A South Otago man has been named as one of four finalists for a prestigious country music award, to be awarded next month.
Aaron Jury, of Kaitangata, the 2005 Gold Guitar winner, has been confirmed as a finalist for the male artist of the year category in the 2013 National Country Music Awards.
The nomination builds on a good year for Jury, who was one of the opening acts at CMC Rocks the Hunter in March, billed as ''Australia's biggest international country and roots festival''.
Jury, who is writing songs for his second album, said his debut album Wyre Street was selling well. It was released in November and is available on iTunes.
He said his home town of Kaitangata provided him with songwriting inspiration. His band the Crescents was named after the shape of the Clutha River winding past the town.
In 2005, he won the MLT Songwriting Award with the song. He won the New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards that year.
Jury's fellow nominees for male artist of the year are Dennis Marsh, Phil Doublet, and Craig Adams.
Kaylee Bell, Aly Cook, and Marion Burns were named as finalists in the female artist of the year category, and Cooper's Run, the Sou'westers, and Annette Hawkins and Kim Copedo for the duo title.
Winners will be announced on August 17 in Hamilton.
