COUNTRY MUSIC AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Tami Neilson and Matt Langley Strike Country Gold in Gore.

The nation's biggest awards night on the country music calendar
has seen the gongs handed out for Best Country Music Album
and Best Country Song of 2010 at the New Zealand Country Music
Awards in Gore tonight (June 4).

Tami Neilson has followed up her 2009 win by picking up the
Recording Industry Association (RIANZ) Best Country Music Album
while Matt Langley has taken out the
APRA Best Country Song for 2010.

Auckland-based Neilson's 'The Kitchen Table Sessions'
took out the award ahead of other finalists The Bads for 'So Alive'
and The Topp Twins for 'Honky Tonk Angel'.

Meanwhile, Dunedin-based singer-songwriter, Matt Langley
scooped the APRA Best Country Song for 2010 for '7:13'
from his first full-length album 'FEATHERBONES'.

The other finalists for the APRA Best Country Song of 2010
were Dianne Swann (The Bads) for 'So Alive'
and Jools Topp (The Topp Twins) for 'Honky Tonk Angel'.

*Best Country Album

'The Kitchen Table Sessions' features guest performances
by members of the Neilson family and includes several
blue grass takes on classic songs such as
'Slice of Heaven', 'Salty Dog Blues' and 'I Fall to Pieces'.

Tami is no stranger to the Country Music Awards with her album
'Red Dirt Angel' winning Best Country Music Album last year.
Her single 'Cry Myself to Sleep' was also a finalist for the
Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA)
Best Country Song Award.

Canadian-born Neilson's soulful take on country music has seen
her carve a solid following in both New Zealand and Australia.

Having toured Canada with her parents' band as a young girl,
Tami is used to living life on the move. As well as several stints
in Australia and New Zealand, she recently finished the
'Saints and Sinners' tour of New Zealand, which received rave reviews.
Tami will also be touring Canada in July.

*Best Country Song

Dunedin-based singer / songwriter Matt Langley's '7:13'
features on his first full length album 'FEATHERBONES',
to be released through local indie label Hometown Records
in New Zealand later this year.
Songs featured on the album encompass a broad spectrum
of influences from rock to folk, blues and country.

Langley's unique take on blues, folk, country and rock
first caught the attention of critics when he released
his debut E.P. 'Lost Companions' in 2007.

Despite dedicating most of 2009 to recording his new album,
Langley has continued to tour New Zealand with his most
recent performances taking place in his home town of Dunedin.