Folk, Jazz NZ Music Awards to be revealed

Forbidden Joe are finalists for Best Folk Album for <i>In Mourning For The Pride Of Petravore</i>. Photo / Supplied

The New Zealand Music Awards ceremony was almost four months ago, but the best in New Zealand music continues to be acknowledged.

The finalists for the Folk and Jazz Tuis are out, with the folk award being bestowed this Sunday at the Auckland Folk Festival and the Jazz Tui presented in April.

In the folk category, there is mix of old and new, including three-time Folk Tui winner Bob McNeil, nominated for his forth solo album Me and Mary Ann, and Flip Grater, whose While I'm Awake I'm At War gets a nod.

Also included are relative newcomers Wires & Wood for Over The Moon, and In Mourning For The Pride Of Petravore from Devonport three-piece Forbidden Joe.

"The fact these finalists are doing so well both locally and internationally tell us the folk music genre in NZ is going great guns," says RIANZ CEO Campbell Smith.

"The finalists truly represent the wide variety of musical styles within the folk genre. It is a very strong category of finalists and folk music is clearly in very good heart."

In the jazz category, drummer Reuben Bradley is a finalist for his second album Resonator. He also has a second chance at the award, having played drums on fellow finalist Tessa Quayle's album Whisper Not.

The third finalists are Christchurch quartet, Sumo Jazz, for Throwing Salt.

The Jazz Tui will be presented at the 2011 National Jazz Festival in Tauranga at Easter.

"We are one of the oldest jazz festivals in the world and it is a great fit to present New Zealand's most prestigious jazz award as part of our festival," say festival director Arne Herrmann

More awards later in the year

Country Music Tui
The Best Country Music Album will be presented at the NZ Country Music Awards in Gore on Friday 3rd June.

Pacific Music Tui
The Best Pacific Music Album will be presented at the Pacific Music Awards in Manakau on Saturday 29th May.

Technical Tuis
Best Producer, Best Engineer and Best Album Cover will be presented at the finalists announcement for the main awards ceremony, which takes place a month prior to the big night at Vector Arena in late 2011.