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about Andy

Andy Penkow is a unique and talented singer/songwriter from Sussex Inlet, NSW, Australia.

He is known for his Americana, Alternative Country, and Contemporary style of music.

He has been named the most Successful Independent Australian Male Country Artist for 2022, 2023 and 2024 by the Country Songs Top 40 National Airplay Charts.

 

Career Highlights to Date

  • 4-time CMAA Golden Guitar Nominee

    • 2023 Bush Ballad of the Year – “Ghostly Gums” (Walking Away)

    • 2025 Bush Ballad of the Year – “The Lone Drover”

    • 2023 Contemporary Album of the Year – Shades On Me

    • 2025 Toyota Album of the Year – Shades On Me

  • Over 1.5 million streams on Spotify

  • ARIA Charts:

    • Love, Lies & Dirty Dishes – #3 (Australian Country Albums)

    • Shades On Me – #2 (Australian Country Albums)

    • Shades On Me – #7 (Australian Albums Overall)

  • Award Wins:

    • Best Male Vocal – 2025, Independent Country Music Association

    • Best Album – Shades On Me, 2025 People’s Choice Awards, Tamworth

    • Best Male Vocal – 2024, People’s Choice Awards, Tamworth

    • Most Popular Balladeer – 2024, Independent Country Music Association

    • Best Bush Ballad – 2023, People’s Choice Awards, Tamworth

    • Most Popular Male Artist – 2023, Independent Country Music Association

    • Most Popular Music Video – 2023, Independent Country Music Association

    • 5 Purple Guitar Awards, including:

      • Best Male Vocal – 2023

      • Best Album – 2023

    • Most Promising New Talent – 2022, People’s Choice Awards, Tamworth

    • Most Popular New Male Artist – 2022, Independent Country Music Association

    • Winner – 2019 Australian Busking Championships, Gundagai

    • Radio Presenters Award – 2024, TSA (Tamworth Songwriters Association)

  • Multiple APRA AMCOS and TSA Songwriter Award nominations

Radio and Media

  • 21 Top 21 singles on the Country Songs Top 40 Australian Airplay Charts, including 14 #1 singles

  • “1993,” “Fallen Snow,” and “Aussie Rain” each spent over 16 weeks on the Australian Country Top 40 Charts

    • “Shades On Me” spent 19 weeks on the charts

  • “Fallen Snow,” “Fireflies,” and “Ghostly Gums” reached #1 on the Indie Nashville Radio Charts (2022 & 2023)

  • “Love, Lies & Dirty Dishes” debuted at #3 on the ARIA Australian Country Album Charts and #1 on the AIR (Independent Australian Album Charts) (all genres)

  • Latest album “Shades On Me” debuted at #2 on the ARIA Australian Country Album Charts, #7 on the ARIA Australian Album Charts (all genres), and #1 on the AIR (Independent Australian Album Charts)

  • Both “Love, Lies & Dirty Dishes” and “Shades On Me” spent 4 consecutive weeks on the ARIA Australian Country Album Charts

  • Three Top 5 albums on the Official iTunes Country Album Charts, with “Love, Lies & Dirty Dishes” and “Shades On Me” both debuting at #1

  • Six Top 10 singles on the AMRAP Metro and Regional Charts

  • Eleven Top 20 singles on the PlayMPE Charts

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Andy’s Career and Media Presence

Andy is a familiar presence on CMT Australia, the Music Network Top 30 Charts, Kix FM, Triple M, and ABC Country, where he has built a loyal fan base. He regularly performs at festivals, entertainment venues, hotels, and on cruises throughout Australia and internationally. Notable appearances include the Groundwater Country Music Festival, Gympie Muster, Airlie Beach Music Festival, Stock Route Music Festival, Country By The Bay, Tamworth Country Music Festival, and Captain Cook Cruises, among others. Performing over 120 shows in 2024 alone.

He studied at JMC Academy, earning an Advanced Diploma in Popular Music and Performance.

Andy has been featured on ABC Radio programs, including Ian McNamara’s iconic show ("Macca"), Simon Marnie’s weekend show, and Saturday Night Country with Beccy Cole. His television appearances include features on SBS, 7 Network Australia, and CMT.

Internationally, Andy has performed in Nashville, Texas, and Iceland, and has participated in prominent Canadian festivals such as Canadian Music Week, the Canadian National Exhibition, and the Toronto International Busking Festival. He has also appeared on media outlets like Rogers TV Ottawa, along with other global platforms.

Andy has collaborated with a wide range of respected songwriters and producers, including:
Shane Nicholson, Rob Motbey, Lindsey Waddington, Steve Newton, Michael Moko, Allan Caswell, Lyn Bowtell, David Carter, Shawn Moore, Elias James, Jessica Sole, Michael Flanders, Rip Van Parks, Kath Stewart, and production teams from 2000 Studios, Blacklist Productions, and MRVP Studios, among others.

In 2001, Andy gained national attention after making it to the Top 20 on the Australian television show Popstars.

His debut album, “Sad Love Songs”, along with “Love, Lies & Dirty Dishes”, was recorded and mixed by Rod Motbey, and mastered by Steve Corrao at Sage Audio in Nashville, TN. Love, Lies & Dirty Dishes was released in December 2018.

Andy’s EP “Chasing the Sun” was produced by ARIA and Golden Guitar award-winner Shane Nicholson, and released on 27 July 2020.

His latest album, “Shades On Me”, was recorded in Canada and produced by Shawn Moore, the CMAO Producer of the Year (2024).

In addition to his music career, Andy proudly serves as a brand ambassador for the Australian Koala Foundation. And Thomas Cook Clothing.

 

Bookings & Management Enquires

MRVP Studios 

mrvpstudios@gmail.com 

Cowgirlup Kaz Johnson
Andy has a rich, warm voice which makes you believe his stories and his messages. There is nothing bubblegummy about Andy Penkow or his songs.

Andy will be one of the young leaders who will take us into the future in country music in Australia.
 

Buzz Music
'Chasing The Sun,' it isn't just original, it is progressive, captivating, and quietly crushing in the sentiment it divulges.

Red Rebel Music 
The name Andy Penkow is still a relatively new one on the Australian Country Music scene ... but the success of his most recent single has resulted in Andy being one of the most talked about new acts of the year.

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