Country Music Capital News - February/March 2019 Volume 44 No 2/3

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FEBRUARY | MARCH 2019 VOL. 44 NO.2|3

$ 6.00

GOLDEN GUITARS WINNERS

BLAKE O’CONNOR YOUR 40TH STAR MAKER

KEITH URBAN DOWN UNDER

LUKE DICKENS

CLICKS SONGS AS THERAPY

TOYOTA COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL TAMWORTH 2019 years of bringing you the music 1975–2019

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FROM THE EDITOR

THE HEAT IS ON IN MY NOTE FROM THIS TIME LAST YEAR, I REFERRED TO THE WEATHER AT TAMWORTH’S COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL, AND IN 2019 NOTHING CHANGED.

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t was so hot, I heard that someone had placed a thermometer on the ground which read 70, and that a local café had fried an egg on the path outside their shop. It was crazy hot.

It’s because of the heat, that the local venues and visiting artists reported slight reductions in their ticketed shows however most were optimistic and agreed that the drought and heat right around the country were the main contributing factors and look forward to a turnaround next year. Many fans that would usually make the journey, needed to stay home to care for properties and animals.

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There were more than 400 registered buskers and at any one time less than a quarter of them braved Peel Street.

The overall atmosphere was fantastic with new friends being made, good times being had and lots of business being done.

I was happy to bring together 26 former Star Maker winners for the 40th anniversary concert during the festival week. It was a special event as you can imagine with a lot of reflecting, happiness, warmth and sense of family for guests and fans.

We’ve included a small selection of photographs in this issue to give you a taste of Tamworth.

The 12th CMC Rocks Qld is on in March with another great international and local line-up.

In addition to this there’s two touring events “Introducing Nashville” with four leading US and Canadian songwriters doing sideshows plus “Nashville Live” a new musical celebrating the legends of country music and the stories behind the songs with 44 hit songs covered in the show.

A big shout out to all of our friends around the country who are battling through the drought, floods and cyclonic conditions.

Cheryl Byrnes Cheryl@ tamworthcountrymusic.com.au

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FEBRUARY | MARCH 2019 FEATURES GOLDEN GUITAR AWARDS GG AWARDS RED CARPET 40 YEARS OF STAR MAKER TOYOTA STAR MAKER LUKE DICKENS SIR JOHN ROWLES CARL THE BARTENDER SEAFORTH KAREN CRAIGIE NASHVILLE LIVE ON TOUR VALE TCMF2019 URBAN DOWN UNDER

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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, Bob Kirchner, Bec Belt, CMA, CMAA, Dan Biddle, David Dawson, Jon Wolfe, Haley Craig, Valerie MacIver, Gina Timms, Lachlan Bryan Lorraine Pfitzner, Peter Coad, Susan Jarvis, Tom Inglis, and our great mates in publicity and record companies nationally and internationally.

PHOTOGRAPHERS Andrew Pearson, Antony Hands, Glen Hannah, Greg Sylvia, June Underwood, Robyn McIntosh, and to our many suppliers.

COVER PHOTO: Greg Sylvia TRC TEAM Jess Fitzsimmons, Karlee Cole, Eleanor Turnbull, Kyla Hill.

ART AND DESIGN Sam Woods UPCOMING DEADLINES: APRIL 2019: March 1, 2019 MAY 2019: April 1, 2019

REGULARS NEWS NASHVILLE NEWS HEAR & THERE LIVE CM SCENE 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 2019 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 1975–2019

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NEWS

AUSTRALIA DAY HONOURS

CMA AWARDS

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ive Australians are nominated in four of five categories in the US-based Country Music Association – CMAs – Annual International Awards.

The CMA presents the awards to recognise those who have “supported and made a difference in the growth and promotion of country music in the international market place”.

Key among the nominees is singer, songwriter and recording artist Travis Collins who is a finalist for the Global Artist Award, received previously by Australian acts including Catherine Britt, Troy Cassar-Daley, Kasey Chambers, Slim Dusty, Tommy Emmanuel, Morgan Evans, Adam Harvey, Lee Kernaghan, The McClymonts and Jasmine Rae. Travis is up against The Netherlands’ Ilse DeLange, Canada’s James Barker Band, Sweden’s Jill Johnson and the UK’s Ward Thomas.

Melbourne music journalist, broadcaster and songwriter Dave Dawson is nominated for the Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award which recognises outstanding achievements in the media as they relate to country music outside of the United States. For close to 60 years, Dawson spread the story on country music, especially its mavericks, in major newspapers and music magazines as Juke, Beat, Across Country and Mixdown, and presented numerous radio shows. He is currently a producer on Nu-Country TV. Long-time industry identity Trevor Smith, now of Aloha Media, who has been involved in music media, and especially country music media, for some 50 years, is up for the International Country Broadcaster category recognising outstanding achievement by a radio broadcaster or syndicated radio reporter outside the United States who has made important contributions for the development of country music in their country. Nova Entertainment’s Paul Jackson is also up for this award.

Susan Heymann, general manager of Chugg Entertainment, is a finalist for the Jo Walker-Meador International Award which recognises outstanding achievement by an individual in advocating and supporting country music’s marketing development in territories outside the United States.

The awards will be handed out as the CMA hosts showcase events during March in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK. 8

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AUSTRALIA DAY HONOURS HAVE BEEN AWARDED TO THREE MUSIC INDUSTRY IDENTITIES ALL WITH A STRONG CONNECTION TO COUNTRY MUSIC.

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ecord industry executive and retailer Barry Bull, artiist/songwriter/ producer Garth Porter and bush poet Noel Stallard.

Garth was announced as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in this year’s honours list while Barry and Noel have been awarded Order of Australia Medals (OAMs).

Garth is best known for his involvement in the very successful pop group Sherbet but more latterly as a producer for country music artists including James Blundell and Lee Kernaghan.

His award was made for

significant service to music as a performer, songwriter and producer.

Barry was a record industry executive for many years, mostly with then CBS Records but more recently operated a music retail store – Toombul Music – in Queensland and has now extended himself to the public speaking circuit as “the music man”.

His award was made for service to the performing arts, particularly through music.

Noel is an award-winning bush poet and author who, during the time of the annual Bush Laureate Awards at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, was a regular winner, including elevation to the bush poets’ hall of fame via the Judith Hosier Heritage Award in 2011 for his work in promoting Australian verse to children.

His award was made for service to literature.

SONY & SKY LIVE

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ony Music Entertainment Australia and Sky News have joined forces to deliver a new initiative, “Paul Murray Live Our Town”, which will see Sky News’ number one show visit 10 regional locations across Australia in 10 months.

The show was launched in Toowoomba on February 20 with Adam Harvey and aired live on Sky News Live on Foxtel and on regional free-to-air channel Sky News on WIN.

Sony Music’s diverse roster of artists will feature throughout the series, with some of the country’s biggest music stars joining the host focussing on the uniqueness of each town and hearing from residents about their issues and challenges bringing some much-needed financial help to those communities.

To nominate your town, email ourtown@skynews. com.au years of bringing you the music 1975–2019

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NASHVILLE NEWS

2019 GRAMMYS COUNTRY ARTIST KACEY MUSGRAVES TAKES HOME FOUR GRAMMYS THIS YEAR.

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er win included Album of the Year and Best Country Album for her third studio album Golden Hour, Best Country Solo Performance for Butterflies, and Best Country Song for Space Cowboy (Luke Laird, Shane McAnally & Kacey Musgraves) Best Country Duo/Group Performance was won by Dan + Shay for Tequila, Best Americana album was won by Brandi Carlile for By The Way, I Forgive You, The Travelin’ McCourys won with self-titled album for best bluegrass album, best American Roots performance and best American Roots song was The Joke by Brandi Carlile (Dave Cobb, Phil Hanseroth & Tim Hanseroth, Brandi Carlile), best folk album was by the Punch Brothers for All Ashore and Willie Nelson’s My

Way was awarded the best traditional pop vocal album.

The 2019 Grammy Awards were held on Sunday, February 10, and broadcast live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

They began with five women, including host Alicia Keys and former first lady Michelle Obama, paying tribute to the power of music. Their intro turned out to set the tone for an evening that was generally ruled by women.

Kacey has now made history as the first female solo artist to win Best Country Album twice. These wins bring Kacey’s career total up to six.

Kacey’s Australian tour dates are May 10, 12 and 14 at The Tivoli, Brisbane, Enmore Theatre, Sydney and Palais Theatre, Melbourne.

CARRIE’S NEW BABY

GEORGE STRAIT’S NEW RELEASE

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arrie Underwood and husband Mike Fisher welcomed a bouncing baby boy – Jacob Bryan Fisher on Monday, January 21. Jacob is a little brother for four-year-old Isaiah.

Carrie will kick off her Cry Pretty Tour 360 on May 1 in Greensboro, North Carolina. years of bringing you the music 1975–2019

eorge Strait released his new song Every Little Honk Tonk Bar on Monday, February 11.

The song was co-written with his son Bubba and tunesmith Dean Dillon and will be featured on his upcoming album Honky Tonk Time Machine set for release on March 29.

C2C EUROPE

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he Country Music Association’s new international artistfocused touring series, introducing Nashville, will join the c2c line-up in Berlin and Amsterdam.

Lindsay Ell, Lauren Jenkins and Logan Mize will perform at C2C Berlin on March 2 and C2C Amsterdam on March 4.

Following the stops in Germany and the Netherlands, a second Introducing Nashville line-up will visit multiple cities in Australia, as well as Auckland, New Zealand and Tokyo, Japan.

“It’s our pleasure to introduce this excellent line-up of artists to European fans and bring a little piece of Nashville into the heart of these great cities,” says Milly Olykan, CMA vice president, international relations and development. “CMA has been a proud partner of C2C U.K. since it launched in 2014, and we are encouraged by international expansion and the platform it offers artists who are looking to build audiences outside of North America, as well as to fans as they look to discover current Nashville artists.

We’re looking forward to seeing the impact C2C has in Germany and The Netherlands, and the response to this line up of Introducing Nashville.”

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WOLFES WHISTLE

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rothers Nick and Tom Wolfe, together with Brodie Rainbird collected the coveted Country Music Album of the Year for their highly acclaimed fourth studio album, Country Heart, along with Contemporary Country Album of the Year, Country Music Capital News Group Or Duo of

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TASMANIA’S WOLFE BROTHERS HAD A HUGE AUSTRALIA DAY, CLAIMING FOUR GOLDEN GUITARS OUT OF FIVE FINAL NOMINATIONS IN THE 47TH TOYOTA GOLDEN GUITAR AWARDS. the Year and APRA AMCOS Song Of the Year for the first single from the album, Ain’t Seen It Yet [written by Tom Wolfe, Nick Wolfe, Brodie Rainbird, Erik Dylan]. Country Heart acknowledges the boys’ country roots and their home in rural Tasmania, where Nick and Tom run the family farm. During their thank you speeches, the boys acknowledged their drummer Casey Kostiuk, manager Steve White, producer Matt Fell and Lee Kernaghan for taking them on the road with him over the past few years.

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Andrew Swift received two awards from his four nominations for QANTAS New Talent of the Year for Runaway Train and ALT Country Album of the Year for Call Out For The Cavalry produced by Matt Fell.

Kasey Chambers & The Fireside Disciples received the award for Traditional Country Album of the Year for Campfire produced by Kasey Chambers, Jordan Power, Brandon Dodd, Bill Chambers and Alan Pigram.

Travis Collins took his Golden Guitar tally to seven when he won Male Artist of the Year with his latest album Brave & The Broken.

Beccy Cole, whose latest album, Lioness was an all-

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UP A GOLDEN HAUL female production from start to finish, took out the Female Artist of the Year, her fifth win in this category taking her Golden Guitar tally to 11.

Bush Ballad of the Year went to Australian icon John Williamson for Please Don’t Forget Me and Troy Cassar-Daley received the Golden Guitar for Shadows On the Hill in the Heritage Song of the Year, bringing his total to 37, joining Lee Kernaghan in joint second place behind country king Slim Dusty, who achieved 38 Golden Guitars for his enormous body of work.

2019 Sanity Top Selling Album of the Year Golden Guitar was

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announced prior to the night to superstar Keith Urban for his latest album Graffiti U. Keith performed an intimate concert in the Tamworth Town Hall on Tuesday night prior to the awards night to raise money for Rural Aid. He and his wife Nicole Kidman have previously donated and continue to support those who are suffering during this shocking drought.

Morgan Evans won Single of the Year with his latest single Day Drunk which was the #1 played song on Australian radio across all genres.

Coca Cola Instrumental of the Year was awarded to Tommy Emmanuel CGP for Wheelin’ And Dealin’ and the Bluegrass Recording of the Year went to Kristy Cox for Ricochet.

Fanny Lumsden’s clip, Elastic Waistband, directed by Anna Phillips and Sam Brumby, received the honours in CMC Video of the Year.

The Regional Australia Bank Vocal Collaboration of the Year was awarded to Bennett, Bowtell & Urquhart featuring

the late Karl Broadie.

Following an outstanding career spanning more than 30 years, James Blundell was honoured with the industry’s most prestigious accolade – the Australasian Country Music Roll of Renown. It was presented by Lee Kernaghan and Tamworth Country Music Festival co-founder Max Ellis.

“The diversity of talent across the country music industry was well represented on awards night. It’s an exciting time for Australian country music,” said Country Music Association of Australia chairman Dan Biddle.

Toyota Australia’s chief marketing officer, Wayne Gabriel congratulated all of the finalists and winners of the 2019 Golden Guitar Awards on their achievements.

“Toyota has been a proud supporter of the country music festival in Tamworth for over

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Adam Eckersley & Brooke McClymont

Hosts Adam Brand and Amber Lawrence PHOTOS THIS PAGE: ANTONY HANDS

27 years. It has grown to be one of Australia’s most iconic events, a true celebration of a vibrant industry,” he said.

Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson said the Toyota Country Music Festival was recognised worldwide and Tamworth was synonymous with country music.

“Through Destination NSW, we will continue to support events such as this. They are incredibly important for our economy and bring enormous benefit to Tamworth and NSW year-round,” he said.

The performances were outstanding from the opening number of Tommy Emmanuel’s Wheelin And Dealin by the awards band, Kasey Chambers & The Fireside Disciples (The Campfire Song), Adam Brand (Milestones), Imogen Clark (Late Night Girl), Brad Cox (Lake House), video performance from Morgan Evans (Day Drunk), Andrew Swift (Runaway Train), Bennett, Bowtell & Urquhart featuring the late Karl Broadie (Every Hello), Adam Eckersley & Brooke McClymont (Nothing Left To Win), Tori Forsyth (In The Morning), Adam Harvey (This Lovin’ You), Kristy Cox (Ricochet), Beccy Cole (Lioness), John Williamson (The Valley Of His Dreams), Troy Cassar-Daley (Shadows On The Hill), Amber Lawrence (Outrageous), Travis Collins (It’s Just Music), The Wolfe Brothers (Country Heart) and Graeme Connors and Catherine Britt & The Cold Cold Hearts performed Go On in the very moving In Memoriam segment.

The awards were hosted by Adam Brand and Amber Lawrence and a cast of presenters including Adam Harvey, Missy Lancaster, Adam Eckersley & Brooke McClymont, Chad Morgan, Jasmine Rae, Lawrie Minson, Pixie Jenkins, Pete Denahy, Catherine Britt, Dobe Newton, Fanny Lumsden, Brendan Nelson, Beccy Cole, Lindsay Butler, Shaza Leigh, Nick Erby, Ashleigh Dallas, Max Ellis, Lee Kernaghan, Brad Butcher, Felicity Urquhart, Troy Kemp, Jayne Denham, Rex Dallas, Jean Stafford, Troy Cassar-Daley, Sara Storer, Luke O’Shea, Aleyce Simmonds, Andrew Farriss, Anne Kirkpatrick, Toyota CEO Wayne Gabriel, 2018 Toyota Star Maker Brad Cox and 2019 Toyota Star Maker Blake O’Connor.

The awards were held at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre (TRECC) on Saturday, January 26.

The awards are presented by Tamworth Regional Council in association with the Country Music Association of Australia. They were produced by Peter Ross (executive producer and director) and associate co-producers Dan Biddle and Barry Harley.

The 47th Country Music Awards of Australia – the Toyota Golden Guitar Awards were supported by Toyota, the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, APRA AMCOS, Country Music Capital News, QANTAS, Regional Australia Bank, and Coca-Cola.

Beccy Cole & Libby O’Donovan

Catherine Britt & Graeme Connors

James Blundell

Presenters Adam Harvey & Missy Lancaster

Andrew Swift

Blake O’Connor, Wayne Gabriel, Brad Cox

The Wolfe Brothers

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Chad Morgan & Jasmine Rae

The Wolfe Brothers

Pixie Jenkins & Lawrie Minson

Adam Brand & Amber Lawrence

Troy Cassar-Daley

Beccy Cole & Travis Collins

Golden Guitar Band

Travis Collins

Fanny Lumsden, Anna Phillips, Dan Freeman

James Gillard with Brad Cox

Presenters Catherine Britt & Pete Denahy

Kasey Chambers & The Fireside Disciples

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Imogen Clark

Bennett, Bowtell & Urquhart

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Andrew Swift (centre) with dad Trevor & mum Sally-Anne PHOTOS THIS PAGE: ANTONY HANDS

Hussy Hicks

Jesse Anderson & Kirsty Lee Akers

Luke Dickens & Sammie Millgate

Camille & Dean Perrett

Canada’s The Dungarees & Paul Bain

Andy Toombs, Catherine Britt & Michael Muchow

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Jasmine Rae

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John & Meg Williamson

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Jenny Queen, Michael Taylor, Matt Fell, Kit Filcon

The Weeping Willows

Bennett, Bowtell & Urquhart

Virginia Coad, Jim Hermel, Lynette Coad, Peter Coad

Lindsay Butler, Shaza Leigh, & son Lachlan

Zachary Miller, Tori Darke, Reece Baines & Murph

Sonny & Stuie French

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Lyn & Graeme Connors

Mustered Courage

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Gretta Ziller PHOTOS THIS PAGE: ANTONY HANDS

Lindsay, Reegan, Maddison & Charli Waddington

Imogen Clark & Shaun Ryan

Shane Nicholson & Emma Sutton

Homegrown

Jean Stafford with Colin Atkins

2019 Toyota Star Maker Blake O’Connor

Fanny Lumsden, Dan Freeman & Anna Phillips

The Wolfe Brothers

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Jonathon Moran, Amber & Lorraine Lawrence

Michael & Melody Muchow

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Lawrie & Shelley Minson

Judah Kelly

Brad & Erin Butcher

Kylie Whitney with Michael Carpenter

Allan, Marian & Georgia Caswell

Kristy Cox & Travis List

Pixie Jenkins

Ian Muir, Chad Morgan, & Chad Jnr

Tom & Annabel Curtain

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Brad Cox & Band

Andrew & Marly Farris

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Star Maker Alumni and Cheryl Byrnes

Travis Collins

Liam Brew, Luke Dickens, Travis Collins & Luke Austen

Bob Corbett

Kieran Lancini

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Kirsty Lee Akers

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Lyn Bowtell

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James Blundell

A Blake O’Connor

Mickey Pye

Host Nick Erby & Peter Johnson

Brad Cox

Brendon Walmsley

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Lee Kernaghan

Nick Erby with Leanne Douglas

The McClymonts

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Tommy Miller

Rachael Fahim

Jared Porter

Kate Ballantyne

Liam Brew

Gina Jeffreys & Rod McCormack

Great Divide

Luke Austen

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Darren Coggan

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BLAKE OUR 40TH STAR IN THE MAKING

Blake is congratulated by Senior Manager, National Marketing Toyota Australia Andrew Wearing

BLAKE O’CONNOR, 18, FROM PORT MACQUARIE NSW RECEIVED HIGH PRAISE FROM JUDGES FOLLOWING HIS PERFORMANCE IN THE 40TH ANNUAL TOYOTA STAR MAKER.

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he sparkling combination of his version of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils’ hit If You Wanna Get To Heaven and his original, Worth A Little More secured him the title of 2019 Toyota Star Maker.

The grand final was held in the leafy heart of the Country

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Music Capital – Tamworth NSW – in Toyota Park on Sunday, January 20, and live-streamed to the world.

The competition was tough with grand finalists Arna Georgia, Chelsea Berman, Jake Sinclair, Juliet Oliver, Leigha Moore, Linc Phelps, Lizzie Steadman, Matt James and Stephanie Penrose touted as ones to watch in the future of Australian country music.

Blake grew up in a home surrounded by country music – mostly Johnny Cash.

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At 14, he scored a gig as a wedding singer, so he wrote his first song for the occasion … and he hasn’t stopped writing and performing since.

In 2015 he was a featured artist in the NSW Schools’ Spectacular playing four shows at the Sydney Entertainment Centre with audiences of more than 20,000 people.

Blake has opened for a number of big stars including Adam Brand, Russell Morris, Drew McAlister and also the 2018 Toyota Star Maker winner Brad Cox. Having previously toured with Adam Eckersley & Brooke McClymont, they have just announced he’ll

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The Top 10 Finalists

2018 Toyota Star Maker Brad Cox

Blake’s winning performance

be joining them on their next tour which commenced March 1 at the Edgeworth Bowlo in NSW. It will wrap up on May 3 at the Belmore Hotel in Scone, NSW. Like many big stars before him, Blake has entered and won talent quests, busked on the streets of Tamworth, won the CCMA Junior National Talent Quest and received a scholarship to the CMAA Academy.

In 2018 Blake released his debut, self-titled EP, which experienced excellent airplay and chart success.

A panel of eight judges who had the difficult decision of choosing the 40th winner were Dan Biddle (CMAA president/artist manager), Roxanne

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Maton’s Scott Smoothy with Blake

Brown (40-year music veteran/artist manager Troy Cassar-Daley), Jason Hodges (TV personality – expert gardening landscaper Better Homes & Gardens/25 years TCMF veteran), Tom Inglis (HSF Artist Services), Scott Lamond (journalist and presenter ABC’s Saturday Night Country), Craig Power (The Pub Group), Greg Shaw (artist manager Brad Butcher, The Ayers Rockettes, SaltbushSix featuring Darcy Crawford, Keith Urban 1986-2000, and Justin Thomson (KIX Country Radio

Network program and content director).

Blake will perform at numerous festivals throughout the country including the Central Coast, Deni Ute Muster, Hats Off To Country Tamworth, Groundwater, Gympie, Mildura and the 60th Mount Isa Rodeo.

He has been invited to perform at the Buckle & Boots Festival in Manchester, United Kingdom in March in a first for Star Maker. Festival organisers have visited the Tamworth festival over the past two years fostering relations between the two countries.

Blake will experience travel to the CMA Festival with Chris Watson Travel in June and perform at a private event as well as experience all that the CMA Fest has to offer.

In another first, Blake will join the artists set for Cruisin’ Country 9 where he’ll sail out to sea and perform up to four shows.

His other prizes include a beautifully-crafted Maton guitar, Fender and Shure products, a photo shoot with Andrew Pearson Photography, membership to the CMAA, HSF Artist Services, Toyota mentorship program with Lee Kernaghan, meetings with industry personnel including APRA/AMCOS, artist managers, social media support, and Plush Hair Designs.

Since the competition, Lindsay and Reegan Waddington of Kross Kut Records have extended a cash prize of $500 to Blake. “As fellow independent artists, we’re only too happy to support him in his venture.”

Blake is recording his new Star Maker release under the production of Adam Eckersley and has an incredibly exciting year ahead.

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BY DAVID DAWSON

Living online ain’t a social crime but it caused a lotta pain Blowing your time just to be unkind, tell me, what you got to gain?

It don’t matter when you climb that ladder just who you’re stepping on Just remember that all that money can’t serve you when you’re gone.

ONE SMALL TOWN – LUKE DICKENS & LUKE AUSTEN

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hen singer–songwriter–shearer Luke Dickens wrote nine songs for his self–funded third album After The Rain he discovered much of his music was creative therapy.

That was after he explored the evil of outback serial killers, cyber bullies, snakes and wolves.

But the 2011 Star Maker winner balanced his musical diet with love songs for his son Jordan, now 10, and fiancé Sammie whom he plans to marry in October.

“It was therapeutic,” Dickens, now 36, told Country Music Capital News of the album produced by Sam Hawksley.

“It was something I saved up for and didn’t want to rush. I wanted it to be serious. Sam sent me some amazing tracks from Nashville but I had to leave some of them behind. It needs to come from me. I enjoy writing.”

Dickens wrote nine songs with peers Luke Austen, Bill Chambers, Matt Ross, Jay Collie, Jasper Somerville–Collie, Phil Barton and Bruce Wallace.

He also included three by Hawksley (The Right Guy) and Nashville hit writers Bonnie Bishop, Al Anderson, Travis Meadows and Trent Summar.

Ironically, our interview for After The Rain, was two days after storms where Luke was shearing sheep at Bendick Murrell near his NSW hometown Young, north-west of Canberra.

“We had 80 mils in an hour, two days ago,” Dickens revealed during his lunch break.

“Fences were washed out and there were new river beds that we didn’t know existed. Luckily our shearing shed is up on the hill.”

History repeated.

After The Rain co–writer Matt Ross penned the title track of Luke’s previous album Devil In The Wind seven years ago and referenced Toowoomba and “a cyclone as big as Texas off the Townsville coast.”

Dickens wrote After The Rain with Ross after another storm on the eve of Broadbeach music festival.

“I was going through a tough spot,” Dickens recalled.

“I was back in the shearing shed instead of touring music. I had just

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broken up with the woman I loved. Things weren’t looking good. There was a festival I had to play but I had no direction, no plan after that, and it was pouring rain. I met with Matt and told him I had this song I began writing at work when I was shearing sheep in the heat. I had taken a wrong turn in life right here. I needed to write it down and get my feelings out. Matt helped string a couple of beautiful lines together as he does but we couldn’t come up with the hook. We were standing on the balcony at Broadbeach awaiting our spot when the sun finally came out and Matt said ‘what about after the rain?’

It became not so much a song of depression – more a song of hope.”

Dickens wrote three songs with another Luke – Austen – including One Small Town.

It references cyber bullying and trolls but had a different source – futility of war.

“I had just finished reading a report on the cosmic universe,” Dickens explained.

“I’m totally intrigued by space. The earth we live on is such a tiny place in the grand scheme of things and such a beautiful place.

If we were any closer to the sun we would be toast, any further away we would be frozen.

We’re so lucky to be here. It’s mind-boggling people want to go to war. Whether on a battle field or – the cyber thing. My question is why would you want to be like that? We’re so lucky to live here we should be watching each other’s back not stabbing each other in the back. I come from a small town where we all look out for each other. The world is such a small place we should be doing that globally.”

An outback trip across the Nullarbor with Austen inspired Radio Man that grew from musical travelogue to serial killer saga.

“We drove through the outback together a couple of times,” Dickens recalled.

“We had a lot of time to kill going from Melbourne to Perth – a magical experience.

We stopped to play a heap of gigs around the time the Wolf Creek franchise began. It’s scary to think how many tourists have disappeared out there. The beginning of the song was about a truckie, sleeping in a different spot each night. The sun comes up and off you go again. I changed the concept a bit and now it’s about a serial killer. The song doesn’t say that but if you sold it to Wolf Creek or Mad Max or something like that it would be. At the end of the Wolf Creek franchise they were making a lot of money and generating a lot of

years of bringing you the music 1975–2019

SINGING SHEARER LUKE DICKENS

CLICKS SONGS AS THERAPY

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“I WANTED TO WRITE ABOUT A BUNCH OF THINGS I LOVED BUT NOTHING COMPARED TO THE WOMAN IN MY HEART. IT WAS JUST A FUN TRACK WE COULD RHYME UP AND DANCE TO AS A LOVE SONG.”

entertainment, discussing it from a movie and TV point of view. They hit a sweet spot.”

The song references radio hits including Buddy Holly’s Peggy Sue. “They are songs you might hear on a classic radio station – my vision of the song if you build a film clip around it. This man cruising across the desert – listening to great tunes and having a good time with a couple of people he picked up along the way. This bloke heads back alone of course.”

In Radio Man the character of Peggy Sue becomes an escort woman.

In real life she died in October last year at 78 after writing a book, working as a dental technician and running a plumbing business.

“When Peggy Sue died it came across the radio and I was a little blown away,” Dickens confessed.

“We had only just recorded it. There were references to Midnight Rider, Rambling Man, Rattling Bones, On The Road Again and Peggy Sue.” So what about reptilian saga Snake Woman?

“It’s not an uncommon story, you’re in love with someone and they turn around and bite you,” Dickens said.

“I had the tune going around in my head – a dark tune. I’ve always liked old cowboy movies. I thought it would sound good to give it that western feel – a tip of the hat to the small amount of people who have come out on top in that “gold digger” situation.”

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And The Big Bad Wolf.

“I was a fan of AC-DC when I was a kid,” Dickens recalled.

“They had this song Bon Scott sang – Night Prowler.

It was spooky, controversial. I got up at a quarter after midnight. I stepped out on the balcony at a friend’s place in Melbourne and there was this street light flickering in the distance. This man walked past and my imagination took off. I was just thinking about someone being stalked or followed in the darkness out there. I used the reference to the big bad wolf to lighten it up a little. Jay Collie came up with the idea we should throw a little twist in at the end so it’s not so creepy.

More romantic is Nothing On You with references to Mona Lisa, Cleopatra, Vegas and New York City.

“I sat down one afternoon with Jay and Jasper,” Dickens revealed.

“I wanted to write about a bunch of things I loved but nothing compared to the woman in my heart. It was just a fun track we could rhyme up and dance to as a love song.

My fiancé Sammie said ‘I love everything you do but you’ve never written a song for me.’ I said ‘you know what I have no-one’s name on this one and from now on it’s your song.’

I can dedicate that to her pretty safely. She thought it was clever and sounded good – we have been together nearly five years and getting married in October.”

Equally personal is Forever Road – a reflection of two generations. “I was looking back at life with the wisdom of the years,” Dickens explained.

“It’s also about me and my feelings at the time – my feelings for my son Jordan.

Dickens’s collaboration with Bill Chambers on Hung Up On You features Adam Harvey as duet partner.

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It’s reminiscent of 1979 Johnny Paycheck’s hit Drinking And Driving You Off My Mind.

“Bill came up with the theme ‘cause I turned up to the writing session with a pretty bad hangover,” Dickens said.

“Adam Harvey is a great mate, always good to have a beer with him. I love Harveys Bar and Yeah, I Like Beer is one of my little boy’s favourite songs. Bringing the pedal steel into it made me think of him telling me it’s time to go home – but it’s usually Harvey who needs telling.

Dickens discovered Nyssa Ray – his duet partner on What If– in Brisbane.

“I saw her play at a place called the Walrus Club – a really groovy little bar that used to be a cellar at a pub in Brisbane. I saw her playing there solo. She has a great voice and is a great player – she’s friends with my partner Sammie. When we wrote What If I imagined Sheryl Crow’s voice on the other part but I thought it would be nice to ask Nyssa and she was not as hard to track down. It’s a tragic song about a secret love affair.

years of bringing you the music 1975–2019

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THE KNIGHT SEES A NEW DAY

BY JON WOLFE

DID YOU HEAR THE ONE ABOUT HOW A BOY FROM WHAKATANE ON THE BAY OF PLENTY IN NEW ZEALAND WALKED INTO A LONDON RECORDING STUDIO AND WALKED OUT WITH A HIT RECORD?

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echnically John Rowles didn’t walk out with a disc under his arm, but I’ll let him tell the story.

“I was spotted in Sydney by Peter Gormley – Cliff Richard’s manager, Olivia Newton John’s too – and he came to one of my shows one night and after the show he called me back and he said; ‘Would you like to come to London to record?’.

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“Obviously my answer to that was ‘Yes’ and I was on a plane within three months!

“I remember recording my first hit, If I Only Had Time and another song called I Really Don’t Want To Know, which was a country kind of song and a song called The World Of The Young.

I actually put If I Only Had Time in the drawer because that was the song I liked the least.

“The company decided to release it and when it started to go from #100 on the charts to #2, I began to start liking it!”

That was in 1968 and it reached the top of the charts in Great Britain, New Zealand and Australia and from the age of 20

years of bringing you the music 1975–2019

“THE GOOD THING ABOUT COUNTRY IS THAT THERE’S NO AGE LIMIT AND THAT’S WHERE I’M THINKING OF GOING NOW, SLOWLY BUT SURELY.”

he continued to rack up the top 10 hits: Hush, Not a Word To Mary, The Pain Goes On Forever, One Day and M’Lady.

John said that it was a touching moment when he flew back into New Zealand after the success of If I Only Had Time.

“Flying in to Auckland and looking down after achieving that success as a ‘boy from the bay’ and after working as a lumberjack when I was young, I must admit I had a tear in my eye!

years of bringing you the music 1975–2019

“All the kids and the girls were there, clapping and screaming – that was a very touching moment for me.”

Perhaps his best known song is the first song he ever wrote, Cher yl Moana Marie, which is now classed as classic of its kind and performed so well for John around the world that it made the US Billboard and Cashbox charts in 1970/71.

“I recorded that in London too,” John said. “They wanted me to enter the Rio de Janeiro Song Festival and I was up against some great songwriters and they wanted me to sing a New Zealand song.

“I thought ‘What is a New Zealand song? I can’t steal a classic Maori song’, so I was listening to the radio one day and I heard Engelbert Humperdinck’s song The Last Waltz and I thought ‘That’s easy, I can do something like that.’

I thought of my sister’s name, Cheryl Moana Marie – and I thought ‘Ooh, I’ve got it!’ and the rest just happened with a bit of help from Nat Kipner.

“And I came fourth in the competition out of 42 countries.”

John has become an international star and has performed around the world, including in the US and particularly Hawaii and Las Vegas – at 22 years of age, John was the youngest performer to headline a major Las Vegas showroom and Head Line Reviews acclaimed him as possessing one of the strongest and richest voices they had ever heard.

John has been grouped with the world’s best ‘big ballad singers’, including Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdinck and Solomon King and easily hold his own in that esteemed company.

“We were the guns in that era,” John said. “I wasn’t quite ready for it to tell the truth. I was ready, apparently, according to them, as they said I had a great voice but I didn’t really think of it that way. They got there first but I would have liked to have gotten some of their songs instead of them.

“Tom Jones is a good friend of mine – he tells a story in my DVD – that I did get a few great songs that they didn’t!”

He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1979 for services to the music industry and in the 2018 Queen’s Birthday Honours he was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to entertainment and charity.

2019 saw the now Sir John Rowles perform as a headline act for the first time at the Toyota Tamworth Country Music Festival and his show A Day With A Knight at the Wests League Club saw a huge crowd fall under his spell and there was a more than enough country in his performance to please the diehard country fans.

“I hope to do it every year from now on until I go – maybe in 30 years,” Sir John said.

“The good thing about country is that there’s no age limit and that’s where I’m thinking of going now, slowly but surely.”

Sir John’s latest release is a double album featuring one CD of new material and the other features the classics that have made his career so memorable.

Titled The Greatest Song Of All, the new material is a collection of some of his own originals such as the title track and songs that fit flawlessly into his lexicon of great music, with an acoustic touch that will appeal to country fans.

It features a few songs that can only be taken as, at least, semi-autobiographical – I’m Back Again, The Singer, which may be released as a single, and the title song.

“I look for that magic,” Sir John said, “I may be from the old school, but I look for that magic chorus, that hook, you know. It’s not easy to write a good song, but you have to keep trying.”

With all the success of nearly six decades into his career, Sir John said he has only one regret.

“Acting! I was stupid, in my heyday I should have pursued that – I should have followed through with the acting.

“But I just wanted to sing!”

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I

t’s a solo record that has been a decade in the making, informed not only by those years on the road but also by a tragedy that was felt across the entire Australian music community.

Murphy was a founding member of Good Corn Liquor, the popular young bluegrass band who suffered the loss of charismatic front-man Stu McKenzie in a horrific two-car collision nearly four years ago. Whilst bandmates Ben McCauley and Nick Wright were in the car and survived the accident, the driver of the other vehicle also lost his life. The band had just finished recording and Murphy had flown out for an overseas trip the day before.

“In 2014 the band did 189 gigs” Murphy explains, “we were always on the road – so

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we decided the next year that we’d try and take the next step and record something serious. We went in to the studio with Shane (Nicholson) and made an EP. I had some flight credits that I needed to use so as soon as we were done I headed overseas.”

It was to be a short trip, however, as no sooner had Murphy touched down than he received the awful news.

“They were on their way to a gig – the first gig that I’d missed in over four years”, Murphy explains. “I got the call and eight or nine hours later I was on the plane back home.”

The band, who had been friends since high school, was in limbo.

“Like most males I find it really hard to talk about stuff,” says Murphy, “and I can see now that, instead, it kind of comes out through song writing. And this was the first time I’d ever experienced grief. To be honest, after the accident I didn’t really want to play or write

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or even think about music, but slowly and eventually the idea of doing it grew on me again.”

Whilst the weight of Murphy’s grief is evient at times on his solo debut, the song writing s broad and often laced with the wry sense of humour that those close to the singersongwriter have come to expect (the title track even opens with the line “I spent a lot of time working on being an a**hole”).

“Some of these songs, such as Renegade, are eight to 10 years old”, says Murphy, “so they pre-date the events we’ve been talking about, whilst others are

years of bringing you the music 1975–2019

SLIDING DOORS

BY LACHLAN BRYAN

CAROUSEL KEEPSAKES IS THE DEBUT ALBUM FROM NEWCASTLE’S BEN MURPHY, KNOWN TO FANS BY HIS NOM-DE-PLUME CARL THE BARTENDER.

much newer. In a way, this record has been a chance to both do something that the band never got to do (record a full length album) and also close that whole chapter of life.”

The origin of the name Carl The Bartender can be traced back to the first time Murphy was asked to play a solo gig.

“The promoter said ‘what do you wanna be called? Is it Ben Murphy? Or Murph?’ – and I just quickly came up with Carl The Bartender (which I think I’d stolen from an American TV show. I didn’t really intend for it to stick, but it did!”

The name seems appropriate for Murphy, with his laidback charm and trademark handlebar moustache. The observational and storytelling aspects of the song writing profession also make it easy to draw

years of bringing you the music 1975–2019

parallels with tending bars.

“I guess I hadn’t thought of that,” laughs Murphy, “but it makes quite a bit of sense.”

The surviving members of Good Corn Liquor made strong contributions to the making of Carousel Keepsakes, which was produced close to home by Gareth Hudson at Hazy Cosmic Jive Studios. The influences upon the writing and production were many and varied, but Murphy singles out The Allman Brothers, Old Crow Medicine Show’s Tennessee Pusher album and Tyler Childers’ work as particularly influential (all stellar choices in this writer’s opinion). The songs are heartfelt and witty whilst the production is understated and warm.

Since making the record, Murphy has performed over 150 shows, in addition to being a regular member of partner (and darling of the Australian Americana scene) Tori Forsyth’s touring band. It’s only recently that the two

have started to collaborate on writing.

“Yeah it’s not really something we’ve ever done” he says, “but a few times of late I’ve kind of gone to her and said ‘hey I’ve got this idea, maybe this would be a good song for you’ – and vice versa. It might be something that happens more in the future but not really something we’re thinking about too much.”

Carousel Keepsakes is available now through streaming and download services, as well as at shows. Carl The Bartender with be appearing through NSW and the ACT in March.

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FROM SEAFORTH TO

NASHVILLE

BY HALEY CRAIG

FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS IN SYDNEY’S NORTHERN BEACHES, TWO BEST MATES ARE FORGING THEIR OWN PATH TO STARDOM IN THE BIG LEAGUE IN THE UNITED STATES.

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om Jordan and Mitch Thompson are the faces of Seaforth – named after their old stomping ground.

They’ve been friends for more than 20 years and you could say they have shared, pretty much everything in that time.

So it was only natural that they’d both have the same passion for music too, listening to modern songwriters like Keith Urban one minute and old-school acts like the Beatles the next.

It’s a creative partnership that has taken the dynamic duo right out of their comfort zone and 9,000 kilometres away from home to Nashville, Tennessee.

It’s here things really got interesting for the two young Aussie men.

What began as a songwriting trip eventuated into a permanent move where they’ve signed a worldwide deal with Sony Nashville joining the same roster as Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, and Miranda Lambert.

Sliding into the country pop genre with ease, both Tom and Mitch say they’ve got their major label debut in the works and they’re excited to get it out there.

Their talents across vocals, songwriting and instrumentals also attracted the attention of Dann Huff, an award-winning producer and hotshot instrumentalist, whose extensive credits include Urban, Carrie Underwood, Michael Jackson, and Rascal Flatts.

The duo both said having someone of that calibre

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leading the way to their first release was overwhelming.

“It’s been incredible, something Tom and I have always dreamed of,” Mitch said.

“Living in Nashville and releasing music is something I’ve always wanted to do and I’m so excited the ball is finally rolling and we’re doing it.

“It’s been phenomenal working with Dann Huff,” Tom said.

“He’s been very great at letting us be hands on with the project, we’re both super musical.

“He’s really allowed us to bring our personalities across vocally and instrumentally and he’s steering the ship.”

The duo have worked on many demos of songs they’d previously written and more than half of those are in the final tracks. The process to the record debut has been “incredibly collaborative” with both themselves and Huff.

Right now they’ve released their first two singles, Talk To Me

and Love That – both upbeat country songs about love with a real Nashville flavour.

They’re monitoring the reaction from the audience and say they and are now looking forward to finishing the entire album.

This year looks to be a big one for the duo too with plenty of exposure ahead in the US music market.

“We’re going to put more music out in 2019 and have a bunch of shows in the US we’re getting confirmation on,” Jordan said.

“It’s also starting to take shape, we’re excited to put music out and hopefully people respond to it, we hope to continue to do this for a very long time.”

They’ve credited their own natural music chemistry to making the process easier and say it’s one of their secrets to success.

“Mitch and I strongly despise each other and I’ve got to deal with that on a daily basis,” Jordan laughs.

“The challenge was mostly internally finding our sound and figuring out who we are.

“We did a lot of ground work in Australia, recording demos and trying to achieve certain sounds.

“We’ve both been doing this for a long time so it’s kind of really cool and rewarding to be doing exactly what we’ve always dreamed of doing.

“We have each other as best mates and band mates to help each other.”

Meanwhile, Mitch says the duo motivate each other to keep going.

“We have this natural chemistry and are fans of each other when we’re doing our own thing,” he said.

“You get so excited, it’s such a special moment when you finally feel like you’re doing the right thing and what you were always leading to.

“We’re obviously only on the ground floor but have come so far and are kicking goals and are so happy.”

But both young men agree they owe a lot of their success to their Australian roots and the harbour side suburb of Seaforth where the dream began.

“Australia is obviously where we grew up and it would be silly not to recognise that,” Jordan said.

“We wouldn’t be where we are if we didn’t grow up here, so we thought calling ourselves our suburb name, as much as it’s an interesting one to locals, it’s nice to have an attachment to home and we’ll never forget that.”

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BY HALEY CRAIG

IT WAS WHILE WADING INTO UNCHARTED WATERS THAT KAREN CRAIGIE FOUND A NEW PASSION FOR SONGWRITING IN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT GENRE.

A

n established songwriter in her own right, she had never really explored country themes in her work.

She found influences through her work in the alt country industry and she credits it with influencing her approach to her latest release, Mountains of Gold.

And it’s within these 10 tracks that she takes her listeners along with her on a magical alt country journey.

“Getting to hang around some amazing artists and absorb that sound, that was when I knew I was ready to make a new record,” she says.

“I was writing a lot of songs and they were lending themselves to country and I thought, ‘let’s do it’.”

She started working with multi-awardwinning producer Matt Fell who was able to guide her along the way.

She says Matt was able to pick up on where she wanted the songs to go and how she wanted them to be portrayed.

“I really relied on him to create what you hear now,” she said.

“The main challenge for me was; I play a lot of instruments, minimally,” she said.

“So I play a few chords in the studio to show a producer what I think. But the challenge for me is getting my musical ideas across to explain what was going on in my head musically.

“And communicating that when you don’t know the instrument well enough for a demo itself.

“It’s equally been a challenge to find a producer who gets that and this time it was fairly easy to work with someone who is absolutely smashing those two things.”

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Karen says taking time to find the right people to work with meant the transition into the new release was a smooth one.

She was able to produce it in between a fulltime commitment of running a charity and she says she’s immensely proud.

“I’m tremendously proud of the fact I was able to get it out there in the context of other things happening in my fulltime job,” she says.

“It’s been great to hear it on the radio, pick up newspapers and see some reviews.”

Karen says she also found the song writing process for Mountains of Gold to be a rewarding one.

She drew on inspiration from the scenery when she travelled, life experiences and the experiences of those around her.

“I’m not that drama queen that has every single emotion every day. Some of the songs are really interesting in terms of inspiration,” she said.

“I really love the show Friday Night Lights and I was watching that and I liked the relationship between the characters and that’s where So Long came from.

“So to be inspired by a TV show is really random.

“Lonely Town was inspired by taking my family on a Grand Canyon bus trip and it was just a desert.

“There was a guy riding a horse into the sunset, very American-style and then other songs are based on my own experiences with my husband, family and previous relationships.

“I definitely have enjoyed this far more than any style of music. I’ve had the opportunity to hear from really nice songwriters and I’m thinking of what I might do next if I can work with other great people.

“I’ve got to stick with it and see what happens, it can only get better.”

Karen isn’t one to tour or perform on stage but she says she’s looking to stretch this release as far as it can go and she’s working with a publicist in the US to do this.

But if one thing’s for certain, we haven’t seen the last of Karen Craigie in the alt-country scene with her passion project just the beginning.

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“IT’S EQUALLY BEEN A CHALLENGE TO FIND A PRODUCER WHO GETS THAT AND THIS TIME IT WAS FAIRLY EASY TO WORK WITH SOMEONE WHO IS ABSOLUTELY SMASHING THOSE TWO THINGS.”

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UNCHARTED WATERS years of bringing you the music 1975–2019

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Da y

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tra ly i lia m ’s B est Value Fa

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The Best In Country Music

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sley & Adam Ecker mont ly C c Brooke M

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Viper Creek Band

Brad Butcher

Sunday 31st March 2019

8am - 4pm Presentations 4pm – 5pm

MUSEUM OF FIRE

• Direct access from Penrith Station • Unlimited FREE amusement rides all day (22 rides) • Concert sound & full stage • Specialist trade stalls & displays • Entertaining games & competitions • Free Balloons & Fairy Floss • Free face painting • BBQ, drinks & beer tents • Major prizes & trophies

$35 Adults hildren C up to 3 E ult R FayE ing ad p h it w $25 ession Coninglce person entry)

• Price includes entry to Museum 9th Annual Sydney Classic & Antique Truckshow on 2nd June, 2019 (See website for more details) 38

COUNTRY MUSIC CAPITAL NEWS F E B RUA RY | M A RC H 2 0 1 9

(s r 16, n unde (Childret ID required n e Stud er 13 years) if ov

Ph: 4731 5809 Held at Museum of Fire, 1 Museum Drive, Penrith. Phone: (02) 4731 3000 The Museum is a registered charity and all funds raised are directed towards saving our families from the dangers of fire while preserving the heritage of our communities bravest.

-VSSV^ \Z VU! U! U!

www.pwts.com.au years of bringing you the music 1975–2019

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.

12 Windsor & District RSL Club NSW 13 Raymond Terrace BC NSW 20 Roma’s Easter In The Country Qld 26 Club Sapphire, Merimbula ACT MAY 3 Belmore Hotel, Scone NSW 8 Maclean Show, Showground, NSW

22 Feast On East - East Shores Precinct, Gladstone Qld MARCH 1 Calliope Central Bowls Club Qld 15 Calliope Central Bowls Club Qld APRIL 28 Waru Community Gardens, Yeppoon Qld

13 Raymond Terrace BC NSW 26 Club Sapphire, Merimbula ACT MAY 3 Belmore Hotel, Scone NSW

BENNETT, BOWTELL & URQUHART FEBRUARY 16 Music Park Jackson St, Boyup Brook WA

ADAM BRAND MARCH 2 Norths Leagues & SC, Kallangur Qld 6 Publican Hotel, Mornington VIC 7 Hallam Hotel VIC 8 Corowa RSL Club NSW 9 Elmore Events Centre VIC 10 Royal Hotel, Meredith VIC 23 Ravenswood Hotel WA JUNE 1 Mullewa Recreation GroundsWA

ADAM ECKERSLEY & BROOKE MCCLYMONT

*with guest 2019 Toyota Star Maker Blake O’Connor MARCH 1 Edgeworth BC NSW 2 Wauchope RSL Club NSW 3 The Top Pub, Uralla NSW 22 Nyngan RSL Civic Club NSW 23 Services & Citizens Club, West Wyalong NSW 30 Mannering Park Community Centre NSW 31 Penrith Working Truck Show NSW APRIL 5 Narrandera Bowling & Recreation Club NSW 6 Orange City BC NSW years of bringing you the music 1975–2019

BOWEN & CLARE

FEBRUARY 02 Panthers, North Richmond NSW

BRYEN WILLEMS ADAM HARVEY

FEBRUARY 8 Club Mulwala NSW 9 Commercial Club, Albury NSW 15 Nojee Hotel, Nojee VIC 16 Lake Charlegrark, MiniMay VIC MARCH 01 Club Sapphire, Merimbula NSW 02 Moruya Golf Club NSW 03 Oaks Hotel, Albion Park Rail NSW 14 Club Forster, Forster NSW 15 Inverell RSM Club NSW 16 Casino RSM Club NSW 17 Kingscliff Beach Hotel NSW MAY 4 Norths Leagues & SC, Kallangur QLD 5 Tewantin Noosa RSL QLD 10 Gateway Hotel, Corio VIC 11 York on Lilydale, Mount Evelyn VIC 17 Twin Towns Club and Resorts, Tweed Heads NSW 18 Wandilla Station, Eulo QLD JUNE 29 Carnarvon Civic Centre WA

ANGELA EASSON

FEBRUARY 3 The Surf Club Mooloolaba Qld 16 Bribie Island RSL Qld

BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN 1770

FEBRUARY 16 1770 SES Showgrounds, Agnes Water Qld

MARCH 14 Southern Railway Hotel, Goulburn, NSW 16&17 Terang CMF Vic

CARL THE BARTENDER

*w Tori Forsyth, Brad Cox & Hurricane Fall FEBRUARY 1 Treehouse on Belongil, Byron Bay NSW 8 Flo Bar, Old Bar 15 The Levee, Maitland NSW 16 Wickham Park Hotel NSW 23 Day With The Devils Festival, Gunnedah NSW* 27 Maori Bar, Melbourne MARCH * w Boots Porter 9 Stag & Hunter, Newcastle NSW 14 Transit Bar, Canberra ACT 21 Golden Barley, Sydney NSW

CATHERINE BRITT & THE COLD, COLD HEARTS

BLAKE O’CONNOR

*Guest of Adam Eckersley & Brooke McClymont MARCH 1 Edgeworth BC NSW 2 Wauchope RSL Club NSW 3 The Top Pub, Uralla NSW 22 Nyngan RSL Civic Club NSW 23 Services & Citizens Club, West Wyalong NSW 30 Mannering Park Community Centre NSW APRIL 5 Narrandera Bowling & Recreation Club NSW 6 Orange City BC NSW 12 Windsor & District RSL Club NSW

MARCH 1-3 Silverton Sunsets Music Festival, Broken Hill NSW 8 SXSW, Austin, TX, US 9 The NickBirmingham, AL, US 10 Dyson House Listening Room, Baton Rouge, LA, US 20 WAME, Live In Studio, Statesville, NC, US 20 Muddy Creek Café & Music Hall, Winston-Salem, NC, US 21 Tin Pan, Richmond, VA, US 22 Philadelphia Folksong Society, PA, US 23 The Crib Concert Series, Herndon, VA, US 24 Silvana, New York, NY, US 25 Shrine New York, NY, US

COUNTRY MUSIC CAPITAL NEWS F E B RUA RY | M A RC H 2 0 1 9

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»

LIVE MUSIC SCENE CRAIG GILES

FEBRUARY 9 Dubbo RSL Club NSW 10 Bathurst RSL Club NSW 14-17 Barooga Sports Club NSW 23&24 Club Barham NSW 27 Keith Seniors Hall SA MARCH 2 Victor Harbor Lutheran Church Hall SA 3 Adelaide Country Music Club, Dudley Park SA 4 Moonta Town Hall, Moonta, SA 7 Uley Road Hall, Elizabeth Downs SA 10 Nuriootpa Memorial Hall SA 13 Camperdown Football Club Vic 15 Golden Hills Motel, Bendigo Vic 17 Wangaratta Showgrounds Vic 29 Wagga Aussie Rules Club, Wagga Wagga NSW 31 Griffith Coro Club NSW APRIL 7 Yass Seniors Hall NSW 13 Orange City BC NSW

DALE HOOPER

MARCH 1 Dubbo RSL Club NSW JUNE 7 Bathurst RSL Club NSW 8 Macquarie Inn, Dubbo NSW

DESTINY BAND OZ

APRIL 6 Flanagan’s Irish Bar Royal Exchange Hotel, Traralgon Vic

GRAEME CONNORS MARCH 22 Riverway Arts Centre, Townsville, Qld 23 Cairns PAC Qld

HAYLEY MARSTEN FEBRUARY 22 The Bridport Hotel Tas 23 Saint John Craft Beer, Launceston Tas

HILLBILLY GOATS

FEBRUARY 1 Gympie RSL Qld 2 Springwood Lions Club, Brisbane Qld 15 Agnes Waters Blues and Roots Festival Qld MARCH 1 Gloucester Beach Resort Qld 2 Seabreeze Tavern, Mackay Qld 3 Beaches, Yeppoon Qld 23 Palmwoods Hotel Qld APR IL 7 Star Hotel, Yackandandah Vic 13 Dubbo RSL NSW 18 Macleay Island BC Qld 21 Kilkivan Bush Camp Qld MAY 3 Wintermoon Festival, Calen Qld 7 The Leap Hotel, Mackay, Qld 10 Palm Cove Surf Club Qld 11 Yungaburra Pub Qld 18 Wandilla Station, Eulo Qld 24 Toowoomba City GC Qld 25 Imperial Hotel, Eumundi Qld 31 Gympie RSL Qld JUNE 2 The Bearded Dragon, Tamborine Qld

JAMES BLUNDELL

FEBRUARY 16 Maclean BC NSW 23 Goulburn Workers Club NSW MARCH 22 Lions @ Springwood, Rochedale South Qld 23 CSI Club, Southport Qld 24 Gaythorne RSL, Mitchelton Qld 29-31 Feast of The Senses Festival, Innisfail Qld APRIL 6 Callaghan Park Semi Trailer Stage, Temora NSW MAY 23 Norwood Hotel SA 24 Murray Bridge Community Club SA 25 Fleurieu Function Centre, Goolwa South SA

JUNE 7 Hervey Bay RSL & Services Memorial Club Qld 8 Grand Hotel, Gayndah Qld 21 Hot Rods for The Homeless, Toowoomba Showgrounds, Glenvale Qld JULY 13 Seagulls Club, Tweed Heads NSW 28 Laura CMF SA AUGUST 2 Mittagong RSL NSW 16 Dubbo RSL Club NSW 17 Condobolin RSL Club NSW 23 Amstel GC, Cranbourne Vic SEPTEMBER 14 Nanango RSL Qld 18 Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre NSW

JASMINE RAE APRIL 6 Showground, Corryong Vic

JEMMA BEECH APRIL 19 Karijini National Park WA

JERRY DOUGLAS *W Tommy Emmanuel APRIL 12 Cairns PAC Qld* 13 Townsville Civic Theatre Qld* 14 Mackay EC Qld* 16 Mandurah PAC Qld * 17 Perth Concert Hall WA* 18 Hamer Hall, Arts Centre, Melbourne Vic* 21 Opera House Concert Hall, Sydney NSW*

JOHN WILLIAMSON

FEBRUARY 21 Wrest Point Plenary Hall, Sandy Bay Tas 22 Burnie Arts & Function Centre, Burnie Tas 23 Theatre North At The Princess, Launceston Tas MARCH 22 Evan Theatre, Panthers Penrith NSW 23 Bankstown SC NSW MAY 9 Mildura Arts Centre Vic 10 Swan Hill Town Hall Vic 11 Eastbank Concert Hall, Shepparton Vic 30 Cessnock Leagues Club NSW 31 Wests Nelson Bay Diggers NSW JUNE 1 Belmont 16s NSW 8&9 John Williamson LIVE in the Hinterland Qld JULY 5 Shoalhaven Ent Centre, Nowra NSW 6 Sutherland Ent Centre NSW 7 Wenty Leagues Club, Wentworthville NSW SEPTEMBER 5 The Events Centre, Caloundra Qld 6 Brolga Theatre & Convention Centre, Maryborough Qld 7 Moncrieff Ent Centre, Bundaberg Qld NOVEMBER 21 Bairnsdale RSL Club Vic

Visiting Tamworth?

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

1979 40

THE LEGEND CONTINUES

COUNTRY MUSIC CAPITAL NEWS F E B RUA RY | M A RC H 2 0 1 9

2019 years of bringing you the music 1975–2019

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.

22 West Gippsland Arts Centre, Warragul Vic 23 Frankston Arts Centre Vic

MAY 19 Grafton Districts SC NSW 26 Masonic Hall, Morrisett NSW

29 Cairns PAC Qld 30 Townsville EC Qld 31 Mackay EC Qld SEPTEMBER 5 Kingaroy Town Hall Qld 6 Empire Theatre, Toowoomba Qld 7 Kedron-Wavell SC, Brisbane Qld 13 Rooty Hill RSL Club NSW

21 Forum Theatre, Melbourne Vic 22 Enmore Theatre, Sydney NSW 23 UC Refectory, Canberra ACT

MERILYN STEELE

FEBRUARY 1 Eastern Suburbs Legion Club, Waverley NSW 9 Maroubra Seals Club, Maroubra Beach NSW 10 The North End Cafe, Maroubra Beach NSW 24 Kingswood SC NSW MARCH 1 Club Ashfield NSW

MURPHY’S PIGS KEL-ANNE BRANDT FEBRUARY 14 Dapto Leagues ClubNSW 24 Bankstown SC NSW MARCH 10 Everglades Country Club, Woy Woy NSW 28 Riverwood SC NSW APRIL 04 Everglades Country Club, Woy Woy NSW MAY 16 Mingara Recreation Club, Tumbi Umbi NSW JUNE 5 Bankstown SC NSW 17 Kedron-Wavell SC, Chermside, Qld 18&19 Twin Towns SC, Tweed Heads NSW

KYLIE ADAMSCOLLIER FEBRUARY 2 Bungendore Showground NSW 24 Masonic Hall, Morrisett NSW MARCH 17 Abermain BC NSW 30 Hay Pool, Hay, NSW

LEE KERNAGHAN

*Backroad Nation Tour* MAY 11 Berry Showgrounds NSW 30 Saraton Theatre, Grafton NSW 31 Cex Club, Coffs Harbour NSW JUNE 1 Club Forster NSW 2 The Glasshouse Port Macquarie NSW 13 Horsham Town Hall VIC 14 Swan Hill Town Hall VIC 15 Riverlinks Eastbank Shepparton VIC 20 Yoogali Club Griffith NSW 21 Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre NSW 22 Albury EC NSW JULY 28 Groundwater CMF Broadbeach Qld AUGUST 15 Mandurah PAC WA 16 Crown Theatre Perth WA 17 Bunbury Regional EC WA 22 Brolga Theatre Maryborough Qld 23 Moncrieff EC, Bundaberg Qld 24 The Great Western Hotel, Rockhampton Qld

LUKE DICKENS *CD Launch MARCH 23 Young Services Club

MARCH 3 Colmslie Hotel, Brisbane Qld 15 Top Stage, Queen Street Mall, Brisbane Qld 16 Twin Towns Services Club, Tweed Heads NSW 17 Caloundra RSL Qld MAY 3 Glen Innes SC NSW 4&5 Standing Stones, Centennial Parklands, Glen Innes NSW

PETER CAMPBELL

FEBRUARY 24 Toowoomba City GC Qld APRIL 14 Toowoomba City GC Qld JUNE 21 Toowoomba Showgrounds Qld 30 Toowoomba City GC Qld

RODNEY VINCENT FEBRUARY 2 Bungendore CMF NSW 16 Lake Charlegrack CMF Vic

MAREN MORRIS *Girl: The World Tour* AUGUST 19 Brisbane City Hall

RORY PHILLIPS

FEBRUARY 8 Hibernian Hotel, Goulburn NSW

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SUBSCRIBE ONLINE www.capitalnews.com.au OR PHONE: 02 6767 5555 or E: info@capitalnews.com.au years of bringing you the music 1975–2019

COUNTRY MUSIC CAPITAL NEWS F E B RUA RY | M A RC H 2 0 1 9

41

LIVE MUSIC SCENE 9 Belmore Park, Goulburn NSW 9 Hibernian Hotel, Goulburn NSW 24 Memorial Park, Adelong NSW MARCH 2 Crossing Youth Stage, Cobargo NSW

THE GRASSCUTTERS

FEBRUARY 15 Gloucester Soldiers Club NSW 24 Lakeside Tavern, Forster NSW

ROSS WEBB

FEBRUARY 8 Mittagong RSL NSW

SARA STORER

MARCH 2 Silverton Sunsets Music Festival NSW 14 Club York, Sydney NSW 15 Halekulani BC NSW 16 Hornsby RSL Club, Sydney NSW 17 Lizottes Newcastle, NSW 22 Noojee Hotel, Vic 23 Caravan Music Club, Melbourne Vic APRIL 10 The Publican Hotel, Mornington Vic 11 Alexandra Shire Hall Vic 12 Gateway Hotel, Geelong Vic 13 Commercial Club, Albury NSW 14 Commercial Club, Wagga Wagga NSW MAY 2 Laurieton United Services Club, NSW 3 Macksville Ex-Services Club, NSW 4 Casino RSM Club, NSW 10 Hamilton Hotel, Brisbane Qld 11 Caloundra RSL Club, Qld 16 Southern Cross Club, Canberra ACT 17 Milton Theatre NSW 18 Club Sapphire, Merimbula NSW

TAYLOR PFEIFFER

FEBRUARY 23 Adelaide Fringe Marion Cultural Centre SA MARCH 2 Adelaide Fringe Willaston on The Green SA APRIL 7 Adelaide CMC, Dudley Park SA 42

AUGUST 3 Merry Curry Muster, Cloncurry Qld 15 Mandurah PAC WA 16 Crown Theatre Perth WA 17 Bunbury Regional EC WA 22 Brolga Theatre Maryborough Qld 23 Moncrieff EC, Bundaberg Qld 24 The Great Western Hotel, Rockhampton Qld 29 Cairns PAC Qld 30 Townsville EC Qld 31 Mackay EC Qld

THE WOLFE BROTHERS

MARCH 2 Winnaleagh Hotel, Winnaleagh Tas 13 Hallam Hotel Vic 14 Memo Music Hall, St Kilda Vic 15 Morwell Hotel Vic 16 Macs Hotel, Melton Vic 17 Publican Hotel, Mornington Vic 29 Centro CBD, Wollongong NSW 30 Hydro Majestic Hotel, Katoomba NSW 31 Penrith Truck Show NSW APRIL 5 Edge Hill Tavern, Cairns Qld 6 Dalrymple Hotel, Townsville Qld 7 Mt Pleasant Tavern, Mackay Qld 12 The Saloon, Launceston Tas 13 Huntington Tavern, Kempton Tas 14 Longley International Hotel, Tas SOLD OUT MAY *Backroad Nation Tour* 11 Berry Showgrounds NSW 30 Saraton Theatre, Grafton NSW 31 Cex Club, Coffs Harbour NSW JUNE 1 Club Forster NSW 2 The Glasshouse Port Macquarie NSW 13 Horsham Town Hall VIC 14 Swan Hill Town Hall VIC 15 Riverlinks Eastbank Shepparton VIC 20 Yoogali Club Griffith NSW 21 Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre NSW 22 Albury EC NSW JULY 28 Groundwater CMF Broadbeach Qld

COUNTRY MUSIC CAPITAL NEWS F E B RUA RY | M A RC H 2 0 1 9

TOMMY EMMANUEL *W Jerry Douglas APRIL 12 Cairns PAC Qld* 13 Townsville Civic Theatre Qld* 14 Mackay EC Qld* 16 Mandurah PAC Qld * 17 Perth Concert Hall WA* 18 Hamer Hall, Arts Centre, Melbourne Vic* 20 Byron Bay Bluesfest NSW 21 Opera House Concert Hall, Sydney NSW*

TRAVIS COLLINS FEBRUARY 9 The Palms at Crown, Melbourne, Vic APRIL 5 Corryong Recreation Reserve NSW MAY 11 Berry Showground NSW

TROY CASSARDALEY FEBRUARY 7 GPAC, Geelong Vic 8 St Brigid’s Church, Crossley Vic 9 Whittlesea Showgrounds Vic 21 South West Rocks Country Club NSW 22 C. Ex, Coffs Harbour NSW 23 Ballina RSL Club NSW 24 Coutts Crossing Hall NSW MARCH 2 Silverton Hotel NSW 15-17 Willowbank Raceway, Ipswich Qld 22 Armidale Services Club NSW 23 Casino RSM Club NSW 24 Yamba Bowling Club NSW APRIL 4 Club Mudgee NSW 5 Bathurst RSL Club NSW 6 Dubbo RSL Club NSW 24 Southern Cross Club, Canberra NSW 26 Club Mulwala NSW 27 Civic Theatre, Wagga Wagga NSW 28 Yackandandah Public Hall Vic MAY 9 Bairnsdale RSL Club Vic 10 Wonthaggi Workmens Club Vic 12 The Palms at Crown, Melbourne Vic JUNE 13 Lizotte’s Newcastle NSW 14 Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul NSW 15 Rooty Hill RSL NSW 16 Milton Theatre NSW 20 Mandurah PAC WA 21 Friend’s Restaurant, East Perth WA 22 Civic Centre Gardens, Port Hedland WA years of bringing you the music 1975–2019

NASHVILLE LIVE ON TOUR FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME, THE HIT MUSICAL PRODUCTION NAHSVILLE LIVE WILL TOUR AUSTRALIA.

T

he musical delivers the energy, glamour and magic of a night out in Music City taking viewers to the world famous Grand Ole Opry, through the history of country music from golden greats Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton, through to the contemporary Platinum-selling sounds of Shania Twain, Garth

Brooks, Dixie Chicks and many more.

Nashville Live is a celebration of the legends of country music and the stories behind the hits.

Complete with a Grand Ole Opry style announcer revealing the hidden histories behind the biggest moments in country music, audiences can sing along and be moved to a mixture of classic solos, amazing duets and fantastic group harmonies as talented singers step up alongside the stellar live band to perform.

Featuring performances in major capital cities and regional centres around Australia and with a cast of incredible international performers, Nashville Live is the closest you can get down under to the bright lights, the sights and the sounds of the world’s most

famous musical city, the home of country music, Nashville!

With 44 timeless hit songs including Folsom Prison Blues, Crazy, Jolene, The Gambler, Walk The Line, Stand

By Your Man, Islands In The Stream, Man I Feel Like A Woman and If Tomorrow Never Comes to name but a few, this trip through country music’s greatest moments is a night that will reaffirm the fact that there really are only two types of music, Country and Western!

Tickets on sale For full tour information please visit: www.mellenevents.com

DRUM MASTERY 2019 THE SHURE DRUM CONTEST

It’s time for drummers to get the glory they deserve. Shure wants to recognize the unsung rhythm heroes out there, so we’re calling on talented percussionists from 44 countries around the world to enter our new contest Drum Mastery. Participating musicians will compete for a trip to London with drumming and miking workshops at Metropolis Studios. Plus $5,000 in Shure gear! Simply upload a video proving you’ve got the chops.

LOCK DOWN THE BEAT. FIND YOUR GROOVE. GRAB THE GLORY: DRUM-MASTERY.SHURE.COM Distributed by

www.jands.com.au

years of bringing you the music 1975–2019

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. See Official Rules at drum-mastery.shure.com for complete details, including eligibility & entry requirements, judging criteria and all deadlines. Registration ends at 23:59:59pm CET on April 15, 2019. © 2019 Shure Incorporated. See shure.com/trademarks.

COUNTRY MUSIC CAPITAL NEWS F E B RUA RY | M A RC H 2 0 1 9

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VALE

ROB WILSON 8 OCTOBER 1960 - 31 DECEMBER 2018

S

inger-songwriter, record producer and member of the Australian 4 Highwaymen tribute show, Rob Wilson died on December 31, 2018.

Rob had been an active part of the Australian country music industry for more than two decades after he made the grand finals of Star Maker in 1996.

He was diagnosed with cancer in October and fought

VALE

to beat the insidious disease but died on New Year’s Eve aged 58.

Rob released his debut album Rough Around The Edges in 2003 which garnered numerous finalist places in a number of awards and saw him named winner of the 2004 Golden Saddle Award.

In June 2004, he became the first Australian to top the Worldwide Most Played Country Artists’ Charts (based on radio playlists from Australia, Europe, New Zealand and the USA).

In January 2005, he won Best Song at the Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards with Same Ol’ Love.

November 2005 saw him open his Longhorn Studio

which ultimately produced works for the likes of Trevor Day, Angela Hayden, Adam Kilpatrick, LeAnne King, Scott McCallister, Ross McGregor, Tara Naysmith and Alby Pool.

In addition to Rough Around The Edges, Rob had released several more albums including a Mildura Special in 2006, The Real Deal in 2007 and Real Countr y in 2011.

PETER ROSA

8 AUGUST 1941-3 FEBRUARY 2019

P

eter Posa widely acknowledged as one of New Zealand’s greatest guitarists most famous for his instrumental The White Rabbit, which appeared at the top of the New Zealand and Australian charts in 1964.

Peter grew up in Henderson, Auckland. He took a few guitar lessons to “learn a few cowboy chords” however after finding two teachers too strict he taught himself.

“The irony was I didn’t really

VALE

AL SLADE 44

want to be a professional entertainer, ever. My first interest was to be a school teacher, and I didn’t pass the test because I was too nervous.”

In 1960 Peter and his group, The Peter Posa Combo headed into an audition with producer Eldrid Stebbing, who ran Zodiac Records.

“After about four or five songs, he said: ‘Look, I don’t like the band idea, but I’ll give you a chance as a multi-guitarist, in the old Les Paul-style’.”

Peter recorded one of NZ’s most iconic tunes, making him a household name, and going to the top of the charts.

Not bad for two minutes of work. “White Rabbit was just one of those magic tunes that was one take.”

It sold over 100,000 as a single and the following LP went on to sell 150,000 copies. Peter became an in-demand performer in New Zealand, the Pacific and Australia.

“Touring was difficult, but it was rewarding.

It was lucrative – that’s where we earnt the money, not from records, but from touring,” Peter told Grant Walker, Sunday Night, NZ. In 2008, Peter was named in the Queen’s birthday honours and appointed as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to entertainment.

In 2012, White Rabbit The Very Best of Peter Posa went to the top of the New Zealand album charts, spending six weeks at the number-one spot.

Peter had a stroke in 2015 preventing him from playing.

He died at Waikato Hospital on February 3 aged 77.

W

was a huge Australian country music supporter and great friend of Capital News.

ell-known country music photographer Al Slade from Casino, NSW lost his battle with cancer on December 30. Al

COUNTRY MUSIC CAPITAL NEWS F E B RUA RY | M A RC H 2 0 1 9

years of bringing you the music 1975–2019

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*10% discount available on Value and Value Plus fares only on Country cruise W962 departing 7 December 2019. Enter promo code ‘TAMWORTH10’ at check-out. Offer only redeemable online at pocruises.com.au and expires 31 March 2019. Valid for new bookings and combinable with other offers. Standard deposit is per P&O’s standard deposit conditions. Any bookings made 75 days or less to departure, payment of the full cruise is due at the time of booking.Standard cancellation and refunds conditions apply as per Booking and Travel Conditions. A 1.1% surcharge for Visa and Mastercard and a 2.3% surcharge for Amex applies to direct bookings made through our call centre and website. Paypal payments will incur a 1% surcharge. To be read in conjunction with the P&O Cruises Australia Booking and Passage Conditions available at www.pocruises.com.au/conditions which passengers will be bound by. Whilst all information is correct at time of publication, offers are subject to change or withdrawal. Carnival plc trading as P&O Cruises Australia. ABN 23 107 998 443.

COUNTRY MUSIC CAPITAL NEWS F E B RUA RY | M A RC H 2 0 1 9 45 years of bringing you the music 1975–2019

HEAR+THERE KAYLEE BELL PAYS TRIBUTE TO SUPERSTAR ‘KEITH’ A HUGE FAN OF KEITH URBAN, KAYLEE DREW INSPIRATION FROM THE STAR USING A COLLECTION OF HIS SONG TITLES, AND WROTE A SIMPLE STORY OF YOUNG LOVE.

K

aylee experienced two extraordinary moments sharing the stage, not just the one he stood on, but actually singing a duet with the superstar during his 2014 Light The Fuse and 2016 ripCORD World Tours.

In this new single simply called Keith, Kaylee uses a collection of Keith’s song titles to inspire the ultimate tribute. Producer Lindsay Rimes (Kelsea Ballerini, Kylie Minogue) wraps the track in an upbeat, big-hearted, summertime feel.

Kaylee has paired it with a liveperformance video taken from her new years’ Top Paddock festival set.

“Keith was a song that I had the idea for in my sleep, and still features some of the lyrics that I recorded into my phone that night. I

sat on the idea for over a year as I hadn’t really settled on how to bring the song to life, but in Nashville last year, while recording with Lindsay, I took the idea to a writing session with him and Phil Barton (One More Shot). The song really wrote itself and was one of the best writing days I’ve had in Nashville,” explained Kaylee.

While Keith draws a ton of inspiration from Urban’s recordings, the song is also an ode to the significance of music as it ties into our past. “Music connects us to moments and memories through our life,” Kaylee said; “the song feels real to me as I connect a lot to it lyrically as it takes me

Keith Urban and Kaylee Bell

back to being 16 and falling in love for the first time.”

Along with Kaylee’s all-time favourite Keith Urban song, Somebody Like You, 11 other song titles are subtly worked into the song’s narrative: Somewhere In Your Car, Long Hot Summer, Raise ‘Em Up, Days Go By, Wasted Time, Little Bit Of Everything, Making Memories, We Were Us, Look Good In My Shirt, Once In A Lifetime Love, You’ll Think Of Me. Keith’s release continues on from the success of single One More Shot, which has clocked up over one million plays since its debut through some of the world’s biggest country music playlists in October 2018.

Highlights of Kaylee’s summer include performances at Top Paddock Music Festival and a series of gigs in Australia including a slot at Tamworth’s Country Music Festival.

Looking ahead, Kaylee plays London’s O2 Arena as part of the C2C Festival on March 2, before heading back to Nashville for a series of showcases with Radio Disney, Spotify and CMT. Kaylee then returns home to support Brandy Clarke, Devin Dawson and Lindsay Ell at the Introducing Nashville showcase on March 26.

Kaylee will release her new album his year.

F

JETTY ROAD CELEBRATE 21 46

COUNTRY MUSIC CAPITAL NEWS F E B RUA RY | M A RC H 2 0 1 9

ollowing the December release of their latest single Because We Can two-times Golden Guitar winning trio Melbourne-based Jetty Road have released their 21st official music video to the Country Music Channel.

The trio made up of twins Paula and Lee Bowman and Lee’s husband Julian Sammut have spent the past few years starting families. Lee and Julian were blessed with twins Layla and Jack and Paula and her husband Damian Yeow, a daughter Jasmine.

The song is the first single from their album due out mid-year produced by Michael Carpenter.

The video was shot by Klik Productions around the New South Wales areas of Lake Macquarie and Newcastle and also at the heritage listed old Rathmines RAAF Base. It features Newcastle’s famous The Marching Koalas band and includes local dancers and performers.

“It was so much fun to shoot and definitely the largest cast we’ve ever had,” says singer, Paula Bowman. years of bringing you the music 1975–2019

H+T

Jed Zarb

Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney of Dan + Shay perform onstage usingShure AD2/KSM9 during the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards.

PHOTO: KEVIN WINTER/GETTY IMAGES FOR THE RECORDING ACADEMY

PHOTO: KEVIN MAZUR/GETTY IMAGES FOR THE RECORDING ACADEMY

AUSTRALIAN-OWNED COMPANY DOMINATES 61ST GRAMMY® AWARDS

Dolly Parton (L) uses Shure AD2/SM58 and Kacey Musgraves uses Shure AD2/ Beta 58Awhile performing onstage during the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards.

AUSTRALIAN-OWNED COMPANY JANDS FEATURED THROUGHOUT THE 61ST GRAMMY® AWARDS WITH THEIR SHURE WIRELESS SYSTEMS.

T

he GRAMMY production team encouraged all artists to use microphones they are most comfortable with when they took to the stage at the Staples Centre, in Los Angeles, California, on February 10, 2019.

The majority of the show’s 18 musical productions featured Axient® Digital wireless mics.

The broadcast executed expertly by audio coordinator Michael Abbott’s team of veteran engineers and techs, was an ambitious affair.

Key suppliers included ATK Audiotek for sound system design and implementation. ATK brought in Soundtronics RF expert Steve Vaughn to handle wireless system design and frequency coordination. Broadcast production mixer Tom Holmes worked from music mixes by Eric Schilling and John Harris in the Music Mix Mobile remote trucks and inside the Staples Center, the FOH desks featured Mikael Stewart doing the production mix, with Ron Reaves mixing music for the live audience.

Notable performances included a tribute to MusiCares Person of the Year Dolly Parton, using an Axient Digital AD2 with SM58® mic capsule for a medley of classic country songs. Dolly was joined on stage by Shure endorsing artists Kacey Musgraves (Beta 58A®), Maren Morris (SM58), and Little Big Town (Beta 87, Beta 58A, and SM58), all using custom white AD2 handhelds, plus Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry.

Shure endorser Jennifer Lopez used her customised Axient AXT200 with KSM8 to lead a tribute of Motown classics, along with Axient Digital users Smokey Robinson and Ne-Yo. Diana Ross used an AD2/ years of bringing you the music 1975–2019

KSM9 combination for her own stirring medley, while Chloe x Halle used the AD2/Beta 58A for their homage to the late, great Donny Hathaway.

Another soulful performance was the trio of Andra Day, Fantasia, and Yolanda Adams singing “(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman,” all using AD2 handhelds.

Axient Digital was also the vocal wireless system of choice for country artists Dan + Shay singing their hit, Tequila and for the duet medley by St. Vincent and best new artist winner Dua Lipa. Others opting for Axient Digital included Camila Cabello, Post Malone, Young Thug, J. Balvin, and Flea.

First-time host Alicia Keys, widely praised for striking an inclusive, welcoming tone for the event, opted for her customary Shure UR2 handheld transmitter, both for stage announcements and for her unique twin piano performance.

The Shure Artist Relations team was on site to ensure all artist and production team needs were met. “The GRAMMY Awards are always a highlight event for us,” says artist relations manager Cory Lorentz. “It’s a great opportunity to meet with musicians and engineers, and see how our equipment helps them realise their artistic vision. We want to congratulate everyone involved for another outstanding production, and to thank them for allowing us to be a part of their world.”

Jands employs over 120 people across Australia with headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Sydney, a factory in Melbourne, and offices in Brisbane and Perth.

C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S F E B RUA RY | M A RC H 2 0 1 9

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PHOTO: SAM MACDONALD

2019 SURE HAS KICKED OFF WITH A BANG!

BY DAN BIDDLE

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINNERS AT THE TOYOTA GOLDEN GUITAR AWARDS

W

e want to send a special thanks to Adam Brand and Amber Lawrence for doing a stellar job of hosting the awards as well as all the performers and presenters who made this year’s awards one of the best ever.

We would also like to thank our sponsors for their ongoing support including Toyota, Sanity, Country Music Capital News, Regional Australia Bank, Qantas, APRA AMCOS, CMC and Coca Cola. The show

48 48

would not go on without the work of the Tamworth Regional Council and we especially thank Mayor Col Murray, Barry Harley and the awards producer/ director Peter Ross and their teams.

We want to send congratulations to The Academy team, in particular Roger Corbett and Lyn Bowtell, for another outstanding year. The performances at the graduation concert were incredible and we’re proud to have another group of students to add to the history of The Academy.

Thank you to everyone that attended the AGM which was held at the Powerhouse Hotel on the Thursday of the festival. There was passionate and open discussion as always and overall a sense of positivity from the attendees. There were a number of points raised which will be followed up on by the board when we meet for our first planning meeting of the year. We want to thank all of the nominees who

C O U NCTORY U NM TU RY SIC MU CS AIPCI TA C ALP INTA EW L SN E FW E BSRFUEABRY R U |AM RY A R| CMHA 2 R0 C 1H9 2019

ran for positions on the board this year and congratulate Roger Corbett for being re-elected.

As we all move forward into 2019, we want to remind members of a number of changes that we have made to the website country.com.au We have added a directory which is exclusively available to members and we encourage all members to log-in and update their details. We have also added a ‘gig guide’ to the website where members can upload their upcoming shows and again, we hope to see all members taking advantage of this very useful tool.

As always, please feel free to contact us via email on info@country.com.au if you have any enquiries or ideas.

yearsof ofbringing bringingyou youthe themusic music1975–2019 1975–2019 years

Lindsay Waddington New Album

NullarboR Out Now!

years of bringing you the music 1975–2019

www.krosskutrecords.com.au

COUNTRY MUSIC CAPITAL NEWS F E B RUA RY | M A RC H 2 0 1 9

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HOTTER THAN EVER BUT YOU COULDN’T MISS IT FOR QUIDS

BY ANNA ROSE

DESPITE HEATWAVE CONDITIONS THROUGHOUT THE NATION IN JANUARY IN WHICH TAMWORTH COULD WELL HAVE BEEN THE EPICENTER OF THE SOLAR OVERLOAD … THE BANDS PLAYED ON AND THE PARTY JUST GOT HOTTER.

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ueling that excitement was the announcement early in December that four-time Grammy winner Keith Urban had chosen to present a special one-off benefit concert for Rural Aid Drought Relief in the historic Tamworth Town Hall ahead of his Graffiti U Australian tour.

Held smack bang in the middle of the festival, the venue was chosen by the artist himself. After all, that beautiful big old place was the scene of his junior triumphs in the CCMA Talent Quest when Keith was just knee-high to a grasshopper.

Tickets sold out within minutes of the announcement so only the select few (900) were witness to his reminiscences of other times he’d spent in the Country Music Capital, along with some historic photographs of a much younger Keith Urban and friends.

The intimate nature of the event made it a concert to remember for all fortunate enough to secure a ticket.

Seeing a Walgett sheep farmer’s daughter gifted a guitar

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from Keith was the icing on the Rural Aid cake.

The event Keith often acknowledges as launching his career, Star Maker, celebrated its 40th birthday with a gala spectacular at TRECC, featuring appearances by 26 of the title holders from over four decades, plus a few special guests.

They were joined by reigning Toyota Star Maker Blake O’Connor, 18, who took out the title the previous Sunday evening in Toyota Park against a very strong field of grand finalists.

Elsewhere in town, aspiring performers entered talent quests such as the Mount Franklin Junior Talent Quest at Wests, Aristocrat

Country Entertainer of the Year at Diggers, the TSA Talent Quest at City Bowlo, Hogstar at Hog’s Breath Café and the Coca-Cola Battles – of the Bands, the Bluegrass, the New Stars, the Young Stars and the Golden Oldies at Tamworth Town Hall.

Peel Street, aka the Boulevarde of Dreams proved a fiery forum for both participants and spectators with temperatures sometimes reaching the mid-40s.

It was quite a scene as buskers sought to capture the attention of passersby, market stall operators and local businesses doing much the same, and fans roamed freely in the mall, hoping to see or hear something really special – or perhaps run into their favourite country music star and grab an autograph.

On the final weekend, those considered to be the top 10 buskers perform in the park before a huge crowd with the best three walking away with cash and prizes.

Showcases and concerts, both ticketed and free shows, were presented by individual entrepreneurs, community radio stations, independent artists, clubs, pubs and venue operators and major promoters.

All the big-name stars can be seen with a little planning – Lee Kernaghan, Graeme Connors, John Williamson, Troy Cassar-Daley, Beccy Cole, Adam Harvey, Kasey Chambers,

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FESTIVALS

TCMF19

Toyota Park

Toyota Hat Giveaway

Live & Loud In Toyota Park

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Adam Brand, Sara Storer, Felicity Urquhart and The McClymonts all giving fans ample opportunity to get along to their first big show of the year.

Being the Tamworth Country Music Festival, special guests abound with friends dropping in on other friends’ gigs, giving fans that extra bang for their buck and the added element of surprise.

Along with all the other previous Star Maker winners, Gina Jeffreys made her first appearance back in Tamworth for almost a decade, giving the audience a preview of her forthcoming album of all-new music.

While summer storms threatened some outdoor events, the rain cooled off temperatures and gave festivalgoers a little respite; at other times it appeared to just turn up the sauna dial, but there was always a way to cool off.

Surviving Tamworth 2019 really was a feat of endurance, but it’s way too much fun to miss out on a minute.

You could start your day early at a bush poetry breakfast and move from concert to concert until the early hours of the following day.

Toyota Park concerts proved exceptionally popular, with huge numbers of families and fans flocking to the city’s leafy heart to claim a patch of grass, plant their chair or rug, relax and enjoy great music and good times in the great outdoors.

All manner of country music and its associated cousins was performed right across Tamworth, Manilla and Nundle over the 10 days.

International acts peppered the already flavoursome array of Aussie artists converging on Tamworth.

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Mic Conway and Robbie Long at The Albert

Sunrise’s Sam Mac with Simply Bushed

This year we saw visiting artists from our neighbours across the ditch in New Zealand and quite a large contingent from across the pond in the UK. There was a sprinkling of our performing mates from Canada and the US, as well.

Some venues reported crowds being understandably down due to the extreme nationwide heatwave, while others were packed to capacity – usually those with fully functioning air-conditioning (or consistently great acts).

Albums and venues were launched, rewards of talent accepted and honours bestowed on the deserving, and some even bid a fond farewell to the stage this year.

Homegrown Tamworthian Rebecca Hunt, sponsored by Hunts Joinery, was crowned the 35th Queen of Country Music, while Casey Skewes, sponsored

by National Australia Bank, was named Princess.

Line dancers competed in toplevel competition, at social dances

and on an instructional level, while others simply took the floor for the fun of it.

The final weekend of the festival reached a scorching finish. The Cavalcade down Peel Street provided its usual colourful cacophony and spectacle, while spectators congregated in shady spots where they could find them.

New handprints were left behind in concrete that morning in Hands of Fame Park, as another crop of deserving recipients made their mark in the city’s popular tourist attraction on the corner of Kable Avenue and Brisbane Street.

Out at TRECC that night it was declared “The Year of the Wolfe” at the Golden Guitars, with the Tasmanian brothers’ band taking home four out of five trophies for their album, Country Heart.

A highlight for many of that starstudded occasion was Troy Cassar-Daley’s performance of his Heritage Golden Guitarwinning composition, Shadows On The Hill, accompanied by the Gomeroi Dancers.

It was a festival to remember in so many ways. There’s nothing quite like it anywhere in the world, and it’s happening all over again next January. Plan your holidays now and start saving for the best fun a country music fan can have all year.If you fancy some cooler country, visit Tamworth from July 11-14 for Hats Off to Country –the cosiest winter festival around.

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8 Ball Aitken

Amber Lawrence

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Best Of The British

Beccy Cole

Brad Cox

Busker

Brair & Travis Blundell with Max Ellis

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Kezia Gill from the UK

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Missy Lancaster

Travis Collins Live in Toyota Park

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Liam Brew

Colt Seavers

Jayne Denham

Gina Timms

The Tony Q Band

Warren H Williams

Judah Kelly

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Jasmine Rae

Adam Harvey

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Aleyce, Sarah and Karlee Simmonds with friend PHOTOS THIS PAGE: ANTONY HANDS

Jean Stafford

Paul Grierson, Mayor Col Murray, Dobe Newton

Nathan Griggs with the Honey Badger Nick Cummins

Travis Collins

Good times at The Welder’s Dog

Fanny Lumsden at Toyota FanZone

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Rachael Fahim

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UK’s Gary Quinn & Kezia Gill

Queen Entrants

Dianne Lindsay

Tom Maxwell

Sweet Jelly Rolls at The Pig & Tinder Box

Amos Morris

Brooke Schubert

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The Pigs

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Paul Richardson, Aleyce Simmonds, Andrew Swift

John Krsulja with The Bushwackers

John Krsulja, Brendan Nawrocki & Richo Richardson

Richo Richardson & The DAG Staff PHOTO: GREG SYLVIA

Luke O’Shea

Pixie Jenkins, Kelsey Iris, Warren H Williams & Jed Zarb

Dylan Jakobsen from the USA PHOTO: GREG SYLVIA

Darren Coggan and Felicity Urquhart

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Live recording with ABC’s Felicity Urquhart & Scott Lamond

Hayley Jensen

Alwyn Aurisch & Sally-Anne Whitten

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Adam Brand

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Melissa Bajric

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John Stone (USA)

Andrew Swift with Aleyce Simmonds

Travis Collins with Mayor Col Murray

Lachlan Bryan

Felicity Urquhart

Busker

Melanie Dyer

Kaylee Stewart

Toyota Park

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The McClymonts at Toyota FanZone

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Hannah Aldridge (USA)

Matt James

Troy Cassar-Daley

Cruisin’ Deuces’ Jye Perry-Banks

UK’s Gary Quinn

Jem Cassar-Daley

Heidi Raye & Johnny Bulford (USA)

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Toyota Park

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Chelsea Berman

Libby O’Donovan & Beccy Cole

Linc Phelps

Gina Jeffreys

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Sunny Cowgirls

Sean Wegener, Travis Collins, Cohan Brew, Mickey Pye

IronShackle Band at Southgate Inn

Busker Ella Powell

Kaylee Bell

Toyota Star Maker Grand Finalist Leigha Moore

John Williamson

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Cielle Montgomery

Lyn Bowtell, Beccy Cole, Tania Kernaghan

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Toyota Star Maker Grand Finalist Jake Sinclair

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Slim Dusty & Joy McKean statues

Sunrise’s Sam Mac with country fans

Adam Eckersley & Brooke McClymont

Peel Street Entertainment

Coca-Cola VIP Zone

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Busker Ziggy McNeill

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Murphy’s Pigs at Coca Cola Country

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Hurricane Fall

Mayor Col Murray at Tamworth Gallery

Toyota FanZone

Toyota FanZone

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Tom Curtain

Toyota 4 x 4 Drive Track

Western Distributors on Opening Concert in Toyota Park

Shelley Minson

Glen Harrison, Melanie Dyer, Kaylee Bell, Brad Cox

Brad Butcher

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Hillbilly Goats

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Mayor Col Murray

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The Longyard

CMAA Senior Academy

Adam Brand at Toyota FanZone

The Dungarees (Canada)

Jen Mize, Lachlan Bryan

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Jade Helliwell (UK)

Young singer

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Jade Helliwell & Kezia Gill (UK)

Gary Quinn (UK)

Kezia Gill & Izzie Walsh (UK)

Jade Helliwell & Darcy (UK)

Izzie Walsh (UK)

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Hurricane Fall

Toyota Star Maker Grand Finalist Stephanie Penrose

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Megan Cooper

Leesa Gentz

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Amber Lawrence with Arna Georgia

Adam Eckersley

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Canada’s Amy Nelson

John Stephan

Stuie & Sonny French

Angela Easson

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Lyn Bowtell

Izzie Walsh (UK)

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Brisbane Entertainment Centre

URBAN DOWN UNDER KEITH URBAN’S AUSTRALIAN VISIT KICKED-OFF IN THE COUNTRY MUSIC CAPITAL WITH THE SUPERSTAR PLAYING IN THE ICONIC TAMWORTH TOWN HALL.

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he venue has a great deal of sentiment for the now 51-year-old who first played in the Capital Country Music Association’s National Talent Quest as a seven-year-old.

His deviation from his “Graffiti U World Tour Australia” was deliberate – to add to the significant donation that he and wife Nicole Kidman had already made to the drought appeal but to also get up-close-andpersonal with the people feeling it the most.

Ticket sales raised money for Rural Aid providing drought assistance to farmers in need.

Keith reminisced about performing in the town hall as a young boy saying, “The hall seemed so much bigger then”. He showed images on the big screen of those days, and from his Star Maker win in 1990.

He invited his good friend Kasey Chambers to join him on stage, while he played guitar and she sang Not Pretty Enough.

Keith with Julia Michaels

Local girl Maddy Warden was the lucky girl “in the crowd” to receive an autographed guitar.

The Tamworth crowd of 900 was in love from the kicker Never Comin Down and the show just got better as the star sang Parallel Line, The Fighter, Long Hot Summer, Wasted Time, Blue Ain’t Your Colour, Kiss A Girl, Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me, You Look Good In My Shirt, and a new song Way Too Long.

The band members had the spotlight at every show with Jerry Flowers (bass) performing Lights Down Low, Nathan Barlowe (The Phantom and guitar) sang With Or Without You, Seth Rausch gave a drum solo and Danny Rader (guitar, keys, banjo) sang Slow Hands.

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Newcastle Entertainment Centre

Qudos Bank Arena

Rod Laver Arena Melbourne

Town Hall, Tamworth

Keith continued on to play at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre where singer-songwriter Julia Michaels opened the show and then joined him on their single Coming Home.

“Newcastle, hi! We made it back; it just took a little while.

It’s great to see all of you out there on the floor. I’m sure I’ve been on the floor in Newcastle before, I think it was 2003 when I was touring with LeAnne Rimes,” said Keith Urban.

Connecting with his audience he spotted a poster

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asking him to play at a couple’s wedding. He invited the fan on stage for a chat and Keith proceeded to Facetime her fiancé: a fitter and turner who had to get up at 4am for work, so was at home, shirtless, getting ready for bed. He broadcast the chat on the big screen.

Thousands of mobile phones flickered, torches glowing, and the venue’s lights were turned off then he sang a new song Lie To Me, written by Julia for 5 Seconds of Summer in which she joined him on stage to sing it.

“Thanks for being here. Thank you so very, very much Newcastle. It means more than you know,” said Keith to screams of appreciation.

In Brisbane, after sharing his appreciation for all things Caboolture he continued the show and told fans his mum and brother were in the crowd along with fellow musician and mate Lee Kernaghan.

“My mum is here, my brother is here and so is my nephew, niece, cousin and a tonne of people I used to play with,” he said.

“Lee Kernaghan is in the house … so is Rod Williams who I used to play with and learnt a lot from.”

He said his wife Nicole Kidman was not at the show, and jokingly pointed out one bloke leaving the auditorium.

He returned for his encore wearing a Queensland Maroons jersey.

Melbourne was the final destination of the tour and saw fans in droves at the Rod Laver Arena over two nights. The show was as spectacular as the rest not only musically but visually special effects and a confetti canon during the finale.

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FESTIVALS

NEW ZEALAND

NZ GOLD GUITARS THE 2019 MLT NEW ZEALAND GOLD GUITAR AWARDS WILL BE HELD FROM FRIDAY, MAY 31 TO SUNDAY, JUNE 2 IN THE TOWN OF GORE ON THE SOUTH ISLAND.

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Jenny Mitchell

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he week of country music celebrations includes the newly formed Miss Gold Guitar Evening, MLT Songwriting Awards, various concerts and busking competitions.

For 46 years, Gore has hosted the festival with audiences now reaching over 5,000 and entries in all competition sections and events total up to 700.

The first senior winner in 1974 was Patsy Riggir who went on to win multiple Golden Guitars in Tamworth. Songwriter Jenny

Mitchell was last year’s winner and set for a huge future.

Visitors to Gore leave with fond memories of the ‘Southern Hospitality’ and together with the locals, just soak up the country music atmosphere.

The festival begins with a walkup concert at the Gore Country Music Club Rooms Longford Function Center before continuing with the songwriting and the NZ Country Music Awards for the RIANZ Best Country Album and APRA Best Country Song finals.

The MLT NZ Gold Guitar Awards are held annually over three days on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the Queen’s Birthday Weekend. The auditions are held in three venues in which judges choose finalists in various sections.

The 40 Plus and 60 Plus finals are held in the stadium on Sunday with the Professional Artists Showcase concert on midSunday afternoon.

Contestants may enter as an individual, in a duet and/or as part of a group and can compete in either the junior, intermediate, senior or 40 Plus and 60 Plus sections, depending on their age.

There are a variety of sections, including male and female solo, gospel, traditional, new country, country rock, duet, vocal group, NZ Song and instrumental.

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FESTIVALS

OTHERS

9-5 IN NARROMINE PREPARATIONS ARE UNDER WAY FOR A FESTIVAL TO CELEBRATE ALL THINGS DOLLY PARTON NEXT YEAR IN THE NSW CENTRAL-WESTERN TOWN OF NARROMINE.

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hairperson of the festival committee Susie Rae told the Western Advocate that, “people should start ordering their wigs and glitzy outfits”, for the festival set for April 17 and 18 in 2020.

She said the decision to host a Dolly Parton festival was an easy one as she is an icon idolised by everyone in any genre. “She’s just the package and what she represents and how she’s come from nothing and worked her way up,” she said.

“Everything about her is really positive.”

Currently the committee is organising a number of sub-committees to help organise and run what will be a

massive event, which will bring a boost to the drought-affected shire.

“Even if the drought broke between now and then, there wouldn’t really be any substantial income for the area; people will be clawing their way back still.”

Ms Rae said they have already lined up some exciting entertainment for the weekend.

Ms Rae believes while it will be tough starting the event from the ground up, social media will be key to help boost attraction to the event comparing it to the Elvis Festival in Parkes that began 25 years ago before the

Dolly Parton

advent of social media.

Ms Rae hopes the community can get behind the event.

“It’s going to put Narromine on the map when it comes to Dolly,” she said.

TASSIE’S DEVIL COUNTRY MUSTER

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ast month’s Devil Country Muster kicked off with a paddock full of Australia’s premier country music stars that included Gina Jeffreys, Anne Kirkpatrick, Justin Standley, Graham Rodger, Davidson Brothers and Small Town Romance.

Leading Tasmanian female artist Gina Timms headlined the concert and Sunday morning’s gospel show.

The Devil Country Muster is Tasmania’s premier country music event and runs for five days. It’s held in a unique natural amphitheatre setting in Smithton, Circular Head.

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OTHER

NEW FROM NASHVILLE ‘INTRODUCING NASHVILLE’, A NEW INTERNATIONAL ARTIST TOURING SERIES, PRESENTED BY THE COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, IS HEADING DOWN UNDER.

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his four-artist bill will feature Brandy Clark, Devin Dawson, Lindsay Ell and Tenille Townes, some of North America’s most exciting established and up-andcoming artists.

The group of four will take in five intimate venues commencing in the Northern Rivers town of Lismore at the City Hall (Monday, March 18) before continuing on to Brisbane’s The Old Museum (Tuesday, March 19) where their guest will be Brad Cox the 2018 Toyota Star Maker winner, Sydney’s The Factory Theatre (Thursday, March 21); The Abbey, Canberra (Friday, March 22); the Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne (Saturday, March 23); and the Tuning Fork, Auckland** (Tuesday, March 26) where their guest will be Kaylee Bell.

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The tour is designed to introduce current artists from Nashville to music fans around the world in a two-hour seated writer’s-round style show.

“We are excited to invest in artists who are building international careers and to help place them in front of fans in multiple cities who seldom experience Nashville artists live,” said Milly Olykan, vice president, international relations and development.

Nashville’s Brandy Clark

co-wrote Miranda Lambert’s #1 hit Mama’s Broken Heart; breakout artist Devin Dawson’s debut album Dark Horse landed Top 5 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart on release; Canadian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Lindsay Ell has been hyped as “the most exciting and talented young artists in country music” (Forbes). She impressed audiences as Carrie Underwood’s guitar player live on The 50th Annual CMA Awards and held her own alongside icon Melissa Etheridge on Skyville Live. This year alone, Ell exhilarated audiences as part of Brad Paisley’s Weekend Warrior World Tour, Sugarland’s Still The Same Tour and select dates of Keith Urban’s Graffiti U World Tour; and Canadian upand-comer Tenille Townes is paving ground all of her own, touted as having the lyrical fortitude of Griffin or Lori McKenna, and the soulful nature of Chris Stapleton. **Tenille won’t be in Auckland. years of bringing you the music 1975–2019

FESTIVALS

GROUDWATER

GROUNDWATER BREAKS WITH FIRST LINE-UP

Beccy Cole

Lee Kernaghan

Felicity Urquhart

The Wolfe Brothers

Blake O’Connor

GROUNDWATER COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL RETURNS IN JULY FOR ITSSEVENTH YEAR WITH A STELLAR ROSTERTHAT INCLUDES LEE KERNAGHAN, BECCY COLE, THE WOLFE BROTHERS, ADAM ECKERSLEY BAND, FANNY LUMSDEN, FELICITY URQUHART, ANDREW SWIFT, TORI FORSYTH, JOHN SCHUMANN AND SHANE HOWARD AND THE 2019 TOYOTA STAR MAKER BLAKE O’CONNOR.

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his free event will be held from July 26-28 in Broadbeach on the Gold Coast at its bars, restaurants, streets and parks.

There will be more than 110 incredible live music performances with over 130 hours of free live entertainment.

Other artists announced so far are Mustered Courage, Round Mountain Girls, Gretta Ziller, Pete Cullen & The Hurt, Montgomery Church, and DJ Colonel’s Surf Parade Hoedown, with more yet to be added.

Groundwater has been elevated to ‘major years of bringing you the music 1975–2019

status’ by Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) due to its importance to Queensland’s economy and significant growth in generating visitation to the Gold Coast. The popularity of the country music genre is at an all-time high in Australia, reflected in the enormous growth of Groundwater and the broad cross section of age groups attending the festival.

Assistant tourism industry development minister Meaghan Scanlon said TEQ had upgraded the festival’s status after the 2018 edition generated more than $5 million for the state’s economy – a 25 per cent increase from 2017.

“Since the event’s inception in 2013, it’s grown from

strength-to-strength. Last year more than 63,000 people attended the event, generating nearly 30,000 visitor nights for the Gold Coast,” she said.

Festival director Mark Duckworth was recently awarded ‘The Cultural Achievement Award’ at Gold Coast’s 2019 Australia Day Awards and is proud of how Groundwater is growing in popularity and continues to showcase top country artists each year.

“Groundwater Country Music Festival will always present Australian country music’s top artists, as well as create pathways for some of the our newest and most deserved performers,” said Duckworth. “Each year as our festival family increases our event builds its own traditions and unique experiences.”

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SOUNDADVICE UNDER A PARACHILNA SUNSET JOHN O’DEA INDEPENDENT Slipping this CD into the stereo was like catching up with an old friend. I’ve been a huge fan of John O’Dea’s work since If Stones Could Talk, his all-original debut hit my mailbox in 2004. Fifteen years down the track, with a solid body of work behind him it’s time to look back at some treasures found on previous albums – Storyteller (Where The Outback Starts), Old Rusty Ute (the title track) and Parachilna Sunset; and This Old Guitar (Cameraman, Reporter and the King of the Sky), among others. Four fresh Anthony Stewart-produced tracks sit alongside old favourites – Nilpena Station a tribute to his great mates, Ross and Jane Fargher, publicans of the famous Prairie Hotel, Parachilna at the foot of SA’s Flinders Ranges, which is also saluted in The Coal Train. Back in Birdsville will have you singing along before you know it and Party Parachilna explains itself! I love meeting old mates – and this experience was priceless. If you’re not acquainted with JohnO’s work, here’s the perfect introduction. johnodea.com.au ANNA ROSE

THE HEART OF THE CITY

NATHAN SEECKTS INDEPENDENT

Geelong singer-songwriter Nathan Seeckts covers Americana, folk and soul on his debut disc after three indie EPS. The community radio host digs deep into his psyche from entrée Old Blood that examines perils of small-town musicians fooled by fleeting fame to Three Soldiers which explores rural childhood friends who drift apart.

He ignites his love of the Stax soul era’s heartbreak anthems in rock flavoured tribute Thunder And Rain.

The singer segues from nightmares in Beast Beneath My Bed to the cold reality of domestic violence in Sirens featuring Gretta Ziller. Equally credible is Moonlight Creek - tale of a local missing girl - inspired by a Gippsland trip. Seeckts also explores booze fuelled camaraderie in All Night, Hold Tight and Whiskey Drunk. I’m Your Queen expands on destruction of longtime relationships by a partner’s preference for alcohol ahead of love. Seeckts chose the power of a song that resonates with personal heartbreak of an audience member as his album exit Houselights. nathanseeckts.com DAVID DAWSON

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BLOOD RED TIES

KEVIN BENNETT & THE FLOOD

WALKING THE FLOOR OVER YOU

MARIE HODSON

DIGGIN’ A HOLE

GLENY RAE VIRUS INDEPENDENT

INDEPENDENT

INDEPENDENT

Long regarded as one of our best singers and songwriters, Kevin showcases those talents to the fullest with this latest release.

Here he can mix his latterly found Indigenous background with a modern perspective as in the opening track: Spaghetti Western (Gaarrruma Li) or remind us what rock is all about in Down The Line (featuring legendary band The Dingoes). KB’s lyrics are worthy of poetic standing and the use of just the right words has always been a hallmark of his songwriting -check this from Shadow Man – “I believe, in the little things/A car that starts, a bird that sings/A song that does me in, puts me on the floor…..’ and there’s a few songs here that do just that! The sweet Black Eyed Girl, the deceptive Charlie Boy, the questioning The One and the hard memories of Just Another Town.

To say that this is possibly the best KB and The Flood album is a hard call considering the superb efforts of the past … but I’ll put my money where my mouth is on that!

One of the finest interpreters of traditional country around today is this Kiwi-born pocket rocket, Marie Hodson. Marie’s vocals are silky smooth on every cheating, loving, leaving, crying song on this disc. The opener, Forget Him comes from the pen of producer Stuart French and Camille Te Nahu. The two Joshua Hedley-written tracks, This Time and Mr Jukebox are standouts and country to the core. Anthony Taylor, one of Australia’s finest country pickers, duets with Marie on After The Fire Is Gone, her tip of the hat to the late Daryle Singletary. The country classics keep coming with the Ernest Tubb-penned title track, Willie Nelson’s Funny How Time Slips Away, Merle Haggard’s I Didn’t Mean To Love You. Produced by ENREC’s Steve Newton, the session personnel come from both sides of the world – Stuie French, Greg Franks, Brad Bergen, Ron Mahoney, Michel Rose, Andrew McMahon, Artie Taylor and Liam Kennedy-Clark in Australia, and slick pickers Jason Roller and Mike Johnson in Nashville.

Fine country music played as it should be.

Novocastrian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Gleny Rae Virus had a long hiatus between albums. She put her mother into full time care because of Alzheimer’s while suffering her own ruptured romance. But she arose from the ashes and harvested hay from heartbreak with her joyous third album recorded in Nashville, Adelaide and Newcastle. It’s high voltage hot picking from her gospel fuelled title track entrée to defiant social comment of mining parodies Coal Train Blues and finale Ho Ho Ho. Gleny enriches her bluegrass oasis with her fiddle, piano, guitar and shovel with Jenny Shimmin on banjo, Pete Fidler (mandolin, lap steel and dobro) and local and Nashville session aces and engineer Robbie Long. Sorrow may be a stimulus on After All but her dynamic delivery uplift Beautiful Music and maternal eulogies Song For Rhonda and Scatter Me. Gleny punctuates outlaw sentiments of Lady Bushranger and dental metaphors of Toothless Smile with humour in the rollicking Sorry For Saying F.ck.

KB 14 kevinbennettandtheflood.com JON WOLFE

mariehodson.com.au ANNA ROSE

glenyrae.com.au DAVID DAWSON

COUNTRY MUSIC CAPITAL NEWS F E B RUA RY | M A RC H 2 0 1 9

years of bringing you the music 1975–2019

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 1952 BILL CHAMBERS INDEPENDENT A new recording from Bill is always worth waiting for and sure to bring a few surprises along with it. There’s always been a world weary tone to Bill’s voice and this recording brings a wealth of feelings and the hard facts of a life lived – and a smoothness that slides off his vocal cords like never before. The title refers to the 1952 Cadillac that Bill favourite Hank Williams died in, and there’s songs that take him back along his own timeline – Place Where I Was Born, Gravel Road, Time; songs born of friendship and love – Goodnight, Every Morning, That’s How I Remember You Best and some that might just make you smile – You Ain’t Owned A Gun and Truck Stop Cowboy.

Long acknowledged by those that know as a masterful songwriter, here is proof positive that he deserves that accolade. Self-produced, this album showcases Bill’s understanding of the songwriting craft and keeping things simple, and the ability to make the songs soar above the dross that calls itself country music in the 21st Century.

CHECKED LABEL SERVICES/WHITEWATER 006 JON WOLFE

SMOKE AND MIRRORS

RESIGNATION

FINGERPRINTS

TWO SIDES OF ME

INDEPENDENT

INDEPENDENT

INDEPENDENT

INDEPENDENT

This new recording from the NSW Central Coast indi-artist hovers maybe somewhere between traditional and alt country and she has also come to the notice of the blues community. With throaty vocals laid over strong backing, the songs range over a personal soundscape that is at times intense and sometimes more wistful. There are strong sentiments behind Light and I’m Scared, self-examination in Rainbow Child and Who I Am and while A Kiss is the standout track showcasing her upper register, I just couldn’t get Pole Dancer. Recorded in Nashville, the album offers no production credits as such but the songs are all originals and sure to appeal to those who are familiar with her previous recordings. Don’t expect contemporary pop leanings here, they don’t exist, and that makes for a question over whether it will be played on general country (read ‘community’) radio and maybe some programmers who shy away from the current crop of girly singers will latch on to this.

The ripple of excitement that accompanied the announcement of this unexpected album said it all: Harmony James is back – and the wait has been way too long.

It’s been worth it though, because Resignation is nothing short of breathtaking. It’s honest and raw and also quite remarkable musically, with its fusion of folk, rock, country and more.

In many ways quite bleak in its subject matter, Resignation is simultaneously inspiring; with its multilayered emotions and willingness to go into places most songwriters never touch. Of the 10 extraordinary songs, my favourites were the powerful Anna O and The Life She Left, but I also loved the very subtle and abstract Bird In The Hand and the sweetly vulnerable love song Can I Be That to You?. The powerful Grief is a masterpiece, and Harmony shows a very different side on the song she wrote with 8 Ball Aitken, the grungy The Bed That You Made.

This is a world-class album that again shows Harmony’s unique and boundless talent. An exquisite, moving masterpiece.

Rod McCormack’s widely respected for his superb guitar skills and his production talents. But after a recent hiatus, Rod’s emerged with his first solo album, Fingerprints.

The question that springs to mind is why he’s been hiding his impressive vocal and songwriting talents for so long. This is a superb album. The songs are all beautifully crafted, Rod’s singing is up there with the best, and of course the musicianship and production are sublime. Fingerprints features 13 tracks, but fans who buy the album quickly will also get another six bonus tracks. There’s a diverse array of styles, from sizzling bluegrass to pure country to gentle ballads. The standout tracks were Shimmers, Covering Your Tracks, and the gorgeous ballads It Takes Years and Fingerprints (a duet with wife Gina Jeffreys). The instrumental Timeless Traveller is a killer, and I also loved The Ballad of Willie Johnson. On Fingerprints, Rod covers a broad sweep of country music, and does it with class, huge talent, and a voice and songs that will captivate anyone who hears them. It’s fabulous.

This follow-up to his debut album, Want To Sing, presents a more assured singer and songwriter easily at home with his country music. The opening song How ‘Bout Yousets the scene for an emotional musical ride that is sure to hold fans already attuned to his canon and attract new ones. The 11 self-penned original tracks bounce between up-tempo workouts and lyrical stories told with a tear lurking just behind the beat. Highlights include George and Jack, The River, Best Friend Is Whiskey, the duet with Kelly Hope, If I Said I Didn’t Love You and the Celtic-flavoured closing number Beer Drinking Song.

Ian possesses an easy-to-listento voice that producer Simon Johnson and his team of top players make the centrepiece of these recordings –just what real country music should do. If you want your country music steeped in stories, played on instruments like fiddles, Dobro and steel guitar and with a traditional but modern sound, try this out, you won’t be disappointed.

Rodmccormack.com RMcC01 SUSAN JARVIS

IB 003 / ianburnsmusic.com JON WOLFE

NIKSTA

Itunes/apple/spotify JON WOLFE

years of bringing you the music 1975–2019

HARMONY JAMES

Harmonyjames.com HJA005 SUSAN JARVIS

ROD MCCORMACK

IAN BURNS

COUNTRY MUSIC CAPITAL NEWS F E B RUA RY | M A RC H 2 0 1 9

73

COUNTRYCHARTS ARIA TOP 20 AUSTRALIAN COUNTRY ALBUMS Week Commencing 18 February 2019 TW

LW

TI

HP

TITLE

ARTIST

1 1 42 1 Graffiti U

KEITH URBAN

2 3 18 1 Things That We Drink To

MORGAN EVANS

3 5 2 3 Silver City

BRIAN CADD

4 2 145 1 Ripcord

KEITH URBAN

5 7

1044 1

6 4

584 1

7 8 17 1 8 6

353 1

9 9 20 2 10 15 130 1 11 11 44 1 12 14 11 1 13 12 233 1 14 10 25 1 15 13 41 2 16 18 271 2 17 19 28 1 18 R/E 377 1 19 16 31 1 20 17 278 1

The Very Best of Slim Dusty Greatest Hits: 18 Kids Greatest Hits The Story So Far Lioness His Favourite Collection Country Heart Born To Fight Fuse Butcherbird Campfire A Hell Of A Career!

The Nashville Tapes Ultimate Hits Milestones ? 20 Years The Great Country Songbook

CAP/EMI WAR AMB/SME CAP/EMI

SLIM DUSTY

EMI

KEITH URBAN

CAP/EMI

TROY CASSAR-DALEY

BDL/UMA

KEITH URBAN

CAP/EMI

BECCY COLE

ABC/UMA

JOHN WILLIAMSON

WAR

THE WOLFE BROTHERS

ABC/UMA

KARISE EDEN

ISL/UMA

KEITH URBAN

CAP/EMI

JOHN WILLIAMSON

WAR

KASEY CHAMBERS & THE FIRESIDE DISCIPLES

WAR

JOHN WILLIAMSON

WAR

ADAM HARVEY

SME

LEE KERNAGHAN

ABC/UMA

ADAM BRAND

ABC/UMA

TROY CASSAR-DALEY

SME

COUNTRY SONGS Week ending 23 February 2019. This chart is published by Campfire Publishing and updated weekly at countrytrackschart.com.au POS LW

TI

HP

TRACK TITLE

ARTIST

1 1 6 1(4) Merle

SHELLY JONES BAND

2 3 4 2(2) I Wonder What You Kiss Like

NATALIE PEARSON & BROOK CHIVELL

3 2 8 2(1) The Night Of Our Life

THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT

4 15 14 4(3) Fire & Ice

ANDREW SWIFT (FEAT. CATHERINE BRITT)

5 7 13 1(1) Country Heart

THE WOLFE BROTHERS

6 4 4 4(1) Unknown People

KEVIN SULLIVAN

7 12 15 1(2) When Willie’s Gone

ADAM HARVEY

8 18 3 8(1) Another Day

BRITTANY ELISE

9 0 1 9(1) Hot Hot Kiss

CHRISTIE LAMB

10 6 4 6(1) Raindance

SARA STORER

11 9 3 9(1) Road Warriors

TRAVIS COLLINS

12 30 4 12(1) Fast As Your Car

DEEP CREEK ROAD

13 23 5 13(1) We Can Be Mates

BENN GUNN

14 39 2 14(1) Mexico

ALLAN CASWELL

15 0 1 15(1) Meant To Be

RUNAWAY DIXIE

16 11 8 11(1) Shadows On The Hill

TROY CASSAR-DALEY

17 19 3 17(1) Australian Girls

THE VIPER CREEK BAND

18 27 5 16(1) Wine Time

BECCY COLE

19 5 11 1(1) Free Air

PHOEBE JAY (FEAT. TOMMY EMMANUEL)

20 16 15 1(1) Only In Australia

BENN GUNN

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years of bringing you the music 1975–2019

OFFICIAL AUSTRALIAN AIRPLAY COUNTRY TOP 20 Week ending 23 February 2019 POS LW

TI

HP

TRACK TITLE

ARTIST

1 1 8 1 Good Girl

DUSTIN LYNCH

BMG

2 2 13 2 Best Shot

JIMMIE ALLEN

SCR/BMG

3 8 3 3 GIRL

MAREN MORRIS

4 4 8 4 Country Heart

THE WOLFE BROTHERS

5 5 9 5 Real Men Don’t Cry (War On Pride)

FANNY LUMSDEN

6 6 5 6 Beautiful Crazy

LUKE COMBS

COL/SME

7 9 14 4 Somebody’s Daughter

TENILLE TOWNES

COL/SME

8 11 7 8 Miss Me More

KELSEA BALLERINI

9 3 10 3 Way Too Long

KEITH URBAN

CAP/EMI

10 10 6 10 Sixteen

THOMAS RHETT

BIG/UMA

11 23 5 10 Down To The Honkeytonk

JAKE OWEN

BIG/UMA

12 26 4 12 Girl Like You

JASON ALDEAN

13 15 11 13 This Is It

SCOTTY MCCREERY

14 21 38 3 Tequila

DAN + SHAY

WB/WMA

15 18 12 15 Speechless

DAN + SHAY

WB/WMA

16 16 8 12 Fire & Ice

ANDREW SWIFT FT. CATHERINE BRITT

SFR/UMA

17 46 2 17 Because We Can

JETTY ROAD

SFR/UMA

18 14 10 14 If Heaven Has A Soundtrack

ADAM BRAND

ABC/UMA

19 7 30 1 Day Drunk

MORGAN EVANS

WMA

20 20 13 16 Late Night Girl

IMOGEN CLARK

UMA

zaCOL/SME ABC/UMA IND

SME

SME SME

CMC TOP 50 Week Commencing 16 February 2019. This chart is updated weekly at countrymusicchannel.com.au or tune into CMC. TW TITLE ARTIST LABEL 1 Good Girl DUSTIN LYNCH BROKEN BOW/BMG 2 This Is It SCOTTY MCCREERY TRIPLE TIGERS/SONY 3 Late Night Girl IMOGEN CLARK LOST HIGHWAY 4 Hung Up On You TROY KEMP/JAYNE DENHAM CHECKED 5 Somebody’s Daughter TENILLE TOWNES SONY 6 The One That Got Away MICHAEL RAY WARNER 7 Love Wins CARRIE UNDERWOOD EMI 8 Real Men Don’t Cry (War On Pride) FANNY LUMSDEN RED DIRT RECORDS 9 Rejected ALEYCE SIMMONDS CHECKED 10 If Heaven Has A Soundtrack ADAM BRAND ABC 11 Fire & Ice ANDREW SWIFT FT. CATHERINE BRITT SOCIAL FAMILY 12 Red Light BRAD COX INDEPENDENT 13 Night Shift JON PARDI EMI 14 Feels Like A Party LOCASH WHEELHOUSE/BMG 15 Make It Sweet OLD DOMINION SONY 16 Eyes On You CHASE RICE BROKEN BOW/BMG 17 Whiskey Glasses MORGAN WALLEN BIG LOUD 18 Country Heart THE WOLFE BROTHERS ABC 19 Miss Me More KELSEA BALLERINI SONY 20 Love Someone BRETT ELDREDGE WARNER 21 Beautiful Crazy LUKE COMBS SONY 22 Got My Name Changed Back PISTOL ANNIES SONY 23 Kissing A Girl Goodnight DREW MCALISTER ABC 24 Bucked Off BRAD PAISLEY SONY 25 Chain Of Joy FELICITY URQUHART ABC MUSIC 26 Rumor LEE BRICE CURB/SONY years of bringing you the music 1975–2019

TW TITLE

ARTIST

27 Redemption

TORI FORSYTH

28 Road Warriors

TRAVIS COLLINS

29 Dream Believe

O’SHEA

SONY

30 Friends Don’t

MADDIE & TAE

UMA

LABEL LOST HIGHWAY ABC

31 What Makes You Country LUKE BRYAN

EMI

32 Green Light

VIPER CREEK BAND

33 Be In The Band

CORNELL & CARR CHECKED LABEL SERVICES

34 Love Or Money

BENNETT, BOWTELL & URQUHART

CHECKED

CHECKED LABEL SERVICES

35 When Willie’s Gone

ADAM HARVEY

36 Coming Home

HAYLEY MARSTEN

SONY INDEPENDENT

37 Caught Up In The Country RODNEY ATKINS 38 What Whiskey Does

RANDY HOUSER

39 All American Made

MARGO PRICE

40 Stepping Stones

DANI YOUNG

CURB/SONY STONEY CREEK/BMG THIRD MAN INDPENDENT

41 Wouldn’t Change A Thing TROY CASSAR-DALEY

BLOODLINES

42 Talk You Out Of It

FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE

BIG MACHNE

43 The Worst Kind

TIM HICKS

44 This Love

HAYLEY JENSEN

45 Wild Heart

EMMA BEAU

46 I Don’t Wanna Hate You BROOKE LAMBERT 47 On My Way To You

CODY JOHNSON

48 Neon Church

TIM MCGRAW

49 Girl

MAREN MORRIS

50 Burn Out

MIDLAND

ABC MUSIC SOCIAL FAMILY RECORDS INDEPENDENT INDEPENDENT WARNER CURB/SONY SONY BIG MACHINE

COUNTRY MUSIC CAPITAL NEWS F E B RUA RY | M A RC H 2 0 1 9

75

BUSH BALLADS

LIVING LEGEND HONOURED

BY PETER COAD OAM WWW.BUSHBALLADEERS.COM.AU

THE FRANK IFIELD BRONZE BUST WAS UNVEILED DURING THE TAMWORTH COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL.

Frank Ifield and Lorraine Pfitzner

T

he bust is located in the newly-named Pioneer Parade in Bicentennial Park, Tamworth NSW. Frank attended the ceremony and unveiled the bust himself.

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to the fundraising concerts as well as the individual contributions made throughout the year including the variety concert held at Dora Creek with Dianne Lindsay, Peter Simpson and friends, which raised approximately $1,700. Fundraising is underway for the next bronze bust for the late Brian Young OAM.

TAMWORTH SUCCESS Congratulations to the winners of all Tamworth awards.

I was pleased to see Terry Bennetts & Keith Lethbridge pick up the best bush ballad and the Song of the Year at the Tamworth Songwriters Association Awards for the song Station Minderoo. The track, recorded by Dale Duncan, went to number one on the national country music charts in 2018 and is the first TSA Awards songwriter win for Terry and Keith. The Australian bush balladeers official Tamworth venue, the ‘Balladeers Homestead’, had solid crowd attendances throughout the Tamworth Country Music Festival week, and the annual Back To The Bush Spectacular held at Toyota Park proved very popular with good crowds attending 76

COUNTRY MUSIC CAPITAL NEWS F E B RUA RY | M A RC H 2 0 1 9

even though there was a rainstorm midway through the concert. It featured a number of established artists along with young, up-and-coming bush ballad artists. Organiser Dianne Lindsay advises the concert will be on again in 2020. Congratulations also to all those inducted in this year’s Hands Of Fame.

BUNGENDORE AWARD WINNERS On Saturday, February 2, the Bungendore Country Music Muster delighted bush balladeer fans with the presentation of the 22nd Stan Coster Memorial Australian Bush Ballad Awards. The nominations for this year’s awards once again proved that the bush ballad is thriving, and is a major component of today’s country music industry. Presentations on Saturday evening were followed with a performance by each of the finalists in the seven categories. MALE VOCAL: Brian Letton: WA Calling Me Home, ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Ernie Constance: Lead A Horse To Water, FEMALE VOCAL: Dianne Lindsay: Paddy’s Soul, SONGWRITER: Ernie Constance: Lead A Horse To Water, NEW TALENT: Kylie

Adams-Collier: On A Sandstone Ridge, COMEDY: Ernie Constance: If It Ain’t Broke, INSTRUMENTAL: Lindsay Butler and Anthony Baxter: Looking Forward, Looking Back, GROUP OR DUO: Graham Rodger and Col Hardy I’m An Old Black Man. Anthony Baxter was this year’s recipient of The Barry Thornton Encouragement Award.

Sunday featured a Muster Gala Concert of celebrating Australian country music.

COMING UP

The Terara Country Music Campout is held at Terara just out of Nowra NSW and this year the annual event will be held from April 5 to 7. Artists are Justin Standley, Stephen R Cheney, Craig Adams, Pete & Sandy Smith, Peter Coad & The Coad Sisters, Jim Hermel, Joe Musico, Sandy Dodd, Ernie Constance, Brian Letton, Owen Blundell, Royden Donohue, Dianne Lindsay & Peter Simpson, Dale Duncan, John & Christine Smith, George Farnham, Wayne Horsburgh, and Robyn Gleeson.

From April 9 to 14, Phil & Chris Coad will hold their Condobolin Country Music Muster at the Condobolin RSL Club auditorium.

This is the second year for the event and organisers have arranged a stellar line-up including Dianne Lindsay, Peter Simpson, Dean Perrett, Greg Bain, Rustic Charm & Co, Reg Poole (OAM), Dale Duncan, Kylie Castle, Peter Pratt, John & Christine Smith, Bec Hance, and Charmaine Pout.

The Original ‘Spirit of the Bush’ traditional Balladeers & Heritage Muster will be held from April 23 to 28 and will feature some of Australia’s top balladeers and poets plus walk-up artists, the Homestead Balladeers & Poetry Competition, Vintage Cars & Engines, Broad Axe, Adze, photographic and historic displays. Bush camping is available and general inquiries and bookings can be made by phoning 07 4168 0159. years of bringing you the music 1975–2019

PHOTO: ROBMAC

SOLO ALBUM A FIRST FOR BEGGS

BY LORRAINE PFITZNER OAM

AUBREY BEGGS, FROM THE POPULAR DUO AUBREY & MARTIN, HAS GONE SOLO WITH HIS NEW CD THE STATE I’M IN.

T

he project, produced by Paul Smith, is about people and places in the state of New South Wales, with the opening track The Boy From Lightning Ridge about Australian comedian Paul Hogan OAM. Other tracks include City Of Steel, Leaving Eden, From The Heart Of The Hunter, Moree, Murray Darling Girl, Wilcannia Waltz with Lights of Wollongong and Silver Belle of Broken Hill as years of bringing you the music 1975–2019

stand out tracks for me.

Aubrey’s background is filled with almost every style of music, blues, country, jazz, rock and more. He learned traditional folk songs from various countries because he says, “it makes me feel good, and adds to my knowledge of scales”.

“Every chord I know (and all the ones I don’t) is found in scales. I keep the great book, Tunesmith by Jimmy Webb (The Highwayman, McArthur Park) on my work desk. It won’t teach me how to write but it helps me figure out how to fit things together in another way,” he said.

Aubrey and his brother Martin are originally from Queensland where they formed and began working the club scene with the popular folk group The Wayfarers.

They moved to NSW to further their musical career

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

where they developed their versatile country music duo.

After establishing their career they added other styles of music to their act which opened more doors for their class act and when you catch their show you’ll see them playing, guitar, mandolin, banjo, trumpet, harmonica, didgeridoo and bass.

Their careers have spanned more than five decades with the duo working in festivals throughout Australia and overseas. They have twice been awarded the Australian Entertainment “MO” Award for Variety Duo. In 1999 they travelled to the US with Wayne Horsburgh to represent Australia at Silver Dollar City’s World-Fest in Branson, Missouri – America’s largest international festival. The boys show proved very popular with the American audiences that they returned for a five-week season in 2000 with their ‘Cooee Australia’ show to appear in the Festival of Nations in Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. These shows ran for seven years.

The boys are a popular act on the cruise liners including the Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Radisson and P&O. They have entertained a number of times on The Legend Of The Seas which is an 11-story luxury cruise liner out of Miami. Their music has been featured regularly on national radio programs and popular on Ian McNamara’s Australia All Overprogram. One of the most popular tracks is The Lights of Wollongong from their Aubrey & Martin Say G’day album.

Other releases which are unfortunately no longer available include, Kinda Krazy, an original album with The Beggs Bros Band, The Coaster Collection, and The Cooee Australia Show, an all-Australian album released for Worldfest 2000.

Aubrey can be contacted at his website thestateimin.beggs.com.au

COUNTRY MUSIC CAPITAL NEWS F E B RUA RY | M A RC H 2 0 1 9

77

WRITING GRE AT SONGS

TAKING THE

CHANCE

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

AFTER YEARS OF WORKING WITH YOUNG WRITERS, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN STRUCK BY HOW CAREFUL MANY OF THEM ARE ABOUT TAKING CHANCES WITH THEIR WRITING.

I

hear ludicrous remarks about “what the industry is looking for” and “that’s not what is happening right now” … wrong … stuff like this is counter productive to the whole process. I’m the older writer … aren’t I the one that’s supposed to be conservative?

You learn from every song you write and the chances you take on those deliciously left field songs can teach you so much, even if they don’t finish up on a safe little industry approved album. You learn to write songs by writing songs and the more you experiment the more you learn.

What really matters is that songs get written and that you develop a variety about your work that carries over into your recordings and live performances.

THE GREAT SONGS If the great writers like Bob Dylan, Jimmy Webb and even John Lennon and Paul McCartney had played it safe, we wouldn’t have had great songs of the calibre of Like A Rolling Stone or MacArthur Park and most

of Sergeant Pepper’s would never have been written. The willingness by these writers to take chances has given us a treasure trove of wonderfully creative work that will live on for years.

If you only write what is currently on the charts (even if you are aping the latest hit from the USA), you are merely following the trends … the winners are the ones who set the trends. If you dare to be different, I can’t guarantee that you will write hits but I promise you that you will have more fun.

THE JOYS OF LEFT FIELD You can be forgiven for writing bad songs. A bad song can be entertaining. What you can’t be forgiven for is writing a boring song or, worse still, a copy of

someone else’s song.

If you start in the middle and plough a dead straight line, your song will lack innovation and become predictable and “paint by numbers” in style. By starting over to one side, you have room to move. You can write joke lines, try things and lyrically stand your head. If you start out there you’ve got room to move.

If you stay out there, there is a chance that you might write songs that won’t work within the industry straight jacket but is that a bad thing? You could finish up with a great song that works live or fits on album, if only to break up the flow of the other songs on the album.

Even if the song is virtually unusable in terms of getting it cut, the effort is never wasted. The lessons you learn from writing it are invaluable in honing your skills.

If you accept my premise that your main duty as a songwriter is to touch people you will also have to accept the fact that you have to take chances to achieve it.

It’s not all about you … you have to write from the point of view of the person you are writing about. That in itself involves taking the chance to get out of your comfort zone.

IN CONCLUSION Songwriting is an art and needs freedom and creativity.

It only becomes boring and mundane when it becomes a business. During your career you will write songs that will never be used either by you or farmed out to other artists.

This happens whether you take a chance, or write to a template. In my experience no song is wasted because each one helps your technique … the ones you take a chance with are much more fun. Most importantly the “taking a chance” songs have a longer shelf life than the little “me too” ones who’s use-by date can be a matter of weeks or until a new hit comes along. I have had 20-yearold songs recorded in my career and I can guarantee that none of them were written to a formula.

See you next month … maybe.

If you have questions regarding participating or hosting upcoming songwriting workshops, my “one on one” private songwriting coaching service (based in the Blue Mountains), or my book Contact me on 0419218988 or at allan@allancaswell. com

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

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years of bringing you the music 1975–2019

COMINGEVENTS FEBRUARY To Feb 3 Bungendore CM Muster | Walk-ups, poets breakfast, Busking In The Village, Concert | M: 0458 896 180 | E: Bungendorecountrymusicmuster@outlook.com | W: bungendorecountrymusicmuster.com.au 2 Stan Coster Awards | Time: 8pm | M: 0458 896 180 | E: Bungendorecountrymusicmuster@outlook.com | W: bungendorecountrymusicmuster.com.au 9 Whittlesea CMF | Free community event | Vic | M: 0400 877 076 | E: info@whittleseacountrymusicfestival.com.au or leannewcmf@hotmail.com | W: whittleseacountrymusicfestival.com.au 15-17 34th Boyup Brook CMF & WA CM Awards presented by LiveLighter | WA | T: 08 9765 1657 | E: countrymusicwa@westnet.com.au | w: countrymusicwa.com.au 13-17 7th Devil Country Muster presented by the Rotary Club of Smithton | Smithton | Tas | W: devilcountrymuster.com.au 16-17 28th Lake Charlegrark CM Marathon | Contact: John Naylor | E: president@lccmm.com.au 24-Mar 3 Lockyer Valley CM Week | Various artists | Contact: 07 5465 1284 or M: 0435 929 383 MARCH 1-3 (From Feb 24) Lockyer Valley CM Week | Various artists | Contact: 07 5465 1284 or M: 0435 929 383 1-3 24th Annual Cobargo Folk Festival | NSW | Artists The Western Flyers, Susan O’Neill (Ireland), Stiff Gins, Shortis & Simpson, Sharon Shannon (Ireland), Shane Howard, Scott Cook & The She’ll Be Rights, Nick Charles, Luke O’Shea, Jordie Lane and more. | W: cobargofolkfestival.com 1-4 30th Nannup Music Festival | Nannup | WA | E: info@nannupmusicfestival.org | W: nannupmusicfestival.org 9 Reg Lindsay Memorial Talent Quest | Grand final prize 500 copies of a fully-produced 2-track CD by Roy Cooper | East Cessnock Bowling Club | Neath Street | Cessnock | NSW | Contact Ros Lindsay | E: info@reglindsay.com.au | M: 0412 967 863 11-12 SECMA CMF | Mt Gambier | SA | M: 0412 246 236 | E: burgedc17@bigpond.com 14-17 CMC Rocks QLD | Willowbank Raceway, Ipswich | Qld | E: info@cmcrocks.com | W: cmcrocks.com 15-17 Terang CMF | Terang Racecourse | Contact: Geoff Barby, Chairman | M: 0419 343 626 | E: info@terangcountrymusic.com.au | W: terangcountrymusic.com.au 17-18 The One Tree Festival | Various artists | Food, free camping all week | BYO chairs, water, drinks, blankets, swags | Contact: Keith Jamieson | M: 0427 731 088 21-24 Final Horsham CMF | Horsham Soundshell | Vic | Contact: Lyall Wheaton | T: 03 5381 1995 | E: lyallwheaton@bigpond.com | W: horshamcountrymusic.com.au 22-24 22nd Yackandandah Folk Festival | Vic | E: folkfestival@yackandandah.com | W: yackfolkfestival.com| 22-24 Thames CMF | Thames Workingmen’s Club | 407 Cochrane St | Thames NI | NZ 23-24 Country Music Rush | Oakey Cultural Centre | Contact: Dell Lowein | T: 0417 728 182 | E: lowien77@bigpond.com | W: gardencitycountrymusic.com.au 25 The Bay CMF | Sandstone Point Hotel | Sandstone | Qld 30-1 April Hartwood Campfires & CM | Featuring Roydon Donohue, Paul McCloud, Jodie Crosby, Alby Pool, Tom Maxwell, Lynette Guest, Cameron Mason, Sharon Heaslip, Pete Smith, Patti Morgan | Compere Barry Williams | Poets breakfast with Ray Essery and Bill Kearns | Contact: Tom Maxwell | M: 0456 780 824 | E: info@hartwoodfestival.com.au | W: hartwoodfestival.com.au 31 32nd Annual Penrith Working Truck Show | 8am-4pm | Museum of Fire | 1 Museum Drive | Penrith | NSW | T: 02 4731 3000 | E: admin@museumoffire.com.au W: pwts.com.au 30 Auckland CM Awards | Hawkins Theatre, 13 Ray Small Drive | Papakura, Auckland NI | NZ APRIL 4-7 The Man From Snowy River Bush Festival | Cooryong | Vic | Contact: Festival coordinator Jennifer Boardman |T: 02 6076 1992 | E: admin@bushfestival.com.au | W: bushfestival.com.au 5-7 Terara CM Campout | 146 Millbank Road | Terara (Nowra) | NSW | Contact: Tracey M: 0419 985 799 | E: traceycotterill76@gmail.com 9-14 Phil & Chris Coad’s Condobolin Country Muster | Various artists | Condobolin RSL Club | NSW | Contact: Phil & Chris Coad | M: 0458 728 464 or 0419 603 371 | W: philandchriscoadmusters.com 13 Waikato CM Awards | Baptist Church | 56 Moorhouse St | Morrinsville NI | NZ 18-22 Easter Long Weekend 30th Annual Byron Bay BluesFest | Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm | Byron Bay | NSW | Featuring …. and so many more | W: bluesfest.com.au 18-22 53rd National Folk Festival | Exhibition Park | Canberra | ACT | E: info@folkfestival.org.au | W: folkfestival.org.au 18-22 42nd Roma’s Easter In The Country | Roma | Qld | Various | E: info@easterinthecountryroma.com.au | W: easterinthecountryroma.com.au 19-21 Hartwood Campfires & CM | Featuring Col Hardy, Craig Giles, Sharon Benjamin, Amos Morris, Jess Holland, Royden Donohoe, Jeff Brown, Marie Hodson, Tom Maxwell, Peter Coad & The Coad Sisters, Runaway Dixie & the Hartwood Festival Backing Band | Poets Murray Hartin & Gary Fogarty | Contact: Tom Maxwell | M: 0456 780 824 | E: info@hartwoodfestival.com.au | W: hartwoodfestival.com.au 23-28 Historic Boondooma Homestead The Original ‘Spirit of the Bush’ – Traditional Balladeers & Heritage Muster | Various artists | General Inquiries: 07 4168 0159 | W: boondoomahomestead.org.au 25-28 Winton’s Way Out West Festival | Supporting Outback Communities | E: info@wintonswayoutwestfest.com.au | T: 1300 MATILDA | W: wintonswayoutwestfest.com.au years of bringing you the music 1975–2019

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COUNTRY MUSIC CAPITAL NEWS F E B RUA RY | M A RC H 2 0 1 9

years of bringing you the music 1975–2019