One of the top accolades in Country Music in New Zealand has been won by country-rock newcomer, Cam Scott.

On Saturday night at the Founders Theatre in Hamilton, Cam took home the 2015 Male Artist of the Year Award alongside Jody Direen (Female Artist of the Year) and Neilly Rich (Duo of the Year).

“I’m stoked to take home this award and I’m looking forward to releasing more music and playing more international festivals. The growth in demand for country music just in the past 12 months has been massive. It’s an exciting time for our genre,” explains Cam.

Over the weekend the line-up of Australia’s largest international country music festival, CMC Rocks QLD 2016 was also announced featuring Cam Scott, Kaylee Bell and Jody Direen who will perform alongside US artists such as Jason Aldean, Florida Georgia Line, Lee Brice and Kelsea Ballerini in Queensland, Australia in March next year.

The Red Carpet was rolled out this week end for a star studded Country music Awards CMANZ held in Founders Theatre Sat 8th of August. With stunning performances from ‘Tami Neilson’ and ‘Brendan Dugan’ along with young duo ‘Mae Valley’, last year’s winners ‘Into the East’ ‘Kaylee Bell’, ‘Cam Luxton’ and ‘Phil Doublet’. Along with Horizon nominees ‘Kayla Mahon’, ‘Jenny Harraway’ and ‘Hannah Cosgrove’. The awards were re-branded this year to be CMANZ and the physical awards themselves “The Gold Fern”

2015 Winner of the Gold Fern for New Zealand Female Country Artist of the Year went to Jody Direen. Direen has enjoyed a great year with the release of her album ‘Break Out’ and has just signed to Australian Label ABC.

2015 Winner of the Gold Fern for New Zealand Male Country Artist of the Year went to ‘Cam Scott’. Cam Scott has enjoyed a great year performing in Australia and his single releasing and charting on Itunes in New Zealand.

2015 Winner of the Gold Fern for New Zealand Group of the Year went to ‘NeillyRich’
Sydney based duo who have been topping the charts in Australia.

2015 Winner of the Gold Fern for the Legend Award went to ‘Noel Parlane’
The industry acknowledged Noel Parlane a kiwi country Music legend who recently passed away. Noel enjoyed a career spanning 4 decades with 18 studio albums including the latest album ‘Everybody’s here’ having spawned a multiple chart hit with “If you wanna be a country singer”

The Gold Fern for the emerging artist Horizon award was presented to Kayla Mahon, who will now attend the Global Artist Showcase in Nashville in 2016. Kayla also won a Scholarship to the DAG Sheep Station. The Win will see Kayla travel to Nundle Australia for a workshop with leading Australian Songwriters.

Jody Direen, Cam Scott and Kaylee Bell previous Horizon awardees have all been named in list of artists to play CMC Rocks 2016. Australia’s Biggest International Country & Roots Festival.

It was also announced that CMANZ would include 3 new industry based Awards in 2016 including
2016 Gold Fern for Country music Producer of the Year
2016 Gold Fern for Country Music Video Producer of the Year
2016 Gold Fern for Country Music Single of the Year