From country roads to stardom
They polished their rhinestones and came draped in their finest cowboy attire as country music took over the city.
Singers rode into Palmerston North for the third annual Aotearoa Country Music Awards at The Globe Theatre at the weekend.
It certainly didn’t disappoint, with everyone from children to veterans dusting off their cowboy hats to compete in the national competition hosted by Manawatu¯ musician Renee Strawbridge.
In the saddle as convenor, Strawbridge, 38, broke into tears yesterday afternoon as two young girls took the stage in the children’s final. ‘‘I grew up entering awards like these as a kid, and I wanted to ensure that these opportunities remain available for our young people. They are the future of country music in Aotearoa,’’ she said.
‘‘I got quite emotional seeing them there. I felt so happy I was able to give them that opportunity. It was like coming full circle.’’
Country music had a reputation for being a niche genre, but more than 100 singers from as far as Auckland ventured to the event and there were more than 20 country singing groups in Manawatu¯ alone, Strawbridge said.
‘‘It’s not mainstream ... but there is a large group of us. It’s mainly people in the over-60 age group, but that’s why it’s important to have these events to keep young people involved.’’
Strawbridge is involved with three bands and there is rarely a weekend without a gig.
While artists were encouraged to perform a wide variety of country bangers – from solo music to gospel and country rock – there was one specific number that singers could never get away from.
‘‘You can’t go anywhere or do a gig without someone asking you to play Wagon Wheel.’’
Contestants were accompanied by top backing bands, Pure Dixie and Handpicked, and yesterday’s awards afternoon were hosted by country duo En-tranzet, who were the 1992 entertainers of the year.
Last year’s entertainer of the year, Ainslie Allen, was also at the festival.
Stawbridge said Allen had etched an amazing career as an independent country artist, which had included entertaining New Zealand and Australian troops in East Timor and singing the national anthem for the All Blacks and Silver Ferns.
She has toured Hawaii with John Rowles and Elvis Presley’s TCB band, and performed before a crowd of 250,000 at New Zealand’s biggest outdoor concert.
Winners are eligible to compete in the 2020 Entertainer of the Year.
The main results will be published in tomorrow’s Standard.