South West artists ready to shine in the spotlight as five singers gets nominated for WA Country Music Awards

South West artists are ready to make waves on the big stage as five local names were announced as finalists in the 2026 West Australian Country Music Awards. Amberley Maryellen, Caleb Prater, Dave Kent, Shenai Johnston and Tanya Ransom are the five names that made it to the list. Maryellen was nominated in three categories including one for emerging artist of the year. Her song Country Girl made it to the final list for alt country song of the year while Be My Man was nominated for open songwriter of the year. Ransom also made it to the nominations for alt country song of the year for Winter Song. Prater is nominated for the junior artist of the year award while Kent is nominated for male artist of the year, EP of the year for his song Nannup to Nashville and open songwriter of the year along with his co-writer Luke O’Shea for Honky Tonk Dreams. Johnston will be in the running for contemporary country song of the year for Ain’t A Man. Presented by the Country Music Club of Boyup Brook, the awards were first held in 1986 with five categories and have grown into 12 categories along with a people’s choice award, earning a reputation as the pinnacle of country music recognition in Western Australia. A spokesperson for the festival said the awards had deep ties to the South West and the Boyup brook Country Music Festival. “Their evolution mirrors the growth of the WA country scene,” they said. “In the early days, entrants were asked to submit a cassette featuring three songs, and finalists were largely drawn from the South West and metro area. “Today, entries now arrive from many regions across the State, and the South West continues to deliver standout talent year after year.” The winners will be announced on February 13 at 7.45pm at the Boyup Brook Country Music Muster where the finalists will be place in the spotlight before industry professionals, visitors and fans.