonnie Smail, Pead PR, Tel: 0-9-918 5581, Mob: 021 722 276, E-mail: bonnie@peadpr.co.nz Bonnie Smail( bus +64 (9) 9185581 mob 021 722 276Level 2, Carlton DFK Centre, 135 BroadwayPrivate Bag 99911, Newmarket, Auckland