Up In Smoke by Great North has been announced as the winner of the2015 Best Folk Album at the Auckland Folk Festival in Kumeu.

It is the second folk Tui for the Auckland-based band, their previous victory coming in 2013 with Halves.

Great North is a sextet comprising Hayden and Rachel Donnell, Dale Campbell, Strahan Cole, Ryan Attwood and Matthew Hutching. The band is produced and engineered by David Parker.

Up In Smoke features a powerful and diverse range of songs written by front-man Hayden Donnell. A mixture of instruments and choir vocals complement the lyrics which explore disillusionment and spiritual uncertainty.

Recorded Music NZ CEO Damian Vaughan says Great North has impressed many within the music industry with its strong and varied repertoire.

"It speaks volumes of Great North that they can produce two Tui award winning albums in three years. Halves and Up In Smoke are two very different albums but they both share a resounding quality that's worthy of New Zealand's Best Folk Album. Congratulations to all the band members."

The other finalists for the 2015 Folk Tui were Palmerston North-born Rachel Dawick for The Bounty Ridersand Pigalle by Paris-based soloist Flip Grater.

The Auckland Folk Festival is an annual festival of music, song and dance held at Kumeu Showground, northwest of Auckland. It is organised by members of Devonport Folk Music Club, Titirangi Folk Music Club, Auckland Bluegrass & Traditional Old Time Country Music Club, Gaidhealtachd, and The City of Auckland Morris Dancers.

The Tui for Best Folk Album 2015 is for recordings released in the 12 months to 30 September 2014. The Folk category was introduced to the New Zealand Music Awards in 1984.

Previous winners of the Tui for Best Folk Album include:
• 2010 - Chris Prowse - ‘Trouble On The Waterfront"
• 2011 - Wires & Wood - ‘Over The Moon'