By Shelby Brooks
Berwick is shining a little brighter this week thanks to local country music star Andrew Swift who brought home a Golden Guitar from the 2023 Tamworth Country Music Festival.
The Toyota 51st Golden Guitar Awards – on Saturday 21 January in the nation’s country music capital, Tamworth – saw Swift walk away with one of the night’s biggest wins – Male Artist of the Year.
Following a string of impactful singles across the last 12 months including the undeniably catchy airplay favourites Young Lovers and The Good Old Days, the win was his first in this category.
The Berwick-based muso said he was a bit of an underdog in the category, so was stocked by the win.
“The guys I was up against are big names in the industry, they’re friends of mine as well and I know how big their years have been. We all work our butts off,” Swift said.
“I was a bit of an underdog with only one nomination on the night, whereas everyone else had four or five, so I think that’s where it was a big shock.”
“When it comes to the awards, it’s always nice to get a nod from the industry to say you’re doing something right, but it’s not all about awards – that’s not why we make music,” he said.
“[Male Artist of the Year] was a bucket list item, especially being nominated three times, you do hope you get a win in there.
“I’m hoping it helps lift my profile more and helps me tour more and helps me bring my band on tour with me.”
Swift said he’s already seen a spike in streams of his songs online since the win and hopes it will help his music reach more people.
Swift is performing at the Noojee Pub on 18 March and you can keep up to date with his other live dates at andrewswift.com.au
