The Wolfe Brothers

Australian country duo

  • Country
  • country rock
Years active2010–presentLabelsBMGMembers
  • Tom Wolfe
  • Nick Wolfe
Past members
  • Casey Kostuik
  • Brodie Rainbird
Websitewww.thewolfebrothers.com

The Wolfe Brothers are an Australian country music duo consisting of brothers Tom and Nick Wolfe. The group formerly included childhood friends Brodie Rainbird and Casey Kostiuk. The Wolfe Brothers rose to prominence after placing second in season six of Australia's Got Talent.

Career

Early years to 2012: Formation and Australia's Got Talent

Tom and Nick Wolfe grew up on a small berry farm outside Hobart, Tasmania. Their father Malcolm and uncle Tony played in a band with their parents, called The Wolfe Family Orchestra.[1]

Nick Wolfe says, "We come from four generations of farmers and musicians." Their father guided Nick to the guitar and Tom to the piano, perhaps with "the intention of starting a band with us". Their mother filled the family home with music, exposing her children to 1990s country staples like Garth Brooks and Billy Ray Cyrus.[2]

The Wolfe Brothers were formed by brothers Nick (guitar and vocals) and Tom Wolfe (bass and vocals), Brodie Rainbird (guitar) and Casey Kostiuk (drums).[3][1] During their high school years all four played in different bands, covering songs by their glam rock and heavy metal music heroes. After leaving school they formed The Wolfe Brothers, and for six years played covers in pubs and clubs across Tasmania.[4]

In May 2010, The Wolfe Brothers self-released a self-titled debut EP.[5]

In 2012, The Wolfe Brothers auditioned for the sixth season of Australia's Got Talent, where they placed second behind Andrew De Silva.[6]

2013–2019: It's On to Country Heart

The Wolfe Brothers pose for a photo with radio hosts Big Stu & MJ
The Wolfe Brothers posing for a photo with radio hosts Big Stu and MJ during the 2018 Tamworth Country Music Festival.

In January 2013, The Wolfe Brothers released their debut studio album It's On, which peaked at number 18 on the ARIA Charts. The album spawned three county top 10 singles, including their first #1 song and #1 video "The Girl, The Bottle, The Memory".[4]

The Wolfe Brothers were special guests on Lee Kernaghan's 2013–2014 Beautiful Noise Tour.[7]

At the 2014 Country Music Awards of Australia, The Wolfe Brothers were nominated for four awards and won the New Australian Artist of the Year at the CMC Music Awards.[8][9]

In September 2014, The Wolfe Brothers released their second studio album, Nothin' But Trouble, which peaked at number 13 on the ARIA Charts. The album spawned the single "That Kinda Night", which reached number 1 on the country singles chart.[10] The album's second and third singles, "You Got to Me" and "Born and Bred" became the group's third and fourth number 1 on the country charts and the CMC video chart.[4]

In September 2015, a live album titled Live at CMC Rocks QLD 2015 was released.[4]

The group supported Kernaghan on his 2015 The Songs and the Stories Tour. Tom Wolfe later saying, "Touring with Lee has been a dream come true for us. He has taught us so much and it is still a little surreal to look across the stage and realise we are actually performing with one of our childhood heroes – the great Lee Kernaghan".[4]

In June 2016, the group released their third studio album, This Crazy Life album, which peaked at number 10 on the ARIA charts. The album was recorded in Nashville, USA over three months between November 2015 and February 2016 under the guidance of producer Luke Wooten.[4]

In 2016, The Wolfe Brothers were nominated in three categories in the CMC Music Awards, winning the CMC Group of the Year Award; their second CMC Award.[4][11]

Late in 2016, Nick and Tom's father, Malcolm died of cancer.[1]

In 2017 they recorded the single "Damn Good Mates" with Lee Kernaghan for Kernaghan's 25th Anniversary Album. In 2017 The Wolfe Brothers won Australian Group/Duo of the Year at the Planet Country's Music for a New Generation Awards.[12]

In April 2018, the group released their fourth studio album Country Heart, which peaked at number 9 on the ARIA Charts. The singles "Ain't Seen It Yet" and "Country Heart" both reaching number 1 on the country singles chart.[13][14]

At the 2019 Country Music Awards of Australia, the group won including Album of the Year, Contemporary Country Album of the Year, Group or Duo of the Year and Song of the Year with "Ain't Seen It Yet".[15][16]

2020–present: Kids on Cassette to Livin' the Dream

In March 2020, Brodie Rainbird announced he is leaving the group as Casey Kostiuk had done some years earlier. However, both continue to play with the duo on tour.[17]

In April 2020 the band worldwide deal with global independent label, BMG, in partnership with the BBR Music Group.[18][19]

On 17 April 2020, the group released their first single on the label entitled "No Breaks".[20]

The Wolfe Brothers' fifth studio album, Kids on Cassette was released in July 2021, the same day they celebrated their 15th consecutive #1 single on the Country Airplay Charts with "Startin' Something"[21] The album debuted at number 6 on the ARIA Charts.

In November 2021, they joined Australian-born, Canadian country artist Gord Bamford for the Australian version of his single "Drink Along Song" in 2021.[22]

The Wolfe Brothers were nominated for seven awards at the 2022 CMAAs, winning two.[23]

In April 2022, the Wolfe Brothers commenced their Startin' Something tour across Australia.[24]

The Wolfe Brothers' sixth studio album Livin' the Dream was released on 14 April 2023.[25] The album was written during the pandemic over Zoom writing sessions with writers all over the world. Nick Wolfe produced the album with Rod McCormack and Matt Fell. Nick said "Sonically, Livin' the Dream is a conscious decision by us to get back to our country roots. We explored a lot of pop and rock territory on our last record but we want to come out of the gate swinging country style and give everyone a taste of what's to come for the rest of this record that we're really proud of."

The Wolfe Brothers were nominated for six awards at the 2024 CMAAs.[26][27]

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

Title Details Peak chart positions
AUS
[28]
It's On
  • Released: 18 January 2013
  • Label: ABC Music/Universal Music Australia (3724819)
 18
Nothin' But Trouble
  • Released: 5 September 2014
  • Label: ABC Music/Universal Music Australia (3791761)
 13
This Crazy Life
  • Released: 3 June 2016
  • Label: ABC Music/Universal Music Australia (4788318)
 10
Country Heart
  • Released: 23 March 2018
  • Label: ABC Music/Universal Music Australia (6740743)
 9
Kids on Cassette
  • Released: 30 July 2021[29]
  • Label: BMG (538679292)
 6
Livin' the Dream
  • Released: 14 April 2023
  • Label: BMG (538865602)
 8
[30]

Live albums

Title Details
Live at CMC Rocks QLD 2015
  • Released: 18 September 2015[31]
  • Label: The Wolfe Brothers/ ABC

Extended plays

Title Details
The Wolfe Brothers
  • Released: May 2010[32]
  • Label: Wolfe Brothers

Awards and nominations

AIR Awards

The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2019 Country Heart Best Independent Country Album Nominated [33]
2022 Kids on Cassette Best Independent Country Album or EP Nominated [34][35]

APRA Awards

The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters". They commenced in 1982.[36]

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2014 "The Girl, the Bottle, the Memory" (Nicholas Wolfe) Country Work of the Year Nominated [37]

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music.The Wolfe Brothers have been nominated thrice.[38]

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2016 This Crazy Life Best Country Album Nominated
2018 Country Heart Best Country Album Nominated
2021 Kids on Cassette Best Country Album Nominated [39][40]
2023 Livin' the Dream Best Country Album Nominated [41]

Country Music Awards of Australia

The Country Music Awards of Australia (CMAA) (also known as the Golden Guitar Awards) is an annual awards night held in January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival, in Tamworth, New South Wales, celebrating recording excellence in the Australian country music industry. The Wolfe Brothers have won nine awards.[42][43][44][45][46]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2014 It's On Top Selling Album of the Year Nominated
"The Girl, The Bottle, The Memory" Group or Duo of the Year Nominated
Song of the Year Nominated
New Talent of the Year Nominated
2015 Nothin' But Trouble Group or Duo of the Year Nominated
"That Kinda Night" Single of the Year Nominated
2016[47] "The Girl, The Bottle, The Memory" (written by Nick Wolfe) Song of the Year Nominated
The Wolfe Brothers Group of the Year Nominated
(unknown) (unknown) Nominated
(unknown) (unknown) Nominated
2017[48] This Crazy Life Group or Duo of the Year Nominated
Album of the Year Nominated
2019[49] Country Heart Contemporary Country Album of the Year Won
Country Album of the Year Won
Group or Duo of the Year Won
"Ain't Seen It Yet" Song of the Year Won
Single of the Year Nominated
"Ain't Seen It Yet" (Director: Joshua Favaloro) Video of the Year Nominated
2020[50] "Hey Brother" Single of the Year Nominated
"Hey Brother" (Jay Seeney, Blacklist Productions) Video of the Year Nominated
"Till It Ends" (with Lee Kernaghan) Vocal Collaboration of the Year Nominated
2021[51] "No Brakes" Single of the Year Nominated
2022[52] Kids on Cassette Album of the Year Nominated
Contemporary Country Album of the Year Won
"Kids on Cassette" AMCOS Song of the Year Nominated
Video of the Year Nominated
"Startin' Something" (with LOCASH) Vocal Collaboration of the Year Nominated
"Small Town Song" Heritage Song of the Year Nominated
The Wolfe Brothers News Group or Duo of the Year Won
2023[53] "Something Good's Gonna Happen" featuring Amy Sheppard (Directed by Jay Seeney) Video of the Year Nominated
"All Or Nothing" (Written by Adam Brand, Nicholas Wolfe and Tom Wolfe) – Recorded by Adam Brand Song of the Year Nominated
2024[26][27][54] Livin' the Dream Album of the Year Won
Contemporary County Album of the Year Nominated
"Here's the Ones" Song of the Year Nominated
"Running the Country" (with Travis Collins) Single of the Year Nominated
Vocal Collaboration of the Year Won
The Wolfe Brothers Group or Duo of the Year Won

Country Music Association Awards

The Country Music Association Awards (CMA) are and annual American awards show which honours country music artists and broadcasters and recognizes outstanding achievement in the country music industry. The Wolfe Brothers have one nomination.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2022 The Wolfe Brothers Global Country Artist Award Nominated [55]

CMC Awards

The CMC Awards are awarded annually by Country Music Channel Australia.[56]

Year Nominee / work Award Result (wins only) Ref.
2014 The Wolfe Brothers New Australian Artist of the Year Won [9]
2016 The Wolfe Brothers CMC Group Of The Year Won [11]

National Live Music Awards

The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) are a broad recognition of Australia's diverse live industry, celebrating the success of the Australian live scene. The awards commenced in 2016.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2019 The Wolfe Brothers Live Country Act of the Year Nominated [57][58]

References

  1. ^ a b c Emilie Gramenz (21 July 2017). "The Wolfe Brothers take on second family legacy to combine berry farming with country music". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  2. ^ "The Wolfe Brothers". Music Tasmania. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  3. ^ "THOUGHTS ON LEE KERNAGHAN – 25TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR". Tinsel and Tap Shoes. May 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "The Wolfe Bros". ICCMM. 19 November 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  5. ^ "The Wolfe Brothers EP". Apple Music. May 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  6. ^ "The Wolfe Brothers dropped by the studios for a chat". Kix Country. 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  7. ^ Taylor, James (7 May 2014). "Wolfe Brothers to support "real gentleman" Kernaghan for Bunbury gig". Bunbury Mail. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  8. ^ Martain, Tim (16 March 2014). "Tassie band Wolfe Brothers win major Country Music Channel award". The Mercury. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  9. ^ a b "Morgan Evans Is Fans' Choice in CMC Country Music Awards". Daily Mercury. News Corp Australia. 15 March 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  10. ^ "Country Songs Top 40 Australian Airplay Chart". countrytrackschart.com.au. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  11. ^ a b Knox, David (11 March 2016). "CMC Music Awards 2016: Winners". TV Tonight. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  12. ^ "Planet Country Radio Show". Planet Country Radio Show. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
  13. ^ "Country Songs Top 40 Australian Airplay Chart". countrytrackschart.com.au. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  14. ^ "Country Songs Top 40 Australian Airplay Chart". countrytrackschart.com.au. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
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  16. ^ "Wolfe Brothers, Andrew Swift, Beccy Cole and Travis Collins win Golden Guitars". ABC. 27 January 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  17. ^ "Hey everyone, we have a bit of an announcement. Brodie has decided to step back as an official member of The Wolfe Brothers". Facebook. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  18. ^ "Country rockers The Wolfe Brothers sign global record deal with BMG". The Music Network. 14 April 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
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  20. ^ "No Brakes - single". Apple Music. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  21. ^ "THE WOLFE BROTHERS celebrate their 15th consecutive country #1 single on the day they release their fifth studio album". amnplify. July 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  22. ^ Arbour, Mallory (18 November 2021). "Drink Along Song by Gord Bamford and The Wolfe Brothers – Song of the Day". Countrytown.
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  26. ^ a b "Toyota 52nd Golden Guitar Awards". TCMF. 20 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  27. ^ a b "Nominees Announced for the 52nd Country Music Awards". TCMF. 20 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
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  29. ^ "Kids On Cassette". Apple Music. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  30. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 24 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  31. ^ "Live at CMC Rocks QLD 2015". Apple Music. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  32. ^ "The Wolfe Brothers (EP)". Apple Music. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  33. ^ "2019 AIR Awards Nominees". 28 March 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  34. ^ "Nominees Announced For AIR Independent Music Awards 2022". musicfeeds. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  35. ^ Tyler Jenke (5 August 2022). "Genesis Owusu Wins Big At The 2022 AIR Awards". MusicFeeds. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  36. ^ "APRA History". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  37. ^ "Country Work of the Year". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  38. ^ "ARIA Awards Search Results – Wolfe Brothers". ARIA. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  39. ^ Kelly, Vivienne (20 October 2021). "ARIA Awards nominees revealed: Amy Shark & Genesis Owusu lead the charge". The Music Network. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
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  42. ^ "Past Award Winners". Country. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  43. ^ "The finalists for the 42nd Annual CMAA Country Music Awards have been announced". CMC. 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
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  45. ^ "2017 Golden Guitar Awards; Finalists Announced". WorkbingBull. November 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  46. ^ "I'm over the moon to be nominated for Alt Country Album of the Year". The Music Network. 21 November 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  47. ^ "Lee Kernaghan scores seven Golden Guitar nominations". The Music Network. October 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  48. ^ "2017 GOLDEN GUITAR AWARD FINALISTS ANNOUNCED". TCMF. November 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  49. ^ "Nominees Announced for the 2019 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards and they look like this..." Triple M. 21 November 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  50. ^ "And the 2020 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards Finalists Are..." TCMF. November 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  51. ^ "2021 Golden Guitar Nominees Revealed". Kix Country. November 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
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  54. ^ "Brad Cox, The Wolfe Brothers Win Big At The 2024 Golden Guitar Awards". Kix Country. 27 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  55. ^ "Ashley McBryde & Brothers Osborne Among 2022 CMA International Awards Nominees". Billboard.
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  57. ^ "HERE ARE YOUR 2019 NATIONAL LIVE MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES!". NLMA. 22 October 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  58. ^ "AND THE WINNERS OF THE 2019 NATIONAL LIVE MUSIC AWARDS ARE…". NLMA. 5 December 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
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Seasons
Winners
Runners-up
  • The Wolfe Brothers
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Related
  • Australia's Got Talent: Challengers & Champions