Kenthurst Singer Wins First Place At 2025 Tamworth’s Golden Gig

AVA BIZZANELLI dazzled country music lovers as she performed in front of the Tamworth crowd, securing top honours at the 2025 Macca’s Golden Gig held during the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

The 17-year-old artist from Kenthurst won first place for ages 13-17, bringing home an electric guitar from Takamine Guitars, cash and trophy from Macca’s, one pair of Circle G Boots from Corral Boots, and a Capitol Music voucher. She will also receive three separate mentoring opportunities from professionals.

Her win at the Golden Gig has given Ava more confidence in trying new things and putting herself out in public.

“The competition was heaps of fun and I got to watch plenty of talented performers who share a love for music and performing. I was also given advice to keep a sweet spirit, as the industry is filled with highs and lows,” Ava said.

She mentioned having an incredible stay at Tamworth, meeting artists with similar passions and basking in the local community’s welcoming, relaxed, and friendly demeanour as she busked along Peel Street.

In July 2024, the Hills to Hawkesbury Community News had a fun time knowing Ava’s passion for country music as she was on track to be part of the Country Music Association of Australia’s Academy of Country Music intensive six-day course at Tamworth’s Liberty College.

Since then, she met many artists in the Australian Country Music scene who mentored her and all the other junior artists at the CMAA Junior Academy.

“The CMAA Academy guided us in terms of performance, songwriting, interviews, and we each learnt something new along the way. I am excited to be going back to the Senior Academy on scholarship in January to learn even more about myself as an artist and the music industry.”

Meeting Roger Corbett of the ‘Bushwackers’ during her stay at the Junior Academy was memorable as they recorded some of her original songs in Corbett’s Maitland studio.

Co-writing her debut single ‘Love Can Fool You’ with Allan Caswell—who penned the Prisoner theme song “The Inside”—was one of her big moments last year. Ava shares how she explored her style in her new song.

“It’s been a great experience for me to explore a new style of music,” she said. “I love the storytelling style that can be found in Country music, but for my debut single, Allan and I wanted to use a more conversational tone to the lyrics, which I feel makes the song really personal and, of course, ties into my style.”

As she’s in Year 12, she wants to continue developing her skills in performing live and hone her skills as a songwriter, vocalist, performer, and guitarist: “I am very excited to see what happens next!”

Emotionally charged and mellow, Ava’s latest single, ‘Love Can Fool You,’ is now available on all streaming platforms such as iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube.