Bellingen-based indie-country band The Redeemed have taken home Best Bush Ballad at the Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards, for their song Backwards Country Town.
The awards — the only fan-voted country music awards in Australia — were announced at the Gala Presentation at Tamworth Town Hall on 22 January, as part of the Tamworth Country Music Festival. The Redeemed were finalists in both Best Bush Ballad and Best Video and were invited to perform at the prestigious event.
Formed in 2023 in Bellingen, The Redeemed fuse folk, country and blues-rock into a distinctive, heartfelt sound and the band are noted for their strong songwriting. Backwards Country Town is a tribute to the small Aussie towns found when you head west, — places of faded paint, rusted tin and timeless stories —with its laid-back groove and vivid storytelling, the track celebrates the charm and character found off the beaten track.
It’s an exciting start to the year for The Redeemed, and the band are set to keep the momentum going with more gigs and new music planned for 2026. Visit https://theredeemed.band/ to watch the Backwards Country Town video, hear more of their music and find upcoming show dates.
