Sunday World
Country Music Award Winners

 

STRABANE singer Gary Gamble has been attracting sell-out audiences for almost a decade now and last week his talent was rewarded again, this time with the Sunday World's Best New Country Band Award 2009.

Competing against some of Ireland's finest country acts, Gary and his new band Kool Country were welcomed with rapturous applause when they took to the stage at Dublin's City West Hotel. Kool Country performed tracks from their forthcoming album 'On The Road Again' due for release in March and Gary's choice of song 'Help Me Make It Through The Night' proved to be a huge hit.

Host and compere for the evening was Ronan Collins from RTE Radio One. After the applause died down, Ronan revealed that Gary Gamble and Kool Country had beat all-comers to lift the 2009 Sunday World New Country Band of the Year title.

"Judging by tonights reaction, Gary has a great future ahead of him," Ronan told the audience.

The award is just the latest in a string of accolades secured by Gary Gamble. The local boy originally sprung to fame with his uncanny impression of Donegal crooner Daniel O'Donnell. He has however long stepped out of the shadow of Kincasslagh's favourite son and grown to become a highly successful performer in his own right.

Speaking after picking up his latest trophy, Gary explained: "We were totally surprised and delighted. We are in a transition period at the minute are in the process of changing our band and re-inventing ourselves.

"We have a complete new programme in the pipeline of which we are very excited and tonight was the first time we got to showcase two songs from the forthcoming album. If the reaction we got was anything to go by, then we are on the right track. It's an exciting time for us and we look forward to taking Kool Country on the road in the near future."