Winners revealed for 2015 New Zealand Country Music Awards

Tami Neilson's Dynamite! is the nation's Best Country Music Albumfor 2015, while Kaylee Bell and Jared Porter's Pieces is the Best Country Music Song.

Both awards were presented last night (Saturday May 23) at the New Zealand Country Music Awards in Gore.

It's the fourth time Tami Neilson has taken home the Tui for the Recorded Music NZ Best Country Music Album. Her previous awards came in 2009, 2010 and 2012. In 2014 she also added the APRA Silver Scroll to her impressive list of accolades for her song Walk.

Neilson toured New Zealand, Australia and North America extensively where reviewers credit her ‘haunting ballads of heartbreak' and ‘foot stomping country blues' as making her live performances memorable.

Recorded Music NZ CEO Damian Vaughan says Neilson is a true asset to New Zealand's country music scene.

"Yet again, Tami has crafted something truly spectacular. Dynamite! is a world class album that is filled with songs that are instant classics," Vaughan says.

"All of the finalists were outstanding this year and I congratulate them all on their excellent recordings."

Kaylee Bell and Jared Porter's single Pieces is a slower-paced duet enabling their voices to lead the music.

Bell is no stranger to country music success. In 2014 she was awarded the Tui for Recorded Music NZ Best Country Music Album. And in 2013 she won Best Female Artist at the National Country Music Awards.

Last year, Bell joined with 2014 Toyota Star Maker winner, Jared Porter, to write Pieces.

Jared Porter suffered a serious rock climbing accident as a teenager, breaking his tailbone. With sport no longer an option, his love for music prevailed. Subsequently he has been announced as a Gold Guitar finalist for New Talent of the Year 2015, toured extensively across Australia and recorded his debut album East to West.

APRA AMCOS Director of NZ Operations Anthony Healey says Pieces, in real country tradition, is a fine songwriting collaboration.

"Jared and Kaylee have married two elegant voices into a captivating and emotional story, crafting an exceptional song" Healey says.

The New Zealand Country Music Awards are hosted as part of Gore's Gold Guitar week. The festival attracts more than 5,000 fans annually and is in its 41st year. For more information visit www.goldguitars.co.nz.

The other finalists for Best Country Music Album were Delaney Davidson and Marlon Williams for Sad But True Volume 3 and Glen Moffatt for Superheroes and Scary Things.

Tami Neilson was also nominated in the APRA Best Country Music Song category for You Lie, as well as Bill Morris for Hinterland.

Finalists for Recorded Music NZ Best Country Music Album

• Delaney Davidson & Marlon Williams Sad But True Volume 3
• Glen Moffatt Superheroes and Scary Things
• Tami Neilson Dynamite - winner

Finalists for APRA Best Country Music Song

• Bill Morris Hinterland
• Tami Neilson You Lie
• Kaylee Bell & Jared Porter Pieces - winner