Country Music Capital News - September 2018 Volume 43 No 9

(INC.GST)

SEPTEMBER 2018 VOL. 43 NO.9

$ 6.00

JOHN WILLIAMSON

SWEETER THAN A VIOLIN BECCY COLE

KENNY CHESNEY

PRIDE + JOY

FOSTERING HARMONY

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years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

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years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY

ORGAN ISED BY

HAIR DESIGN & MAKE UP

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FROM THE EDITOR

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

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s we enter the Spring of 2018, the flowers may blossom and colour, however the brown dirt continues to cover the droughtstricken land as Australia battles one of its driest periods since the early 1900s.

Here in Tamworth, “RU Aware, We Care” – a joint initiative of 88.9FM and Tamworth Regional Council with the support of Wests Entertainment Group, Salvation Army, CWA, Tamworth Business Chamber and the NSW Farmers Association – came out of an idea by 88.9 general manager, George Frame to help raise money for New England and Northwest farming families in need.

A fundraising concert took place at West Tamworth League Club raising more than $50k. Golden Guitar winners Lee Kernaghan, Adam Harvey, Lyn Bowtell, Ashleigh Dallas, Pixie Jenkins, John Krsulja, The Crosby Sisters and many other artists gave of their time.

The people of Tamworth and the country music community should be applauded for raising awareness

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about the situation as the flowon effect across the country exploded, with the government taking action by means of funding, and national media companies delivered the plight of those affected to the nation.

Nine’s Today Show visited a number of locations including Tamworth, Dubbo, Coonamble in NSW and Warwick, Qld and Seven’s Sunrise program visited the Bathurst region over a number of days. Many organisations will receive the benefits of the fundraising and if you or someone you know need assistance, get in touch with a registered charity. Remember

also that many people on the land don’t have access to the internet so you may need to reach out, visit or call and tell them what help is available.

During times of hardship, getting together with others can be a good way to share your troubles or your support. We know that country music brings people together and our festivals are a perfect opportunity for that.

Recently announced is another music event – “Hay Mate: Buy A Bale – A Concert For The Farmers” – organised by promoter Glenn Wheatley which will take place at Scully Park, Tamworth on October 27 featuring John Farnham, Adam Harvey and Guy Sebastian.

Tickets are now on sale.

Take care out there Cheryl

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S E P T E M B E R 2018 FEATURES JOHN WILLIAMSON BECCY COLE CARRIE UNDERWOOD KENNY CHESNEY DAN + SHAY JASMINE RAE MARGO PRICE MORGAN WALLEN VALE TED LE GARDE VALE HEDLEY CHARLES

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EDITOR Cheryl Byrnes P: 0407 106 966 E: cheryl@tamworthcountrymusic.com.au ADVERTISING Joanne Maiden P: 0429 784 860 E: joanne@tamworthcountrymusic.com.au SUBSCRIPTIONS Linda Bridges P: 02 6767 5555 CONTRIBUTORS Allan Caswell, Anna Rose, Bec Belt, Brad Cox, CMA, CMAA, Dan Biddle, David Dawson, Garry Coxhead, Haley Craig, Jon Wolfe, Lorraine Pfitzner, Peter Coad, Susan Jarvis, Tom Inglis, and our great mates in publicity and record companies nationally and internationally.

PHOTOGRAPHERS Special thanks to Greg Sylvia. Thanks to our friends who supply the many photos we are able to use.

TRC TEAM Jess Fitzsimmons, Karlee Cole, Eleanor Turnbull.

ART AND DESIGN Sam Woods NEXT DEADLINE: October: September 10, 2018

REGULARS NEWS NASHVILLE NEWS TOYOTA STAR MAKER UPDATE LIVE CM SCENE HEAR & THERE ONE TO WATCH HEATH MILNER CMAA UPDATE FESTIVALS SOUND ADVICE COUNTRY CHARTS BUSH BALLADS DOWN MEMORY LANE

PUBLISHER Tamworth Regional Council 437 Peel Street, Tamworth NSW 2340 P: 02 6767 5555

WRITING GREAT SONGS COMING EVENTS

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Country Music Capital News is compiled and published monthly by Tamworth Regional Council, 437 Peel Street, Tamworth NSW 2340. The views and opinions expressed in Capital News are not necessarily those of the publisher. Copyright 2017 Tamworth Regional Council, ABN 52631074450. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part by any manner or method whatsoever without the written permission is prohibited. All statements made in advertising are the sole responsibility of the advertiser in respect of legal and industrial relations. Printed by Fairfax Printing, 159 Bells Line of Road, North Richmond. 2754. ISSN 1440-995X years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

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NEWS

KEITH URBAN ON TOUR

‘BLACK ELVIS’

ROGER KNOX

INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME

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irst Nations country music legend Roger Knox was inducted into the National Indigenous Music Awards Hall of Fame during the event’s 15th anniversary on Saturday, August 11.

With a career spanning over three decades, from his first album Give It A Go in 1984 to his seminal 2013 release Stranger In My Land, Roger has spent a lifetime recording, touring and advocating for his people.

“It is really deadly and a great honour to be inducted into the National Indigenous Music Awards Hall of Fame, alongside heroes like Uncle Seaman Dan and my brother Kutcha Edwards. I am humbled to be invited to tell my story at this year’s Music Vault in Melbourne - it is a great privilege,” said Roger Knox.

The awards were held at the iconic Darwin Amphitheatre with live performances from Busby Marou, Kasey Chambers with Alan Pigram, triple j Unearthed NIMA winner Alice Skye and many more.

For the first time, the NIMA Hall of Fame inductee is being celebrated within the Australian Music Vault, a free music exhibition at Arts Centre Melbourne. Following the awards ceremony, the Australian Music Vault will be creating a special display acknowledging Roger Knox as the Hall of Fame recipient that will include awards, artwork, rare photographs and performance footage, posters and precious mementoes from Roger’s own personal collection that reflect his journey as a musician and community advocate.

KEITH URBAN WILL RETURN TO AUSTRALIA IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 2019 WITH HIS GRAFFITI U WORLD TOUR AUSTRALIA, HIS FIRST TOUR IN MORE THAN TWO YEARS.

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he tour is underway in the US and features special guest and GRAMMY nominated artist Julia Michaels with whom he wrote the single Coming Home and on which she is guest vocalist.

Graffiti U is Urban’s first new studio album in nearly two years.

Keith has consistently topped charts in Australia and the US over the last decade, amassing more than 22 million album sales worldwide with combined sales of 1.4 million albums in Australia.

His last album Ripcord was the second highest selling album in Australia in 2016 and the highest selling album for an Australian artist that year. It spent 27 weeks in the top 10 and 46 weeks in the top 20 of the ARIA Albums Chart.

He has a total of 14 ARIA Platinum selling singles and albums, 5 ARIA Awards, 12 Golden Guitars and 14 CMC Awards.

The tour commences on January 23 at Newcastle’s

Entertainment Centre, January 25 and 26 at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Canberra’s GIO Stadium on January 27, Brisbane’s Entertainment Centre on January 31 and February 2, and Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne on February 5.

Tickets are on sale through www.ticketek.com.au

ARIA AWARDS

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he 32nd ARIA Awards will be held on Wednesday, November 28 and the country’s best artists will come together to salute the 8

achievements of the Australian music industry over the past year.

The ceremony will conclude ARIA Week which is to remain in the city of Sydney until at least 2020 and it will be broadcast on the Nine Network.

Supported by the NSW Government’s

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tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW, the ceremony will be broadcast from Sydney to screens across Australia on the Nine Network.

The evening will include artist achievements, live performances, collaborations, and the Hall of Fame induction.

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NASHVILLE NEWS

BRAD & CARRIE RETURN TO HOST 52ND ANNUAL CMA AWARDS COUNTRY MUSIC SUPERSTARS BRAD PAISLEY AND CARRIE UNDERWOOD RETURN FOR THE 11TH TIME TO HOST THE 52ND ANNUAL CMA AWARDS, COUNTRY MUSIC’S BIGGEST NIGHT™ LIVE FROM THE BRIDGESTONE ARENA IN NASHVILLE ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14.

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wo-time CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan, four-time CMA Awards nominated duo Dan + Shay and five-time CMA Awards Vocal Duo of the Year Sugarland revealed several of the final nominees on “Good Morning America” in August live from Luke’s 32 Bridge Food + Drink, Luke Bryan’s brandnew restaurant and bar on Lower Broadway in downtown Nashville.

The awards are a production of the Country Music Association and Robert Deaton is the executive producer.

A full list of nominees is available at CMAawards.com PHOTO BY BEV MOSER

R NOMINEES FOR THE NASHVILLE SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCED years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

onnie Dunn, K.T. Oslin, Byron Hill, Wayne Kirkpatrick and Joe Melson will be inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in October.

The five new inductees will join the 208 existing members of the elite organisation when they are officially inducted during the 48th Anniversary of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala on Sunday, October 28, at the Music City Centre.

Byron Hill (Pickin’ Up Strangers, Fool Hearted

LUKE BRYAN’S VENUE OPEN

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uke’s 32 Bridge Food + Drink, Nashville’s only six-floor entertainment facility in the heart of Music City opened last month.

The new hot spot is located on the corner of 301 Broadway at 3rd Avenue in Downtown Nashville. The 30,000 square foot building features six levels of entertainment space with eight bars, including Broadway’s only multi-level rooftop bars with sushi menu, four stages of live music and two restaurants. The name was inspired by Luke’s childhood home near Route 32 Bridge in Lee County, Georgia and is housed in Nashville’s iconic American National Bank Building. The facility, in partnership with TC Restaurant Group, was scheduled to open this month.

Visitors will enjoy an inspiring view from the multi-level rooftop featuring a menu inspired by some of Luke’s favourites with special twists on Southern and American cuisine.

Luke is making his way up the country charts with his latest song, Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset.

Find out more at lukes32bridge.com

Memory, Nothing On But The Radio) and Wayne Kirkpatrick (Change The World – Eric Clapton, Little White Church – Little Big Town) are in the songwriter category; Joe Melson (Only The Lonely, Crying and Blue Bayou) in the veteran songwriter category; Ronnie Dunn (Neon Moon, Boot Scootin’ Boogie, Believe) as songwriter/artist and K.T Oslin (80s Ladies, Hold Me and Come Next Monday) as veteran songwriter/artist.

Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame will present Reba McEntire with the inaugural Career Maker Award in honour of her significant influence on the songwriting careers of Hall of Fame members.

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BY ANNA ROSE

n the contrary, it’s a joyous, happy, funny, reflective, at times controversial offering for his dedicated legion of fans to savour – his first album of original music since 2014’s Honest People.

“Butcherbird is probably my most relaxed album ever,” John said.

“I didn’t expect to write another 11 songs, but I can’t help myself. It’s a very honest and reflective album and was quite a breeze to write … perhaps because at this stage of my career I had a ‘what the hell, just do it’ attitude. It felt right.

“There’s a crazy song, a protest song and some reflections, underscored by my beautiful Numinbah Valley.”

John has always sought album titles that would capture attention

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BUTCHERBIRD IS JOHN WILLIAMSON’S 20TH STUDIO ALBUM AND WHILE IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE HIS LAST, IT’S NO “MORBID FAREWELL”. with their simplicity, hence this tip of the hat to his favourite feathered bushland singer.

“They have been here longer than humans, yet their melodies are remarkably fresh,” he said.

His “mates in the garden” were most certainly at the heart of track one, The Valley of His Dreams.

John’s love of butcherbirds was something he discovered he had in common with the late Phil Emmanuel.

“I do love butcherbirds. Their song is incredible; you could write the music down. It’s nice to know Phil loved butcherbirds too,” John said.

“Tommy (Emmanuel) reckons he used to tell them what notes they were singing. I’ve found they do respond to a good whistle.”

With his guitar picking butcherbird-like melodies, this track truly is “sweeter than a violin”.

That first song is actually two in one, with his dedication to wife Meg evidenced in part two, It Doesn’t Get Better Than This.

Never one to stand back and say nothing when angered, like many Australians John was incensed when 4 Corners revealed the greedy cotton barons’ blatant water theft in the Darling basin.

“They have been fined for taking water illegally, but with a slap on the hand,” John said.

“I think it’s quite a criminal offence and believe they got off lightly for stealing water ... it was supposed to have been bought back.

“The poor young inspector who discovered it was the one who got into trouble initially. But people all the way down the river had been

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complaining about the lack of water for years.

“I’ve heard that they’ve seen the water go backwards because these people, these great big cotton barons, just keep sucking it out.”

Determined to speak up for the people, John put pen to paper, grabbed his guitar and Pigs On The River was released as a single not too long after the 4 Corners program aired.

“I really hate anything that damages our environment but I think they gave out too many licences in the first place,” he said.

“They’d been trying to buy them back, but while they’ve been doing that, these people have been taking

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the same amount of water anyway, so it’s been a complete rort of taxpayers’ money.

“It’s something worth getting angry about. I didn’t have to name names. I haven’t even named the river in the song, but they know who they are.

“They might have got away with it, but they won’t get away with it morally. The song has already got a lot of support, as far as Adelaide.

“I’ve been thanked by quite a lot of people for the song and I haven’t had anyone speak up against me yet.”

A five-week cruise to Gallipoli for the centenary of ANZAC commemorations brought about the haunting Looking For A Story.

Hearing the beautiful harmonica sounding so much like a bugle, you’ll pause and pay tribute, while reflecting on the futility of war, and mourning our fallen. “ … It just got to me … standing between two trenches on the peninsular. They were only eight metres apart,” John said.

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“IT’S SOMETHING WORTH GETTING ANGRY ABOUT. I DIDN’T HAVE TO NAME NAMES. I HAVEN’T EVEN NAMED THE RIVER IN THE SONG, BUT THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE. THEY MIGHT HAVE GOT AWAY WITH IT, BUT THEY WON’T GET AWAY WITH IT MORALLY. THE SONG HAS ALREADY GOT A LOT OF SUPPORT, AS FAR AS ADELAIDE.

“That’s where they virtually became friends, you know. And from what I can gather the Turks were saying: ‘Boys, don’t get up any more. We don’t want to shoot you.’

“And when you’re in Istanbul they tell you that ‘our sons are their sons’, the ones who lay buried beneath their soil.”

Old Man Emu has always been one to salute those who came before him – and at three score years and 10 – he’s no different.

Hence – Buddy and Slim.

This toe-tapping, hand-clapping, broadsmiling song about our trailblazers serves as a

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gentle reminder. Treasure the past and never forget it, or it could be lost in an instant.

John is fearful we’re losing our connection with the bush and the outback we once had, which is why he’ll continue to honour our pioneers.

“I guess I’m trying to encourage our younger ones.

The bush has always inspired me. Sara (Storer) does it. Maybe it’s something to do with being brought up in the bush in the first place, but there’s a couple of messages in there.”

A strong campaigner for tradition, particularly in the Golden Guitar Awards, his heart tells him Bush Ballad of the Year should be the premier award given out on country’s night of nights – not down the list of less important golden accolades.

“If we don’t stick to the roots of our music, the whole country music thing will fall over in Australia and become an affiliation of generic world music,” he said.

“I still think the front row will tap their feet to the old songs rather than those other songs any day.”

The song has been extremely well received on radio, with John Laws playing it four times the first day he had it!

“While he does like to support his ‘little brother’, the song has got to be right for him to go and do that,” John said.

John’s innate ability to paint pictures with words gets a real workout on the rollicking little tune, Simpson Desert.

It’s bright sparks like this that separate the softer, more poignant songs or protest anthems.

Besides that, John loves a good belly laugh as much as anyone.

“I write a lot of sentimental songs, but I have to have the bright ones that while they’re not necessarily deep, they do paint a

picture and connect us with the outback.

“This is especially true for those travelling out there. A lot of people take notice of those songs because they’re a celebration of the outback.”

When he first played Please Don’t Forget Me to wife Meg, she was awash with tears. Then she listened again …

John’s new show-closer isn’t his last will and testament by a long shot.

In it he pays tribute to his hardworking parents and sums up his own life to date – but that’s all part of the show, folks. In fact, it’s goodnight from him!

Lucky To Be Alive just fell out one morning as John was walking through Darling Harbour on a glorious day in the NSW capital, not his typical breeding ground for songs.

“It came from nowhere. It was a sunny day and I couldn’t help thinking how lucky I was to be alive and enjoying it. I keep celebrating the fact we’ve just got one big country and no borders, and the fact that we are free.

“We’re going to keep celebrating our freedom, so I included the Diggers at the end of it because they’re the reason we’ve got that freedom.”

With the prevalence of break-ups, and couples on their second and third marriages, You Don’t Love Your Love Anymore was written for a good mate.

“They were a lovely couple and they broke up. They’re back together now, and I knew how he felt at the time,” John said.

“We’ve all been through it. And sometimes it’s good to have a song that makes people realise they’re not on their own. It just might help someone through depression, you never know.”

John slips into a reflective mood with Time Is Slippin’ Away, half-monologue, half-song.

It’s the gentle surprise of discovering how closely the ageing process affects all of us, the writer included.

“I think from about 60 on you start to realise how quickly the years get away on you,” John said.

“I did a rugby reunion about 18 months ago. We were all looking at each other saying: ‘Bloody hell, you’ve got old!’

Then, you look in the mirror and go, ‘who’s that old fart’?”

John and Meg, both Scorpios, are exactly 10 years apart in age and their most recent milestone was their 130th celebrations.

“I guess the next one will be our 150th,” he said.

An old mate of John’s, Merv Currawong, made a 20-year comeback to Matt Fell’s Love Hz studio to put down the final track, When My Horse Came In, but like all gambles, it almost didn’t get up.

“I just put it down – I wasn’t going to put it on the album, but Matt and the young blokes in the studio just pissed themselves laughing at it,” John said.

It could be a typical Saturday afternoon at the track for any hopeful Aussie Romeo. It tells the story of how Merv’s mate got lucky – in more ways than one.

Sometimes at the track, and in the studio, long shots do pay off!

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BY SUSAN JARVIS

he song captures her current feeling of contentment and enthusiasm for life, newly married to wife Libby and constantly on the move with a mind-boggling schedule.

“I’ve always loved that song, and it really expressed what I’m feeling right now. I’ve also always wanted to give it a country treatment, and I’m thrilled with

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IT’S NOT SURPRISING THAT BECCY COLE CHOSE TO COVER THE POINTER SISTERS CLASSIC I’M SO EXCITED ON HER NEW ALBUM, LIONESS. the way it’s turned out – particularly the banjo, which was played by Taylor Pfeiffer,” Beccy said.

Taylor is just one of several women, which Beccy says is Australia’s first ever 100 per cent femaleproduced album. Beccy’s band, The Sisters of Twang – featuring Julz Parker, Leesa Gentz, Libby O’Donovan, Ali Foster and Shireen Khemlani, along with 2018 Musician of the Year Clare O’Meara and Taylor Pfeiffer – played on the album, Julz – known for her work in Hussy Hicks – produced it.

“That made the album really special for me. I wanted it to be a celebration of women in music,” Beccy said.

“I also wanted it to be an album I was completely

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comfortable with, so we recorded it in the Coromandel Valley in the Adelaide Hills.”

That location was the inspiration for one of the most appealing tracks on the album, Coromandel Valley.

“I wrote it quite late in the recording process because I really wanted to have an autobiographical story set where I grew up,” Beccy said.

But most fans’ introduction to Lioness will be the sensational title track, and its warm, positive video. The song is a love song for Libby, but it’s also full of Beccy’s

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“IT WAS SO HURTFUL – WE HAD TO EXPLAIN TO [LIBBY’S DAUGHTER] MAISY WHY SOME PEOPLE WERE TRYING SO HARD TO SAY THAT OUR FAMILY WAS WRONG. WHEN THE RESULT CAME IN THAT OUR COUNTRY ACCEPTED US, IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE RELIEF. BUT IT WAS ALL SO CRUEL AND UNNECESSARY.”

trademark humour – and she swears all the stories in the song are completely true.

Libby also inspired the sassy My Wife’s Got Balls, though Beccy admits her wife’s a little more reticent about that one – particularly when she’s required to sing harmonies on stage!

On a less positive note, two of the songs on the album – My God and Our Souls – were inspired by the negativity generated by last year’s same-sex marriage referendum.

“It was so hurtful – we had to explain to [Libby’s daughter] Maisy why some people were trying so hard to say that our

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family was wrong. When the result came in that our country accepted us, it was an incredible relief. But it was all so cruel and unnecessary.

“We were so emotional when it was over, and we wanted to get married straight away. I decided to do the Women’s Weekly story because they did it with respect and honesty, and it normalised things.

Earlier this year, Beccy was acknowledged by the LGBTI community with the LGBTI Musician of the Year Award.

“I’m so proud to have received it. I never set out to be an activist – my main focus has been to create a safe space in regional Australia through country music. And I’ve hopefully helped do that by being honest and being true to myself,” Beccy said.

Beccy also gets emotional when she talks about her muchloved son Ricky – but this time the emotion is sheer pride and love. She wrote I Believe In You for his 19th birthday, and says she struggled with writing it, and still has trouble singing it.

“The time comes when you have to relinquish control, and let them go out into the world. I’m incredibly proud of him and what he’s achieving,” she said.

The other autobiographical song on Lioness is The Milliner, a beautiful, heartfelt tribute to Beccy’s 99-year-old grandmother that was written largely by Libby.

“Libby knows what she means to me, and I just love this song. My grandmother’s hearing’s not so good any more, but we put the headphones on, and gave her the lyrics, and she loved the song,” Beccy said.

As always, though, the emotional songs on this album are balanced by a couple of wonderful light-hearted tracks.

Wine Time is a title Beccy’s been thinking about for years.

“There are definitely not enough drinking songs for women. And every woman I know will relate to this one.

You start off looking dressed up and gorgeous, and as the night wears on … well, we’ve all been there!”

Look Ma I’m On CMC was written a couple of years back when Beccy was asked to do something special for the CMC Awards, and it has been so popular that she decided to include it on Lioness.

Somehow, Beccy has squeezed writing and recording the songs for Lioness into a hectic travel schedule. She has just returned from a hosted tour to the UK and Europe, and is already planning next year’s trip to Africa, which will

take in a safari, Capetown, Victoria Falls and Johannesburg, along with plenty of music.

A major part of Beccy’s year is now taken up with hosting the hugely successful Aussie Road Crew tours that she and Libby host four times a year.

The tours were conceived during a trip to South Africa, when Beccy decided she wanted to showcase her music along with Australia’s amazing scenery. They began in 2017, and have been a hit with fans, many of whom are regulars.

“We concentrate on campfire concerts, and get visiting artists in to entertain the campers. We also do a few bigger gigs along the way,” Beccy said.

“This was meant to be a retirement project, but it just took off. There are so many people in Australia who want to take part in something like this – they want to see the country, but also be entertained at night.”

The next tours will take in South Australia from September 30 to 13 October 13 on the Mines to Vines tour, followed immediately by the New South Wales Mines to Muster tour from October 12 to 28.

Meanwhile, Beccy has been busy launching her album – at the Gympie Muster last month, followed by a Victorian launch the Frankston Arts Centre. Her South Australian launch is scheduled for September 15 at the Hahndorf Old Mill.

Beccy’s also lined up some sensational shows for Tamworth 2019. Along with her regular shows during either weekend of the festival, she’ll join forces with Tania Kernaghan, Lyn Bowtell and Gina Jeffreys for a special concert titled The Women Behind the Songs during the festival.

Happiness is contagious, and right now Beccy Cole is exuding the kind of joy that we can all envy. That emotion has been captured perfectly on Lioness, which is unquestionably one of the standout releases of 2018 and one of the finest albums Beccy has recorded.

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CARRIE UNDERWOOD

CRIES

AT 20TH DENI UTE MUSTER

BY DAVID DAWSON

You can pretty lie and say it’s okay You can pretty smile and just walk away Pretty much fake your way through anything But you can’t cry pretty You can’t turn off the flood when the dam breaks When all your mascara is going to waste When things get ugly, you just gotta face That you can’t cry pretty.”

Cry Pretty – Carrie Underwood/Lori McKenna/ Liz Rose/Hillary Lindsey

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WHEN SEVEN TIME GRAMMY WINNER CARRIE UNDERWOOD HEADLINES THE 20TH DENI UTE MUSTER THIS MONTH WITH KASEY CHAMBERS IT’S UNLIKELY THEY WILL DO A DUET ON NOT PRETTY ENOUGH.

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klahoma born Carrie topped US charts with her single Cry Pretty – title track of her sixth album set for release on September 14.

The singer, who announced her pregnancy on the eve of the Ute Muster, previously won major awards for her duet on The Fighter with expatriate Australasian superstar and previous tour partner Keith Urban who also returns here in January.

Underwood, 35, didn’t have to dig deep to fuel her hit that she wrote with Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna and Liz Rose (aka The Love Junkies).

She broke her wrist and had about 50 stitches inserted in facial wounds after a fall at her Nashville home in November shortly after her 10th hosting of the CMA Awards with West Virginian Brad Paisley. years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

PHOTO: RANDEE ST NICHOLAS

Carrie’s retired Nashville Predators ice hockey star husband Mike Fisher rushed home to stand by his woman and three year old son Isaiah after the accident.

Pride came after the fall for the 2005 American Idol winner who threw herself back into songwriting and producing her new album with fellow writer/producer David Garcia.

“The title refers to when emotions take over and you just can’t hold them back,” Underwood revealed on the eve of her Australian return that follows the national tour with Urban in December, 2015. years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

“It really speaks to a lot of things that have happened in the past year, and I hope when you hear it, you can relate to those feelings in those times in your life. It’s emotional.

It’s real. And it rocks.

“You know, I don’t think I kill anybody off on this album.

I know! It’s so unlike me. Everybody lives at the end. I think it’s a different kind of drama, it’s a little more real-life and I feel like just me and where I am in my life. Having a kid and kind of just going through this crazy life that we go through. I’ve grown up a lot and I feel like the drama is more real-life.”

Underwood expanded on her new found creative confidence.

“At this point in my career, I feel stronger and more creative than ever,” Underwood explained.

“I think you can hear that in this new album. It’s emotional, it’s soulful, it’s real, and we also have some fun on there too. I hope everyone loves it as much as I have loved making it.

“We hit it off in a big way. I’ve always been lucky to have a voice in the writing and recording process, but this is the first time I am this involved in the production of my music. It’s been challenging and incredibly rewarding to be involved in every aspect from start to finish. David has been an amazing teacher and partner, and I’m so proud of what we have created.”

Carrie won her 14th Academy Of Country Music award in April for best vocal duet with Urban for their hit The Fighter.

She spent 2016 touring and took most of 2017 off before co-hosting the CMA Awards.

Carrie retained her high profile by teaming with rapper star Ludacris on their video for The Champion that exploits sporting and civil rights metaphors to drive equality messages.

The Champion was used in the opening for Super Bowl LII and Winter Olympics later in February.

Underwood wrote it in 2017 with Brett James, Chris DeStefano and Ludacris.

“When we were writing The Champion our main focus was to celebrate athletes at the top of their game, but we also wanted the song to resonate with people in their everyday lives,” Underwood revealed.

“We hope the lyrics will inspire people to push themselves beyond their limits to conquer anything they are trying to accomplish or overcome. There’s a champion in every single one of us!”

Underwood proved that in her own life that started on March 10, 1983, in tiny Oklahoma town Muskogee.

She was raised on her parents’ farm in rural town Checotah where her father Steve worked in a paper mill while her mother Carole taught elementary school.

Carrie began singing as a child at the First Free Will Baptist Church before auditioning for Capitol Records at 14.

Now, 65 million plus album sales later, the multimillionaire singer-philanthropist returns for a visit to NSW Riverina oasis Deniliquin – south of the parched paddocks way out west.

Carrie, a vegan and committed Christian, has many

strings to her bucolic bows.

She made her film debut in Soul Surfer in April 2011 as Sarah Hill – the church youth leader who helped Bethany Hamilton overcome the obstacles she faced after losing an arm in a shark attack.

Carrie also exploited her humour when she appeared in TV series Sesame Street as the voice of ‘Carrie Underworm’ – a worm who sings a song about worm pride before a Sesame Street auto race.

Meanwhile back on terra firma the singer revealed she and husband Mike Fisher, are expecting a new baby.

“Mike, Isaiah and I are absolutely over the moon and excited to be adding another little fish to our pond,” Carrie revealed.

“I’m 35 so we may have missed our chance to have a big family. In the meantime we’re lucky to be part of organisations that help kids, because our focus right now in our lives is helping as many kids as possible.”

Carrie and her husband Mike’s charitable ventures include donating their time, talent and funds to various causes including Danita’s Children – a group committed to caring for orphans and impoverished children in Haiti.

She has donated $1 from each ticket sale on her 2019 Cry Pretty tour with Maddie & Tae and Runaway June to Danita’s Children.

That complemented her personal healing that diverted her from the road and into the studio before touring to promote her album.

“It’s crazy how a freak random accident can change your life,” Underwood recalled.

“Even though I’ve had the best people helping me I’m still healing and not quite looking the same. I honestly don’t know how things are going to end up but I do know this. I am grateful that it wasn’t much, much worse.”

Underwood is no stranger to natural disasters after her home suffered tornadoes in March last year.

“Woke up to tornado sirens and hail,” revealed Underwood who also made massive donations to Red Cross in her home state after 2013 tornadoes.

“Our chimney is currently in our driveway tree limbs everywhere.”

Carrie appears at Deni Ute Muster on September 25-26 with Kasey Chambers & The Fireside Disciples, Kirsty Lee Akers, Troy CassarDaley, Busby Marou, Gord Bamford, Travis Collins, Fanny Lumsden, The Pigs, Doug Bruce & The Tailgaters, Amber Lawrence and Thirsty Merc.

Further info and bookings - https://www. deniutemuster.com.au

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or Kenny Chesney, Songs For The Saints wasn’t an album created for hit singles or critical acclaim, but to process his own emotions and to let the people on the islands known as the Saints know they were not only not forgotten, but their spirit was being held up as a source of inspiration.

“It was as pure, in the moment of creation, as anything I’ve ever been involved in,” says the man who just broke Billboard’s record for most No. 1s on the Country Airplay Chart with Saints’ lead track Get Along. “All these emotions needed somewhere to go, but the more I thought about the islands and the people who live there, their spirit and the way they face these unknowns, the more I thought this music should show the world that resilience.”

Get Along is a brisk midtempo offering with an invitation to come together, find higher ground, exhale and seek a way of living that fosters harmony.

“To me, music is what you make it, and I want music that sounds good, but also gives you permission to really live,” said Kenny.

“I think we can get so caught up in expectations, our own and other peoples, and we forget

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what matters. You know, the song says, ‘You find out when you die, the keys to heaven can’t be bought/We still don’t know what love is, but we sure know what it’s not…’ That’s real.

We’re here such a short time, this song reminds us all how to get together, get along and enjoy the ride.”

Chesney’s not the only one thinking about Songs For The Saints. Less than a week after its release, some of the nation’s most important publications weighed in. ABC News Radio called it, “the eye of the storm”, New York’s Newsday offered Chesney’s “finding inspiration and purpose in catastrophe” and The Miami Herald deemed it, “Chesney’s most thoughtful and rewarding album since Hemingway’s Whiskey in 2010”.

Rolling Stone raved Saints ‘maps a cycle of grief and despair transformed into healing and resilience’, while USA Today assessed it as ‘a singer-songwriter project driven by vulnerability and determination’ and The Chicago Tribune noted, ‘a thoughtful, mostly acousticdriven release that resonates with love and renewal’. The New York Times’ lead critic Jon Pareles looked into the actual music, offering, ‘Everything country music learned from arena rock is in the mix … the music gives him heroic, wide-

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FOSTERING HARMONY

IT CAME FROM HIS HEART, FUELLED

BY THE ANXIETY OF WAITING – AND WATCHING – AS THE CARIBBEAN ISLANDS, WHERE HE MAKES HIS HOME, WERE BATTERED BY HURRICANE IRMA, THEN MARIA.

open spaces’. With a three-page spread in People magazine, the man who’s currently rocking 50,000-plus on the 19-stadium part of his Trip Around the Sun Tour is going deep to consider what the devastation meant, how he’s helping the islands face the future and how it made his music mean even more.

“A three-page Entertainment Weekly profile also took in the inspiration for Songs For The Saints, calling it, ‘…a love letter

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

PHOTO: ALLISTER ANN

to the resilience of those living in the Caribbean. Suffused with acoustic guitars, steel drums, and wistful melodies, the record is both buoyant and melancholy’.

“It’s been mind-blowing to see some of the people who got it,” Chesney says.

“These are the toughest critics, and they

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

see the soul of the record, why it mattered.

“I’ve spoken to NPR, Robin Roberts on Good Morning America and Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show – and seeing those places that don’t always embrace mainstream country music embrace this album shows how music can and does bring people together. Since all the money is going to the relief

fund, them spreading the word helps in ways most people don’t even realise. Here’s to the songs, the writers, the players and always the people of the Saints.”

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ENTER

ARE YOU READY TO TAKE THE STAR MAKER JOURNEY? DO YOU THINK YOU’VE GOT WHAT IT TAKES TO BE THE 40TH TOYOTA STAR MAKER?

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years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

CELEBRATE 40 YEARS OF STAR MAKER PRESENTED BY TOYOTA

Wednesday, 23 January 2019 12noon – 3:30pm Doors open at 11:15am Tamworth Regional Entertainment & Conference Centre Hosted by Nick Erby

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BY REBECCA BELT

AFTER A WHIRLWIND TRIP TO AUSTRALIA IN MARCH THAT SAW DAN + SHAY PERFORM AT THE SOLD OUT CMC ROCKS QLD, THE US COUNTRY POP DUO ARE ALREADY ORGANISING A RETURN VISIT TO PERFORM SONGS FROM THEIR NEW SELF-TITLED ALBUM.

D

an + Shay is the duo’s third album, but decided it was the right time for a self-titled release because it was the one that summed them up the best in terms of musical style and song content.

“You only do a self-titled album once and we worked so hard for two-and-a-half years, and we have now figured out who Dan + Shay is,” Dan Smyers, one-half of the duo said.

“Our first album is a collection of demos I’d done on my laptop when we were writing songs and not even a duo at that point. The second record we were taking chances with songs, but we feel we really locked in on who we are.

This is a pivotal moment in our career… and it’s also easier than thinking of an album title.”

Dan said their hit song and first single, Tequila, was a difficult one to wrangle in production, but the results of the hard work speak for themselves.

“It has had great success, but we put a lot of time and effort into it and it went through a lot of steps when we were producing it,” he said.

“We changed the tempo, vibe and key, but we knew the song was special when we were writing the lyrics.”

The song that means the most to Dan and duo partner Shay Mooney is Speechless.

“We started discussing how we felt when we got married - it was easy to write and only took an hour or two,” Dan said.

“At that stage we thought the album was done, but then we

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tacked it on and it’s a fan favourite and has had a great response.”

Another favourite of Dan’s from their new album is Keeping Score, which they recorded with Kelly Clarkson.

“We are such big fans, so it was special to be able to sing it with her,” he said.

“We sent it to her and she responded very quickly and was interested in singing with us. We flew to LA and tracked it live, so hopefully that gives us an excuse to sing that live with her at some stage. Kelly worked well because Shay is one of the strongest singers ever, so you’ve got to find a powerful singer and she is at the top of that list for us; she is such a powerhouse vocalist and we’re lucky she said yes.”

Making the video clip for the song holds a special place in Dan and Shay’s hearts, as they used footage from their weddings.

“We both got married last year, so it was cool because we like to have an open relationship with our fans,” Dan said.

“We wanted to show them who we really are and it worked out perfectly; it looks like we meant to do it that way. It turned into a super cool video, not only for the promotion of the song, but a cool memento of our special days.”

Their Australian fans embraced the new songs as well as their older hits on their visit in March.

“It was honestly one of the coolest moments in our career because I’d always dreamed of visiting Australia,” Dan said.

“The fact we got to go there and play music was a bonus. We didn’t know what to expect as far as the shows went, but the fans were singing our words back to us.

“The fans in Australia were so passionate about our music and our country music, so we were surprised and on cloud nine. We were just bummed we didn’t get to stay longer, but we will definitely stay longer next time.

“Visiting Australia didn’t feel like work and we want to come back as soon as possible.”

They have now hit the road in the US with Rascal Flatts and, from October, will tour with Chris Young and Australia’s own Morgan Evans.

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“We love Morgan – he is such a cool guy and so is his wife, Kelsea,” Dan said.

“Chris Young is a good friend of ours and it will be a cool way to wrap up the year. Country music is such a family that outside of the shows it’s just fun to hang out with these other artists.”

Shay co-wrote I Like The Sound of That which Rascal Flatts recorded, so Dan said it was an honour to be asked to tour with the band.

“We are such fans of their music and it is so flattering they would consider recording our songs,” Dan said.

Being pop-country, Dan + Shay’s songs are influenced by a range of other artists including Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, modern pop music, R ‘n’ B, The Beach Boys and rock.

“It’s cool to just find originality in all those sounds and make our own sound, and hopefully we can influence someone else down the track,” Dan said.

Although they have achieved so much already, Dan said the duo would still love to duet with artists including Demi Lovato and Shawn Mendez.

“We are open to collaborating with as many people as we can,” he said.

On a more traditional country level, they would also love to meet George Strait.

The duo had a special message for their Australian fans.

“Thank you guys for supporting our music over there and we hope to come back as soon as we can.”

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

L A T PIVO MOMENTS years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

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ROLL R E T S ERCOA Rooty Hill, Sydney

DESPITE NOT RELEASING ANY NEW ORIGINAL MUSIC SINCE THE RELEASE OF HER ALBUM HEARTBEAT IN MAY 2015, IT HAS BEEN A VERY EVENTFUL YEAR FOR JASMINE RAE SO FAR.

F

rom the highs of playing to sell-out crowds as part of the Granger Smith Australian tour and Groundwater Country Music Festival in July, to dealing with the consequences of legal action undertaken by the cowriters of her hit song When I Found You, 2018 has proven to be a rollercoaster for the threetime ARIA nominated and twotime CMC Music Award winning singer-songwriter.

In late July this year, Jasmine joined Granger Smith and his alter-ego Earl Dibbles Jnr on his sold-out Australian Tour shows

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in Sydney, Melbourne, Townsville and the Gold Coast for the Groundwater festival. The shows, promoted by Groundwater Touring, were a huge success.

“It was an amazing experience. The crowds at all the shows were brilliant.” says Jasmine.

While many international headliners like to keep their distance from their opening acts, Granger and his team were the complete opposite.

“They were so good to us. Everyone on the tour became instant friends and I loved chatting with Granger about his recording process and how Yee Yee Nation came about.

“They have a really refreshing way of going about things. A dream big, no-nonsense energy that is infectious.

I love that Granger has created characters and alter egos that he includes in his shows and videos. He and his brother created Yee Yee Nation – “a lifestyle movement” not just regular merchandise. He records a podcast where he talks about issues he feels passionate about. It feels like everything they do has a purpose and means something.

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My band and I learnt so much from the whole experience; hopefully we’ll get to play more shows together in the future.”

The shows were a welcome distraction from events earlier in the year. Just weeks before an acclaimed performance at Tamworth Country Music Festival’s Live & Loud event, Jasmine was facing the realisation that the co-writers of When I Found You (Sean Carey and her former keyboard player Beau Golden) had decided to sue Ed Sheeran, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and other parties without her consent, claiming the song The Rest Of Our Life recorded by McGraw and Hill and released in late 2017 was a “blatant copy” of the Australian Country song that topped the CMC Top 30 Countdown and was the most played song on Australian Country Radio in the first half of 2016.

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

Village Green Hotel, Melbourne

Dalrymple Hotel, Townsville

RIDE In responding court documents, Sheeran and his co-writers Amy Wadge, Johnny McDaid and Steve Mac responded by saying The Rest Of Our Life was independently created, while McGraw and Hill have tried to distance themselves from the matter in their response on the basis that they didn’t write the song and simply recorded a song pitched to them.

As the recording artist and face of When I Found You and the writer who first came up with the idea for a song for her best friend’s wedding, Jasmine has had to deal with criticism from music fans who don’t agree with the action her co-writers took, despite not being involved in the legal action herself.

Adding to the initial dilemma, Carey and Golden chose not to tell Jasmine they had decided to go ahead with the legal action.

She only found out about it following media reports on Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, TMZ and news outlets across Australia and the world.

“I didn’t know they had decided go ahead with any legal action until someone told me about an article on the Billboard website. So I was very unprepared for the whole situation, the questions from media outlets and the

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

Jasmine with Granger Smith

Groundwater Festival

opinions people started sharing with me before I’d even been able to digest the whole situation properly.”

The question Jasmine has been asked most, is why isn’t she joining her co-writers in the legal proceedings?

“Essentially, I don’t agree with the way they have chosen to address the whole issue,” she says.

“They’ve been encouraged to immediately assume the worst and seem to be trying to create ways to involve people who had nothing to do with the writing of the song as well, in order to try and get more money and publicity from the situation, no matter what the impact is on anyone else. They’ve even tried to involve my partner in the whole thing because I didn’t go along with what they wanted to do. That has really shocked and hurt me.”

One upside to the situation has been the renewed interest in Jasmine’s song.

“I keep hearing stories from people throughout the world who have told me that they’ve played or performed When I Found You at their wedding. For me, it’s the ultimate compliment as a songwriter. I recently released an official instrumental version of the song because I get so many requests from people who want to sing the song themselves on their special day.”

If the case is not settled out of court soon, it’s likely the parties will duel the matter out in a New York court in a jury trial early next year.

In the meantime, Jasmine will be doing what she does best - writing, recording, performing and releasing new music.

During the tour with Granger Smith, she performed the new song Right Now, written with James Draper and Jordan Brady from the duo Winterbourne. She intends to record that song very soon and perform it and some other new tracks, along with all her fan favourites, at upcoming performances at the Mount Hunter Country Music Stampede in Western Sydney on October 12, the Kick The Dust Up Festival in Canberra on November 10 and the Burra Country Music Festival in South Australia on November 17.

“Playing the shows with Granger has reminded me why I do what I do and why I love it so much. I can’t wait to record and release my new songs and play more shows very soon,” says Jasmine.

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years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

PATH TO SUCCESS

BY LACHLAN BRYAN

T

he Illinois native is speaking on the eve of her first Australian tour, where she’ll perform at Melbourne’s Out on the Weekend festival as well as a small number of sideshows along the East Coast.

She’s reflecting the success that followed debut record Midwest Farmer ’s Daughter – the landmark 2016 album that was eventually released on Jack White’s Third Man label, after being rejected by “maybe thirty or more labels in the USA and even a few in the UK”.

The album was the result of constant encouragement by husband Jeremy Ivey, himself an accomplished artist and songwriter (not to mention Price’s most frequent writing collaborator).

“It was Jeremy who decided that we should sell the car and throw everything behind the record,” says Price, “and you know, he really doesn’t get enough credit for how much he’s had to do with it being successful…I’d been at the

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

“I THINK IT ALL JUST HAPPENED WHEN IT WAS SUPPOSED TO”, EXPLAINS MARGO PRICE, THE WOMAN WHO HAS, IN RECENT YEARS, EMERGED AS THE QUEEN OF THE AMERICANA GENRE. “IT WAS

do-or-die point maybe five years before we made this record, to be honest.”

JEREMY Price’s path to success is the kind that gives hope to the WHO hundreds (if not thousands) of DECIDED aspiring singer-songwriters plying their trade in Nashville (or any THAT WE of the great music cities across the globe). She moved to music SHOULD city in the early 2000s, waited tables, taught dance, formed SELL THE a band and played countless gigs around the States (and CAR AND even in the UK). She developed a closer relationship with her THROW songwriter great-uncle Bobby EVERYTHING Fischer, but spent much of her time “hanging out at songwriter BEHIND THE nights, listening to other people” – caught up in the intimidating RECORD.” and far-from-glamorous world of the would-be professional artist.

There were many times when she had doubts.

“When I was pregnant I even thought I’d get into photography, so I bought all these cameras and I didn’t think I’d perform again,” she says, “but just a few months after I had my children I was back out performing again in and around Nashville – so (the photography) didn’t last long. But it was just a long, long time floundering in the mediocrity and going round and round in circles – going out on tour and not being paid, turning up to play shows and no one being there. You know how they say the

definition of insanity is doing the same thing again and again and expecting a different outcome – well, believe it or not, sometimes it pays off!”

The pay-off for Price in recent times has been significant. Her appeal has spread well beyond the Americana genre, and this year alone she’s performed at Bonnaroo, The NYC Governor’s Ball and the fairly mainstream Country to Country Festival in Glasgow.

“I appreciate the way we’re able to tour now”, she says. “I’ve done the thing where you’re booking your own hotels and travelling around in a fifteen seater, or even just driving everywhere to shows. I know a lot of people that, through connections or whatever, have had every opportunity to succeed and have squandered it or had no work ethic. But in my case I guess, you know, practice makes perfect – I’ve definitely had a lot of rehearsals before the show came.”

The “show” in Margo’s case has moved on from the success of her debut and on to follow-up All American Made. This second record has cemented her alongside Sturgill Simpson and Chris Stapleton as one of the leading Americana acts to reinvigorate the country music genre, incorporating elements of soul, blues, folk and even classic rock. It’s an intoxicating mix from a Bona fide country star.

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HITTING

HOME RUNS

BY REBECCA BELT

T

he US singersongwriter had dreams of being a professional baseball player, but an injury forced him to change his life direction and now he’s playing the stadiums he dreamed of as a child, just in a different field.

Morgan has released three singles – The Way I Talk, his latest Whiskey Glasses, but it was his second, Up Down, that caught the ears of new country fans, when he teamed up with chart-toppers Florida Georgia Line.

The collaboration with Florida Georgia Line came about through their shared producer, Joey Moi. “I originally planned on doing it by myself, but they (FGL) were in the studio at the same time and he showed them the song and they loved it, so it kinda just happened,” Morgan said.

“We spent a day or two in the studio getting everything fixed just right.

“Those boys became my friends before anything else and have been so good to me and treated me like a little brother.”

It was a surreal experience for the Florida Georgia Line fan.

“Five or six years ago, I was out in my boat with my buddy 28

UP DOWN SINGER MORGAN WALLEN IS SHINING PROOF THAT LIFE CAN THROW YOU CURVEBALLS WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR CHILDHOOD AMBITIONS, BUT YOUR DREAMS CAN STILL COME TRUE. on the lake and he played me some new group called Florida Georgia Line and I became a fan,” Morgan said.

“So, then to struggle on my own and now for them to be endorsing me in this way, it’s all still pretty crazy to think about.

I just really appreciate them and it’s a cool thing they’ve done with me.”

Morgan said, while they hadn’t discussed further collaborations, he was sure they would remain friends and collaborators for many years.

At the Stage Coach festival, he did his own set before hitting the stage with Florida Georgia Line where he truly experienced what it meant to have a #1 song as an artist.

“There were 75-or-80,000 people there and a lot of them were singing with us along with Up Down,” he said.

“That was one of the coolest experiences of my career so far. Anytime you record a song, you take a risk; you give a piece of yourself to it. You want people to feel the same way as you do about the song – to care and believe and relate to it, so when you get out there and you start seeing those things happening and people start buying into what you’re doing, it’s super cool.

“When you go with a single and put all your promotion, marketing and money into it and it gets received like Up Down, it is just awesome.”

Up Down wasn’t his first chart-topper, though; he’d also co-written You Make It Easy, which Jason Aldean enjoyed success with, and has co-written songs for Kane Brown,

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Dustin Lynch and A Thousand Horses.

After the release of Up Down and his CMA Fest debut this year, Luke Bryan selected him as one of four opening acts on his ‘What Makes You Country’ tour.

The tour began on May 31 and will continue through to October. He is also playing his own shows in between, making for a busy US summer and autumn period, but there’s still no slowing down for the 25-yearold Tennessee native.

In August, he also opened for Florida Georgia Line.

“The Luke Bryan tour is my first time playing stadiums, so that’s awesome,” he said.

“I grew up wanting to be a baseball player, and grew up dreaming of playing these places in a different field, so to be on this side and feel the energy of Luke’s live show is amazing. I am super grateful to Luke for asking me out on the road with him.”

Morgan said he enjoyed watching Luke’s live show from different angles and learning from the seasoned performer. His opening show has been getting rave reviews wherever they’ve played as well, so a future of headlining his own stadium tour shouldn’t be far off.

Once he wraps up the tour with Luke, he will hit the road with labelmate Jake Owen on his ‘Life’s Whatcha Make It’ tour from October 4 with special guest David Lee Murphy.

A trip to Australia is also on the cards for the young artist.

“Ever since I remember, I’ve wanted to go to Australia because I love your accent and I definitely want to get over there,” Morgan said.

“I was talking to different friends who may be coming there next year to play, so I would love to get over there.”

Morgan Wallen continues to hit home runs, so Australian fans will have to watch this space for more news. years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

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PHOTO: JUSTIN’S PHOTOWORKS

TOYOTA STAR MAKER UPDATE

THE TOUR

CONTINUES IT’S FINALLY STARTING TO FEEL LIKE MY MUSIC PROJECT ISN’T A HOPELESS TASK.

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e are putting on shows in towns that I have never played before and people are coming out and buying tickets.

It’s a crazy thing to rock up to a venue in a town I have never played, load in the gear with all the overhead costs looming and wondering if anyone is going to turn up. I’ll tell you, they turned up and it’s the best feeling in the world.

Playing songs that I wrote a couple of years ago, in a situation

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and a mind set that I never imagined would come to fruition like they have, and having people singing those songs back to me onstage is one of the coolest things ever.

Thank you to everyone who has been coming out to the shows, singing the songs and buying the merch. This tour has been one of the greatest things I have been a part of to date and I can’t wait for the rest of it to be just as fun.

At the end of July we played at the Groundwater Country Music Festival which was a standout for the band and I. The organisation and running of the festival was second to none and we had an unreal time and played some great shows. Can’t wait to get back there next year – hopefully!

In August, we played at Country Rocks Under The Stars in Braidwood which was awesome fun, the an early morning at the Central Coast festival, before heading to Bellingen, and as I write this we’re off to the Gympie Muster, then Brisbane, and the Sydney album launch,

C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 8

before heading on to Wagga and then up to the Northern Territory.

I have just watched the first cut of my new single Water On The Ground and I’m totally blowing my own horn here, but the clip is unbelievable. It’s something that my little team and I worked so hard on to capture and I can’t wait for everyone to see it.

Other than that, we are just grinding away at this tour, sharing music and beers and having a rip-snorter of a time. I have already started working on album number two which keeps the motivation high. Writing flat out and keen to get back into the studio later in the year is exciting.

Hope to see you on the road at a show soon.

Keep them shades low Brad

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

LIVE MUSIC SCENE

LIFT OUT

Please note all show venues & times are correct at time of printing. Capital News recommends you check with the venue prior to attending.

OCTOBER 12 Rush Festival, Gympie Qld

06 Lizottes Newcastle, Lambton

ANDREW SWIFT

07 Coffs Harbour Ex SC NSW

SEPTEMBER 28 Tumut River Brewing Company NSW 29 Southern Railway Hotel, Goulburn NSW NOVEMBER 2-4 Ballina CMF NSW

ANGELA EASSON ADAM BRAND

SEPTEMBER 14 O’Donoghues Irish Pub, Sydney NSW 15 Central Hotel, Ungarie, NSW 16 Armatree Hotel NSW OCTOBER 05 Falcon Hotel, Kanyapella Vic (SOLD OUT) 06 5 Rivers Outback Festival, Balranald NSW 07 Creekside Hotel, Warracknabeal NSW 12 Raymond Terrace BC NSW 13 Mount Hunter Stampede NSW 14 Royal Hotel, Bungendore NSW 16 Churchill Hotel Vic 17 Mac’s Hotel, Melton Vic 18 Railway Hotel, Murchison Vic

SEPTEMBER 28-30 Mildura CMF Vic OCTOBER 1-7 Mildura CMF Vic DECEMBER 1&2 The Royal Hotel, Gympie Qld

ASHLEY COOK

SEPTEMBER 08 Dorrigo Showgrounds, NSW

NSW 08 Casino RSM NSW 09 Maclean Bowls Club NSW JANUARY 2019 25 West Tamworth LC NSW

BEN RANSOM SEPTEMBER 04 Stage and Hunter, Mayfield NSW 08 Redlands Park, Brisbane Qld 23 Leadbelly, Newtown NSW 29 Deni Ute Muster, Deniliquin

BRAD COX

NSW OCTOBER 13 Royal Mail Hotel, Braidwood NSW 14 Royal Hotel, Bungendore NSW NOVEMBER 17 Tullamore BC NSW 24&25 Tathra Hotel NSW

BENNETT, BOWTELL & URQUHART SEPTEMBER 14 The Acoustic Picnic, Sydney

BECCY COLE

ADAM HARVEY

OCTOBER 12 Rooty Hill RSL Club, Sydney NSW 13 Mount Hunter Stampede NSW NOVEMBER 03 Murgon Music Muster Qld 09 Toowoomba City GC Qld 10 Kedron Wavell SC, Brisbane Qld 11 Dag Pub & Motel, D’Aguilar Qld 16 Halekulani BC, Budgewoi NSW 17 Lizottes, Newcastle NSW

ALICE BENFER

SEPTEMBER 1-2 Wyper Park Scout Camp, Bundaberg Qld 14-16 Clifton Showgrounds Qld 21-22 Pioneer Village, Maleny Qld years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

With Sara Storer, Libby O’Donovan and Kelly Brouhaha 01 The Cabaret Club, Ballarat Vic 15 Handorf Old Mill SA 21 The Gateway Hotel, Corio Vic 22 Hysteria Lounge, Lilydale Vic 29 Lyndoch Hotel SA 30 Kapunda SA OCTOBER 04 West Augusta Football Club, Port August SA 06 Prairie Hotel, Prachilna SA* 12 Cotton Capital CM Muster, Wee Waa NSW 27 Clare Valley Country Muster, Ulmarra NSW NOVEMBER 09 Village Green, Mulgrave Vic 10 Mac’s Hotel, Melton Vic 16 Norwood Hotel SA 23 Club Sapphire, Merimbula NSW 24 The Oaks Hotel, Albion Park Rail NSW 25 Brass Monkey, Cronulla NSW 30 Highfields Tavern, Toowoomba Qld DECEMBER 01 Southport RSL Qld 02 Hamilton Hotel, Brisbane Qld

NSW 15 Lizottes, Newcastle NSW 28 Hardys Bay Club NSW NOVEMBER 17 The Spotted Mallard, Melbourne Vic

***Guest of The McClymonts SEPTEMBER 2018 07 Canberra Southern Cross Club ACT*** 09 Forbes SMC NSW*** 09 Home Tavern, Wagga Wagga NSW 21 Outback Experience, Katherine NT 22 Noonmah Rodeo Final NT 28 Deniliquin Ute Muster NSW NOVEMBER 2018 10 Dunedoo Tunes On The Turf NSW 23 Wee Waa BC NSW*** 24 Lightning Ridge BC NSW*** DECEMBER 2018 07 York On Lilydale, Mt Evelyn Vic *** 08 West Gippsland Arts Centre, Warragul Vic ***

BRIAN LETTON

SEPTEMBER 7-9 Nanango Country Muster Qld 12 Nhill BC Vic 13 Hindmarsh Valley Hall, Victor Harbour SA 15 Town Hall, Jamestown SA 16 Northern CMA Hall, Port Pirie SA 17 Town Hall, Moonta SA 19 Town Hall, Quorn SA 20 Commercial Hotel, Cowell SA 22 Pt Lincoln BC SA 23 Community Club, Smoky Bay SA 28-29 Widgee CMF Qld 29-30 Texas CM Roundup Qld

CARTER & CARTER SEPTEMBER 1 Albury Ent Centre Vic

BILLY BRIDGE OCTOBER 7-15 Cruisin Country 8 NOVEMBER 2-4 Ballina CMF NSW

CATHERINE BRITT & THE COLD COLD HEARTS Guest Melody Moko SEPTEMBER 1 Lizottes, Newcastle NSW 2 Ettalong Diggers, Ettalong Beach NSW

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LIVE MUSIC SCENE NOVEMBER 3 Harmonie-German Club, Canberra ACT 16 Commercial Club, Albury NSW 17 Club Mulwala, Mulwala NSW 22 Coomealla Club - Dareton VIC 23 Pretoria Hotel - Mannum SA 24 Trinity Sessions - Adelaide SA 30 Noojee Pub – Noojee VIC DECEMBER 1 Bundy Hall, Bundalaguah Vic JANUARY 23 The Longyard Hotel, Tamworth NSW

CHRISTIE LAMB

OCTOBER 12 K Ranch Arena, Mount Hunter NSW 13 The Colonial Hotel, Werrington NSW NOVEMBER 3 Ourimbah RSL Club NSW 10 Kick Up The Dust Festival, Canberra ACT 17 The Loaded Dog Tarago NSW 23 Young SC NSW 24 The Rock BNS, The Rock NSW DECEMBER 15 The Colonial Hotel, Werrington NSW

DALE HOOPER

SEPTEMBER 22 The Greens @ The Entrance NSW OCTOBER 14 South West Rocks Country Club NSW 28 Bathurst RSL Club NSW NOVEMBER 03 Johnny Cash CMF, Stanthorpe Showground Qld

DEAN PERRETT

SEPTEMBER 1-2 Wyper Park Scout Camp, Bundaberg Qld 7-9 Nanango Showgrounds Qld 14-16 Bony Mountain Festival, Warwick Qld OCTOBER 9 Radiance Of The Sea 26-28 Maryborough Equestrian Park Qld

DIANNE LINDSAY

SEPTEMBER 01 Bundaberg Muster Qld 10 Gwandalan BC NSW 15 Bony Mountain Festival, Warwick Qld 23 Smithfield RSL NSW 28 Mildura CMF Vic OCTOBER 09 Cruisin Country 8 20 Kempsey Showground NSW NOVEMBER 25 Mona Vale RSL NSW

HAYLEY JENSEN

OCTOBER 27 Rock Edge CMF, Biloela Qld NOVEMBER 10 Kick The Dust Up Festival, Goolabri, near Canberra NSW

GARETH LEACH

*With Gretta Ziller SEPTEMBER 14 The Spotted Mallard, Brunswick Vic OCTOBER 06 Kyabram House Concert* 14 Fat Goat, Upwey Vic

GRAEME CONNORS

SEPTEMBER 15 Empire Theatre, Toowoomba Qld 22 Riverway Arts Centre, Thuringowa Qld OCTOBER 05 Lismore Workers Club NSW 06 CEX, Woolgoolga NSW 07 Lizottes, Newcastle NSW 08 17 Cruisin Country 8 18 Dubbo RSL Club, NSW 20 White Cliffs Community Hall NSW 21 Coomealla Memorial Sporting Club, Dareton NSW NOVEMBER 09 Giant Dwarf Theatre, Redfern NSW

GRETTA ZILLER

Guest of Adam Brand* With Andrew Swift** SEPTEMBER 14 The Spotted Mallard, Brunswick Melbourne Vic 27-29 Floriade, Canberra ACT OCTOBER: 04 Floriade, Canberra ACT 05 Flacon Hotel, Kanyapella Vic* 06 The Creekside Hotel, Warracknabeal Vic* 13 Wirra Creek Music, Willunga SA 20-21 Patchewollock Music Festival Vic 26 The Noojee Pub Vic**

HAYLEY MARSTEN

SEPTEMBER 12 Some Velvet Morning, Melbourne Vic 13 Bayview Country Art Club, Bittern Vic 14 Musicman Megastore, Bendigo Vic 16 The Loft, Warnambool Vic 29 The Milk Factory, Brisbane Qld OCTOBER 21 The Agrestic Grocer, Orange NSW 26 Willy Eds Music, Gladstone Qld 27 Saleyards Distillery, Rockhampton Qld 28 Captain Cook Holiday Village, 1770 Qld NOVEMBER 1 The Green Owl, Brisbane Qld

HEATH MILNER

SEPTEMBER 08 McGuires CBD, Mackay Qld 22 Bowen Family Fishing Classic, Main Stage Qld

HILLBILLY GOATS

SEPTEMBER 07 Gympie RSL Qld 08 Redfest, Cleveland Showgrounds, Brisbane Qld 14 Bony Mountain Festival, Warwick Qld 21 Beerwah Hotel, Sunshine Coast Hinterland Qld

22 Palmwoods Hotel, Sunshine Coast Hinterland Qld 28 Bulimba Golf Club, Brisbane Qld 30 Kilkivan Bush Camp Qld OCTOBER 06 Central Hotel, Port Douglas Qld 09 Cruisin Country 8 20 Cootamundra Ex SC NSW 26 Wollongong Diggers NSW NOVEMBER 02 Stones Corner Hotel, Brisbane Qld 03 Cherry St Sports Club, Ballina NSW 04 Bearded Dragon, Mt Tamborine Qld 09 Airlie Beach Festival of Music Qld 15 The Leap Hotel, Mackay Qld 18 Beaches Resort, Rosslyn Bay, Yeppoon Qld 23 Toowoomba City GC Qld DECEMBER 01 Theebine Hotel Qld 08 Lismore Workers Club NSW 09 Fisherman’s Wharf, Gold Coast Qld 14 Gympie RSL Qld 29 Kingscliff Beach Hotel NSW 31 Casino RSM NSW

JAMES VAN COOPER COMING HOME TOUR Guest Axle Whitehead SEPTEMBER 14 Slyfox, Enmore NSW (Album Launch) 15 Heritage Hotel, Bulli NSW 22 The Tamworth Hotel NSW OCTOBER 4 The Fyrefly, St Kilda Vic 5 Spotted Mallard, Brunswick Vic 19 The Brass Monkey, Cronulla NSW

Visiting Tamworth?

See Star Maker’s amazing journey at the Star Maker Café at Diggers, Kable Ave, Tamworth

1979 32

THE LEGEND CONTINUES

C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 8

2018 years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

LIFT OUT

Please note all show venues & times are correct at time of printing.

Capital News recommends you check with the venue prior to attending.

19 Dee Why RSL Club NSW 20 The Cube, Campbelltown NSW 25 Chaffey Theatre, Renmark SA 26 Thebarton Theatre, Torrensville, Adelaide SA 27 Barossa Arts & Convention Centre, Tanunda SA NOVEMBER 09 Hornsby RSL Club NSW 10 Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul NSW 15 Townsville Civic Theatre Qld 16 Brothers Leagues Club, Manunda, Cairns Qld 17 Darwin EC NT 24 Twin Towns, Tweed Heads NSW

JASMINE RAE

JOHNNY GREENWOOD

OCTOBER 12 Mount Hunter CM Stampede, Wollondilly NSW NOVEMBER 10 Kick The Dust Up Festival, Canberra ACT

SEPTEMBER 01 Traditional Aussie Muster, Bundaberg Qld 02 Wyper Park Scout Camp, Bundaberg Qld

JOSH SETTERFIELD

SEPTEMBER 15 Doomben Racecourse, Brisbane Qld NOVEMBER 24 Brisbane River Cruises Qld

OCTOBER 27 Clarence Valley Festival, Ulmarra NSW

KORA NAUGHTON

KEITH URBAN

W Julia Michaels JANUARY 2019 23 Newcastle EC NSW 25&26 Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney NSW 27 GIO Stadium, Canberra ACT 31 Brisbane EC Qld FEBRUARY 02 Brisbane EC Qld 05 Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Vic

SEPTEMBER 1 Dandaloo Hotel, Dapto NSW 30 Jamberoo Pub NSW OCTOBER 20 Tourist Hotel, Queanbeyan, NSW NOVEMBER 10 Kick the Dust UP, Sutton, NSW 10 Tunes On The Turf Dunedoo SC NSW DECEMBER 8 Tourist Hotel, Queanbeyan NSW

KYLIE ADAMS-COLLIER

SEPTEMBER 10 Carrington BC, Newcastle NSW 13 Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL NSW OCTOBER 22 Clarence Valley CM, Ulmurra NSW

JULIET OLIVER

JOHN WILLIAMSON

SEPTEMBER 06 Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre NSW 07 Commercial Club, Albury NSW 08 The Palms At Crown, Southbank Vic OCTOBER 02 Albany EC WA 04 Bunbury EC WA 05 Mandura PAC WA 06 Astor Theatre, Mt Lawley, Perth WA

SEPTEMBER 2 Adelaide CMC, Noble Park SA 7&9 Woodstock Wines, McLaren Flat SA 14 Royal Adelaide Show, Wayville SA OCTOBER 5 Woodstock Wines, McLaren Flat SA DECEMBER 14&16 Woodstock Wines, McLaren Flat SA 28 Royal Family Hotel, Port Elliot SA

KALESTI BUTLER

OCTOBER 01 Grandchester Community Hall Qld 12 The Irish Village, Emerald Qld 26-28 Maryborough Showgrounds Qld

KEL-ANNE BRANDT

SEPT EMBER 27 Penrith RSL Club NSW OCTOBER 17 Belmont 16ft Sailing Club NSW

KIARA RODRIGUES

SEPTEMBER 26&27 Camperdown Football Netball Club Vic 28 Mildura CMF Vic

LINDSAY BUTLER & SHAZA LEIGH WITH THE BUTLER SHOWBAND

SEPTEMBER 2 Cedar Guitar Awards Concert, Lismore, NSW 7 West Tamworth League Club NSW 8 Buddy Williams 100th Birthday Celebration Concert, Dorrigo NSW

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years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

JOIN online or complete d e t a i l s b e l ow

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C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 8

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LIVE MUSIC SCENE 15 Yass Senior Citizens Centre NSW 16 Wagga Wagga Commercial Club NSW 29&30 Texas Country Round Up, Texas, Qld OCTOBER 13 Batemans Bay Soldiers Club NSW 14 Queanbeyan Tigers Club ACT 26 West Tamworth League Club NSW

PETER CAMPBELL SEPTEMBER 09 Royal Hotel, Toowoomba Qld 30 Royal Hotel, Toowoomba Qld OCTOBER 07 City Golf Club Toowoomba Qld DECEMBER 23 City Golf Club Toowoomba Qld

SEPTEMBER 7 Grazy’s Songwriter’s In The Round, Cranbourne Vic

MERILYN STEELE

MELODY MOKO

Guest of Catherine Britt SEPTEMBER 1 Lizottes, Newcastle NSW 2 Ettalong Diggers, Ettalong Beach NSW NOVEMBER 3 Harmonie-German Club, Canberra ACT 16 Commercial Club, Albury NSW 17 Club Mulwala NSW 22 Coomealla Club,Dareton Vic 23 Pretoria Hotel, Mannum SA 24 Trinity Sessions, Adelaide SA 30 Noojee Pub Vic DECEMBER 1 Bundy Hall, Bundalaguah Vic JANUARY 23 The Longyard Hotel, Tamworth NSW

20 Mackay EC Qld NOVEMBER 2 Alexandra Hills Hotel Qld 3 Aussie World, The Shed, Sunshine Coast Qld 9 Old Mill Hotel, Hahndorf SA 23 Wee Waa BC NSW 24 Lightning Ridge BC NSW DECEMBER 7 York On Lilydale, Mt Evelyn Vic 8 West Gippsland AC, Warragul Vic

SHELLEY MINSON RACHAEL FAHIM

SEPTEMBER 19 Twin Towns, Tweed Heads NSW

*with Taylor Henderson **with The McClymonts SEPTEMBER 01 Chapel On Chapel, Melbourne* 4-6 Bigsound, Brisbane Qld 21 Wests, New Lambton NSW** 22 Penrith Panthers NSW** OCTOBER 05 Club Old Bar NSW** 06 The Cube, Campbeltown** JANUARY 2019 22 The Albert, Tamworth NSW 23 Tamworth Regional EC NSW

TAYLOR PFEIFFER OCTOBER 3-7 Mildura CMF Vic 31 Highway Inn, Adelaide SA

THE MCCLYMONTS

NORMA O’HARA MURPHY

SEPTEMBER 14&15 Bony Mountain Folk Festival Qld

RODNEY VINCENT

SEPTEMBER 5 Ararat Town Hall Vic 7 Williamstown BC Vic 11 Wonthaggi Workers Club Vic 13 Mulwala Water Ski Club NSW 14 Bocce Club Kyabram Vic 15 Golden Hills Motel, Bendigo Vic 16 Barham & District SC NSW 20 Warragul Sports Club Vic 26 Essendon Football Club Vic 27 Mulwala Water Ski Club Vic

MELISSA ROBERTSON

*w band SEPTEMBER 1 Smithfield RSL NSW OCTOBER 13 Denistone Sports Club NSW

14 Brolga Theatre, Maryborough Qld 15 Moncrieff EC, Bundaberg Qld DECEMBER 2 Rising Sun Hotel, Rosewood Qld

REBECCA LEE NYE SEPTEMBER

SPECIAL OFFER

SEPTEMBER 1 Casino RSM NSW 7 Canberra Southern Cross Club ACT 8 Forbes Services MC NSW 21 Wests New Lambton NSW 22 Evan Theatre, Panthers, Penrith NSW OCTOBER 5 Club Old Bar NSW 6 The Cube, Campbelltown NSW 19 Norths LC, Kallangur Qld

WAYNE HORSBURGH SEPTEMBER 2 Yass Seniors Hall NSW 4 Bathurst RSL Club NSW 7-9 Nanango Showgrounds, Kingaroy Qld 13 Mulwala Ski Club NSW 14 Kyabram Bocce Club Vic 15 Bendigo Golden Hills Motel Vic 16 Barham Services Club NSW 23 Smithfield RSL Club NSW 30 East Cessnock BC NSW

MADCDS

Subscribe for 2 years and save $22 and receive the brand new CD from TSM winner BRAD COX Stay up-to-date with all the latest news, reviews, live music scene, new talent, coming events, bush balladeers, writing great songs, down memory lane.

SUBSCRIBE ONLINE www.capitalnews.com.au OR PHONE: 02 6767 5555 or E: info@capitalnews.com.au 34

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years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 8

35

D R OV E R M U S IC P R E S E N T S

Meli ssa THE

BAJRIC SHOW TAMWORTH EDITION

WITH THE

LINDSAY WADDINGTON SHOW BAND

Capitol Theatre Tamworth 10am, Tuesday 22nd January 2019 Special Guests: Lindsay Waddington, Lloyd Back, Bob Easter, Donnie Soper, and Reg Poole Tickets $25 | Phone 02 6766 2028 Online: www.capitoltheatretamworth.com.au In Person Capitol Theatre Tamworth, The Big Golden Guitar or Ray Walsh House www.melissabajric.com

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C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 8

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

VALE

TED LE GARDE 15 MARCH 1931 – 2 AUGUST 2018

TED LEGARDE – ONE HALF OF THE LEGARDE TWINS WITH BROTHER TOM – DIED IN NASHVILLE AFTER A BRIEF ILLNESS AT AGE 87.

B

orn in Mackay, Qld, Ted, an identical twin with Tom, began touring on the national rodeo circuit with Buddy William’s Wild West Show before their singing career took off as The Yodelling Stockmen and they left Australia for Canada and eventually Hollywood and Nashville.

They were signed to the Rodeo label from 1950 to 1952, after which they released a string of hits on Regal Zonophone Records.

After a number of years working in the US, the LeGardes returned to Australia in 1963 to develop their own television show but this proved unsuccessful.

They returned to America in 1965 to fulfil TV commitments there. In 1966 they were hired

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

to play androids in an episode of Star Trek, which led to a guest role as twin river pirates in an episode of the Daniel Boone Show.

Much later, in 2009, Ted starred solo in the film D4 as Old Man Dalton.

The LeGarde Twins worked consistently through the 1960s and early ’70s around the US. The late ’70s saw them have some minor hits with a cover of True Love and the original song I Can Almost Touch The Feeling.

In more recent years, the LeGarde Twins opened the LeGarde Twins Country Music Theatre in Hendersonville,

Tennessee, and then became regular performers at the Quality Inn Hall of Fame Hotel in Nashville.

In 1987 they were inducted into the Country Music Hands of Fame in Tamworth.

In 2013, CMC ran a story on The LeGarde Twins in the lead up to their performance at CMC Rocks The Hunter in the same year. At the CMC Awards, on their 82nd birthday, the twins were honoured with a CMC Lifetime Achievement Award.

Recently, the twins released a book of stories on their rise to fame titled Showbiz Hustlers “telling of how two rough and tumble boys from a Queensland sugar cane farm became country music stars”, according to one reviewer.

C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 8

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HEAR+THERE

RACHAEL KNOWS MORE THAN SHE’S LETTING ON

W

hen last year’s Toyota Star Maker winner Rachael Fahim released her new single What I Don’t Know last month she was blown away with the response.

Within the first 48 hours the single had achieved 50,000 streams for the country pop artist.

Over the last three years, Rachael has performed in over 250 live shows, was crowned 2017 Toyota Star-Maker, received a CMC award nomination for ‘New Artist of the Year’ and her single Brake Lights reached #1 on CMC, #2 on the Australian Country Music Single Charts and #1 on KIX Country staying on the charts for 19 weeks.

This new single was written by Grammy Award winner Emily Weisband and produced by Sydney based Zuzu and mixer Peter Holz. The single is a powerful sing-a-long anthem that again pushes the boundaries that sees country-rock and pop music mashed to appeal to a mainstream audience.

Rachael will perform at selected shows as guest of both The McClymonts and Platinum-selling recording artist Taylor Henderson and will debut performance at Brisbane’s Big Sound festival September 4-6 before setting of for the US in October.

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SO MANY MEMORIES

“WHATEVER WE DO, IT’S ALL BEEN FOR YOU, BUT OH, HOW THE MEMORIES HAVE FLOWN”

T

he Bushwackers take listeners on a journey with their latest single, Oh How The Memories Have Flown, as they reminisce about their 48 years together.

The opening notes of Roger Corbett’s harmonica welcome listeners to Dobe Newton’s gravelly tones as he recounts the stories of generations of families who have enjoyed The Bushwackers through the years.

“After every show, we get people telling us how their parents brought them to our shows and now they are bringing their children and grandchildren,” Dobe said.

“We are a band that has always appealed to multigenerational audiences, so it’s lovely when people tell us their stories of listening to The Bushwackers since they were young.

“It’s been a privilege to play to three generations

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of fans, although it’s absolute proof that we’re actually getting old!”

The single is lifted from their 2017 album, The Hungry Mile and was written by Roger after listening to many fan stories and having a five-year-old boy tell him he’d learned all the words to Beneath The Southern Cross.

The video was shot in Melbourne by Golden Guitar winner Lachlan Bryan who directed the clip which has the band looking through their memorabilia. years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

CHARLIE COLLINS

RETURNS TO HER ROOTS FORMER TAMWORTH SINGER-SONGWRITER CHARLIE COLLINS (THE BAILEYS, CHASING BAILEY AND TIGERTOWN) IS RETURNING TO THE SOLO ARENA WITH HER FIRST STOP AS SUPPORT FOR AUSTRALIAN BAND GANG OF YOUTHS’ ‘SAY YES TO LIFE’ TOUR.

G

ang Of Youths first ever live performance was in support of Charlie and the band are hugely excited to have her joining them on tour.

“The very first show Gang Of Youths

ever played was in support of one of Charlie’s bands. I’ve personally known Charlie since I was 15, and she’s always been a lot better than me. She

H+T has seen us grow from shitty 19-year-olds into a working rock band, and in turn, we have seen her develop into one of the most inspired, outstanding and criminally underappreciated artists this country has ever produced,” Dave Le’aupepe.

Growing up in Tamworth, Charlie was raised on a record collection of storytelling, and from the young age of 11 was performing on stage at The Pub. Now returning to her roots of authentic songwriting, she will be performing live as a solo artist.

Her recent debut single Wish You Were Here has achieved great amounts of support from media and fans alike, with triple j’s Tommy Faith marking it as “truly one of the best songs of the year, already’ and radio attention from FBi Radio, triple j unearthed, triple j and international stations including KCSN (LA) and WXPN (Philadelphia).

The tour has already sold over 33,000 tickets nationwide at venues across Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart and Perth.

BEN HOLDS SHARON TO RANSOM COUNTRY ROCK ARTIST BEN RANSOM HAS TEAMED UP WITH NEW ZEALAND-BORN ‘70S-‘80S POPSTAR SHARON O’NEILL TO RECORD THE DRAGON-HIT YOUNG YEARS.

S

haron had an Australasian hit with the song Maxine in 1983 taking to the charts with other hit songs including Losing You, and How Do You Talk To Boys.

Ben released his latest album 101 in January and to date has had hit singles with Dry Town, You’re The Reason Why, and Let’s Go Driving.

Young Years was one of Ben’s favourite tracks from Dragon, a band that Ben loved when he was growing up. There was also a sentimental tie with Ben’s mum and Dragon’s lead singer Marc Hunter.

“My mum, who passed away from brain cancer, was in the same palliative care unit in Berry as Marc Hunter, sharing the same nurse.

“We spoke a lot of our mutual admiration of Marc years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

and the band Dragon. So when performing the track live, there was a powerful intensity, so much so, that the head of my label, Country Rocks Records’ Mick Bond, suggested it’d be a great fit for the new album,” said Ben. The recording found its way to the songwriters Sharon O’Neill and former Dragon band member, Alan Mansfield.

“It was a surreal and amazing experience, to have the actual songwriter perform this with me and, in addition, to do so on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the original Dragon recording!” said Ben. Ben will be having a special launch of the song on Sunday, September 23 at Leadbelly in Newtown NSW, performing with Sharon and Alan and also NZ’s Aly Cook, and special guest Jonny Taylor.

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&28175< 086,&

32

MIL UR A D nd ANNUAL

SEPTEMBER 28th to OCTOBER 7th

Graeme Hugo

Aly Cook

Taylor Pfeiffer

Lance Birrell

The Southern Stars - The Australian Independent Country Music Awards to be held on Saturday October 6th at 6.00pm Go to our Website: www.milduracountrymusic.com.au For program purchase, accommodation enquiries and general details Phone 1800 039 043

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years of bringing you the music 1975â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2018

O N E T O WAT C H

HEATH MILNER

BY SUSAN JARVIS

NEVER IN HIS WILDEST DREAMS COULD HEATH MILNER HAVE IMAGINED THAT HE’D BE FLOWN TO NASHVILLE BY BOY GEORGE TO WRITE SONGS FOR HIS DEBUT EP.

B

ut that’s exactly what happened when this talented young singer appeared on the Nine Network’s The Voice last year.

While Heath didn’t make it through the blind auditions, Boy George was so impressed with the young man with the big voice that he promised on the spot to fund and organize a trip to Nashville.

Heath says he didn’t doubt that the trip would happen.

“He seemed really genuine, and there were years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

thousands of people watching, so I figured it would come off. But it was a pretty amazing thing to happen,” Heath said.

“I was only there for a week, but I was completely inspired by the people I met, the places I saw and the atmosphere of the place. I am really keen to head back over as soon as I can, and stay for longer.”

The trip gave Mackay-based

Heath the opportunity to write with some of Nashville’s best songwriters, and he came away with a handful of beautifully crafted songs, two of which have found their way onto his debut self-titled EP, Heath Milner.

Rolling and Leave Your Man For Me are both Heath cowrites, along with Broken Heart, Broken Hand, which he wrote with Allan Caswell at the Academy of Country Music in Tamworth a couple of years back.

Heath described Rolling as a very traditional country song, whereas Leave Your Man For Me is more contemporary.

Appropriately enough, the final track is the one he performed on The Voice blind auditions, and at this year’s Toyota Star Maker, Garth Brooks’ mega-hit, Much Too Young to Feel This Damn Old. He’s given the song a wonderful acoustic treatment that really brings out the emotion.

As anyone who watched that audition, or who saw Heath live in this year’s Star Maker grand final, is well aware, he has one of the most captivating voices to emerge on the country scene for a long time.

But Heath knows it will be a long, hard road to convert his natural talent into a lasting career. He’s already got two stints at the Academy of Country Music under his belt, completing the Junior and Senior Academy in a single year – he was given special dispensation to do the senior course at 17 years of age.

“The academy really provides a wonderful foundation for any young musician, and it opens the door – particularly through the people you get to meet there, both the tutors and the other students,” he said.

Heath is focusing on honing his performing skills with a swag of regular gigs around his local area.

And following his first Gympie Muster performance in 2017, where he took out the Judges Choice Award in the Emerging Artist Showcase, he was invited back to the Muster this year for a paid gig, showcasing his talents in The Grove.

He also performed at this year’s Brisbane Ekka, and is booked for the Murgon Music Muster next month.

Heath says he gained an enormous amount from his involvement in Star Maker, and that he’s taken it on board over the last nine months.

“My whole outlook has evolved because of what I learnt through that experience and the people I met that week.

I’m taking my career very seriously now, and although it’s always hard for a young artist to carve out a career, I’m making it work, and I’m seeing things start to happen for me – like the Gympie Muster.

“I’m definitely applying for Star Maker again, and I feel that I’ll be able to give it my best shot if I’m lucky enough to reach the finals again in 2018.

Heath will launch his new EP on 8 September, at Maguire’s Hotel in Mackay. He’ll then focus on promoting his songs as far and wide as he can, to let audiences know that he’s very much a part of the future of Aussie country music.

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VALE:

HEDLEY CHARLES 6 MAY 1937 – 1 AUGUST 2018

HEDLEY CHARLES – BROADCASTER, RESEARCHER, DISCOGRAPHER, RECORD REVIEWER AND WRITER – DIED AUGUST 1 AT HIS HOME IN BURNIE, TASMANIA.

A

n early, and long-term, judge of the then fledgling Australasian Country Music Awards (the Golden Guitars), Hedley had been ill for some time.

He retired some years ago from his day job as a locomotive driver but music, and particularly country music, was his passion.

A close friend mentioned in the days leading up to his death, Hedley had been listening intently to the likes of The Hawking Brothers, Tex Morton and Buddy Williams.

He judged the Golden Guitars for a total of 17 years and had more than 20 years

42

experience as a record reviewer and writer.

Hedley was also country music co-ordinator of FM Country on Coastal FM and was inducted into the Australian Country Music Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2002.

In an interview recorded with Rob Wills in 1999, Hedley spoke of his love of music, originating as far back as when he was a child listening to a battery radio with a particular early interest in “hillbilly music” and​bush ballads.

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years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

UPDATE

BY DAN BIDDLE

CALL FOR

GOLDEN GUITAR

NOMINATIONS

overdue update with industry partners including APRA AMCOS and the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia, amongst others.

Current CMAA President Dobe Newton, who conducted the 1997 study, will manage the six-month project and deliver the final report early next year.

Central to the research will be a number of online surveys to get feedback from practitioners and business operators in all sectors of our industry and country music fans/audience.

NOMINATIONS FOR THE 47TH COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS OF AUSTRALIA HAVE OPENED AND ALL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN SENT A LINK TO APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR THE 2019 SENIOR ACADEMY! THE ONLINE PLATFORM.

N

on-members can access the site country.com.au where all necessary information is available including a downloadable handbook.

Nominations close at 5pm on Monday, October 1, 2018.

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

RESEARCH PROJECT Twenty years ago the CMAA commissioned an ‘Economic Profile of Country Music’ to assist its lobbying and advocacy activities.

We’re excited to announce that we’ve commissioned a long-

If you have a student or know of someone that might be ready to take the next step towards a professional career in music, send them this link! Applications are open NOW, and will close once we reach our maximum intake, so get them in SOON! For more information email info@ academycountrymusic.com.au If you’d like to join or know more about the CMAA email info@country.com.au

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FESTIVALS

AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST

MUSIC FESTIVAL THE TOYOTA COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL TAMWORTH

TICKETS TO SOME OF THE BIGGEST SHOWS OF THE 47TH TOYOTA COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL, TAMWORTH NOW ON SALE!

W

ith more than 400 ticketed shows over the 10 days of the festival, it’s a cut-throat business during such a competitive time, with every act vying for bums on seats to make

the registers ring.

Troy Cassar-Daley, John Williamson, 40 Years of Star Maker presented by Toyota, The McClymonts, Graeme Connors, Shane Nicholson, Adam Eckersley & Brooke McClymont, and Fanny Lumsden are just some events listed early.

The Adam Eckersley Band and Sunny Cowgirls are on sale now as well as the Never Ending 80s Show at West Tamworth League Club.

Ticketed shows on sale already through The Pub Group include, at The Longyard Hotel, the daily Bush Poets Breakfasts, four Bushwackers shows, three gigs from The Pigs, two each for the 4 Highwaymen, The Viper Creek Band, and The Wolverines plus one-show-only for Catherine Britt, Cash Only, Country Under the Vines, TSA Awards, Hillbilly Goats, Busby Marou, Sunny Cowgirls, Fanny Lumsden, Troy Kemp and the inimitable Tex Dubbo.

The Pub on Gunnedah Road has ticketed shows on sale for Shane Nicholson, Yesterday’s Heroes – Fibber Parker

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& Friends, Travellin’ Still – Songs of Slim Dusty with Pete Denahy & the Travelling Country Band, Hillbilly Goats and Kevin Bennett & The Flood.

Toyota Country Music Festival manager Barry Harley said the Toyota Country Music Festival was an unforgettable music experience.

“It is the largest music festival in the country and a cornerstone summer celebration, hosting Australian country music’s hottest stars, emerging talent and local favourites,” Mr Harley said.

“This first line-up of shows to go on sale is just a glimpse of the calibre of events we have on offer across the festival’s 10 days in January. So if you’ve never been to a Tamworth festival before, jump online and grab some tickets now.”

West Tamworth League Club has listed ticketed shows that go on sale online from October 1 for Adam Harvey, Beccy Cole, Kasey Chambers, Amber Lawrence, Bennett, Bowtell & Urquhart, Brothers3, Country Turns Pink, Maton Showcase, Gina Jeffreys, Tania Kernaghan, Beccy Cole & Lyn Bowtell together, and soul sister Lisa Hunt.

Accommodation is available through a variety of styles and there’s a handy list available on the website tcmf.com.au/ accommodation Held from Friday to Sunday, January 18 to 27, 2019, the Toyota Country Music Festival – Tamworth is a festival experience like no other with more than 300,000 visitors expected, more than 700 artists and musicians performing at some 2800 events across more than 100 venues.

NSW Tourism and Major Events Minister Adam Marshall said the Toyota Country Music Festival – Tamworth was proudly supported once again by the NSW Government.

“This iconic Australian festival is one of regional NSW’s biggest events and 2019 will be no exception with the festival set to attract visitors from far and wide, putting more heads on hotel beds, diners in restaurants and shoppers in Tamworth’s boutiques, all driving the local economy,” Mr Marshall said.

“Our state is unquestionably the home of major events and the NSW Government remains committed to investing in rural and regional events because we know they drive overnight visitation and generate jobs. I encourage country music fans across Australia to start planning their visit to Tamworth next January for an outstanding country NSW event.”

Keep checking on the official website tcmf.com.au for regular updates for ticket sales and helpful information. www.tcmf.com.au. years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

FESTIVALS

FREE

IN TOYOTA PARK IN ADDITION TO THE MORE THAN 400 TICKETED SHOWS AT THE TAMWORTH COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL, THERE ARE IN EXCESS OF 2000 FREE EVENTS COVERING ALL THINGS COUNTRY INCLUDING MUSIC, LINE DANCING, RODEO, POETRY, BUSKING, COMPETITIONS, WALK-UPS AND MORE.

T

amworth’s Bicentennial Park becomes Toyota Park, the festival’s largest venue. It will showcase more than 100 individual acts offering a taste of the diversity that only Tamworth can deliver and will incorporate the new Coca-Cola VIP Zone.

With cutting-edge audio and visual production facilities, fans will be treated to some of the best artists in country music every night for 10 magical evenings.

It all kicks off when the mayor announces to the expected 5000-strong audience: Let the music begin – on Friday, January 18 at the Opening Concert, complete with fireworks and performances from Golden Guitar winners, emerging artists, the best of the buskers, Toyota Star Maker winner Brad Cox, and some of the best bands around including Hurricane Fall and the highly entertaining Murphy’s Pigs. years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

The Tamworth Family Support Services again present its Family Concert on Saturday, January 19 while Sunday, January 20 will see the announcement of the 40th Star Maker winner at the Toyota Star Maker Grand Final. The 10 finalists will be backed by the Sam Hawksley Allstars with the cream of the crop – Glen Hannah, Duncan Toombs, Glenn Wilson, Clare O’Meara and Ian Lees. Reigning winner Brad Cox will perform and validate just why he was the chosen winner in 2018.

On Monday, January 21 witness the fastest growing sub-genre of country music with Americana In the Park. Hosted by Lachlan Bryan, it will include Golden Guitar winner Kristy Cox, rising star Megan Cooper, Melbourne singersongwriter Rose Zita Falko, exciting new duo Montgomery Church with an international influence from Hannah Aldridge.

On Tuesday, January 22 an International Showcase will see representation from Sister Cities Gore (NZ) and Nashville (USA) and artists from the Best of the British country scene.

Simply Bushed will make an attempt at the Guinness World Records with the World’s Biggest Bush Dance on the morning of Wednesday, January 23 and the popular Back to the Bush Spectacular featuring more than 40 Bush Balladeers, including Jeff Brown, Dean Perrett, Anne Kirkpatrick, David Kirkpatrick, Lindsay Butler, Dianne Lindsay, Brian Letton, and Shaza Leigh is in the evening.

Live & Loud, another hugely popular concert is on Thursday, January 24 featuring some of the best, emerging and established modern country artists including Jasmine Rae, Melanie Dyer, Tori Darke, Jade Holland, Brooke Schubert, Bryce Sainty, Matt James, Juliet Oliver and a few surprise guests.

On Friday, January 25, Toyota presents Travis Collins and Friends in the park, following his recent receipt of six Golden Guitars and four CMC awards.

On Saturday, Tamworth artists will shine at the Australia Day Tamworth Proud Family Concert with spectacular fireworks at 9pm.

The final event on Sunday, January 27 is Toyota Best of the Buskers with the top 10 judges selection performing before one is announced as the best for 2019.

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FESTIVALS

GROUNDWATER SWELLS IN BROADBEACH

O’Shea

Liam Gerner

Kirsty Lee Akers

PHOTO: GROUNDWATER

Bennett, Bowtell & Urquhart

Adam Harvey

Broadbeach Mall

THE NEWLY REBRANDED GROUNDWATER COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL SAW RECORD NUMBERS VERGE ON BROADBEACH LAST MONTH.

I

t’d be hard to find three days of perfect weather for a festival anywhere else across the country music calendar than what was experienced in Broadbeach, Qld over the festival weekend.

A huge program of live national and international music was on offer, with the festival boasting a location that offers amazing food, bars, and family-friendly attractions that all ages can enjoy.

Organisers said that hotel accommodation was at capacity, and the Nobby’s Beach Caravan Park was at a maximum.

From Catherine Britt opening the festival, to US star Granger Smith packing out the Kurrawa Big Top, the atmosphere was exceptional, with a world-class production. Joshua Hedley (USA) was also a stand-out, with his uniquely traditional sound and new talent 2018 Toyota Star Maker Brad Cox turning heads. The 46

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finale saw Surf Parade packed to the rafters for ‘30 Years of Pride: A Tribute to James Blundell’. James introduced his handsome sons, guitarist Briar Blundell, and Travis who joined in the sing-along finale Way Out West. James featured a long list of special guests including his backing band Brewn, Jonny Taylor, Ben Ransom, Felicity Urquhart, Drew McAlister, Cameron Daddo, Tania Kernaghan and superstar Lee Kernaghan, who has been announced as headline artist for the 2019 festival.

A Band Called Twang

The Morrisons years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

ALL PHOTOS BY GREG SYLVIA UNLESS MARKED

GROUNDWATER

FESTIVALS

PHOTO: GROUNDWATER

GROUNDWATER

Jasmine Rae

Joshua Hedley

Matt Cornell With Benji Pocock

The Mezcaltones

Amy Nelson

The McClymonts

Casey Barnes and Natalie Pearson

Granger Smith

Amber Lawrence

Bill Chambers

years of bringing you the music 1975â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2018

Hillbilly Goats

James Blundell and Lee Kernaghan

Suzanne Vega

Rebecca Lee Nye And Billy Bridge C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 8

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FESTIVALS

CENTRAL COAST

Pete Denahy

COUNTRY

BY THE

SEA

2018 Toyota Star Maker Brad Cox

Adam Eckersley 48

Homegrown

C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Andrew Swift years of bringing you the music 1975â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2018

SPECIAL OFFER Subscribe for 2 years for (SAVE $22)) and a $110 (SAVE receive the brand new CD from TSM winner BRAD COX

Free Spirited

Out now on digital media, and streaming.

CD Available

EXPIRES: 31 DECEMBER 2018 REF SF8370

New Album

s te: ebsi VViia Web

susanlilymusic.com

Stay up-to-date with all the latest news, reviews, Live Music Scene, New Talent, Coming Events, Bush Balladeers, Writing Great Songs, and Down Memory Lane.

SUBSCRIBE ONLINE www.capitalnews.com.au or PHONE: 02 6767 5555 or E: info@capitalnews.com.au

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0LFKHOOH :DONHU RXW QRZ beea \eh j^[ cki_Y l_Z[e years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

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49

FESTIVALS

BONY MOUNTAIN

FESTIVAL TO HONOUR SLIM

Norma O’Hara Murphy

Dean Perrett

THIS MONTH’S BONY MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL WILL HONOUR THE LEGENDARY SLIM DUSTY DEDICATING THE ENTIRE WEEKEND, SEPTEMBER 14 TO 15, TO REMEMBERING HIS LIFE AND LEGACY.

S

lim’s daughter Anne Kirkpatrick and his niece Dianne Lindsay, together with Rod Coe and Mike Kerin, members of Slim’s Travelling Country Band, will perform two shows over the weekend, on Saturday night from 7pm and Sunday morning from 11am.

There will be two exhibitions – one with donated and on-loan items from private local collectors in our Bony Mountain Gallery – and a mobile exhibition to be presented by Dudley Monument from the 50

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Sunshine Coast which includes an original 1935 touring caravan once owned by Slim and a wonderful collection of memorabilia.

Fans will be thrilled by these private collections, a unique opportunity which may never be on display again.

On Saturday, September 15

Jeff Brown

a large sandstone memorial to Slim will be unveiled beside the big stage at Bony Mountain.

Norma O’Hara Murphy said; “It means so much not only to me, but to all of us, that we can pay Slim this tribute here in the Qld bush where his songs are so real and have given so much joy over the years.

“Slim’s music will be playing all weekend and a lot of us will pay our own tributes.”

In addition to Slim’s family, artists include Norma, Pixie Jenkins, Manfred Vijars, Jeff Brown, Dean Perrett, Garry Fogarty, Errol Gray, Chris & Phil Coad, and many more.

Gates open on Monday, September 10.

Call Norma on 07 46674 604 or 0490 415 699 or go to the website for all information. bonymountainfolkfestival.com years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

FESTIVALS

MOUNT HUNTER

CELEBRATE COUNTRY LIFE COUNTRY LIFE AND MUSIC IS ON THE PROGRAM AT THE SECOND MOUNT HUNTER COUNTRY MUSIC STAMPEDE OVER THE WEEKEND FRIDAY TO SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12 TO 14.

Adam Harvey

Jasmine Rae

H

eld at the K Ranch Arena just 50 minutes from Sydney Airport, the three-day festival is designed to showcase Australian established and new country artists.

The stampede is the brainchild of K Ranch owner Mick Kearney, and multi-Golden Guitar winner Drew McAlister.

The girls open the event on Friday night

Christie Lamb

Drew McAlister

with CMC Australian Artist of the Year (2012), and threetime ARIA-nominated Jasmine Rae, and Christie Lamb, CMC Female Artist of the Year (2015) and CMAA New Talent Of The Year (2016) taking to the stage.

Drew McAlister, Adam Harvey and Adam Brand will see a special Men of Country Showcase take over on Saturday night.

The Maton Rising Star competition, with both a junior and senior section, returns for a second year. The winners will have the opportunity to perform at the following year’s

festival as a paid act, as well as receive some exciting prizes.

There’ll be events featuring traditional cowboy skills, as well as an equestrian competition utilising K Ranch’s internationally recognised equestrian area.

Mick Kearney conceived the idea for K Ranch after visiting a ranch in Texas. Over five years he built his vision on 400 acres in Mount Hunter located just outside of Sydney. With a bar, boutique, Texas BBQ and saddler, K Ranch regularly hosts a variety of equestrian events, live music, private functions and corporate events.

It’s a great venue for a festival and ticket holders can stay onsite for the entire weekend in a caravan or trailer. Whilst there are no facilities for camping, pack your gear and roll out your swag in a 3 x 3m stable that sleeps two people for just $30 a night.

Tickets for the Mount Hunter Country Music Stampede are on sale now. Save time and money by pre-purchasing online. Single day and all weekend passes start from $25 plus booking fees. Prices will be more at the gate.

Check the website countrymusicstampede.com for more information.

CMC ROCKS 2019

A

ustralia’s leading country and roots music festival CMC Rocks Qld will be held from Thursday to Sunday, March 14 to 17, 2019.

The ticketed event saw this year setting a record-breaking 20,000 and resulted in a nomination for a Helpmann Award for best contemporary festival.

CMC Rocks hosts international artists like Tim McGraw, Toby Keith years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

and Alan Jackson to Lady Antebellum, Faith Hill, Taylor Swift, Dixie Chicks and Little Big Town.

Complemented each year by an array of Australia’s most prolific stars and exciting up-and-comers, including Lee Kernaghan, Troy Cassar-Daley, Travis Collins, The McClymonts, Morgan Evans, Busby Marou and others.

Following this year’s success of opening up the campers bar exclusively for people camping at the festival grounds on Thursday, organisers will repeat the process. The extended festival program for

campers will kick-start festivities, beginning at 1pm on Thursday at the Jack Daniel’s White Rabbit Saloon, and continues through to 2am the next morning. The festival main stage will open at 11:45am on Friday.

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FESTIVALS

MILDURA

MUCH-TO-DO

IN MILDURA THE 32ND MILDURA COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL IS ROLLING OUT THE WELCOME MAT AGAIN FROM FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH TO SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7TH.

M

ildura’s point of difference as a country music festival is that it proudly presents some of Australia’s best independent country music artists. It’s held over 10 days at 26 indoor and outdoor venues in the city of Mildura and outlying towns including Wentworth, Merbein, Red Cliffs, Coomealla, Irymple, Buronga and Gol Gol. As well as enjoying the best country music in spring, you can sample the hospitality of Mildura with fine dining, paddleboats on the Murray River, historic nature trails, high quality golf courses and a spot of fishing.

This year there will be shows every day at the Mildura Airport and Mildura Holden Motor Museum, which were well supported last year. A new venue will be the Garden of Hope at Cabarita on the final Sunday of the festival.

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Over 90 artists including band members are on the program and a large proportion have highly successful recording careers. This year 17 new artists, who were not at the festival last year, will perform and they are Anthony Taylor, Amber Joy Poulton, Rob Breese, Jeff Brown, Steve Sparrow, Dale Duncan, Samantha Bellamy, Ray Pratley, Terry Gordon, Kate Hindle, Michaela Jenke, Reid Sampson, Glenn Jones, Dianne Lindsay, Peter Simpson, Michelle Russell and Evan Platschinda.

The festival lineup also

includes festival favourites the current Female Artist of the Year, Golden Guitar winner Aleyce Simmonds, Taylor Pfeiffer, Rodney Vincent, The Gunbarrel Highwaymen, Kiara Rodrigues, Stephen R Cheney, Gina Timms and a host of others.

Festival co-ordinator John Arnold said “The outdoor entertainment will feature 10 days of entertainment in the Mildura City Mall and nine days at “Country On The Darling” on the picturesque Darling River, at Wentworth.”

The jewel in the crown of the festival is the live concert and radio presentation of the 22nd Southern Stars – The Australian Independent Country Music Awards which recognises the achievements of Australian independent recording artists.

Amber Joy Poulton, Tom Curtain and Allan Caswell head the list of finalists having each scored three finalist nominations while Dianne Lindsay, Kevin Sullivan and Dean Perrett have each received multiple nominations with two spots in a year that has a total of 24 artists

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

Anthony Taylor

Amber Joy Poulton

and groups, as finalists, in the eight judged categories.

Amber Joy, Tom and Allan are all head to head in APRA AMCOS Album of the Year and APRA AMCOS Australian Independent Single of the Year.

This year for the first time, the awards have introduced The Australian Independent Bush Ballad of the Year with a strong finalist line up of Dianne Lindsay, Ernie Constance, Dean Perrett & Glenn Jones.

“We received nominations from 76 individual artists and groups,” said Awards Coordinator John Arnold. “In the eight judged categories there was a mix of well established

artists together with some outstanding emerging talent,” he said.

“Many of the 24 finalists have already achieved significant chart success with radio singles over the past year,” Mr Arnold emphasised, “and many have also released very successful new recorded product in the last 12 months.”

“The festival plays a major role in fostering independent Australian country music talent I would like to congratulate all the nominees for the 2018 Southern Stars awards.”

Tickets are now available for the presentation and concert to be staged on Saturday, October 6 at the Mercy Theatre,

THE SOUTHERN STARS FINALISTS ARE:APRA/AMCOS AUSTRALIAN INDEPENDENT COUNTRY MUSIC SINGLE OF THE YEAR In Your Wildest Dreams Outback Australia Never Never Land The Roses Fall

Amber Joy Poulton Kevin Sullivan Tom Curtain Allan Caswell & The Weeping Willows

APRA/AMCOS AUSTRALIAN INDEPENDENT ALBUM OF THE YEAR What Country’s All About Territory Time Mexico How It Used To Be

Dale Duncan Tom Curtain Allan Caswell Amber Joy Poulton

QANTAS AUSTRALIAN INDEPENDENT BUSH BALLAD OF THE YEAR. Uncle Harry Young Hands On The Reins He Talks Of Going Back I Guess I’ll Miss The Horses

Glenn Jones

Dianne Lindsay Ernie Constance Dean Perrett Glenn Jones

St Joseph’s College. The awards evening, co-hosted by Aleyce Simmonds and Amber Joy Poulton, features an impressive list of performers including Angus Gill, Dani Young, Taylor Pfeiffer, Allan Caswell, Steve Sparrow, Luke O’Shea, Glenn Jones, Jeff Brown, Evan Platschinda, John O’Dea and Justin Standley with more to be added to the gala show.

For awards tickets, programs, accommodation or enquiries about the festival, contact the Mildura Visitor Information Centre, 1800 039 043 and tickets for the awards are available online at milduraartscentre.com.au More information is available on the website milduracountrymusic.com.au

CRS AUSTRALIAN INDEPENDENT RISING STAR FEMALE Emma Jene Pheobe Jay Taylor Pfeiffer Chantell Alexi

A Girl Needs Her Daddy’s Love Rollercoaster Ride Take Me Lucky Girl

CAPITAL NEWS AUSTRALIAN INDEPENDENT MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR Tom Curtain Allan Caswell Kevin Sullivan Dean Perrett

Territory Time Knowing That You’re There Outback Australia He Talks Of Going Back

CAPITAL NEWS AUSTRALIAN INDEPENDENT FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR Kristy Cox Amber Joy Poulton Dianne Lindsay Aleyce Simmonds

Cry Me A River Best Liar In Town Uncle Harry Only On My Terms

CRS AUSTRALIAN INDEPENDENT RISING STAR MALE

AUSTRALIAN INDEPENDENT GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR

Chalkie White Angus Gill Hands Anthony Taylor Brad Marks

Destiny The Long & Short Of It Carter & Carter Homegrown

Gingerbread Man Are Clean Pastor’s Daughter Yesterday

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

Streets Of Old Kilsyth Just One Moon Better Day Wildflower Bruises

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FESTIVALS

Ben Ransom

BRAIDWOOD

2018 Toyota Star Maker Brad Cox

IT ALL WENT DOWN AT

BRAIDWOOD

Mick Bond with Tania Kernaghan 54

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Christie Lamb years of bringing you the music 1975â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2018

FESTIVALS

BRAIDWOOD

1James Blundell and Allstars

2

Anthony Barbara, Michael Bond, with James Blundell

Jonny Taylor years of bringing you the music 1975â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2018

James Blundell and Briar Blundell

Rachael Fahim C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 8

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SOUNDADVICE THE NASHVILLE TAPES ADAM HARVEY SONY MUSIC AUSTRALIA Adam Harvey’s passion for 1970s classic country is well known, and this album has finally given him the chance to indulge it – and to provide a huge treat for his fans at the same time. Every song on this album is performed with love and respect. It’s a wonderful collection of original material that captures the classic country spirit, and of course his amazing voice is perfect for these songs. Highlights include the first single I’d Rather Be a Highwayman, which proudly asserts Adam’s musical preferences, and the wonderful These Holden Days, penned by Stuie French. This Loving You, Less Of A Thinking Man and What A Song Can Do are also standouts among the originals. Adam has also carefully chosen several covers from the ‘70s: Never Be Anyone Else But You, Solitary Man and the Aussie classic Three Rivers Hotel, on which he duets with Lee Kernaghan. This is a warm, wonderful, incredibly appealing album, which clearly demonstrates that classic country is as relevant today as ever, and that Adam’s musical passions are something that everyone can enjoy.

SME 19075863592 SUSAN JARVIS

WHERE WERE YOU?

DREAM WILD

THE LONG ROAD HOME

THE HEGGARTIES

INDEPENDENT

INDEPENDENT

BLIND NELLO

INDEPENDENT

Benalla singer-songwriter Adam Toms proves his five year hiatus since third album Rich Man was a fertile font for creativity. Toms drew upon his wild Shepparton youth for regret free energetic entrée Too Young To Know Better that segues into tempestuous time travel in his rhetorical title track. The father of two sons keeps his country rocking as he stutters praises of dream lover Josephine but slows tempo in plaintive pleas of Say You Love Me from a hurting hombre. Toms punctuates lonesome lovers in Too Busy and percolated passion of Coffee with rowdy angst anthem Signs - a 1971 hit for Canadian Five Man Electrical Band. He masters mood swings with paternal paean This Old Mandolina. Peace in the Broken River valley erupts in guitardrums driven tale of a male who falls in Weak Is The Man, featuring guest vocalist Lianna Rose, and melancholic beauty of love lament Never Not Never. Toms’ characters have human frailties - especially the banished beau in Something Borrowed and pitiful pal in live finale Walking Over Me.

Townsville troubadour Jade Holland drove south to Newcastle but recorded her second album in Nashville with expat co-writer Phil Barton and Brad Winters. So it’s no surprise she wrote first single Drive Thru, inspired by a former beau in Castle Hill in Far North Queensland, with Barton, Sinead Burgess and Bruce Wallace. Barton is also co-writer on seven of 10 songs including title track entrée salient signpost to spreading wings and chancing heart and soul on her muse. Jade’s romantic rebirth is reflected in rejection of another pretender in equine metaphor in It’s You - vast contrast to whiskey solace for a missing man in Jack and search for a new one in Single So Good. Holland is a mistress of mood swings in romance requiem If I Don’t You featuring Ben Earle and Holland’s Dutch courage, sorry, in That’s The Wine. She uses a decaying house in her freedom dash in Fix This and extends that defiant imagery in Paint This Town. But Holland is no loser in love - she ignites fire deep within for optimism fuelled finale Smoke Signals. True talent.

Texan troubadour and singing stonemason Kevin Deal proves master of Biblical metaphors from the entrée title track of ninth album The Long Road Home. Deal reprises temptation parable If You Can’t Put It Down (don’t pick it up) as fitting finale of his 14 song disc. He delves into trials and tribulation of life’s stormy joyous journey that segues into equally vivid snapshots of challenging romance in My Heart and Bountiful Yield as he reverts to ageless proverbs. Deal borrows from the Bible and contrasts good and evil growing like weeds in A Reckoning and death of a kindred spirit in My Friend. It’s a sibling of Pushing Away The Dark that regresses to when “the world was flat” before fiddle and banjo driven bluegrass romp Broken Upon The Rock. The joy ends abruptly in ruptured romance requiem of a woman whose partner dies at war in All The King’s Horses. Deal’s harmonica drives optimistic dreams incinerated in heartbreak in stormy imagery Of Dust And Smoke but ensures his journey ends on high in passion paean Keeping The Faith.

With song titles like Never Be Fine and Chrome-Plated Tragedy you might be thinking their debut self-titled album is a collection of sad songs, but you couldn’t be more wrong. The percussion on Never Be Fine is a highlight in the opening track, which has depressing lyrical content, but the feel of the song is strangely uplifting, leading the listener into the album. Wayside Chapel is the story of Wren’s parents’ wedding, while Evelyn is a song that anyone who has had a loved one deal with dementia, will relate to. Highlights of this album, for me, are Leave In The Fall, Wayside Chapel, and Ramblin’ because too much banjo picking is never enough. The Heggarties’ raw sound with their vocals and instrumentation shine through on this stellar Americana offering that has everything a country record should have – happiness, heartbreak, banjopicking, and songs that tell stories.

The Heggarties is an album full of songs about life where all listeners will find something to relate to.

INDIE TH0002 REBECCA BELT

ADAM TOMS

CHECKED LABEL 9351726001644 DAVID DAWSON

56

JADE HOLLAND

MGM JH 002 DAVID DAWSON

C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 8

KEVIN DEAL

BLIND NELLO 0026146598 DAVID DAWSON

THE HEGGARTIES

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

SOUND ADVICE - album reviews are the reviewers’ own opinions and do not necessarily reflect the view of Capital News or the publisher. Sound Advice will accept unsolicited albums for consideration, but cannot guarantee published reviews. Sound Advice does not review singles. Send 2 CDs together with biography or media release to Capital News, PO Box 555, Tamworth NSW 2340 and email a jpg of the cover to c.byrnes@tamworth.nsw.gov.au KENNY CHESNEY SONGS FOR THE SAINTS

BLUE CHAIR/WARNER

Singer-sailor-songwriter Kenny Chesney was born in Luttrell - same east Tennessee town as late Chet Atkins but found fame and fortune deeper south in the Virgin Islands. Kenny, 50, swims in the slipstream of fellow briny balladeer Jimmy Buffett and debuted at #2 on Billboard all genre Top 200 chart with his 20th CD. Chesney’s success is no surprise - he aims his joyous idyllic island fuelled fun at an avid army of music lovers escaping world woes. It’s briny bliss from title track entrée that segues into Every Heart and chart topper Get Along to second single and finale Better Boat featuring Mindy Smith. Chesney co-wrote five tunes including Pirate Song with Texan Jon Randall and Love For Love City with Ziggy Marley as guest. Another Texan John Bauman wrote Gulf Moon and Chesney penned Island Rain with Mac McAnally who did his time in surf and salt mines with Coral Reefer Band boss Jimmy Buffett who guests on his 1974 hit Trying To Reason With Hurricane Season. His sense of unity is magnified on We’re All Here, penned with David Lee Murphy and Casey Beathard. True talent.

WARNER MUSIC 9362490592 DAVID DAWSON

IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOUNTAIN

FROM THE BACKCOUNTRY

COMING HOME

ABC MUSIC

INDEPENDENT

MONTGOMERY CHURCH

The “backcountry” refers to the recesses of Graeme Connors’ subconscious mind. He says, this album is filled with songs he’s wanted to write for years. Every Graeme Connors album is a gem – a wonderful collection of beautifully crafted songs. This one, though, is particularly intimate, revealing a songwriter who not only observes life, but experiences its subtleties intensely. The first single, One Life, is a sweeping reflection on his life and career – one that looks ahead with a sense of achievement and hope. A sense of place informs tracks like the wonderful Kimberley Frontier, the eerie Black Mountain and an album highlight, South Africa, a complex interplay of spectacular scenery and troubled society.

Other standout tracks include the powerful Ghost Towns, One Love At A Time and the unashamedly political My American Friends. This album takes your breath away: it is heartfelt, moving and intensely personal, and reveals the emotions and perception that have made Graeme Connors one of the finest songwriters in Australia today.

Ever since I first saw and heard James a couple of years ago I have been waiting for this debut album – which comes off the back of an EP – and wanting it to be something that would impress me and hoping that it would live up to my expectations, because I saw, and still see, a lot of talent and skill in this young man. The 10 original self-penned songs present James in a number of moods and styles that easily fit the Alt Country/Americana brief and show influences of Jason Isbell and Ryan Adams, but with a unique style of his own. At times his vocals remind me of early Neil Young and his guitar playing is solid, sitting perfectly in company with the musos on the recording.

At the moment the highlights include Car Crash, Midnight Love, Goodbye My Friends, Demolition and Come Home with Jaime Wyatt, a California-based singer, but that could easily change as I continue to play this album over and over …. something you should do too! Oh yeah, you exceeded my expectations James!

If you already love Montgomery Church, prepare to fall even deeper for this dynamic duo as their new release sweeps you away. Their latest music is spellbinding. Cielle Montgomery and James Church have produced something very special here, paired with their wonderful harmonies and signature acoustics, listeners are bound to be caught up in the sheer emotion and journey they’re taken on between the 11 tracks. It’s hard to believe they were only formed two years ago, but from their expanding fan base, it’s obvious to see why they’re becoming more and more popular. From beginning to end, the release tells stories that are relatable and bound to evoke emotion in their audience. From The Stillman to Your Troubled Mind, I Was Young When I Left Home and even Daisy Lee, the album captures the versatility of Montgomery Church, both as a combination but also as individual artists. If you want to be swept away and lose track of time, In the Shadow of The Mountain from Montgomery Church is a winner.

GRAEME CONNORS

UMA 6773746 SUSAN JARVIS years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

JAMES VAN COOPER

MGM JVC002 JON WOLFE

INDIE MC001 HAYLEY CRAIG

RIDE OR DIE

KORA NAUGHTON INDIE

It’s hard to believe this is Kora Naughton’s first album. Ride Or Die oozes experience beyond this emerging artist’s years. She shows maturity, strength and resilience over the 10 tracks and this release showcases a diverse vocal range as well. There’s light and shade in this album, along with highs and lows. From Ride Or Die, to Ex’s And Oh Hell No’s, Naughton has really taken on the advice from those who have mentored her, and she’s reaping the rewards.

It’s an easy listening album, it’s something you can pop into your stereo or take on a road trip and enjoy each song as it comes on.

Norton explores some broad topics and isn’t too afraid to step outside the lines of one genre and into another in this release. From country pop, to rock and even contemporary country, this release shows Naughton is more than happy to explore her options and tick more than one box. A great debut album, signalling a great future ahead for this young star.

It’s only the beginning from Kora Naughton.

COUNTRY ROCKS CR1004 HAYLEY CRAIG

C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 8

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COUNTRYCHARTS ARIA TOP 20 AUSTRALIAN COUNTRY ALBUMS Week commencing 18 August 2018 TW

LW

TI

HP

TITLE

ARTIST

1 1 16 1 Graffiti U

KEITH URBAN

2 3 3 1 The Nashville Tapes

ADAM HARVEY

3 2 2 2 From The Backcountry

GRAEME CONNORS

4 5

1018 1

5 4 5 1 6 6 119 1 7 7

558 1

8 R/E 2 6 9 8

327 1

10 10 104 1 11 11 16 2 12 9 21 1 13 14 217 1 14 13 253 1 15 16 252 2 16 17 359 1 17 12 244 2 18 15 4 4 19 20 473 1 20 R/E 71 1

The Very Best Of Slim Dusty Milestones...20 Years Ripcord Greatest Hits: 18 Kids Old Jack’s Bones The Story So Far His Favourite Collection Campfire Country Heart Fuse The Great Country Songbook A Hell Of A Career!

Ultimate Hits Anthems - A Celebration Of Australia Catherine Britt & The Cold Cold Hearts Big Ones Greatest Hits THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY ALBUM

CAP/EMI SME ABC/UMA

SLIM DUSTY

EMI

ADAM BRAND

ABC/UMA

KEITH URBAN

CAP/EMI

KEITH URBAN

CAP/EMI

THE HILLBILLY GOATS

MGM

KEITH URBAN

CAP/EMI

JOHN WILLIAMSON

WAR

KASEY CHAMBERS & THE FIRESIDE DISCIPLES THE WOLFE BROTHERS

WAR ABC/UMA

KEITH URBAN

CAP/EMI

TROY CASSAR-DALEY & ADAM HARVEY JOHN WILLIAMSON

SME WAR

LEE KERNAGHAN

ABC/UMA

JOHN WILLIAMSON

WAR

CATHERINE BRITT & THE COLD COLD HEARTS

LHAU/UMA

LEE KERNAGHAN

ABC/UMA

LEE KERNAGHAN

ABC/UMA

THE MUSIC NETWORK OFFICIAL AUSTRALIAN COUNTRY AIRPLAY TOP 20 Week commencing 18 August 2018 TW

LW

TI

HP

TITLE

ARTIST

1 1 16 1 Graffiti U

KEITH URBAN

2 3 3 1 The Nashville Tapes

ADAM HARVEY

3 2 2 2 From The Backcountry

GRAEME CONNORS

4 5

SLIM DUSTY

1018 1

The Very Best Of Slim Dusty

LABEL

CAP/EMI SME ABC/UMA EMI

5 4 5 1 Milestones...20 Years

ADAM BRAND

ABC/UMA

6 6 119 1 Ripcord

KEITH URBAN

CAP/EMI

7 7

KEITH URBAN

CAP/EMI

558 1

Greatest Hits: 18 Kids

8 R/E 2 6 Old Jack’s Bones

THE HILLBILLY GOATS

9 8

KEITH URBAN

327 1

The Story So Far

MGM CAP/EMI

10 10 104 1 His Favourite Collection

JOHN WILLIAMSON

11 11 16 2 Campfire

KASEY CHAMBERS & THE FIRESIDE DISCIPLES

12 9 21 1 Country Heart

THE WOLFE BROTHERS

13 14 217 1 Fuse

KEITH URBAN

14 13 253 1

WAR WAR ABC/UMA CAP/EMI

TROY CASSAR-DALEY & ADAM HARVEY

SME

15 16 252 2 A Hell Of A Career!

JOHN WILLIAMSON

WAR

16 17 359 1

LEE KERNAGHAN

The Great Country Songbook Ultimate Hits

ABC/UMA

17 12 244 2 Anthems - A Celebration Of Australia

JOHN WILLIAMSON

18 15 4 4 Catherine Britt & The Cold Cold Hearts

CATHERINE BRITT & THE COLD COLD HEARTS LHAU/UMA

19 20 473 1

LEE KERNAGHAN

ABC/UMA

LEE KERNAGHAN

ABC/UMA

Big Ones Greatest Hits

20 R/E 71 1 The 25th Anniversary Album 58

C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 8

WAR

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

COUNTRY TRACKS Week Commencing 18 August 2018. This chart is published by Country Music Services and updated weekly at countrytrackschart.com.au.

POS LW

TI

HP

TRACK TITLE

ARTIST

1 4 7 1(2) I’d Rather Be A Highwayman

ADAM HARVEY

2 1 5 1(1) Put On A Good Show

DESTINY

3 3 8 1(2) Diamantina Coming Down

DALE DUNCAN

4 2 3 2(1) Lioness

BECCY COLE

5 14 2 5(1) Honky Tonk Heroes

BRENDAN DUGAN

6 12 5 3(1) “Girls, Beer, Utes & Rodeo”

ALI S

7 9 9 2(1) Speak Up

TOM CURTAIN (FEAT. SARA STORER)

8 5 5 5(1) Drunk Every Sunday

JASE LANSKY

9 25 15 2(1) Red Head At Heart

MELISSA ROBERTSON

10 32 2 10(1) Waving At Trains

STEVE CHEERS

11 6 4 6(1) Party Down Under

ADAM BRAND

12 18 3 12(1) Highways

SHELLY JONES BAND

13 0 1 13(1) Love Or Money

“BENNETT, BOWTELL & URQUHART”

14 7 22 1(7) Better Day

CARTER & CARTER

15 21 5 15(1) Knowing That You’re There

ALLAN CASWELL

16 37 5 11(1) Breathe In

GAYLE O’NEIL

17 38 2 17(1) Chicken Pickin’

TERRY BENNETTS AND ALISHA SMITH

18 10 8 3(1) In Your Wildest Dreams

AMBER JOY POULTON

19 11 9 2(1) Montevideo Maru 1942

KYLIE ADAMS-COLLIER

20 17 4 17(1) Pretty Baby Blues

KIARA RODRIGUES

CMC TOP 50 Week Commencing 18 August 2018. This chart is updated weekly at countrymusicchannel.com.au or tune into CMC. TW TITLE

ARTIST

1 Cry Pretty 2 Coming Home

CARRIE UNDERWOOD KEITH URBAN FTG. JULIA MICHAELS

EMI

3 High Horse

TRAVIS COLLINS

ABC

4 Neon Smoke

GORD BAMFORD

5 Hide The Wine

CARLY PEARCE

6 I Hate Love Songs

KELSEA BALLERINI

7 Under My Skin 8 Babe

KIRSTY LEE AKERS SOCIAL FAMILY RECORDS SUGARLAND FTG. TAYLOR SWIFT BIG MACHINE JASON ALDEAN FT. MIRANDA LAMBERT BROKEN BOY/SONY

9 Drowns The Whiskey 10 Hotel Key

LABEL

EMI ABC BIG MACHINE

BLACK RIVER/SONY

OLD DOMINION

SONY

11 I Was Jack (You Were Diane) JAKE OWEN

BIG LOUD

12 I’d Rather Be A Highwayman ADAM HARVEY

SONY

13 Drunk Girl

CHRIS JANSON

14 Get Along

KENNY CHESNEY

15 Hangin’ On

CHRIS YOUNG

SONY

16 Party Down Under

ADAM BRAND

ABC

17 Day Drunk

MORGAN EVANS

18 No Sad Song

THE WOLFE BROTHERS

19 Blue Tacoma

RUSSELL DICKERSON TRIPLE TIGERS/SONY

20 Desperate Man 21 Straight To Hell

ERIC CHURCH EMI DARIUS RUCKER W/ JASON ALDEAN, CHARLES KELLY & LUKE BRYAN EMI

22 Beach Mode

TROY KEMP

23 Goliath Is Dead

KASEY CHAMBERS

24 Lose It

KANE BROWN

25 Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset LUKE BRYAN 26 Loud

TIM HICKS

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

WARNER BLUE CHAIR/WARNER

WARNER ABC

TW TITLE

ARTIST

27 One Life

GRAEME CONNORS

28 Get Down South

DAVISSON BROTHERS BAND

SONY

29 Drunk Me 30 Me Without You

MITCHELL TENPENNY CAITLYN SHADBOLT FT. REECE MASTIN

SONY

SONY EMI ABC/OPEN ROAD

ABC

FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE

31 Simple

ABC BIG MACHINE

32 Starin’ Out The Back Of A Car ANGUS GILL CHECKED LABEL SERVICES 33 Birds In Cages 34 Up Down

TAMARA STEWART INDEPENDENT MORGAN WALLEN FTG. FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE BMLGR/BIG LOUD

35 Don’t Let Me Forget

CATHERINE MCGRATH

36 You’re In It

GRANGER SMITH

WHEELHOUSE/BMG

37 King Of The Sky

ANDREW SWIFT

SOCIAL FAMILY RECORDS

38 Woman, Amen

DIERKS BENTLEY

WARNER

EMI

39 I Hope That I’m Wrong LACHLAN BRYAN & THE WILDES ABC 40 Be Mine

CASEY BARNES

41 What I Don’t Know

RACHAEL FAHIM

42 For A Moment

ABBIE FERRIS

43 Life Changes 44 Speak Up

THOMAS RHETT TOM CURTAIN FTG. SARA STORER

CHECKED LABEL SERVICES TOP DOG SOCIAL FAMILY RECORDS BMLG/UMA INDEPENDENT

45 Summer Fever

LITTLE BIG TOWN

46 Drive Thru 47 Burning Man

JADE HOLLAND INDEPENDENT DIERKS BENTLEY FTG BROTHERS OSBORNE EMI

48 Cinderella

KRISTY JAMES

49 Guilty 50 So Smooth

THE SHIRES ADAM ECKERSLEY & BROOKE MCCLYMONT

CHECKED LABEL SERVICES ESSENCE/WARNER

LABEL

EMI

CHECKED LABEL SERVICES

C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 8

UMA UMA 59

BUSH BALLADS

A MONTH OF MUSTERS

BY PETER COAD OAM WWW.BUSHBALLADEERS.COM.AU

WITH THE SPRING COMES THE WARMER WEATHER PERFECT FOR THIS MONTH’S CALENDAR OF QUEENSLAND MUSTERS FROM NANANGO TO MALENY, BONY MOUNTAIN TO GOOMBURRA AND WIDGEE.

Norma O’Hara Murphy’s large property just out of Warwick, so plenty of camping space. The HillBilly Goats, Anne Kirkpatrick, Dianne Lindsay, Peter Simpson, Mike Kerin (the fettler) Rod Coe, Garry Fogarty, Pixie Jenkins, Errol Gray, Jeff Brown, Dean Perrett, Phil & Chris Coad, Daryl Craft, Blue Violets, Ukulele Bands, Norma O’Hara Murphy, Brian Stitt, Warwick Pipe Thistle Band, Cape Byron Celtic Dancers, Emmagen, and Wayne Isbister, along with a special Slim Dusty Tribute show and dedication to the Sandstone Memorial.

GOOMBURRA COUNTRY MUSIC STAMPEDE

Brian Letton

NANANGO COUNTRY MUSIC MUSTER Staged at the Nanango Showgrounds from September 6 to 9, this annual event always draws a huge following of music fans. Artists on the bill this year include Royden Donohue, Jeff Brown, Graham Rodger, Bev Branson, Mary-Anne Benz, Terry Gordon, Brian Letton, Gottani Sisters, Glenn Jones, Justin Standley, Wayne Horsburgh, Peter Pratt, and Dean Perrett along with backing from the Lindsay Waddington Band, Nanango

Keith Jamieson

Country Muster Band. Bush Poets will be Gary Fogarty, Ray Essery, and Carol Heuchan.

MALENY MUSIC MUSTER Presented by the Maleny Historical Society from September 17 to 23, this event is held at the Maleny Pioneer Village. Walk ups run Monday to Thursday, but on Wednesday evening there is an Old Time Dance. Friday kicks off the main weekend of guest entertainers which include: Gemma Kirby, Clyde Cameron, Semp Family, Gottani Sisters, Greg Dillon, Georgie Taylor, Rob Clyde and Co, Alice Benfer, and Claire Weller. There is also a Poets Breakfast Sunday morning.

BONY MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL Held from September 14 to 16 this event is staged on

S

VALE BLUEY FRANCIS 60

Wayne Horsburgh

tanley Edward Francis (Bluey) was born in 1937 in Gol Gol NSW and passed away on Saturday, August 11, 2018.

In January 1999, Bluey was inducted into Tamworth’s Hands Of Fame, and it was there, he suggested reviving bush ballads and a steering committee was set up. The following year (2000) The Bush Balladeers Association was formed of which Bluey was vice president for a number of years. Bluey’s love of the Australian bush ballad and pick ‘n’ strum style guitar remained his chosen style of music.

C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 8

This annual event is from September 14 to 16 at the Clifton Showgrounds. Organised by Maggie Stokes, the entertainment includes, Sharon Smith, Suburban Country, Chris, Viv and the Boys, Meryl Reinhard, Bill Healey, Paul Hiles and the Band, Graham Rodger, Alice Benfer, Owen Blundell, Terry Gordon & Rosanna Ruddick.

WIDGEE BUSH BALLADEERS The Widgee Bush Balladeers held at the Widgee Showgrounds has moved its October date to September 27 to 30. The event has a great line-up of artists appearing including Brian Letton, Bruce Lavender, Clyde Cameron, Keith and Caitlyn Jamieson, Alisha Smith, Col Edmonds, Clarrie Weller, Laura Downing, Kev Groves, Jeff and Lyn Brown and the Brown Boys, Sharon Heaslip, and Michael Clare.

For a full list of upcoming events check the Coming Events on page 63.

Bluey was adept at many trades in his life which included a recording and songwriting career and had many songs recorded by other artists.

He lived in White Cliffs then moved to Broken Hill and remained involved in music until his health saw him retire.

On behalf of the Australian Bush Balladeers Association I extend deepest sympathies to the Francis family.

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

D O W N M E M O RY L A N E

AUSTRALIA’S

YODELLING

QUEEN

YODELS THE SONGS OF THE BIG BAND ERA

BY LORRAINE PFITZNER OAM

MARY SCHNEIDER HAS YODELLED THE CLASSICS ON TWO PREVIOUS CDS AND NOW YOU CAN HEAR HER SING AND YODEL ON SOME OF THE GREATEST BAND SONGS EVER WRITTEN.

H

aving surpassed the ‘Platinum Anniversary’ (72 years) as an entertainer and recording artist, Mary’s Yodelling the Big Bands is a yodelling celebration of the big band swing era with a dazzling selection of standards arranged and performed by the incomparable artist.

It was her late sister Rita who recommended that Mary record such an album but shortly after recording the first four tracks, Rita passed away, and Mary was unable to continue with the project, and put it on hold for the past few years.

Mary said, “Rita was not only my sister, but she was my best friend, song writing partner and

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

number one motivator.

Mary’s daughter Melinda Schneider encouraged her mum to finish the album, reminding her that’s what Rita would have loved her to do.

“Rita and I had started working on this concept after our success with my two Yodelling The Classics albums. In my early 20s I took a slight detour from country music and went into jazz and scat singing, which I also loved,” said Mary.

“It was only a matter of time before I combined scat singing and yodelling, so we came up with the idea of Yodelling The Big Bands.”

The album was released on October 27, 2018, just two days after Mary’s 85th birthday.

The album has 10 tracks which includes In The Mood, Jersey Bounce, Cuttin’ Capers, Cow Cow Boogie, Fascinating Rhythm, Pennsylvania 6-5000, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy (aka Boogie Woogie Yodeller) and Mary’s Christmas favourite Yodelling Jingle Bells.

The opening track is a medley of nine evergreen band songs such as Fascinating Rhythm and Little Brown Jug making for interesting listening.

Cow Cow Boogie sounds great the way Mary sings it and The Way You Look Tonight is the only ballad on the album that Mary sang in memory of her late husband Keith.

Jersey Bounce once was an instrumental but lyrics were added and Mary has put some unusual yodel licks into the tune. The same goes for the great tune In The Mood made famous by the Glen Miller Band in 1939 followed by a vocal version by The Andrew Sisters. Mary did the extra harmonies on this one too, similar to Boogie Woogie Yodeller thus giving the song a vocal sound similar to the Andrew Sisters recording. Mary said she found the yodels for this song a little difficult but mastered them and it is one of my favourite tracks on the album. Jingle Bells has been retitled Yodelling Jingle Bells with a different slant of singing this favourite Christmas song.

Some tracks were recorded with the Sydney International Big Band orchestrated and conducted by the late Tommy Tycho OAM & MB and the other eight tracks were recorded with the Sydney Jazz Orchestra, orchestrated and conducted by George Brodbeck.

I know you’ll enjoy this unique yodelling album from one of our great female pioneers – Mary Schneider - and her wonderful arrangement with the big band sound.

C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 8

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W RITING GRE AT SONGS

IT’S NOT

ROCKET SCIENCE

PART 2

BY A L L A N CA S W E L L

IN RECENT COLUMNS, I HAVE TRIED TO HIGHLIGHT JUST HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO SURVIVE FINANCIALLY IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS THESE DAYS.

I

f my recent columns have dwelt on the big black clouds hovering over the music business, I really have no choice. The songwriting business’s future is looking increasingly fragile with future generations of songwriters facing the prospect of becoming very talented amateurs. With the value of your songs decimated by streaming and the huge drop in CD sales, the money that you receive from APRA has become increasingly important. Those quarterly (sometimes more) payments are increasingly important.

For most songwriters, the biggest source of song income is Performance Reports (PR’s). These are the royalties that are derived from the performance of your songs at your gigs, or performances of your songs at other people’s gigs, (often your cowriters). The royalties come from a pool created from the collection of licence fees from clubs, pubs, theatres and other venues that feature live music. These royalties, early in your career, can be enough to get you started and get you membership to APRA. Lodging your Performance Reports is a relatively simple matter. You log into the APRA website and create a playlist (or several) of your songs. From then on, you simply type in a venue and the playlist and other details. Even for someone like me, who is technically inept, it is a simple process and takes no more than a few minutes. I can also add or subtract from my playlist, to arrive at an accurate

report of the songs performed.

The trick is to do these returns regularly so that they are quick, clear and accurate.

At the end of July each year, a spirit of outright panic settles over the songwriting community. Songwriters suddenly realise that they have been too lazy or disorganised to do their PRs and the deadline is looming. With the PRs making up a big slice of their income, people publish heartrending Facebook posts blaming APRA for cruelly making their lives so difficult and begging for even more time. These posts are peppered with “dog ate my homework” and “my life is so busy” excuses.

Apart from artists that perform the same set every gig, all those simple five-minute PR updates can add up to a lot of work at the end of a 13-month period. You would also have to

seriously doubt the accuracy of PRs where the artist is trying to remember the details of songs he or she performed up to a year earlier.

The other effect of all the late reports is to lock up the reporting system so that other people can’t lodge their new reports until the slowpokes get their act together.

I have been having the same conversation with other writers for over 40 years. I have been as critical as anyone in the past about the clunkiness of the APRA PR reporting system, but I now consider it to be simple, fair and, thankfully, user-friendly. If someone with my limited computer skills can cope, I am sure anyone can.

If we all agree to do our PRs after every gig, once a week or month, we will have a much fairer, more accurate and way easier system. PRs are important … they can be the difference between surviving and getting out altogether. The big late November payment is all about the PRs and a good result can make for a great Christmas.

On a more positive note, my workshop and writing commitments at the Junior Academy of Country Music in Tamworth and the Hughenden Country Music Festival have highlighted just how good some of our young songwriters are becoming … they are also not scared to be country. If we can fix the financial mess we are in, creatively the future looks great.

See you next month … maybe.

If you have a question regarding any aspects of song writing or are interested in my “one on one” private song writing coaching service (based in the Blue Mountains), details on upcoming songwriting workshops around the country … contact me at allan@ allancaswell.com

ALLAN CASWELL SONGWRITING SCHOOL For information about future workshops: 0419 218 988, allan@allancaswell.com

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COMINGEVENTS SEPTEMBER 2018 28 Aug-Sept 2 Phil & Chris Coad’s Traditional Aussie Muster | Wyper Park | Bundaberg | Qld | T: 0458 728 464 or 0419 603 371 | Facebook: philandchriscoadscountrymuster 31-Sept 2 7th Maleny Music Festival | Maleny Showgrounds | Qld | W: malenymusicfestival.com 6-9 Annual Heritage Country Muster | Nanango Show Grounds |Qld | Traditional Country Music | Contact Sandra Shearn M: 0429 631 273 | E: nanangocountrymuster2@yahoo.com.au | Facebook and Web Nanango Show Society 8-9 Broxburn Music Club’s Annual CMF & TQ | Broxburn Community Grounds | Cnr Pittsworth & Felton Road | Pittsworth | Qld | E: inquirybroxburn@gmail.com 14-16 Neurum Creek Music Festival | Neurum Creek Bush Retreat | E: info@neurumcreekfestival.com | W: neurumcreekfestival.com 14-16 Bony Mountain Music Festival | Warwick | Qld | Contact: Norma O’Hara Murphy | T: 0488 673 778 or 0490 415 699 | W: bonymountainfolkfestival.com CANCELLED The 2018 Howard Music Festival will not go ahead due to unsuccessful financial support 14-16 Goomburra CM Stampede | Clifton Showground | Qld | E: maggiestokes29@gmail.com | Facebook.com/groups/Goomburra 15 Brisbane Racing Club’s Country Music Raceday | Hampden Street | Ascot | Qld | T: 07 3268 2171 | E: sales@brc.com.au | Gates Open 10:30am | Functions Open 11:30am | brc.com.au/country19 Nashville Songwriter Awards 2018 | Presented by NSAI and City National Bank | Ryman Auditorium | Nashville, TN | USA | ryman.com 17-23 Maleny Music Muster | Presented by Maleny Pioneer Village | Walk-ups Monday to Thursday | 22 New Zealand CM Association Awards Meeting | Matamata Civic Centre | 10am |To register E: president@nzcountrymusic.org.nz or T: Michael Tipping on 022192 6057 | Discussion awards improvements | W: nzcountrymusic.org.nz 22-23 The Pioneer Valley CMF | Facebook.com/pioneervalleycmf 28-29 Deni Ute Muster | Deniliquin Festival Site | Conargo Road | Deniliquin | NSW | E: info@deniutemuster.com.au | W: deniutemuster.com.au 27-30 Widgee Bush Balladeers | Widgee Showgrounds 28-Oct 7 32nd Mildura CMF | Contact: John Arnold | E: milduracountrymusic.com.au | 1800 039 043 OCTOBER 2018 Sept 28-Oct 7 32nd Mildura CMF | Contact: John Arnold |E: milduracountrymusic.com.au | T: 1800 039 043 5-7 5 Rivers Outback Festival | Balranald | NSW | W: 5riversoutbackfestival.com.au 11-14 Northern CM Port Pirie Music Festival | SA | Contact: Mary Bateman | T: 08 8633 2302 or M: 0408 334 086 | e: mabiena.mb@gmail.com | W: northerncountrymusicassociation.org 12-14 Mt Hunter CM Stampede | K Ranch Arena | 180 Monks Lane | Mount Hunter | NSW | kranch.com.au 15-21 15th Annual Slim Dusty CMF | Kempsey Showground | NSW | Camping, food and entertainment | Contact: Pauline Fisher or Kate Mainey | T: 02 6562 6533 | 1800 18SLIM | E: Festival@slimdustycentre.com.au | w: slimdustycentre.com.au 18-21 Munna Creek CMF | Contact: Lex K | M: 0428 293 145 | W: munnacreekfestival.com 18-21 Annual The Waterhole Rocks – Rock n Roll Campout weekend | Contact Sue Osberg | M:0474 266 215 | E: waterholerocks@outlook.com | Facebook.com/TheWaterholeRocks 22-28 Clarence Valley Country Muster | Grafton | NSW | Contact: Wendy Gordon | M: 0432 741 947 |E: wgordon@cvcmuster.com.au | W: cvcmuster.com.au 25-28 Nambung CM Muster | WA | T: 08 9652 4048 | E: enquiry@nambungstation.com.au | W: numbungstation.com.au 26-28 Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival | W: dorrigofolkbluegrass.com.au NOVEMBER 2018 2-4 Ballina CMF | Various venues | Ballina | NSW | T: 02 6686 9255 | W: ballinacountrymusic.com 8-11 Airlie Beach Festival of Music | Various venues | Contact: Gavin Butlin | T: 0411 477 908 | E: airliebeachfestivalofmusic@gmail.com | W: airliebeachfestivalofmusic.com.au 8-11 6th Kyabram RV CM Corral | Kyabram Showgrounds | Vic | T: 03 5853 2933 | E: ky47347@bigpond.net.au | W: kyrvcountry.com.au 10-11 1st The Great Huon Valley Festival | Times: Sat 11:30am to 10pm & Sun 10am to 6pm | Franklin Oval & Foreshore | 2 Hayes Road | Franklin | Tas | W: thegreathuonvalley.com.au | Tickets through Oztix 16-18 Burra CMF & TQ | Burra Showgrounds | SA | Camping, Food, Licensed Bar, Workshop, Bush Poetry | Contact: Secretary | M: 0428 922 614 | Artist applications contact Tracey’s mobile 0429 866 769 | E: burracmf@gmail.com | W: burracountrymusicfestival.com 17-18 Gidgee Coal Bush Ballad Awards | Pittsworth Showground and Bottletree Hall | Qld | Bush ballads, bush poets, walkups, food, damper | M: 0427 731 088 or 0427 578 264 22-25 6th Temora CMF | NSW | Venues include Temora Bundawarrah Centre and Temora ExServices Memorial Club | Tickets on sale | Contact Roz Giles | M: 0408 597 307 | E: rozandcraig@bigpond.com | W: temoracmf.com 28 32nd ARIA Awards | Sydney | NSW | aria.com.au years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

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C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 8

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018