Cowboy country crooner Larry Cann has scored big during Tamworth’s ‘week of weeks’, receiving an award for a single immortalising the country capital’s spirit and being placed on the industry’s wall of honour.
The South Burnett musician travelled to New South Wales in late January, where he received the Male Single of the Year award at the 2024 Traditional Country Music Awards of Australia for his song Tamworth Gold.
Mr Cann said the now award-winning song, which he released in late 2023, captures the essence of Tamworth’s rodeo stars and musicians ‘going for gold’.
“The ‘night of nights’ for country music is the Golden Guitar Awards,” Mr Cann said.
“Well, on the same night in the same town – just at a different venue – the cowboys and cowgirls of the Australian Bushmen’s Campdraft and Rodeo Association are going for gold buckles for the national championships in rodeo.
“It’s two major ways of life and dreams that are chasing gold at the very same time!” he explained.
Both the local country music and rodeo scenes appeared to enjoy the song’s message: besides earning a music award, Mr Cann’s track was also played during the junior national rodeo finals at Tamworth.
During his time in Tamworth, Mr Cann was also invited to etch his name into the Australian Country Music Wall of Honour.
The South Burnett-based performing artist said he was recognised for his long-standing service to country music – as a singer, but also as a radio host and show producer bringing country to the people.
“To be able to feel like you’ve done a good job and to be recognised by your peers, it’s been something special and and that’s why I hold dear the fact that I was invited to add my name to the Wall of Honour,” he said.
Now back in the Burnett, Mr Cann is busy preparing for the launch of his latest single, Craven Country, due to come out on 28 February.
The prolific artist also has plans to put out another album this year, looking for the first time to take centre-stage as a songwriter.
