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Scoop
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Winners Announced At Country Music Honours
23 May 2025 2025 APRA Best Country Music Song Award winner – Holly Arrowsmith MLT Songwriting Award winner – Nicola Mitchell, Em-Hayley Walker & Byllie-Jean Zeta Tami Neilson recipient of inaugural award Top country music artists from across Aotearoa gathered in Gore this evening for the prestigious Country Music Honours, celebrating finalists and winners with the presentation of the 2025 APRA Best Country Music Song Award, Country Music Honour for the MLT Songwriting award and the inaugural Country Music Honour for Contribution to Country Music in Aotearoa. The glamorous red-carpet event marked the official opening of the Bayleys Tussock Country Music Festival — a 10-day celebration of all things Tussock Country. The audience was treated to performances by special guest Tami Neilson, alongside finalists Holly Arrowsmith, Mel Parsons, and Nicola Mitchell and more. APRA Best Country Music Song Award winner Country Music Honour for the MLT Songwriting Award Country Music Honour for Contribution to Country Music in Aotearoa Tami Neilson South Island songwriter Holly Arrowsmith was presented as the winner of the 2025 APRA Best Country Music Song Award for the title track from the 2024 critically acclaimed album ' Blue Dreams '. Having won first in 2019 with ' Slow Train Creek', and most recently in 2024 with ' Desert Dove', the Aotearoa Music Award finalist & Taite Music Prize nominee, won with the moving song ' Blue Dreams ', that delves into life as a first-time parent, surviving those early days of chronic exhaustion while managing the huge burden of responsibility, bringing life into such a turbulent world. The prestigious Country Music Honour for the MLT Songwriting Award, which celebrates unreleased original songs from Aotearoa, was awarded to Nicola Mitchell, Byllie-Jean Zeta, and Em-Hayley Walker (Theia, Te Kaahu) for their waiata 'Wā/Time' performed by Nicola Mitchell. All three are wāhine Māori with distinctive musical styles. Their collaboration on 'Wā/Time' reflects a powerful fusion of their unique voices and a shared cultural vision. Lachie Hayes was named runner-up for his heartfelt song 'A Short Time', earning recognition for his songwriting talent in a highly competitive field. In a special addition to this year's awards, audiences witnessed the emotive debut of the Country Music Honour for Contribution to Country Music in Aotearoa. The inaugural recipient of this award was the acclaimed Tami Neilson, recognised for her outstanding impact and unwavering dedication to the country music scene in Aotearoa New Zealand - with particular focus on the opportunities Tami has selflessly created for the emerging artists around her. As Neilson stood on stage to receive the surprise Honour, a video celebrating her career moved many in the theatre to tears — featuring audio tributes from Jesse Mulligan (RNZ), fellow New Zealand country artists, her Canada-based brother Todd Neilson, and Willie Nelson.
RNZ News
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Holly Arrowsmith wins Best Country Music Song
music national 41 minutes ago Last night the APRA Country Music Honours were held in Gore, bringing the country's - best country crooners under one roof. The award for the Best-Country-Music-Song was awarded to singer/songwriter Holly Arrowsmith for her song Blue Dreams. The track delves into life as a first-time parent, surviving those early days of chronic exhaustion while managing the burden of responsibility and bringing life into such a turbulent world. Holly speaks to Mihi Forbes.
Otago Daily Times
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Neilson awarded Country Music Honour
Performing at the Country Music Honours last night in Gore are (from left) Maia Fletcher, Nicola Mitchell and Liv Cochrane. PHOTOS: ELLA SCOTT-FLEMING A piece of country royalty was beamed into Gore last night. Willie Nelson was on screen at the St James Theatre via video to end a touching six-minute tribute to Tami Neilson. She received the inaugural Country Music Honour for contribution to country music in New Zealand. Top country music artists from across the country gathered for the Country Music Honours event, beginning the 10-day Tussock Country festival. During the proceedings, two songwriting awards were announced. South Island songwriter Holly Arrowsmith was presented with the Apra Best Country Music Song Award for the title track from her 2024 album Blue Dreams. The new mother, whose album delved into life as a first-time parent, was thrilled to win. The Country Music Honour for the MLT Songwriting Award, which is for unreleased originals from New Zealand, went to Gore's own Nicola Mitchell, alongside her fellow wāhine Māori Byllie-Jean Zeta and Em-Hayley, for the song Wā/Time. Returning from a full-immersion te reo course in Ōtaki in the Kapiti Coast, Ms Mitchell is teaching a Folk Waiata-writing workshop during the festival with her twin sister Maegan on Tuesday. Nominees for the Apra Best Country Music Song award (from left) Holly Arrowsmith, Tami Neilson and Mel Parsons. The twins, their older sister Jenny and father Ron will be taking over the Saint James today for their first official eponymous show. She will also be hosting a waiata-writing workshop for children under her persona Niccolo Piccolo on Wednesday. Catlins-based songwriter Lachie Hayes was the runner-up for the MLT Award with his song A Short Time. A video celebrating Ms Neilson's career was played including tributes from fellow artists the Topp Twins, RNZ's Jesse Mulligan and 92-year-old Nelson. Nelson, in a brief appearance right at the end of the video, congratulated Ms Neilson and said "those who lead give light to those who follow". New Zealand artist and producer Delaney Davidson said Ms Neilson came into his life "like a bolt of lightning, out of nowhere" while he and fellow artist Marlon Williams were working on a country sound in Lyttelton. She "kicked off his production career" by asking him to produce her song Dynamite. Much was made during the ceremony of the opportunities Ms Neilson had created for the emerging artists around her.
Scoop
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Finalists Announced For 2025 Apra Best Country Music Song
Celebrating the best in Aotearoa country music APRA AMCOS NZ are pleased to announce the 2025 APRA Best Country Music Song award finalists, with the winner to be presented at the Country Music Honours in Gore on Friday 23 May. ' 5432 ' written and performed by Mel Parsons ' Blue Dreams ' written and performed by Holly Arrowsmith ' Borrow My Boots ' written and performed by Tami Neilson, Ashley McBryde, and Shelly Fairchild, featuring Grace Bowers Multi award-winning Mel Parsons is one of New Zealand's most established songwriting stars with a dedicated fan base across six records and countless tours. Having won the MLT Songwriting Award in 2024 with ' Hardest Thing ', Parsons returns to Gore with ' 5432 ', an expression of love and quiet hope above gnawing self-doubt. With a soaring Crosby-Stills-Nash style vocal harmony in the chorus, the song explores the common experience of artists – the inner battle between anxiety and being able to produce work. Having toured with Crowded House in 2024, her latest album Sabotage saw her a finalist for the prestigious Taite Music Prize and 2025 Aotearoa Music Award finalist for Album of the Year and Best Folk Artist. Mel celebrates her latest single and video ' Post High Slide ' with a run of shows through Aotearoa and Australia in June. 2024 APRA Best Country Song Award winner for ' Desert Dove ', Holly Arrowsmith returns to the finalist with the title track from the album ' Blue Dreams '. A leader in New Zealand's contemporary Folk, Alt-Country and Americana movement, Arrowsmith was a finalist for the coveted Taite Music Prize while the album also sees her with a finalist nod at the upcoming Aotearoa Music Awards for Best Folk Artist. The moving title track ' Blue Dreams ' delves into life as a first-time parent, surviving those early days of chronic exhaustion while managing the huge burden of responsibility, bringing life into such a turbulent world. Showing a real domestic scene, not a glorified one; the often-invisible work of Mothers, especially. Those messy, imperfect, sometimes lonely, tender and mundane days with your beautiful baby, time in suspension – for a time. Tami Neilson is no stranger to awards, having won this award five times since 2014, alongside multiple Aotearoa Music Awards, an APRA Silver Scroll and chart-topping success. Fresh off the back of a tour with Willie Nelson, her next studio album ' Neon Cowgirl ' will be released 11th July, followed by US tour supports for Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan. Nominated track ' Borrow My Boots ', out 15 May, was co-written long-distance with US country stars Ashley McBryce and powerhouse songwriter Shelly Fairchild after Neilson's experiences of being lifted up and encouraged by her musical peers in the US; in Tami's words that's how you say, 'Hey Sister, you can borrow my boots'. Ant Healey of APRA AMCOS says 'These songs speak with honesty, power, and heart—capturing the stories that connect us all. Each songwriter offers a perspective that is both deeply personal and reminds us of the strength found in community. It's an honour to recognise such exceptional songwriting talent.'
Otago Daily Times
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Apra Best Country Music Song award finalists named
Holly Arrowsmith. Photo: Si Moore The finalists have been announced for the Apra Best Country Music Song award, with the winner to be announced at the Country Music Honours in Gore on May 23. The finalists are: 5432 written and performed by Mel Parsons; Blue Dreams written and performed by Holly Arrowsmith; Borrow My Boots written and performed by Tami Neilson, Ashley McBryde and Shelly Fairchild, featuring Grace Bowers. Parsons won the MLT Songwriting Award last year with Hardest Thing. She returned to Gore with her nominated song, an expression of love and quiet hope above gnawing self-doubt. Having toured with Crowded House last year, her latest album Sabotage saw her a finalist for the Taite Music Prize and Aotearoa Music Award finalist for Album of the Year and Best Folk Artist. Last year's Apra Best Country Song Award winner for Desert Dove, Arrowsmith returns as a finalist with the title track from the album Blue Dreams. She is a leader in New Zealand's contemporary folk, alt-country and Americana movement, a finalist for the Taite Music Prize and for the upcoming Aotearoa Music Awards for Best Folk Artist. Blue Dreams delves into life as a first-time parent. Neilson is no stranger to awards, having won this award five times since 2014, alongside multiple Aotearoa Music Awards, an Apra Silver Scroll and chart-topping success. Fresh off the back of a tour with Willie Nelson, her next studio album Neon Cowgirl will be released on July 11, followed by US tour supports for Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan. Borrow My Boots was co-written long-distance with US country stars Ashley McBryce and Shelly Fairchild after Neilson's experiences of being lifted up and encouraged by her musical peers in the US. Apra head of New Zealand operations Anthony Healey said the songs spoke with honesty, power and heart. — APL
