Tami Neilson

Presented by The Cavell Leitch New Zealand International Jazz & Blues Festival.

With a soulful voice straight from the golden age of country and rockabilly music, Tami Neilson has been described as "a red-hot honky-tonker, somewhere between Patsy Cline and Wanda Jackson with perhaps just a little bit of Peggy Lee sophistication.” (Nick Bollinger, RNZ National)

Tami Neilson has won the Tui Award for each of her past four albums. In 2014, she was also awarded the APRA Silver Scroll, New Zealand's most prestigious music award for excellence in songwriting, for her song Walk (Back to Your Arms), as well as Best Female Artist at the National Country Music Awards and APRA’s Best Country Song at the NZ Country Music Awards. The release of her explosive album Dynamite! received rave reviews from MOJO and The Guardian and climbed to #1 on the NZ Music Charts. The 5 Star review in the NZ Herald claimed, “This world-class album is a major statement from an artist at the top of her lyrical and vocal game.”

Now, just 18 months after Dynamite!, this prolific artist has released her follow-up album, Don’t Be Afraid to critical acclaim, debuting on the NZ Album Charts and the Independent Music Charts at #1, proving that the powerhouse that is Tami Neilson is a force to be reckoned with.