:: Spotlight :: 2008 Country Music Association of Australia Awards

By: Carmine Pascuzzi; photos by Matt Deller

The Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) has announced the Nominations for the 36th CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia.

Album of the Year

Adam Harvey - I’m Doin’ Alright
Produced by Rod McCormack
SonyBMG

Beccy Cole - Live @ Lizotte’s
Produced by Rod McCormack
ABC Music

James Blundell - Ring Around The Moon
Produced by Graham Thompson
Compass Bros Records

Dianna Corcoran - Then There’s Me
Produced by Graham Thompson
Compass Bros Records

Gina Jeffreys - Walks Of Life
Produced by Rod McCormack
Ocean Road Music

Male Artist of the Year

James Blundell - Ring Around The Moon
Compass Bros Records

Troy Cassar-Daley - Everything’s Going To Be Alright
EMI Music Australia

Travis Collins - Yeah She Does
ABC Music

Adam Harvey - Someone Else’s Dream
SonyBMG

Lee Kernaghan - Sassafras Gap
ABC Music

Female Artist of the Year

Kirsty Lee Akers - Little Things
Compass Bros Records

Beccy Cole – Lifeboat
ABC Music

Dianna Corcoran - Then There’s Me
Compass Bros Records

Gina Jeffreys - Truth About Lies
Ocean Road Music

Amber Lawrence - Things That Bring Me Down
MRA Entertainment

Group or Duo of the Year

Carter & Carter - The Best Things In Life Are Free
Crestway Music

Jetty Road - Real Smooth Cowboy
Independent

Jonah’s Road - Counting Down The Days
Bunza Entertainment

The McClymonts - Save Yourself
Universal Music Australia

The Noll Brothers - Shining Star
Emporium Music

Vocal Collaboration of the Year

Karl Broadie & Dianna Corcoran - Count Your Blessings
ABC Music

Rose Carleo & Drew McAlister - Sometimes You Just Know
Independent

Beccy Cole, Sara Storer & Gina Jeffreys - Galleries Of Pink Galahs
ABC Music

Travis Collins & Kevin Bennett - Heart Of Blues
ABC Music

Lee Kernaghan, Adam Brand & Steve Forde - Spirit Of The Bush
ABC Music

Bush Ballad of the Year

Brian Letton - Driving Through A Postcard
Written by G Sidebottom/S Leigh
LBS Music

Jeff Brown - In The Wings Of The Yard
Written by K & M Dixon/Jeff Brown
Independent

Amos Morris - Sign Of The Times
Written by Ian Quinn
Nulla Records

Peter Pratt - Sons Of The Snowy
Written by Peter Pratt
Independent

Graham Rodger – Thunderbolt
Written by Graham Rodger
Independent

Heritage Song of the Year

Sara Storer - Land Cries Out
Written by Sara Storer
EMI Music Australia

Troy Cassar-Daley - Last Mile Home
Written by Troy Cassar-Daley
EMI Music Australia

James Blundell - Nature’s Gentleman
Written by James Blundell
Compass Bros Records

Lee Kernaghan, Adam Brand & Steve Forde - Spirit Of The Bush
Written by L Kernaghan/C Buchanan/G Porter
ABC Music

Peter Denahy - The Ringing Of The Steel
Written by Peter Denahy
Compass Bros Records

Instrumental of the Year

Ruckus - Black ‘n’ White
Independent

Michael Fix - Hobbity Hoi
Independent

Steve Passfield - Stump Jumpin’
Independent

Alisha Smith & Charley Boyter - Tanami Track
Kross Cut Records

Crakajak - The Lunger
Independent

Maton New Talent of the Year

Kirsty Lee Akers - Little Things
Compass Bros Records

Lou Bradley - One Shoe
Independent

Morgan Evans - Big Skies
SonyBMG

Harmony James – Tailwind
Independent

Amber Lawrence - Things That Bring Me Down
MRA Entertainment

Video Clip of the Year

Morgan Evans - Big Skies
Directed by Myles Conti
SonyBMG

The Pigs – Crazy
Directed by The Pigs
Independent

Matt Scullion - Giddy Up
Directed by Duncan Toombs
MRA Entertainment

Lee Kernaghan, Adam Brand & Steve Forde - Spirit Of The Bush
Directed by Ross Wood
ABC Music

Gina Jeffreys - Stepped Right In It
Directed by Ross Wood
Ocean Road Music

Single of the Year

Troy Cassar-Daley - Everything’s Going To Be Alright
EMI Music Australia

Sara Storer - Land Cries Out
EMI Music Australia

Adam Harvey - Someone Else’s Dream
SonyBMG

Lee Kernaghan, Adam Brand & Steve Forde - Spirit Of The Bush
ABC Music

Carter & Carter - The Best Things In Life Are Free
Crestway Music

APRA Song of the Year

Everything’s Going To Be Alright - Written by Troy Cassar-Daley/Don Walker
EMI Music Publishing

Land Cries Out - Written by Sara Storer
ABC Music Publishing

Lifeboat - Written by Beccy Cole
ABC Music Publishing

One Shoe - Written by Lou Bradley
Control

Spirit Of The Bush - Written by L Kernaghan/C Buchanan/G Porter
Orient/Universal/Control

Now in its 36th year, the CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia is Australia’s longest running music awards event, and 2008 promises to be bigger than ever. Many of this year’s finalists will be directly involved as either performers or presenters on the night.

Australia Day, January 26, 2008, will see the biggest names of country music all come together for one night only at Tamworth’s Regional Entertainment and Convention Centre for the 36th CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia, presented by Jayco.

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**Winners announced**

Album of the Year - Adam Harvey - I’m Doin’ Alright, Produced by Rod McCormack, SonyBMG

Male Artist of the Year - Troy Cassar-Daley - Everything’s Going To Be Alright, EMI Music Australia

Female Artist of the Year - Dianna Corcoran - Then There’s Me, Compass Bros Records

Group or Duo of the Year - The McClymonts - Save Yourself, Universal Music Australia

Vocal Collaboration of the Year - Lee Kernaghan, Adam Brand & Steve Forde - Spirit Of the Bush, ABC Music

Bush Ballad of the Year - Amos Morris - Sign Of The Times, Written by Ian Quinn, Nulla Records

Heritage Song of the Year - Sara Storer - Land Cries Out, Written by Sara Storer, EMI Music Australia

Instrumental of the Year - Steve Passfield - Stump Jumpin’, Independent

Maton New Talent of the Year - Kirsty Lee Akers - Little Things, Compass Bros Records

Video Clip of the Year - Lee Kernaghan, Adam Brand & Steve Forde - Spirit Of The Bush, Directed by Ross Wood, ABC Music

Single of the Year - Lee Kernaghan, Adam Brand & Steve Forde - Spirit Of The Bush, ABC Music

APRA Song of the Year - Land Cries Out - Written by Sara Storer, ABC Music Publishing

CMC Oz Artist of the Year - Adam Brand

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**Pictures from the event**

The McClymonts

Lee Kernaghan	The McClymonts with Andrew Ernst

Gina Jeffries, Beccy Cole & Sara Storer	Sara, Beccy & Gina with Phil Barnett

Aleyce Simmonds

Shea Fisher

Talia Wittman	Noll Brothers with Bundaberg Run girls

Sara Storer	Troy Cassar-Daley and his wife

Amber Lawrence

Catherine Britt	Paula & Lee Bowman

Lee Kernaghan & wife Robyn	Lee with Adam Brand & Steve Forde

Kirsty Lee Akers	Kirsty Lee and friends

James Blundell & his sons	James Blundell & Jesse Curran

James Blundell & Michael Spiby	Diana Corcoran

Steve Forde	Travis Collins & girlfriend

Melinda Carter	Felicity Urquhart

Harmony James