Winners At NZ Country, Pacific Awards

The New Zealand Country Music Awards and Pacific Music Awards were both held May 31.

The country awards, presented by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) in Auckland, saw Tami Neilson win best album for her mix of acoustic torch songs and country blues, The Kitchen Table Sessions Vol II.

It was the Canadian-born, Auckland-based artist’s third win for best album, following Red Dirt Angel in 2009 and The Kitchen Table Sessions in 2010.

Of other major wins, Scottish-born singer Louise Lumsden took the songwriting category for “Money” and Delaney Davidson went home with the award for best country song for “You’re A Loser” from his Bad Luck Man album.

Auckland R&B duo Adeaze proved absence does make the heart grow fonder. After a break of seven years to concentrate on raising their young families, brothers Feagaigafou (Nainz) and Logovii (Viiz) Tupai returned last year with their sophomore album Rise And Shine. At the eighth Pacific Music Awards they took best group, urban album and “Paradise” for best song.

The pair, of Samoan descent, performed during the event at the Telstra Clear Pacific Events Centre, as did hip-hop performer David Dallas, who won best male artist. Bella Kalolo took home the female artist award while best Pacific album went to Good Morning Samoa by Kas Futialo, aka The Freestyler.