Young South Island songstress wins folk Tui

Media release folk– 1
9 January, 2015

Young South Island songstress wins folk Tui

For The Weary Traveller by Holly Arrowsmith is the winner of the 2016 Best Folk Album at the Auckland Folk Festival in Kumeu.

The Tui is Arrowsmith’s first, an impressive feat at only 21 years old.

Born in New Mexico and raised in Queenstown, Arrowsmith delivers a stirring sound, poetic lyrics and haunting voice belying her age. She has already showcased multiple festivals as well as opening for internationally acclaimed folk artist Rodriguez.

Recorded Music NZ CEO Damian Vaughan says Arrowsmith is destined for a successful future in folk music.

“Holly is an extremely talented lyricist with an alluring voice to match. ‘For The Weary Traveller’ is an outstanding album and I’m very much looking forward to what she does next.”

The other finalists for the 2016 Folk Tui were Amiria Grenell for Autumn and Nadia Reid for Listen to the Formation, Look for the Signs.

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.

NOTE:
The Tui for Best Folk Album 2016 is for recordings released in the 12 months to 30 September 2015. The Folk category was introduced to the New Zealand Music Awards in 1984.

Recent previous winners of the Tui for Best Folk Album
2010 – Chris Prowse - ‘Trouble On The Waterfront”
2011 – Wires & Wood - ‘Over The Moon’
2012 – Amiria Grenell - ‘Three Feathers’
2013 – Great North - “Halves”
2014 – Tattletale Saints – “How Red Is the Blood”
2015 – Great North - “Up In Smoke”

Finalists’ websites
Holly Arrowsmith: www.hollyarrowsmith.com
Amiria Grenell: www.amiriagrenell.co.nz
Nadia Reid: www.nadiareid.com

About Recorded Music New Zealand: Recorded Music NZ is a non-profit industry representation and licensing organisation for recording artists and their labels. It divides its services into three main areas. The Member Services team delivers projects including the Vodafone NZ Music Awards, the weekly Official NZ Top40 Charts and the Music Grants programme. Recorded Music NZ’s licensing division administers broadcast and public performance licensing either directly or through its joint initiative with APRA called OneMusic. The Pro-Music team is dedicated to protecting and promoting the interests of artists and labels across the New Zealand recording industry.

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