Kim Cheshire. Photo Lyn McCarthy.
Local singer-songwriter, Kim Cheshire, will be in Tamworth on January 21, sitting nervously alongside four other nominees waiting to hear who will win this year’s Golden Guitar for the Best Alternative Country Album.
It has also just been announced that Cheshire will also be among just two hands full of country stars who will perform on the night at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre.
Golden Guitar Awards Executive Producer, Peter Ross, said the stage is set for a star-studded night. ‘Some of Australia’s biggest country names are ready to take to the stage.
‘The caliber of talent performing at the 51st awards proves our country music industry is thriving and continuing to grow and we’re all excited for a fantastic night out.’
While Cheshire is excited about the performance, this nomination is not his first. He already has two Golden Guitars from when he was in the band The Wheel, back in the late nineties.
Looks Like Heaven
The nominated album, Looks Like Heaven, was more or less an accident born of the covid lockdowns.
Cheshire, who in true country music tradition lives in Thum thar hills of Eureka with his wife Anna, just had too much time on his hands.
Cheshire says the nomination is very flattering and gratifying after being involved as a singer-songwriter in the Australian Country Music community since 1986, and particularly as a solo artist since 2000.
‘I’ve never chased awards or infamy, and have always been much more interested in my own personal desire for artistic expression.’
After so many years in the industry, Cheshire doesn’t necessarily feel he is doing ‘the right thing, the right way’ to get nominated for an award like this.
A rare and probably serendipitous occasion
‘It makes me feel like it’s a rare, and probably serendipitous occasion when my artistic aspirations luckily and thankfully coincided with the taste of whoever judges the awards.’
Mostly written at home in lockdown, Cheshire also has a ‘home made’ video clip for one of the tracks from the record – ‘Have Mercy’ is on YouTube, which will give many a good giggle and an ‘aha’ moment.
Though in Australia the Golden Guitars are considered by many to be the highest honor in country music, Cheshire is very philosophical on the subject of success.
‘Success is a difficult thing to define, and after pursuing music since I started my first band in England in 1964, I’ve come to understand that my version of success is having had the good fortune to be able to make music for the best part of my life, with the support of my family, and a wealth of phenomenal musicians, co-writers, arrangers and producers. It’s been a great gift and a huge privilege.’