Tamworth Country Music Capital News - November/December 2024 - Volume 50 No 6

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 VOLUME 50 NO 6

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keith urban A NEW HIGH

colin

nathan

henry

WHEEL OF FORTUNE

A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS

CARTER

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WAGONS

BUCHANAN

A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE

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Tamworth Regional Council presents

#!

SAT | 25 JAN 2025 TRECC BE A PART OF THE HE COU COUNTRY UNTRY RATIO ON! MUSIC CELEBRATION! SECURE YOUR TICKETS CKETS NO NOW OW

www.tcmf.com.au/awards 4

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HOSTED BY MAX JACKSON & JAMES JOHNSTON N OV E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

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editor’s NOTE

Season’s Greetings as we wrap up another wonderful year, filled with country music.

In many ways, the growth of the festival scene has been amazing, yet it also seems to be suffering at the same time. Could it be that there are now too many festivals to be sustainable?

R

eflecting on the past 12 months in the Australian country music scene, it’s clear that international artists are becoming a huge drawcard year-round.

Until a few years ago, we were seeing the majority of American and Canadian acts coming in for the annual CMC Rocks, which focusses on international artists, and which also gives Australian acts a platform to work hard and aim high for an opportunity to crowd share. Touring artists often book side gigs and interest in international artists continues to grow.

Fans are now going wild for tickets and willing to spend big to attend arena shows more regularly.

Artists touring Down Under this year, some announced for 2025, include Keith Urban, Kip Moore, Tim Hicks, Tyler Hubbard, Cody Johnson, Cole Swindell, Ashley McBryde, Jon Pardi, Dylan Marlow, Muscadine Bloodline, Billy Currington, Thomas Rhett, Kane Brown, Kameron Marlow, with Luke Combs set to break records as the first country artist to

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It was sad to hear of the passing of the legendary Kris Kristofferson.

headline a full stadium tour, joined

by Jordan Davis, Mitchell Tenpenny and Tamworth’s Lane Pittman.

To many, it’s worth paying big ticket prices to see a touring artist, compared to the price it costs to attend a multi-day festival with multi-artists.

However, as we head towards the annual Tamworth Country Music Festival for the 53rd time, we know that what visitors look forward to most is the overall experience, to soak up the vibrant atmosphere, see familiar artists and discover exciting

new talent that can be found on the streets busking, in talent quests and competitions and at various venues.

As the holiday season approaches, it’s important to look for the magic and take time for reflection, celebration, and connection.

We encourage you to take some quiet time to read the stories in this edition, allowing yourself to embrace the joy of this special time of year.

Wishing you a merry and meaningful Christmas and New Year.

Yours in country Cheryl Brown

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024

FEATURES KEITH URBAN COLIN BUCHANAN TONY BROWN PATSY AND DAVE SMALL TOWN ROMANCE MELINDA SCHNEIDER SLIM DUSTY NATHAN CARTER COOPER ALAN HENRY WAGONS YEARS

MATT WARD BELLA MACKENZIE

1975–2024

KAMERON MARLOWE

YEARS

10 14 16 18 20 22 23 24 27 28 29 33 34

1975–2024

MANAGING EDITOR Cheryl Brown P: 0407 10 69 66 E: cheryl@tamworthcountrymusic.com.au ADVERTISING Cheryl Brown P: 0407 10 69 66 E: cheryl@tamworthcountrymusic.com.au SUBSCRIPTIONS Simone Mitchell T: 0439 406 136 SALES: Kyle Kash CONTRIBUTORS Allan Caswell, Bec Gracie, Darren Erskine, David Dawson, Georgia Vaughan, Jon Wolfe, Lachlan Bryan, Lorraine Pfitzner, Peter Coad OAM, Susan Jarvis, Wade Forster.

PHOTOGRAPHERS We thank all photographers who supply images on behalf of artists and festivals, with many acknowledged throughout.

ART AND DESIGN Sam Woods UPCOMING DEADLINES: JAN/FEB - 1 Dec MAR/APR - 1 Feb MAY/JUN - 1 Apr JUL/AUG - 1 Jun SEP/OCT - 1 Aug NOV/DEC - 1 Oct

REGULARS NEWS NASHVILLE NEWS BEHIND THE MUSIC ONE TO WATCH ONE TO WATCH TOYOTA STAR MAKER DIARY HEAR & THERE WRITING GREAT SONGS BUSH BALLADS FESTIVALS SOUND ADVICE

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

COUNTRY SINGLES COMING EVENTS LIVE CM SCENE

8 9 35 37 39 40 42 44 45 48 56 58 59 60

Country Music Capital News is compiled and published bi-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 2024 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.

IVE Group Australia Pty Ltd, Unit 1/83 Derby Street, Silverwater NSW 2128. ABN 58 000 205 210. ISSN 1440-995X. N OV E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

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ELOUISE VAN RIET-GRAY

news

Kasey Chambers

HONOURING WOMEN IN MUSIC

VASILI PAPATHANASOPOULOS

Over 450 music industry leaders, artists and guests gathered at The Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane for the annual Australian Women In Music Awards on October 2.

A total of 21 awards were presented, with the Universal Music Australia Lifetime Achievement Award going to Kasey Chambers.

Dame Joan Sutherland OM, AC, DBE (‘La Stupenda’) and Patricia ‘Little Pattie’ Amphlett OAM were inducted to the AWMA Honour Roll.

Now in its fifth year, Australian Women In Music delivered a two-day event including a Conference Program with a focus on ‘Diversity, Equality & Inclusion’; a keynote ‘In Conversation’ with Chair of the Creative Workplace Council, Kate Jenkins AO; a First Nations Women’s Music Program and the prestigious AWMA Black Carpet hosted

by Kween G & Sheba.

Brad Cox

GRACIE STEINDL

Sara Berki

Three of Australia’s newest country stars, JAMES JOHNSTON, BRAD COX and SARA BERKI, have signed to Warner Music Australia.

H

e can boast six #1 airplay hits, maintaining the #1 spot for 21 weeks on the ARIA Australian Country Albums Chart, 80 million global streams, two Golden Guitar Awards, and certified ARIA platinum.

James’ signing, also has the support from Warner Nashville.

Brad has jumped from Sony Music to Warner and said, “I’m thankful for the belief I’ve been shown and am humbled to have

landed here at Warner Music for the next chapter.” He’s currently on his Everything I Got tour, named after his latest single of the same name, and in December will headline shows in the UK and Europe.

Sara’s signing comes alongside the release of her new single Twice.

She received the 2024 APRA Professional Development Award for Country/Americana, was nominated for New Talent of the Year at the 2024 Golden Guitar Awards, and has received over four million streams across her catalogue

ARIA AWARDS

Left to right - Kita Alexander, Kobie Dee, Troy Cassar Daley, Amy Shark

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James Johnston

JORDAN MUNNS

DARA MUNNIS

WARNER MUSIC SIGNINGS

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The 2024 ARIA Awards in partnership with YouTube will be held on Wednesday, November 20 at the Hordern Pavilion.

There are 29 categories including the Hall of Fame inductee, Missy Higgins.

Our highest awarded Golden Guitar recipient, Troy Cassar-Daley, has three nominations for his album

Between The Fires, for Best Solo Artist, Best Country Album and Best Cover Art by Michael Bryers.

Alongside Troy in the Best Country Album are Casey Barnes for Mayday, Henry Wagons The Four Seasons, James Johnston for Raised Like That and Tori Forsyth for All We Have Is Who We Are.

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NEWS FROM

MARY ELLEN MARK

usa

VALE KRIS KRISTOFFERSON KRIS KRISTOFFERSON, one of country music’s

most legendary songwriters and musicians, passed away peacefully in his home in Maui, Hawaii on September 28, aged 88. culture darling and people began to pay attention to country music. Bob Dylan said; “You can look at Nashville pre-Kris and post-Kris, he changed everything.”

He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004 and received the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019. Kristofferson also hosted the CMA Awards in 1985 with Anne Murray and 1986 alongside fellow Highwayman, Willie Nelson.

Kristofferson is survived by his wife, Lisa; eight children, Tracy, Kris Jr., Casey, Jesse, Jody, John, Kelly, and Blake; and seven grandchildren.

SUPPLIED BOBBY BONES SHOW

He was commissioned to teach English at West Point, though he gave that up to become a Nashville songwriter.

Ray Stevens recorded his Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down, and Johnny Cash recorded the same song and took it to the top of the country charts. It was voted Song of the Year by the CMA in 1970.

Kristofferson became a counter-

MARY ELLEN MARK

H

e was a Rhodes Scholar in Oxford, a defensive back, a bartender, a Golden Gloves boxer, a gandy dancer, a forest firefighter, a road crew member, and an Army Ranger who flew helicopters. He was a peacenik, a revolutionary, an actor, a superstar, a sex symbol, and a family man.

BEST BROADCASTERS

Reigning Vocal Duo of the Year and 2024 CMA Award nominee, Brothers Osborne, surprised radio stations and broadcast personalities with one-on-one calls to winners of the 2024 CMA Broadcast Awards.

Among them were Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase winners of the Weekly National for the Crook & Chase Countdown; Tucker ‘Frito’ Young and Katy Dempsey winners in a Major Market for their Frito & Katy Show on KCYY, San Antonio Texas.

The CMA Broadcast Personality of the Year (Daily National) winner was The Bobby Bones Show featuring Bobby Bones, Amy Brown, “Lunchbox” Dan Chappell, Eddie Garcia, Morgan Huelsman, “SZN Raymundo” Ray Slater, “Mike D” Rodriguez, Abby Anderson, “Kick Off Kevin” O’Connell, and Stephen “Scuba Steve” Spradlin (pictured).

Any full-time, on-air broadcast personalities and radio stations in the United States and Canada were eligible to submit entries.

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CMA AWARDS

Luke Bryan, Peyton Manning and Lainey Wilson will host The 58th Annual CMA Awards.

Luke, a four-time CMA Awards host this year, and Peyton, a three-time host this year, are joined by first-time host Lainey.

“Hosting the CMA Awards is such an honour and it’s crazy when I realise this is my fourth year back,” says Luke. “Peyton and I have really worked to build off each other and now adding Lainey to the mix will just bring another fun element to the night. Celebrating country music never gets old to me.”

The Awards is a production of the Country Music Association.

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KEITH URBAN 10

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BY DAVID DAWSON

A NEW

high When expat Australasian country superstar KEITH URBAN named his 13th album High he wasn’t referring to the era before he met Academy Award winning actress spouse NICOLE KIDMAN.

T

he five-time ARIA and four-time Grammy Award winner named his 2025 High And Wide World tour, after the title of his album.

The ambiguity of the word ‘high’ peaked Urban’s curiosity and inspired the album name.

“What makes you high can mean whatever you want it to mean,” Urban revealed in a recent interview.

“It might be physical, spiritual, herbal, meditative, chemical or musical, but it’s definitely a place of Utopia.”

Keith’s nine arena shows for August 2025, featuring Tennessean troubadour Chase Matthew, just 26, are Urban’s first Australian national concerts since December 2022.

The singer, 57, previewed his tour with a Ridin’ High concert hosted by The Betoota Advocate at The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre in Marrickville, Sydney on September 3, 2024.

It featured Keith performing live under the watchful eye of Australia’s largest golden prawn and having a yarn with The Betoota Advocate over a succulent Chinese meal with proceeds going to Landcare Australia.

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“Well, it was Saturday night last time I checked overdraft on the card, but I ain’t gonna stress not at all, I’ll call the bank tomorrow I got some Titanic friends, yeah, we all get wrecked order anything we want from the bottom shelf living large in a small-town bar.”

Go Home W U. Keith Lionel Urban/Sam Michael Sumser/Sean Spencer Small/Daniel Gerard Breland.

There have been few raw prawns in Urban’s life since he moved from Whangārei, New Zealand, to Caboolture, Queensland, aged two with parents Robert Bob Urbahn and his mother Marienne.

“We were in Brisbane most of the time but I went to four different schools by the fifth grade and lived in about nine different houses by the time I was 10,” Urban said.

“So, although it was mostly in Brissy we were still moving around all the time. So, home was my family, originally, I felt was home and now my family now is home.

But I mean it’s even something like my guitar.”

Aged four he was given a ukulele and at six he took up guitar that led him to Tamworth at just nine before he was a contestant on New Faces at

16 in 1983 and guest on Reg Lindsay’s Country Homestead TV Program.

“I was nine years old when I first went to Tamworth so I’ve got great memories of going to Tamworth in January and sleeping in tents and getting flooded out.”

Keith dropped out of school at 15 to pursue his music and credits his 1990 Tamworth Star Maker win as his international launch pad.

“Tamworth’s like a second home to me,” explained Keith who wed Nicole Kidman on June 25, 2006, at Cardinal Cerretti Memorial Chapel in grounds of St Patrick’s Estate in Manly, before becoming parents of two daughters Sunday Rose and Faith.

It was no surprise Keith was a guest at late country music king Slim Dusty’s shows on his embryonic Tamworth visits.

Urban features in 2020 Australian documentary film Slim and I, directed by Kriv Stenders, talking about the influence on his life of Slim and late singer-songwriter spouse Joy McKean.

Keith and his band The Ranch released his debut selftitled album in 1991 featuring three singles I Never Work on a Sunday, Only You and Got It Bad. TAMw ORTH C O U N T R Y M U S I C C A P I TA L news

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KEITH URBAN “I asked myself, ‘What’s the kind of song that you hope would come on your alarm clock radio in the morning?

It might be the first thing that makes you feel motivated and good.’”

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I first interviewed Keith after his Melbourne launch at the Prince Patrick Hotel in Collingwood where they performed a spirited show for a total of 14 paying customers.

Keith and his band entered the second floor Nu Country FM studios on Beer Can Hill in Northcote by climbing a car park fence from the neighbouring Northcote Leader Newspaper offices armed with guitars.

The singer later attracted huge audiences at national venues including Rod Laver and Margaret Court Arenas and St Kilda Palais Theatre.

“My guitar feels home to me it’s been with me my whole life, so it feels home,” Urban revealed on his 2024 Australian promo visit.

Keith promoted his new album with a vibrant video featuring Louisiana born fellow Australian tourist Lainey Wilson on Go Home W U and others for hits Messed Up

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As Me and Heart Like A Hometown.

“I wrote that with Breland, Sam Sumser and Sean Small in 2020 when we had nowhere to go and nothing to do,” Urban explained the duet’s embryo.

“On the demo I sang both verses.

I had Lainey in my mind for a long time trying to find something to do with her. A friend of mine, Dan McCarroll, said, ‘What about that Go Home W U song? Could you make that a duet?’ I sent her the song she loved it and it was done.”

Equally vivid was Messed Up As Me’s source.

Messed Up As Me has classic cover art, featuring a birds-eye-view of a couple, naked, gripping each other for dear life in the bed of a pickup truck.

Urban said the single’s rollout images for the album were a fun point of creativity.

“I wanted to find photographs that didn’t say anything using words, just an image that conjures up your own interpretation,” Urban added.

“For Messed Up As Me my creative director Patrick Tracy found this image from a 1970s Japanese Playboy Magazine cover. It was these naked people in a pickup truck on a freeway. I just loved it.”

A 2003 film School of Rock loosely inspired Keith’s revelatory Wildside song.

“Prior to my wife, I dated a lot of people and lots of them were these very southern, very Christian, wellraised girls that had this other side to them,” Urban joked.

“That’s always stayed with me this other side of these girls that is unleashed on a Friday or Saturday night. Monday they’re right back to being professional focused, responsible and diligent, and you N OV E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

never know. That blended with Joan Cusack’s character on School of Rock manifested that song.”

The album opens with the 12-second sound of an alarm clock on Blue Sky. Urban wakes up saying, “just give me some blue sky please.”

It segues into Straight Line with jovial banjo-picking and messages about escaping the monotony of life.

“I really wanted to open the album with Straight Line,” Urban revealed.

“There’s an intentional musical familiarity about that song when it comes to me and my sound. It felt very comfortable to me so it wasn’t surprising that lyrics leapt out about being in the moment and not missing out on life despite responsibility, commitments and obligations draining some of the colour out of it.

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open the song. I remember thinking maybe we should set up what the song’s meant to do,” he adds.

“I asked myself, ‘What’s the kind of song that you hope would come on your alarm clock radio in the morning? It might be the first thing that makes you feel motivated and good.’”

Chuck Taylors was a joint effort with fellow hit writer Chase McGill.

“I was driving to the studio in Berry Hill and was thinking, ‘God, I don’t have any ideas. I don’t know who this Chase McGill guy is and I get nervous writing with people I don’t know,” Urban recalled.

“In my head, I heard this simple chord progression and sort of punk, flailing bass. I got the whole chorus down but with zero lyrics. I had no idea what the song was about, but I was very adamant that the melody was right.

“I showed up with that and Chase says ‘I’ve got this idea for a song called Chuck Taylors. I’ll just read you what I’ve got.

As he read it, I’m hearing this melody in my head. I picked up the bass, sang my melody and as I was looking at the words they just fit. It was insane. Those words were just waiting for that melody.”

Equally dynamic was Love Is Hard written by Shane McAnally, Justin Tranter and Eren Cannata.

“There’s an emo middle-finger rawness to the chorus because that’s exactly what it’s like. The verses have a quiet, sensitive intimacy,” he explained.

“Shane texted me that song when were almost done with the album. I was driving and barely got through the first chorus before I called him back.”

High closes with Break The Chain - a profound song about generational trauma that finds Keith vulnerable examining what he’s inherited and what he wants to take forward.

High was released on September 20 via EMI Music Australia. Keith’s 2025 Australian tour takes in the Entertainment Centres in Newcastle August 13, Brisbane August 15 & 16, Wollongong August 20 and Adelaide August 28 as well as Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena August 22 & 23 and Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena August 25 & 26.

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COLIN BUCHANAN

A TRIP DOWN

memory lane When COLIN BUCHANAN was living in Bourke back in 1988, where he began writing songs about the Australian bush, he had no idea how many roads it would lead him down over the next three and a half decades.

C

olin said “I had no plan at all. I just discovered I loved songwriting – stories about the people I met and the bush around me just came tumbling out. I’m not sure, back then, that I would have believed where it would take me.”

More about that later, but 35

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years later, the ‘find’ of the 1991 Tamworth Country Music Festival (I proudly confess I bestowed that label on him), Colin has come full circle with his latest country album Memory Town.

“This album’s been a long time in the making. I’ve had songs sitting around that I’d written but never been able to release on my

other projects and I wanted them to see the light of day,” Colin said.

“Writing songs is my happy place, but I also need people to find them for them to realise their potential. And I wanted to celebrate the part of me that’s a country singer-songwriter, because that’s where it all began.”

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BY SUSAN JARVIS

work in country music – both as a singer-songwriter and a collaborator with numerous other artists – when he was elevated to the country music Roll of Renown in 2023. It was a proud moment for Colin, and yet another reminder of the satisfaction he’s found in his career over the last 35 years.

“I think partly because I’ve done so many different things, there’s always a sense of excitement. I’m someone who loves mornings better than evenings, and the first half of the year more than the second, because those times are N OV E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

ripe with possibilities,” he said.

“And every day for me has been full of possibility – new songs that have been waiting to emerge and new opportunities that would present themselves.

“I’m really content and satisfied with my musical life, and I see it as a great privilege. There’s always been a lot of love in the room – an incredible amount of support and enthusiasm, and for that I’m very grateful.”

“Memory Town is really returning to my very first musical passion, and it’s full of little treasures that I’ve been able to capture over the years.”

Colin enlisted fellow Roll of Renown alumni Graeme Connors and industry stalwart Dave Parker to help him trawl through around 50 tracks to cull them to the 13 songs on Memory Town.

It really is full of gems – particularly the moving Remember For Me, a powerful story about enduring love and compassion in the face of dementia. Colin wrote it after buying a desk online, and meeting the couple who inspired the song.

“It’s those small moments, those random things, that provide the way into songs for me. It’s like I enter into an entire little world, and then I stop and look around and discover new things,” he said.

“I guess it’s a kind of time travel.

When I’m collaborating, I often stop and wonder whether the people I’m writing with are in the same world, or a different one. But I guess we each have to go to our own imaginary place.”

The wonderful story-song Little Barefoot Millie tells a lost little girl in the bush. By sheer coincidence, Colin had the privilege of meeting Millie – now grown up and with her own children – after his Roll of Renown ceremony.

The bush has always been part of Colin’s songs and That’s What I Love About Country and The Bush Comes Back both capture that love and understanding perfectly.

Sing Me The Land, a duet with Michael Waugh, is another tribute to the bush. It’s almost a lullaby to the country, and the pair more than do it justice.

A real treasure on this album is Bucho’s duet with the elusive and uber-talented Shanley Del on In Busselton Today, a song inspired by Shanley’s partner, legendary bass player James Gillard.

Gillard, who has recently toured the album with Colin through his old stomping ground of the NSW Central West and West, also cowrote the beautiful River Song.

Another small moment – a ‘find’ of a collection of old schoolbooks in a council cleanup – led to the delightful Little Susie, which is a trip down memory lane. Kitchen Table is another example of an everyday object carrying a world of meaning and memories.

“I really wanted the stories on this album to carry it – and I feel they have. I hope they captivate listeners and sweep them into another place and time like they did me,” Colin said.

As mentioned earlier, along with his own country songs, Colin has collaborated with many of Australia’s leading country artists, particularly Lee Kernaghan and Troy Cassar-Daley, but many others too.

“I enjoy writing songs with other people, and in fact I’ve had more hits and sales as a backroom writer than I’ve ever had as an artist. It’s quietly – and immensely – satisfying,” he said.

Colin also spent eight years as a presenter on the iconic ABC children’s show Play School, and says he’s still recognised by the children and their parents who saw him on the program.

He’s released numerous Christian children’s and adult albums – in fact, he’s Australia’s leading Christian music artist – and also produced his own kids’ albums and the two iconic Bucho and Champs Aussie Christmas albums.

“They’ve been described as the Love Actually of Australian Christmas music, and I could perform Aussie Jingle Bells – which was actually written in a cab on the way to an ABC interview – 365 days a year if I wanted,” he said.

Add to that his 20-year stint as a Qantas in-flight audio host, his role as compere and panellist on ABC Sydney Drive’s Thank God It’s Friday radio show and his authorship of more than 20 children’s books for Scholastic, and it’s clear Colin Buchanan’s had an extraordinary career – which is far from over.

Yet Colin is as passionate as ever about writing music, performing and capturing the emotions, experiences and ethos of Australia and its people.

“All those different elements have helped me keep my songwriting fresh and to find new ideas and different ways of seeing the world. I’ve loved every single moment,” he said.

Colin will be presenting a special show with Raechel Whitchurch at the 2025 Tamworth Country Music Festival, at the Capitol Theatre on January 23 from 5.30pm.

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TONY BROWN

S E R E N D I P I TO U S

MOMENTS

Legendary industry figure TONY BROWN was honoured with the prestigious ACM Icon Award at the 17th Annual Academy of Country Music Honours on August 21.

T

ony said “I am honoured to receive the ACM Icon Award. This recognition from the Academy of Country Music is incredibly meaningful. I’ve been fortunate to work with some of the most talented artists and musicians throughout my career, and this award is humbling to me.”

Tony Brown’s reputation as an

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unshakeable pillar of country music spans 40 years.

The acclaimed record producer, co-founder of Universal South Records, and the former President of MCA Records Nashville, has worked with some of the biggest names in music and has produced numerous hits by artists like George Strait, Reba McEntire, and Vince Gill, and remains one of the most sought-after

and revered producers around.

Often credited with founding the Americana country movement, Tony was never afraid to push the envelope. He has proven the power of blending genres, helping establish the legendary careers of Steve Earle, Lyle Lovett, and Nancy Griffith, among others, in the Americana format.

His illustrious career spans N OV E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

Tony with Trisha Yearwood

decades and includes significant contributions as a keys player, iconic music producer, and record label executive. His career is marked by his early days playing piano with Elvis Presley as part of the TCB Band and playing with The Oak Ridge Boys, Emmylou Harris, Rosanne Cash, and Rodney Crowell.

Tony has earned several awards and recognitions for his achievements, including a Grammy Award, 7 Academy of Country Music Awards, including Producer of the Year, multiple CMA awards, 1 Dove Award for Best Instrumentalist, and many Gold, Platinum, and MultiN OV E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

Tony with Reba McEntire

Tony with George Strait

Platinum album credits.

Over the course of his career, Tony has yielded over 100 #1 singles and record levels of sales exceeding the $100 million mark, while simultaneously building a pantheon of stars unparalleled in music history.

Tony also produced most of the tracks on Lionel Richie’s Tuskegee, one of the highest-grossing albums of 2012, which features Lionel’s duets with Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Darius Rucker, Tim McGraw, Jimmy Buffet, Little Big Town, Kenny Rogers, and Willie Nelson.

In 2014, Tony appeared in Dave Grohl’s television docuseries, Sonic Highways and he was also a part of the Kenny Rogers 10-Song Collection, Life Is Like A Song, for his production on the Kenny and Dolly Parton duet Tell Me That You Love Me. In 2021, he was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame.

Tony’s book, Elvis, Strait, to Jesus, was first published in 2018, under the Hachette Group.

It’s a photographic journey of his career revealed in pictures, with historical and behind-the-scenes images and fascinating anecdotes, as well as portraits staged in a

French Renaissance chair with artists that include George Strait, Reba McEntire, Trisha Yearwood, Brooks & Dunn, Vince Gill, Lionel Richie, Lyle Lovett, Patty Loveless, Steve Earle, Rosanne Cash, Emmylou Harris, Jimmy Buffett, Marty Stuart, Bernie Taupin, Don Was, William Lee Golden, Rodney Crowell, David Briggs, Glen D. Hardin, Donnie Sumner, and more.

“Serendipitous moments have happened throughout my entire life, as they relate to my career trajectory. Much of my journey was not planned, and although I mostly followed my heart, my instincts helped me make some very wise decisions. Pictures sometimes tell this kind of story better than words, which is why I’ve chosen key people to be featured in my French Renaissance chair. The chair represents me. And those in the chair were present at the intersections where I took a big step, or maybe a subtle right or left turn,” said Tony.

This year’s ACM Honours, was hosted by four-time ACM Award winner Carly Pearce and reigning ACM Song of the Year winner Jordan Davis and celebrated Tony’s remarkable achievements, alongside other special award honourees including Luke Bryan, Alan Jackson, Lainey Wilson, and Trisha Yearwood, who also received the ACM Icon Award.

Previous recipients of the ACM Icon Award include Alabama, Connie Bradley, Brooks & Dunn, Garth Brooks, Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, Charlie Daniels, Mike Dungan, Joe Galante, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, Alan Jackson, George Jones, The Judds, Loretta Lynn, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, Rascal Flatts, George Strait, Conway Twitty, Hank Williams, Hank Williams Jr and Dwight Yoakam.

Tony recently reunited with George Strait to produce Cowboys And Dreamers, their 20th album together.

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PATSY + DAVE

PATSY AND DAVE have undergone a name change,

but they’re still producing the same great music that fans have loved for nearly two decades.

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“We’ve had so many people tell us their favourite tracks, and it’s been really lovely to hear how much people are enjoying it.”

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ormerly known as The Long and Short of It, they are no strangers to the Australian country music scene having performed together for 17 years, but after years of building their reputation under their former name, Patsy Toop and David Baird decided it was time for a change.

“It started with feedback from fans,” they said.

“We’d often hear from people saying they couldn’t find us online.

When they’d type in The Long and Short of It, they’d sometimes end up on pages for a heavy metal band out of Los Angeles. It became clear that if we wanted to be found easily, we needed to simplify things.”

The rebrand to Patsy and Dave came naturally. Most people already referred to them by their first names, and the decision to make the switch was an easy one.

“People have really embraced it,” they said.

“We’ve had so many comments from fans saying they like the new name with many people confessing they prefer the new name.”

Their latest album, The Willow, has been a milestone moment in their career and features two collaborations with Australian rock legend Russell Morris. Released under their new duo name, the album climbed to #1 on the ARIA Country Album Chart, #6 on the overall ARIA Albums Chart, and #8 across all genres and remained on the charts for multiple weeks.

This success is the result of hard work and loyal fans, and Patsy and Dave are immensely proud of the new album.

“It’s incredible,” they said.

“To reach those kinds of numbers

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is beyond anything we could have hoped for. We’ve sold a lot of product to get to that point and it’s been really comforting to know that people are still excited about what we’re doing.”

The Willow is a song that was cowritten by Patsy, Dave and Russell.

The title was inspired by Dave’s memory of a willow tree he played in at his grandparents’ home, but could be a song representing the duo’s resilience in the music industry.

“It’s inspired by the resilience and strength that comes from weathering life’s storms, much like the willow tree that bends, but never breaks,” they said.

Russell Morris said it was a pleasure to join Patsy and Dave on their album.

“I’ve been a fan of their music for quite a while,” he said.

“Their song Cowboy Lonesome is still one of my all-time favourites.

This new album shows their great scope of talent and creativity.”

Since the album’s release, they’ve played sell-out shows and received an outpouring of positive feedback.

“Radio stations have been fabulous,” they said.

“We’ve had so many people tell us their favourite tracks, and it’s been really lovely to hear how much people are enjoying it.”

One of the standout moments of the album’s production was collaborating with Russell Morris.

“Russell is an absolute legend, and we were so fortunate to have him join us on two songs,” Patsy and Dave said.

“It all started when we sent him a copy of our album Midnight Choir.

He fell in love with the first track, Cowboy Lonesome, and from there, we were bold enough to ask if we

could write together.”

The result was two tracks, focus single and title track, The Willow, and Rumblin’ Train.

“Russell wanted a ballad, and we love ballads, so The Willow came about pretty naturally,” the Melbourne duo said.

“Then we got another one in there, Rumblin’ Train, which has this bluesy, rock-country feel.

They’re very different songs, but we love them both, and it was such a joy to work with Russell on them.”

Looking to the future, Patsy and Dave are excited to take their new N OV E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

BY BEC GRACIE

NEW NAME NEW MUSIC music on the road.

“We’ve got plans to tour the album next year, and we want to hit places we’ve been to before as well as some new spots,” they said.

“We’ve never been as far west as Western Australia, so that’s high on our list.”

The duo is also looking forward to returning to the Tamworth Country Music Festival, where they’ve been asked to perform in the Brian Cadd Show at Blazes on January 22.

“Brian’s another legend, and it’s always such a privilege to be a part of his show. We’re really looking N OV E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

forward to it,” they said.

As well as their touring plans, Patsy and Dave are finding new inspiration for their next project and are already preparing for the next body of work.

“Working with Russell has really sparked something in us,” they said.

“We’re back in the swing of writing our own songs, and we’ve started working on an acoustic album.”

The upcoming album will be a stripped-back affair, focusing on Patsy and Dave’s voices and acoustic instruments.

“It’s going to be very organic, with just us and a few friends playing alongside us,” they said.

The inspiration to keep creating doesn’t stop with their own music. Patsy and Dave are also committed to supporting the wider country music community, running their venue Mantra Studio Kitchen Bar, where they regularly host performances by fellow country artists.

“We love the industry, and it’s really important to us to be able to give back in some way,” they said.

“Supporting other artists is something we’re passionate about, and it’s been great to have a space where we can do that.”

Seventeen years into their career, Patsy and Dave are working to continue raising the bar with their music, and touring to new areas, making new friends and fans along the way.

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SMALL TOWN ROMANCE

BY JON WOLFE

BLENDED It seems like a lifetime between album releases for the SMALL TOWN ROMANCE duo of Flora Smith and James Arneman, but their follow-up to 2016’s self-titled effort is well worth the wait.

J

“One thing that makes it easier for us is that we are both on the same page as for our tastes and our reference points. We’ve got a lot of the same influences and records and artists.”

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ames says there were a few factors as to why the long wait for Home Fires, which was released earlier this year.

“Small Town Romance is essentially myself and my wife Flora,” James told Capital News, “and there’s a few life things that got in the way over that time – we had a couple of kids, there was a pandemic and I also worked on the feature documentary (Slim And I) – for starters.

“So, it took a little while to get the new record out there, but that time was kind of helpful in clarifying things for us musically. We had enough time to select the right songs, the right group of songs, and craft them and take the time to record them with musicians we really like.”

In the eight years between the two albums, Small Town Romance did release the single I Don’t Believe You, co-written with James’ grandmother Joy McKean and performed with his mother Anne Kirkpatrick, in support of the Slim And I film and it went on to earn a Golden Guitar nomination in 2021.

James said the title song from the new album has a lot of resonance for the pair after that time spent living a life.

The Home Fires album is a rich blend of songs that looks at life with finely attuned confessional and observations insights, and the title song and another song, Ordinary Life chart coming-of age tensions with pathos and tenderness.

James said; “Home Fires is a song that absolutely, thematically, has a lot of resonance with us now. It has that

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feeling, you know, of when you’re a parent, or just coming of age into adulthood, and the flights of fancy that you used to have, that maybe weren’t really an option, but you sometimes find yourself having a reverie about them.

“Funnily enough Flora wrote that song before we had children, and we dusted it off as it has new meaning for us now and we tinkered with it. It was actually written for me to sing, then we realised that Flora was the right person to sing it.”

James said songwriting for them comes down to a case-by-case basis.

“It depends on the song I guess,” he said. “Generally speaking one of us will have a husk of an idea, melodic or lyrical idea, and sometimes we’ll really workshop it hard, other times it will be more one person writing the majority of a song and the other just giving it an edit or giving some feedback.

“One thing that makes it easier for us is that we are both on the same page as for our tastes and our reference points. We’ve got a lot of the same influences and records and artists.”

While they might go into a recording session with a set idea for a song James says that sometimes things can change in an organic way once they are in the studio.

“For instance,” he said, “the song Wild Boys off the album is a song Flora wrote and it had a pretty straight feel to it, but when we got in the studio, we felt it needed something more. We kinda tried it a few different ways and we had a breakthrough where we tried with

a kind of half-time feel that left a lot of space in the song and we played it once through and that’s pretty much what ended up on the record.”

Small Town Romance have a unique sound that blends together contemporary country music and feels, and really classic country feels, and songs like Pick Up Band, Festival Town and Wild Boys are subtle, closely observed portraits you might find in the recorded catalogues of Guy Clark or Don Walker.

“We’re really broad church with our influences,” James said. “You know, Home Fires, we love Patsy Cline, that really haunting kind of classic country and then with Wish The Worst, we were thinking of Gary Stewart and a little later George Strait – so yeah, we have a lot of influences.

“Don Walker is maybe my favourite songwriter of all time; he just looms large in my life.”

Small Town Romance performed at the Gympie Muster in August and had a good response from the audiences.

“We haven’t played to crowds for a while,” James said. “So, we’re just kind of getting back into people’s ears and we’re really excited to get on the road, next year especially, and get out to regional places and play and get this record heard and get our name into more festivals.

“We’re hoping to come to Tamworth in January and do our own band show and a special, intimate tribute to Slim Dusty and Joy McKean called Walk A Country Mile, which is rooted in their early years and their touring.”

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REFLECTIVE

DYNAMICS

REFLECTIVE

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MELINDA SCHNEIDER

BY BEC GRACIE

BRUSHED WITH tenderness Award-winning singer-songwriter MELINDA SCHNEIDER is what you’d call a multi-faceted artist.

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he not only creates original music, but also exhibits original paintings as a visual artist.

Melinda’s current exhibition, Tender, combines her art and heritage, and is on display at the Nulla Nulla Gallery, in the iconic Slim Dusty Centre.

“Exhibiting here is extra special to me because of my country music heritage,” Melinda said.

Melinda started painting as a form of therapy after experiencing two major bouts of depression in 2018 and 2019.

Combining her love of music with visual art, the Golden Guitar winner created an exhibition of 12 paintings that reflect themes from her upcoming album, Tender.

Melinda said; “Every painting is a song from my new album; painting my songs is something completely new for me, and a whole new way for me to express my emotions.

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“During the pandemic I couldn’t get out to perform, so I used that time to turn within and explore my creativity as a visual artist,” Melinda said.

“I took weekly lessons with an incredible local artist, Annie Reid, and discovered the power of visual art to express myself, and explore complex themes and feelings around perfectionism, feminism and tenderness.”

Melinda draws inspiration from the local fauna, flora, and ancient spirituality of the area where she lives on the Bouddi Peninsula (Guringai Country), on the Central

Coast of New South Wales.

Her works are created using acrylic on plywood, applying paint with brushes, twigs, rollers, rags, and sponges. Melinda sold four paintings on opening night Among the guests were good friend Anne Kirkpatrick, daughter of the late Slim Dusty and Joy McKean, as well as Melinda’s husband Choirboy’s frontman Mark Gable, and their son Sully.

Melinda performed an intimate concert at the Slim Dusty Centre on October 26. The display is open until November 24.

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A TRUCKIE’S TRIBUTE A collection of 24 trucking songs has been released by Australia’s King of country music, the late SLIM DUSTY.

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he album, Gone Truckin’, draws from all eras of Slim’s recording career highlighting well-known classics like Dieseline Dreams and Joy McKean’s Lights On The Hill, alongside hidden gems such as Three Hundred Horses, and The Lady Is A Truckie.

In 1997, as Slim was getting into the spirit for his new album

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Makin’ A Mile, he embarked on a memorable journey across the Nullarbor Plain, driving a T900 Kenworth road-train under the guidance of Keith Thompson, from Thompson Transport, who was the subject of the track Haulin’ For The Double T. The T900 Kenworth Slim drove has since become a cherished piece of history, now honoured in the Kenworth Dealer Hall of Fame in

Alice Springs.

Released in October, Gone Truckin’ pays tribute to truckies and their vital role in keeping Australia moving.

Its release coincided with the Lights On the Hill Memorial Convoy at Gatton Qld and the service at the Australian Truck Drivers Memorial Wall at Tarcutta NSW; events that honour the memory of drivers who have lost their lives on the job.

Tracks include Pushin’ Time, I’m Married To My Bulldog Mack, Road Train Blues, Rolling Down The Road and many more.

It comes in a full-colour 12” sleeve, featuring new original artwork from acclaimed artist and designer Dave Homer, and pressed onto two eucalypt green vinyl discs.

Gone Truckin’ follows Gone Fishin’ – an ARIA #11 album in 2021 – as the next release in the series of thematic albums from Slim Dusty and will no doubt be a must-have for Slim Dusty fans.

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NATHAN CARTER 24

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BY JON WOLFE

WHEEL OF

FORTUNE

W

ith 14 albums and a number of live DVDs to his credit he has built a large following in Ireland and the UK, and last visited Australia nine years ago.

“We came over to do my first ever few dates in Australia,” Nathan said, “and we’re very excited to have three gigs planned (at the time of writing) with another two pending.

While forging his credentials as an Irish favourite, Nathan was in fact born in Liverpool.

“Yeah, born in Liverpool and surrounded by country music growing up,” he said, “and, of course, Irish music with mum’s side of the family being Irish.

“I’ve lived in Ireland for most of my life and I learned to play the accordion and feature some of the folky Irish side of things and I play guitar as well.”

Nathan said he’s always loved country music, especially the older generational country artists.

“People like Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride – the list goes on and on! I was the odd kid at school singin’ Kenny Rogers songs.”

So, does he probably get requests for The Gambler?

N OV E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

Nathan Carter is one of Ireland’s best known country music artists and he’s heading Down Under in November for a short tour.

“Of course, we do,” he said with a chuckle. “I recorded it in a Kenny Rogers medley a few years ago and it’s on a CD somewhere and a live recording on Spotify!”

Nathan’s debut album, Starting Out, was released in 2007 and subsequently there have been 14 albums, both studio-recorded and live, that have kept his name and music front and centre in Ireland.

In June 2012 he released the single and album Wagon Wheel.

“The single went to the top of the charts in Ireland,” Nathan said. “It did very well across England, Scotland and Wales.

“It introduced me to TV and got my name introduced to a lot of new people who’ve never heard me before across the UK and Ireland, which was really good fun!

“And then a year later Darius Rucker recorded his version of the song, and it went to the top of the charts in the US. He made a lot more money than I did! At least I can say I recorded it before him.

“I’d first heard the Old Crow Medicine Show version and I loved the song from the word go…I’m actually quoted as saying ‘I find it annoyingly catchy’ and it just took off and got bigger and bigger and we close the gigs with it. The

people never seem to get tired of it.”

The Wagon Wheel album hit the top three of the Irish Album Chart, and Nathan won the RTE Irish Country Music Awards for Live Act Of The Year and All-Time Favourite Country Song for Wagon Wheel.

Since then he has also appeared on Irish TV variety shows as well as shows like Ros na Run, an Irish soap opera produced for the Irish-language television, Stetsons and Stilettos, with a film crew spending two weeks on the road with him and in December 2015 he hosted the Nathan Carter Show, a talk format in which he got to sing with many of Ireland’s, and other, top stars.

“It’s going to be nice to catch up with old friends and hopefully make some new ones as well.”

“I did two seasons of that show and worked with people like Mary Black, Daniel O’Donnell, Billy Ocean, Paul Carrick, West Life, so I got to sing with all the different acts.

Nathan’s confirmed Australian shows, with Australian country artist Raechel Whitchurch as his opening guest, are in Melbourne (November 28), Sydney (29) and Fremantle WA (30) and check out nathancarter.com to see if extra shows have been added.

Despite an offer to tour the US at this time Nathan said it’s been too long since he’s been to Australia.

“It’s going to be nice to catch up with old friends and hopefully make some new ones as well, “he said. “We’ve got a very lively show planned for Australia. Me and a fivepiece band, lots of instruments, good old country music, a few ballads, some brand-new songs, a bit of an Irish jig thrown in throughout, with the squeeze box and the fiddle.

“People get up and have a good time – and that’s the aim of the game.”

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COOPER ALAN

BY BEC GRACIE

AUTHENTIC

EXPERIENCES When COOPER ALAN landed in Australia to perform at CMC Rocks earlier this year, he wasn’t quite prepared for what awaited him.

H

e chatted with Capital News prior to returning this month.

“We were expecting Australia to be pretty awesome, and big, from reports and streaming numbers, but we didn’t expect it to be nearly that amazing,” he said.

“There were so many people there, they know my stuff, they are singing my stuff, and I thought, ‘they’re really having fun with this’.

Not that we don’t have amazing N OV E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

crowds over here, but it’s never been that big and that many people.”

Sporting a CMC Rocks shirt with pride during the interview, he described the festival in March as ‘one of the best days of my life’.

“It was awesome. Halfway through the first song, I’m in my mind thinking, how soon can we get back to Australia? We’ve gotta make this happen now,” he said.

Cooper is back for sold-out shows in Brisbane and Perth – upgraded to allow more tickets to be sold – as well as for performances at Ridin’ Hearts

Festival in Sydney and Melbourne. The response from his Australian fans has been nothing short of overwhelming.

“It’s another one of those things where CMC was awesome, but it was a festival, so we didn’t know if they were going to buy tickets to a headline show,” he said.

“We put those on sale, and we just didn’t really know how well they were going to do. The fact that many people want to see us up on stage and have a big old party with us is such an honour and super humbling.”

And if Ridin’ Hearts is anything like CMC, Cooper said his liver could be in trouble.

Known for his high-energy performances and blending country with other genres, Cooper wants his audiences to have a “damn good time”.

“The thing with me, there is an authenticity with everything I do,” he said.

“It’s always me, it’s always my story or somebody I closely knew went through. It’s always real. I love fun vibes; I love really entertaining live shows. That’s why I got into music – because the biggest inspiration for me was seeing Kenny Chesney, Kid Rock – they’re great entertainers. When you put all that together, have songs that say something in a different way, with a different sound… we push a lot of boundaries and I think people like that because maybe they never get bored.”

Cooper attributes his musical styles and live shows to a diverse range of influences, from songs like Feel Like Hell, to ballads that resonate with his audience.

“I’m all over the place because I like so many types of music and I love doing it all and keeping it interesting,” he said.

For the North Carolina native, he wants to connect with fans through authentic experiences and sharing stories that move them.

“I think there is a big place for songs that just tell it like it is,” he said.

“I think people really love that, and there’s a place for songs that are more wordplay and just kind of dance around something, and I like all of it. I like writing all of it.”

Despite his growing fame and success, he is grateful for the journey.

“I’ve outshot my own expectations, so I’m living the dream and I can’t take it for granted,” he said.

“At the end of the day, nobody really gives too much of a crap about how many records we sold or whether we sold out a show. People care a whole lot more about how you made them feel and whether you were a good husband, friend, son.”

Alongside his music career, Cooper is also focused on giving back and making a difference.

“I’m starting a foundation for mental health this year. I can try to make at least one person’s life better outside of music,” he said.

As he plays Ridin’ Hearts and his headline shows in Australia, he is ready to continue building on his connection with Australian fans and we haven’t seen the last of him yet, thankfully.

“We love it and we’re going to keep coming back,” he said.

“You can expect at least once a year, maybe twice a year for a long time to come.”

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HENRY WAGONS

A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS 28

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BY LACHLAN BRYAN

“An avalanche of stimulation,” says HENRY WAGONS, after a pause, when asked to explain the sustained burst of creativity that has resulted in two full-length solo records in less than eighteen months.

H

enry Wagons says “An avalanche of stimulation. I don’t mean that to sound sleazy.”

He continues, “I mean that I’m back on the road, I’m circumnavigating the world, there’s plenty of blood, sweat and tears everywhere I go and in that fury of activity I’m finding myself really inspired. So, when I get home, I just make stuff.”

Wagons’ desire to create is assisted, no doubt, by the momentum his career has taken on in the past couple of years. Last year’s release South Of Everywhere scored Henry his first ever ARIA nomination after 25 years in the business, and new album The Four Seasons has followed suit.

“There was enough excitement around the South Of Everywhere record, and it found enough friendly ears, that I just wanted more – I was insatiable!” laughs Henry, before going on to explain that this new album is in fact a very different offering to its predecessor.

“That album was a pretty forthright, twangy, record exploring and inspired by a lot of local Australian flavours of country music,” he says “whereas The Four Seasons is a little more tripped out, more cosmic, kind of Lee Hazlewood-inspired. My truth I think is somewhere between the two.”

“There’s a lot of love songs on the new album,” continues Henry, when pressed by this author (who, for full disclosure, happens to know Wagons pretty well) on the more personal, earnest nature of his songwriting in recent years. “It’s scary, and it does make me feel vulnerable, but I think you have a point. It’s probably a reflection of how in love I am – and that’s a N OV E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

pretty powerful thing to feel and write about.”

There’s no doubt that the ‘softer side’ of Henry Wagons has connected with audiences, a fact he says has been reiterated time and again by his recent tours, particularly overseas, which he’s presented in mostly solo or duo format.

“I forged my career with a big barrage of a band,” he says (at this point it should be noted that Henry’s band - simply called Wagons - are a distinct entity in their own right, which he’s tended to keep separate from his solo career – Ed.) “and there’s a kind of shield that comes with that. In a way it doesn’t feel appropriate with the band to be a confessional or emotional dude – it just doesn’t feel like the right time or place when I’m fronting this battering-ram of an outfit made up of a bunch of hairy men.

“But when I’m solo, or close to, and I’m playing these lovely theatres or intimate venues, I do want to talk and to connect. And that seems to have worked for me and for the audience, and it’s probably affected his writing as well.”

When listening to Henry’s love songs, you may notice something a little unusual. They are, for the most part, songs about ‘the middle of love’ as opposed to the ‘start or end’ love-songs, replete with giddy attraction or debilitating heartbreak, that dominate the popular music canon. I pointed this out to Henry, and he agreed: “Sometimes I feel like no-one wants to hear about a happily married a**hole” he laughs, “and I guess I used to feel too insecure to write about my relationships and its complexities and the euphoria it brings me. But it feels honest – it is

honest – that’s where so much of my love comes from, and maybe I’ve gotten comfortable revealing my secrets. I hope that doesn’t filter out the footloose, fancy-free and single from my audience. Maybe I can help guide them all into a more loved-up phase!”

Whilst confessional songwriting abounds on both recent Henry Wagons records, they do, as Henry asserted earlier, inhabit very different sonic landscapes. Perhaps most striking about The Four Seasons is the presence of four instrumental tracks (Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring) scattered evenly throughout the record.

“I’d initially thought that the instrumentals and the songs were separate from each other – maybe for different records” says Henry, “but then I made a playlist of demos and realised that I had groups of songs to match each season and a narrative thread began to emerge. It also, I think, gives people a little rest from my baritone. My voice has a pretty heavy footprint and I liked the idea of giving the audience a little space now and again.”

In fact, Henry’s distinctive voice is arguably less dominant than ever on The Four Seasons, thanks to the contributions of Melbourne singer-songwriter Queenie, who acts as duet-partner on Big City Blues and Surrender.

Described by Henry as “one of his favourite voices,” she’s one of only a handful of ‘outside contributors’ to a record that was recorded almost entirely in Henry’s home studio in Melbourne.

“Post-pandemic I realised that the collaborative method of writing and recording an album had sort of expired for me, and I went back to working the way I used to with my four-track as a teenager.

“I discovered I was making more honest and open music when I didn’t have to impress anyone else in the moment.

And because I’m a massive audio nerd, it makes sense for the writing and recording to happen simultaneously – just me in front of my computer in my studio.

“I believe in the power of the creative flow of the studio – where if you stumble upon a sound or a rhythm in the studio you harness it and you see where it goes. It becomes like a choose-your-own-adventure. I don’t bring anyone else in until there’s a sound I can’t make or something I can’t play. Over the years I’ve accumulated a lot of great gear and gained a lot of faith in the process.”

For Henry Wagons, the faith is paying off. In a year punctuated by his first headline UK tour, a long sojourn across the Americas supporting Canadian heavyweights The Dead South, packed out Australian launches, festival appearances and the aforementioned second ARIA nomination, the momentum continues and Henry’s midcareer star continues to rise.

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BY JON WOLFE

On his latest album, The Long Way Home, South Australian country troubadour, MATT WARD, spins tales of hope and love.

T

he songs are inextricably tied to the lands and journeys that have shaped Matt, and he said “Country music often revolves around three themes – the road, country, and matters of the heart, and this album celebrates all three, especially my unexpected journey to find a home in regional South Australia.”

Like many young people Matt listened to music but it wasn’t until he was in his thirties that he started playing music and writing songs.

“It’s a bit of a cliché, I suppose, but I had a break-up from a long-term relationship and picked up a guitar,” he said, “and started writing songs.

“At that same time, I was doing a lot of travelling in regional and remote South Australia, with a lot of time on the road and in Aboriginal communities, and they all loved their country music and that was when I was first exposed to a lot of the classic Australian country like Slim Dusty.

“It was probably the early 2000s when roots and Americana was having a bit of a revival and a couple of things combined. Not only being out bush, but that re-emergence of country music internationally combined into what I liked to listen to and what I started writing.”

As a former ornithologist with a PhD in Ecology, Matt has criss-crossed the country and the new album references the Australian backdrops, juxtaposed with the inevitable yearning to rest his rambling soul.

“It draws inspiration from the landscapes I’ve cherished all my life, my background in land management, and the challenges I’ve faced on the road in search of a place to call my own,” Matt said.

On Matt’s third album the opening track Come Home Safe, with its hip-hop infused vocal delivery and rustic instrumentation, details the joys and perils of life on the road.

“This song was born about by three different dreams I had,” he said. “The first one was a recurring one about the type of country in the eastern, Mount Lofty Mountain Ranges, where the ranges drop off behind Adelaide into the Murray River country with granite outcrops - and another recuring dream about a regional town in that type of country.

“I had another dream about the escarpment country further north and one night these dreams came together and I was in the middle of a town called Springton that I’d never been to. I went to Springton but had an accident on the way back and that got me thinking about my life and it all became that song and the basis for the new album.”

Matt has a unique Australian vocal style that has been commented on by many reviewers and radio personalities.

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a common

THREAD

“Apple Music did a bit of a story on me when the album was released, and they called it ‘unvarnished Australian vocals’ and I do have my own unique way of singing and it matches my songwriting. A huge credit has to go to my producer Matt Fell who brings out that strong Australian thread, not only in my

songs, but also in my vocals and my vocal delivery.”

Matt said he likes his albums to have a certain thread to them.

“I think about country music being about songs and stories about matters of the road, the heart and the country and I like to tell stories, and I like albums to be meaningful N OV E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

MATT WARD and to that extent there is certainly a traditional element to them.”

While there isn’t a song on the album called The Long Way Home, Matt said the title comes from the second song on the album, The Last Night.

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moment with your loved ones and there’s the line ‘I’ll take the long way back home’, which reflects on driving with a loved one and deliberately taking the long way home, so you can spend more time with them,” Matt said.

“It’s also, I guess, an analogy of my life. I’ve settled down a little later in

life than many people I know did. Just in the last 12 months I’ve settled down with my partner. The album is a reflection of my own journey and finding my home.”

Matt has toured to support the album across a lot of the country, including some album launches and Groundwater on the Gold Coast, and has plans to be coming to Tamworth next January for the festival.

“Still working on that,” he said, “and the intent is to be there, so I’m looking forward to it!”

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BELLA MACKENZIE

BY BEC GRACIE

sass +fire With the launch of her debut EP, Wild Thing, BELLA MACKENZIE is poised to reveal her artistic self to the world.

T

he EP’s focus single, Down South, encapsulates Bella’s love for country music and brings a fresh, fun energy to her live performances. Her previous releases are the title track, Wild Thing, and previously released singles, Wasted, a collaboration with US artist Lacade, and Cowboy.

“It’s all been a blur,” Bella said.

“I’ve been working so hard on this project, and it feels like everything’s finally coming together. The past four years, I’ve really honed in on what I want to say as an artist, and this EP is a reflection of that journey.”

Australian fans have watched Bella’s journey, from participating

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in the CMAA Academy of Country Music Junior Course to winning the inaugural Country on Keppel Talent Search and the Groundwater KIX Start Competition, culminating in her first EP release.

Bella’s time on The Voice, and subsequent tour with James Johnston, played a big part in shaping her as a performer, and she said the opportunities helped fill in the gaps she felt were missing in her career development.

“Being put in front of someone else’s audience was a big honour,” she said.

“It was amazing to stand up in front of those crowds, see how they interact with the artist, and why they love them so much. It taught me a lot

about connecting with people.”

The Wild Thing EP is more than just a collection of songs for Bella—it’s her first major body of work and she wanted it to be exactly as she envisioned.

“I’m a bit of a perfectionist,” she said.

“I wanted this to be a good representation of me, not just as a musician, but as a person. Each song is a part of my personality and life.”

The EP features a variety of co-writers, including Bryce Sainty and Jacky McCormack, and Bella chose each track to represent different facets of herself.

“There’s sass and fire, but also more vulnerable songs,” she said.

“I wanted people to see the overthinking, anxious side that we all have, as well as the bold, confident side.”

The track Down South is a favourite of Bella’s.

“It’s one of my favourites,” she said.

“It’s super country, super authentic. We put a lot into making it different, and it’s so much fun to perform live.”

Another track, Neon Mood, showcases a softer, ballad side to the EP. Bella worked with top-notch musicians from Nashville to bring the song to life.

“I was so grateful to be able to work with those people: it’s way beyond what I ever imagined,” she said.

Turning heads in the Australian music industry is the duet, Wasted, featuring US artist Lacade, came together thanks to social media. After posting a cover of one of Lacade’s songs on TikTok, Bella was over the moon when he commented, saying he loved it.

“Jacky and I had written it and I always knew I wanted to have a collaboration on this particular EP, so I went into my label and Jacky and I had a writing session that afternoon and wrote Wasted as a duet, but we didn’t know who with,” she said.

“After he commented on my post, I sent Lacade a demo of Wasted, and he loved it so much that he put a verse on it. Social media is such an amazing tool for connecting with other artists and fans.”

Bella is a native of the social media world, constantly creating content and said she sees platforms like TikTok as an important way to interact with fans and give them a glimpse into her life.

“It’s another outlet to get to know me beyond the music,” she said.

“Fans get to see behind the scenes of the process, my fashion inspiration, and even my pets. It’s a way to give back and let them see the real me.”

Looking ahead, Bella is already working hard on her next project.

“As soon as I delivered the first EP, I was back in the studio working on the second one,” she said.

“I’ve got lots of new music coming, and I’m hoping to collaborate with some Nashville writers on this next project.”

With plenty of shows on the horizon, including Ridin’ Hearts Festival and Meat Stock, Bella Mackenzie is ready to keep pushing her career and Wild Thing is just the beginning.

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KAMERON MARLOWE

BY BEC GRACIE

DEEP

CONNECTIONS KAMERON MARLOWE’s connection with Australian audiences

runs deep, and he doesn’t take it for granted.

A

fter playing CMC Rocks in March, he’s excited to return for Kane Brown’s November tour, and experience the energy of Australian crowds again.

“The crowd at CMC was unlike any other crowd I’ve gotten to play in front of,” he said. “I’ve played so many American festivals, London too, but this is my favourite.”

Kameron has already been in Australia twice this year, first for CMC Rocks, then to visit friends. “Last time, I was just here to hang out with friends, so I didn’t even play music,” he laughed. “I’ve been braving the planes, but I love it here—it’s beautiful.”

Touring with Kane Brown in Australia is looking to be a highlight for Kameron, not just musically but also for the camaraderie. “I love being able to collaborate with other artists,” he said. “When you’re on the road as much as we are, you don’t get to see each other a lot. Festivals and tours are when we catch up, and that’s why it’s so much fun.”

The tour will also be a learning experience for the North Carolina native. “I’ve done quite a few shows with Kane, and he’s become a friend,” he said. “Watching artists like Kane, Morgan Wallen, and Luke Combs, you learn so much. They really have it all figured out, and there’s always something to take away to improve your own show.”

As he prepares for more live shows, Kameron is eager to

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debut new material from his latest album. “We’re working on a brandnew set with some really cool new songs from my last record that I haven’t played live yet,” he said. “It’s a good chance to see how the fans react. This album means so much to me and it’s been a fun one to create and tour with.”

Collaboration has also been key to Kameron’s journey. His track High Hopes, featuring Marcus King, is a standout. “Marcus is one of the most talented people I’ve ever met.

It’s honestly annoying how talented he is,” Kameron joked. “He can play guitar better than anyone I know and sing amazingly. Having him on the track was an honour, and he took the song to a whole new level.”

Kameron’s songwriting is deeply personal, often focusing on themes of heartbreak and resilience.

“Heartbreak is an emotion a lot of people have experienced, and if my

music can evoke feelings, that’s my goal,” he said.

His track Quit You is particularly special, written about his fiancée and serving as a follow-up to his previous song Giving You Up, which was about heartbreak and separation about his ex.

Life is good for Kameron, as he speaks fondly of his home with his fiancée and their dog (who added the occasional bark to the interview).

His current happiness drives his commitment to charitable work. A portion of every ticket sold on his world tour goes towards the Keeping The Lights On Fund, a cause close to his heart.

“The track Keeping The Lights On is about my dad losing his job last year,” he said.

“It was a really tough time for my family. We had a conversation on the back porch, and he said, ‘Son, I don’t know if I’m going to be able to keep the lights on’. That was the first time I saw my dad not be Superman in my eyes.”

The fund aims to help people struggling to make ends meet.

“This is for anyone who needs groceries for the month or their light bill paid,” Kameron said.

“We’re just trying to help people in any way we can. My parents raised me to help as many people as possible, and that’s what I want to do.”

In addition to his shows in November with Kane Brown. He’s also planning to tour across the US and Europe, into places he’s never performed in before, and there’s no slowing down next year. “2025 is going to be busy,” he said. “I can’t say too much, but there’s more music coming, more shows, and I’m not stopping anytime soon.”

So, what does success mean for someone already achieving so much happiness?

“Being happy, being home with my fiancée, and living in my house— that’s all I can ever ask for,” he said.

“That’s what success looks like for me.”

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BEHIND THE

BY BEC GRACIE

music WILL

BRIDGING

the gap

Will pictured with US star Jo Dee Messina

From his modest beginnings in the back of his family’s record store, WILL OSLAND, has become a pivotal figure in the independent music scene through his company, Checked Label Services.

F

or 17 years, Checked Label Services has collaborated with artists worldwide, empowering them to achieve their goals and release their music.

Will’s journey began when his father, semi-retired and seeking a lower-stress adventure, opened the family store. Local bands would bring in their CDs, vinyl, cassettes, and merchandise, asking if the store could sell them. This sparked an idea for Will. “As more and more artists N OV E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

and bands approached us, I started to realise that we could turn this into something bigger,” he said.

At the time, Will was working a corporate job and wanted a change so he joined the family business, and together with Drew Doran, they launched WJO Distribution.

“We thought we might make a few hundred dollars each, or at least some spending money for a messy weekend,” Will laughed. “We had no expectation of lasting more than 12-24 months.”

OSLAND

The business grew rapidly. “It became a word-of-mouth phenomenon; we were taking on new artists daily, building a growing catalogue of titles and merchandise from artists, bands, and indie labels across Australia,” Will said. Their success caught the attention of larger retailers like Sanity and JB Hi-Fi, allowing them to distribute music nationally.

“It felt like we timed the business perfectly. Many artists were looking for a hands-on partnership and we began attracting larger names,” he said. Recognising the potential for digital distribution early on, Will sought out opportunities as streaming began to emerge. iTunes Australia was the first platform to grant them a direct account, marking the beginning of their journey into digital downloads.

Now rebranded as Checked Label Services, the company has evolved into an indie label services powerhouse, serving artists, writers, and labels across Australia, the US, Canada, and the UK. While they are a major distributor in the Australian country music industry, Will and his team committed to their original goal: serving artists and writers, and keeping the team small and approachable.

With Drew now based in the UK and Will spending his time between Australia and the US, the business continues to thrive. “Our focus is bridging the gap for our artists and writers across multiple territories simplifying communication for successful releases,” Will said.

One of the things that sets Checked Label Services apart is their independence. “We’re not affiliated with a major label; we answer only to our clients and each other,” Will said. Although many labels have approached them for partnerships, maintaining their indie status has been a core business goal.

The launch of syncCHECKED, a non-exclusive sync agency, has already helped clients find placements in movies, television shows, and advertising campaigns. They also recently introduced a&rCHECKED, which offers hands-on artist development, project management, release rollout, and bridging the gap between artists, labels, publishers, and industry movers.

“CheckedPR, which launches in January 2025, is the final piece of the Checked Label Services puzzle. We’re combining the best parts of our past with a digital and social media focus and I’m excited to include our global network of DSPs’ (digital service providers) editorial teams,” Will said.

“Ultimately, Checked Label Services is here to streamline whatever our clients need under one roof, as independent artists often juggle countless responsibilities while creating,” he said. “Our goal for us for the next 24 months is to create a supportive environment where artists and writers feel they aren’t alone, and to help them achieve their goals.”

The hard work has paid off, with Checked Label Services now boasting 63 Golden Guitar wins, several ARIA nominations, and a roster and clients that include Grammy Award winners, CMA award winners, and Billboard-charting artists and writers.

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capitalnews.com.au

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watch ONE TO

BY SUSAN JARVIS

JIMBO STOKES

CHANGING

GEARS

Back in 2019, JIMBO STOKES was a high-flying business consultant working in the corporate world of Sydney’s CBD.

H

e admits he had no idea of the turn his life was about to take.

Fast forward five years, and Jimbo’s built a fulltime career in country music, as one of the fastest-rising stars of his generation.

So, what happened? In a nutshell: COVID-19.

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During the pandemic, a lockeddown Jimbo – who’d grown up on a sheep and cattle station at Manilla, near Tamworth – discovered he had quite a bit of spare time on his hands.

And after not picking up a guitar for a decade, he decided to buy one and try his hand at songwriting.

His first composition was a powerful, moving tribute to his much-loved late mother, Bronwyn, a rural GP who was awarded an Order of Australia for her services to regional medicine. She passed away in 2016 from ovarian cancer.

He recorded the song at home and put it up on Instagram – and

it received an overwhelming response. It also attracted the attention of award-winning producer Rod McCormack, who contacted Jimbo and asked whether he’d be interested in working together.

Just two years ago, Atlas was released as a single, and since that time Jimbo’s gone from corporate suit to cowboyhatted sensation. He was a top 10 grand finalist in this year’s Toyota Star Maker, has released several very successful singles, and has been signed to the ABC Music label and the Harbour Agency.

He’s also pulled up stumps and moved back to the bush, to Scone in the Hunter Valley, where many of his mates had settled. And he doesn’t regret a thing.

“I honestly didn’t plan any of this, but I’m so happy it’s all happened,” Jimbo said.

“I guess I’ve been lucky in meeting the right people at the right time. Rod McCormack and Gina Jeffreys have really helped me and introduced me to a lot of people in the music industry, and I’ve had a lot of support.

“The Star Maker grand final was amazing because of the contacts I made. And after the final, I was approached by Natalie Waller from ABC Music, who said she was interested in signing me to the label.”

Over the last five years, Jimbo’s discovered he has a real talent as a songwriter, penning numerous songs in a range of styles, all of them pure country. He’s then delivered them in his laconic, warm and incredibly appealing style.

“My first ABC single, Got Me Good, was written when I was involved with a rap producer and record label,” Jimbo said.

“It’s a heartbreak song that’s a bit different. It combines country and rap in a way not really done in Australia before – though people like Morgan Wallen and Kane Brown in the US have had a lot of success with it. It was heaps of fun, and it got heaps of attention here.”

Since then, Jimbo’s released All For You on the ABC label.

In contrast to Got Me Good, it’s a heartfelt ballad that pays tribute to his parents and all those who’ve had faith in him and supported him.

His latest release is Let’s Go, which lands on November 15.

He’s decided to go with an up-tempo party song for the summer.

He’s planning an album release in the future but says he’s focusing on getting as many singles out there as possible, to expose his music to Australia’s country fans and build momentum.

“I guess the business background’s playing a part in my planning – though it’s a lot harder when you’re the business,” he said.

Jimbo recently performed at the Groundwater Festival on the Gold Coast and has festivals and venues lining up to feature him. He’s planning a huge 2025 and is also hoping to make a trip to Nashville to experience Music City and do plenty of songwriting.

Fans will be able to catch him in Tamworth on Australia Day, when he does one big show at the Tamworth Hotel, starting at 2pm.

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BY SUSAN JARVIS

FELICITY DOWD

F

elicity said “I’d seen people like Fanny Lumsden and Kelly Brouhaha live and tour in a van, and historically it was what Slim Dusty and Brian Young did.

“It really appealed to me, so I decided to take the plunge. It was the best decision I’ve ever made.

I’ve had the freedom to roam where I want, turning the whole country into my stage.”

And Felicity is certainly making the most of the freedom and inspiration her lifestyle provides, performing at festivals all over Australia, winning numerous awards, writing plenty of wonderful songs and building a fan base that now extends far and wide.

She started busking in Tamworth at just 13 years of age, and says she dreamt of performing in a Toyota Star Maker grand final.

Her dream was realised in January this year when she blew the crowds away with her performance on the Star Maker stage.

“I always wanted to be a Star Maker grand finalist, and the experience was just incredible – getting to perform on that big stage with a great band, and in front of 4000 people,” she said.

“But it’s the people I met that really blew me away. Both everyone in the industry who has been so supportive and helpful, and the other finalists. We really bonded, and we’ve stayed close. We help and encourage each other.”

But Star Maker is just one of numerous achievements. Felicity was a grand finalist in this year’s Gympie Muster Talent Search and the Groundwater KIX-Start competition, and in 2023 took out the prestigious Youth Artist of the Year award at the Australian Folk Music Awards.

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CROSSING

BOUNDARIES When she decided to buy a van, live in it and tour the country, rising star FELICITY DOWD was treading in the footsteps of her idols.

She also picked up the Gill Rees Memorial Award for the best young artist at the 2023 National Folk Festival and was named the 2020 NSW Folk Federation Young Artist of the Year.

Most recently, she was named as a finalist in the Debut EP/Album of the Year category by the Australian Folk Music Awards.

That EP, Built Like Us, was released earlier this year. It features a collection of utterly delightful original songs, beautifully crafted and delivered in a unique and heartfelt way, in a voice that is sweet and compelling.

“I learnt from my mentors and musical heroes that it’s really important to sing in your own voice and accent, so I’ve always tried to do that,” Felicity said.

Felicity believes in taking a slow, careful approach to everything she does, from songwriting to releasing singles.

“The songs have a lot of meaning for me, so I want to treat them with respect, and make sure they’re

launched into the world with as much care and attention as I can give them,” she said.

The EP includes several previously released tracks, including Blue Skies, which was written when she was 15 and released to raise funds after the 2020 bushfires in Cobargo.

It also features the quirky, warm Honeycomb And Glue, about what makes relationships work, Handle It, about being brave enough to be yourself and not caring what others think, and the title track Built Like Us – a song about belonging and family. Other tracks are the brand new Porcelain and Give And Take.

Produced by Rod Motbey, the EP showcases Felicity’s diverse talent as a songwriter and her pure, ethereal vocal style. Both her voice and her songs effortlessly cross the boundaries between country and folk.

“For me, both genres are really about storytelling, and I see myself as a storyteller – I love to write about Australia, and I gain inspiration from the places I go and the people I meet,” she said.

Felicity will appear at this year’s Woodford Festival and will travel even further afield next year, performing at the Cygnet Folk Festival in Tasmania, the Macksville Muster, and performing her first ticketed show in Tamworth, at the Tamworth Community Event Centre at 11.30am on January 24.

“It feels like another step forward – from busking, to showcases, to Star Maker and now my own show. I’m so lucky to be able to live my dream, and to put in all the work it takes to build a career in this industry, which really is like a big, supportive family,” Felicity said.

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WORTH

EVERY

MOMENT

As you’d expect, I have been very busy since the last time you heard from me.

S

hortly after winning Star Maker, the team warned me that the year would build slowly and to expect a hectic end. That’s pretty much what’s happened and the days have been so busy and I’ve spent months on the road between shows.

Gympie was great. I got to play a show on the Crowbar stage and the crowd came in big numbers.

After Gympie I had a week to prepare for BIGSOUND where I got to meet and talk with industry leaders and experts, both nationally and internationally, and find out what, who and where I want to go after my Star Maker year. I played at the Outpost and at Honkytonks the following. I appreciate all the industry and fans who turned up and I feel that we put the best foot forward, and showed up cowboy style.

I drove to Quirindi for their Spring Show playing at the end of what must have been the coldest night in history! Was hard for the fans to sit and watch but it was a fun experience none the less and grateful that I was able to play there.

I drove to Sydney, for the Sunset Bash at Panthers, Penrith where I was on early in the afternoon and had a ball with the house band there. Got to catch up with a heap of people who are regulars to TCMF but I had to keep moving that very day as I had a two-day drive where I had week off to do some cowboy stuff.

I headed north for the Australasian Team Roping Association Finals in Capella, Qld where I roped with various people, but picked up money in the 10’s card roping with my sister Holly placing third in the final. Also ended in the top 15 of the 12’s card with my good friend Jay Pokarier making it a great weekend overall.

It was a long trek back down south for the Deni Ute Muster where I rocked up the night before and slept in my car. I woke up and was ready to take on the day, playing the Day Stage to some supportive fans, and got to see some cool cars before I left. That same night I drove to Melbourne to start the Tyler Hubbard Tour.

First show was The Forum in Melbourne. Beautiful spot and got to hang out with all of the guys from Tyler’s crew. They were all so accommodating to me and my guitarist Ben Westphal. From there, we all headed to Sydney to play the Enmore Theatre – another venue to do one day when I’m a little more recognisable.

From there we went to Sandstone Point in Brisbane’s surrounding regions for the Over Yonder Festival where Tyler was headlining and 40

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NEW SINGLE OUT NOW

Honky Tonk Bulldoggin’ Man Over Yonder Festival at Sandstone Point Hotel

I was also on the card with a full band. Awesome festival with many great artists, love being able to immerse myself in the art of it all with a mix of Australian and American country.

The final show was on the Gold Coast at The Star Casino, where I felt a little unsafe so I called up a few friends and found myself some security! The security guard happened to be NRL legend Sam Thaiday. We had some fun. All the shows went without a hitch and it’s all thanks to the people at every show doing their part and making sure we sounded great as a whole.

Special thanks to TEG live and Tyler Hubbard again for having me on the road with you; it was truly amazing.

I wrote this at the Sydney International Airport as I wait to fly to Dallas, Texas to go roping at the Cody Johnson Invitational Team Roping. Hoping to win me some cool prizes and hang out with some of the best.

Hope you like my new single Chemistry, produced by Simon Johnson, and the awesome video produced by Jeremy Minett featuring Felicity Kircher.

I’m so glad that my band and I are able to play these venues. It’s truly a dream come true.

Check out my tour dates on these pages and I hope to see you at one of them including at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

And as always COWBOY OUT

44TH WINNER OF AUSTRALIA’S BIGGEST COUNTRY MUSIC TALENT SEARCH TOUR DATES

See The Drift Tour Opposite JANUARY 2025 ^Low Down Under Tour 2 Knuckleheads, Kansas City, Missouri USA^ 3 Cains Ballroom, Tulsa, Oklahoma USW^ 17 Opening Concert, Tamworth CMF NSW 19 Toyota Star Maker Grand Final NSW 24 The Longyard Hotel, Tamworth NSW 10:30pm MARCH 2025 Cody Johnson’s Tour Thursday 20 RAC Arena, Perth WA Tuesday 25 Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney NSW Thursday 27 Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Vic Saturday 29 Spark Arena, Auckland NZ

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EMAIL: katie@wheelhouseagency.com.au

as at mid-October PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY

ORGANISED BY

NEWSFLASH: News just in that Wade will open for US star Cody Johnson on his Leather Deluxe Tour in Perth, Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland NZ, in March 2025. Tickets frontiertouring.com N OV E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

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hear & THERE

GRAND OLE OPRY DEBUT ANDREW FARRISS will mark a major milestone when he makes

his Grand Ole Opry debut on Saturday, December 14.

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ndrew, best known as the co-founder and creative powerhouse behind the legendary band INXS, helped shape the sound of INXS and drive their success to over 80 million albums sold worldwide, with his songwriting and musical contributions.

INXS achieved major success with seven US Top 10 singles, three Grammy nominations, and an induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame, but now Andrew is now channelling his creativity into a new direction, one deeply influenced by American roots and country music. His self-titled debut solo album

blends Americana, rhythm, and country, revealing a new dimension to the artist behind some of the most memorable songs of the last 40 years.

His upcoming Opry performance offers fans a rare chance to experience his unique Americana and country-inspired sound live on such an iconic stage.

With a career spanning four decades, Andrew’s Grand Ole Opry debut is not just a nod to his musical past but a look toward his future. As he steps onto the stage in Nashville, he’ll be joining an elite group of performers whose music has left an indelible mark on American culture.

For the past 32 years, Andrew and his family have owned and operated a cattle and grains farm north west of Tamworth, New South Wales. Living and working alongside cowboys and cowgirls, Andrew draws inspiration from his rural lifestyle, the rugged beauty of the land, and the authentic spirit of country music. This way of life has naturally influenced his transition into the Americana, country rock, and folk genres.

He is currently on his Something Stronger tour. Tickets available at andrewfarriss.com/tour

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h&T

A SPOTLIGHT ON COUNTRY

Brad Butcher

Tori Darke

Duncan Toombs

A number of country artists reached the Knockout Road of The Voice Australia including TORI DARKE and Golden Guitar winners, BRAD BUTCHER and DUNCAN TOOMBS.

D

uring the Battle Rounds, Tori Darke and Brad Butcher paired up to perform Bryan Adams’ Please Forgive Me impressing their coach, Leann Rimes, with their harmonies.

Struggling to choose between them, left the set to clarify the rules and returned, putting them on the spot. She asked if they would consider progressing as a duo, leading to their decision to sing together.

They advanced to the Showdown after singing Fleetwood Mac’s The Chain. Both then showcased their solo talents – Tori with Before He Cheats by Carrie Underwood, and Brad with I Remember Everything by Zach Bryan and Kacey Musgraves – before being eliminated. Duncan Toombs performed Human by Rag ‘N’ Bone Man however he also didn’t go through. The trio thanked their fans on social media.

Duncan shared his feelings of being

overwhelmed by the supportive messages and announced plans to release new music and perform around Australia.

Brad recounted his initial apprehension about auditioning but was swayed by the excitement of his family. He reflected on enjoying the experience and thanked his supporters, especially Tori and Leann for their friendship and guidance.

Tori described her return to The Voice as a terrifying yet worthwhile risk, thanking Leann for her belief and support, as well as Brad and her loved ones. She declared her determination for 2025, signalling her intent to return stronger. The Grand Finale of The Voice was set for October 27, after this issue went to print.

The Rhymer’s Roundup Graeme Johnson presents Australian Award Winning Bush Poets & Musos

Gregory North, The Rhymer from Ryde, Noel Bull, John Peel, Andrew Clermont, Robyn Sykes & Comedian Peter Willey At the NORTH TAMWORTH BOWLING CLUB

SHOW DATES: FRI 17th - SUN 26th January 2025 POET’S BRUNCH: All shows 10.30am – 12.30pm TICKETS $15.00: AT THE DOOR (Meals available) (N.B. Not all artists all days)

DETAILS www.therhymerfromryde.com N OV E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

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writing

BY ALLAN CASWELL

GREAT SONGS

STORY TELLING Apart from the drum loop driven pop country records, story songs have always been a staple in folk, country and bluegrass music.

T

hey are not an easy write but can be very rewarding in terms of audience reaction. The story song has taken a bit of a hammering in the disappearance of the album caused by streaming but songs like The Gambler, Seven Spanish Angels, Coat of Many Colours, or The Ringer And The Princess will always be crowd favourites.

THREE KINDS OF STORIES There are basically three kinds of story songs; the completely fictional song, the true story, and the true story … with a few fictional additions to make for a stronger song. During my career I have written all three. They are all really interesting to write.

I have heard songs with great stories but with lousy endings. When I asked why, I was told “That’s what really happened”. The point is, you are not writing a newspaper article or a diary entry … you are writing a song. All that really matters is that the song is believable and seems real.

BEING “REAL” Whichever you choose from the three types of story songs, accuracy is critical. If anything is wrong or doesn’t ring true, it can kill your song. Google is your friend. There is no excuse for getting it wrong. When we wrote King of the Rodeo, which won me my first Golden Guitar in 1980, we had to hope it all worked. When Brian Young asked if he could record it, I knew we had nailed it because Youngie was a World Bull Riding Champion.

When Amber Lawrence and I wrote Big Mac Truck for one of her children’s albums, people loved it, but Amber copped a lot of flack because we said the truck had 18

wheels when, in Australia, it should have been 22 wheels. Even though it was a song for kids, truck drivers all over Australia felt the need to attack her over it.

These days I will run my cowboy songs past my friend Larry Cann who has a lot of expertise to bring to the subject. My friend David is an experienced truck driver and very helpful. As far as heartbreak and whiskey drinking songs, I, pretty much, have it covered.

When I wrote Sweet By and By with Nia McMartin, we were writing the true story of the worst ever Australian mining disaster in Creswick Victoria. We had to be meticulous with the facts but, at the same time, write something memorable and involving. It can be difficult but very rewarding.

When Drew McAlister and I wrote Shelly’s Song (one of my most popular live songs), most of the

song is the true story of our friend Shelly Dowsett when she was a little girl. Drew and I wrote a completely fictitious last verse to give the song a neat and believable ending.

SONG LENGTH In a story song, what you leave out can often be as important as what you put in. When I’m telling my story, I always try to give the listeners room to put their own spin on it. You can bog a song down with too much detail and a sevenminute song can be really tough on your audience. In a story song, the song comes first and the story next. A good story song still needs a great hook, a memorable tune and a rhythm and feel that suits the subject.

BUSH BALLADS In the bush ballad, the story is everything. Bush ballads are country music at its most traditional. I love the challenge of writing bush ballads. You have nowhere to hide. The melody needs to be simple and uncluttered; the story needs to be strong, and it has to be completely real.

If you have questions regarding upcoming songwriting workshops or my “one on one” private songwriting coaching service (based on the Gold Coast),my song appraisal service, my books Writing Great Song Lyrics, My Version Of The Truth, Secrets Of Stronger Songwriting or if you would like to host a workshop contact me: 0419218988 or at allan@allancaswell.com

THE START OF THE

Really Long Goodbye ALLAN CASWELL with special guest DANE SHARP AUSTRALIA DAY – TAMWORTH SERVICES CLUB 11AM

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bush BALLADS

SONGS OF REAL LIFE There’s something special that happens when listening to a song that you know is about a true story.

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ot only do you learn something new, maybe something historical or personal, but you might also refer it to your own thoughts and experiences.

Songwriters Ken Lindsay and newcomer Paul Ricketts have written a couple of good new singles while Kate Daniel has released a new album, with some well-chosen songs.

BY PETER COAD OAM www.bushballadeers.com.au

THE BALLADEER S HOMESTEAD 2025 The Balladeers Homestead will be operating from January 18 to 24 at the 2025 Tamworth Country Music Festival.

There will be concerts from Dean Perrett and Jeff Brown, Peter Coad & The Coad Sisters, Ernie Constance, Ged and Trudy Hintz, Terry Gordon OAM, The Jeff Brown Family Show, Phil & Chris Coad, Dianne Lindsay OAM and Peter Simpson OAM, Runaway Dixie, and Hillbilly and Country Gold. Multi artist concerts include the Bush Ballad Cavalcade, Slim, Bazza, Stan, Buddy, Rick & Thel Tribute Concert, and the inaugural A.B.B.A Music Excellence Awards, plus three massive Bush Ballad Showcases. A huge array of artists will be performing over the week at the venue, so if you are heading to the festival make sure you grab a copy of the Official Guide To The Tamworth Country Music Festival and check out the Balladeers Homestead advert and all other traditional bush ballad concerts happening around the festival. Remember to put your gigs in the guide. For assistance, email Melanie Jenkins m.jenkins@tamworth.nsw.gov.au.

KYABRAM RV CMF IN NOVEMBER The 2024 Kyabram RV Country Music Festival will be held from November 6 to 10, at the Kyabram Showgrounds. A jampacked artist lineup includes Lance Birrell, Owen Blundell, Don Costa, Peter Coad & The Coad Sisters, Runaway Dixie, Sandie Dodd, Robyn Gleeson, Ged & Trudy Hintz, Tom Maxwell, Evan Platschinda, and Justin Standley. Drop in for a great weekend of country music.

SAPPER SMITH

GUNNER THE KELPIE HERO Ken Lindsay is a renowned balladeer who continues to create and perform high-quality music. His latest single, Gunner, tells the story of a remarkable kelpie who could hear Japanese aircraft approaching Darwin during World War II long before they showed up on radar. Injured in the first air raids on February 19, 1942, Gunner was rescued by Airman Percy Westcott, who took him for medical care. As their bond grew, Percy noticed that Gunner would bark and whimper up to twenty minutes before the planes arrived. With this unique ability, Percy was granted permission to sound the air raid sirens as soon as Gunner reacted.

Paul Ricketts, the 2024 Thornton Young Award recipient, has released his second single, Sapper Smith. Sapper Smith was written by Paul and his father, Bobby Ricks. It’s a true story that was told to Bobby in the late ‘50s when he signed up to the Australian Regular Army. The story is about a brave soldier who fought in the Korean war in 1952. This song paints a picture in your mind from the very first few lines. Produced by Lindsay Waddington, the track includes Lindsay and some fine musicians, including Lawrie Minson, Brendan Radford, Steve Fearnley, Gus Fenwick, Kirk Lorange, and Glenn Thomas.

ALBUM REVIEW

KATE DANIEL

LET THE HEARTACHES BEGIN This is a very good traditional country album with 14 songs produced by Johnny Kaye at his Dolphin recording studios. The musicians are Michael Green, Michel Rose, Bob Gregory, Pete Denahy with the harmonies by Lyn Brown. All the songs Kate has selected suit her vocals making them sound just as though they are her special songs. The stand out songs are Rainbow Chaser, Merv Maltman’s Black Soil Plains of the Outback, Picture Of Australia and Sunday Papers. Kate teams up with Bob Gregory on She’s A He’s A, written by Pat Ware, originally recorded by Rick & Thel Carey.

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festivals

TAMWORTH The Toyota 53rd Tamworth Country Music Festival, Australia’s largest music festival, will see a lineup of new and returning artists.

K

icking off on January 17, the 10-day event will feature thousands of shows, ticketed and free, plus more than 200 buskers along Tamworth’s iconic Peel Street.

Two of Australia’s most celebrated country music artists; eleven-time Golden Guitar winner Beccy Cole and nine-time Golden Guitar winner Adam Harvey will join the stellar line-up, as well as 2023 Roll of Renown inductee Colin Buchanan, ARIA Hall of Fame Inductee Brian Cadd, Newcastle-based band Hurricane Fall and Tamworth local Aleyce Simmonds.

These artists join a line-up already packed with concerts

by Lee Kernaghan OAM, John Williamson, Troy CassarDaley, Graeme Connors, Amber Lawrence, Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham, Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley, Fanny Lumsden, Suzi Quatro, Shane Nicholson, Tania Kernaghan & Jason Owen, Travis Collins, Kasey Chambers, Ashleigh Dallas, Andrew Swift and many others.

The prestigious Golden Guitar Awards celebrate the best

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of country music and will be hosted by lively duo Max Jackson and James Johnston.

Festival Manager Barry Harley OAM says preparation for the festival is in full swing.

“The Toyota 53rd Tamworth Country Music Festival features a dynamic line up of artists, reflecting the high calibre and popularity of the festival.

“For more than five decades Tamworth has welcomed some of the nation’s biggest country music stars and given emerging artists a platform to accelerate their music career.

“It is exciting to see so many new and returning artists eager to entertain in Tamworth.”

It’s anticipated that Tamworth’s entertainment venues will once again see big crowds.

Tamworth’s Town Hall, will see a celebration of local and international

country music including; The NZ Showcase featuring Zac Griffith, Jaydin Shingleton (The Voice), The Dollys, Amy Maynard, Sophie Toyne, Briar Sharp, Kayla Mahon, The Sparkles and Jaelyn Scully and The Ultimate Country & Rock ‘N’ Roll International Spectacular, staged with 21 singers, dancers, showgirls and a band.

The region’s premier live entertainment venue, The Capitol Theatre will host Colin Buchanan and Raechel Whitchurch for a one-off show, following the release of their new albums in 2024. The venue will also stage Birds of a Feather (Sing Together) featuring Goldheist, Jane A Naoi, Melissa Fraser, Brookie Gillett and Amy Vee; also catch Honky Tonk Reboot featuring Michael Lehnan and Nashville-Songwriters In The Round featuring Nashville hit-maker Deric Ruttan together with Catherine Britt and Anthony Snape.

The Bluebird Room at Tamworth Community Event Centre will come to life, with performances by Jason Carruthers, Michael Waugh, Felicity Dowd and Brendon Walmsley.

During the festival, visitors can take a trip down memory lane at The Australian Country Music Hall of Fame, which will also feature a range of artists performing live.

Wests Entertainment Group has added quality performances to its line-up with tickets now on sale for events at both West Tamworth League Club and Wests’ Diggers.

Musical Theatre and Rock enthusiasts will be satisfied at Rob Mills Performs the Songs of Bon Jovi at Blazes. The venue will also star the Sunny Cowgirls, comedian Vince Sorrenti and present tribute shows; Dolly- I Will Always Love You; Keith Urban, Tina Turner & Bryan Adams; The Ultimate Superstars of N OV E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

Country and Celebrating Music of Countdown.

Classics, including Travellin’ Still – The Songs of Slim Dusty will return, along with multi-award-winning ventriloquist Darren Carr and Amos Morris.

Michael Carpenter & The Banks Brothers will perform at Wests’ Diggers, with 8 Ball Aitken, Ella and Sienna performing Reputation: The Ultimate Taylor Swift Show, Elias & JJ; Mak & Shar; Kevin Sullivan & The SulliVans; The West Coast 70s show, House of Gold – The Songs of Hank Williams with Andy Baylor; Liam Brew’s 90s country party; Chris Stapleton and Cody Johnson Experience show; The Johnny O’Keefe Story and Southern Stone featuring Victoria McGee. Tamworth local Sally-Anne Whitten & The Rumour Mill will perform at Tamworth’s underground whiskey bar, The Press,

which will also host the Songwriters Showcase hosted by Lawrie and Shelly Minson, Wicker Suite, The Articulate Mutes, The Heartbreak Club, Devils Dandruff Band, Kelly Brouhaha, Splashpool, The Urban Chiefs, Kirsty Larkin, The Matty Rogers Band, Andrew Farriss, The Buckleys, Tania Nichamin, The Pleasures, Cass Hopetoun Band, Brandon Dodd Band and multiple showcases.

The Rhymer From Ryde will perform at the North Tamworth Bowling Club, also the home of Andrew Clermont’s International Supper Club.

The Pub Group will deliver a number of shows across its local venues, with Karise Eden, Mickey Pye, Kirsty Lee Akers, Bryce Sainty, Chelsea Berman, Jade Gibson & Chloe Styler, Josh Setterfield and Rock This Country – Shania Twain Tribute recently announced for The Family Hotel – Moonshiners Bar.

Horseman and musician, Tom Curtain joins the Longyard’s ticketed show line-up, along with 2024 Toyota Star Maker Wade Forster and previously announced artists, while Kevin Bennett and the Flood will also make an appearance at The Pub. There are more than 60 free shows across the The Pub Group’s venues.

The Tamworth Hotel, will come alive with alternate country singer Andy Golledge, Good Corn Liquor and Y.O.G.A with many more shows on the horizon.

Toyota Australia’s Chief Marketing Officer, Vin Naidoo, said Toyota was proud to support the ambitious talent emerging for country music in Australia.

“It’s an absolute privilege for Toyota to be able to champion such an incredible line up of artists at the Toyota Tamworth Country Music Festival in 2025.”

“Each year, the level of talent continues to impress, and we’re eagerly anticipating the unique performances that each artist will bring to the stage this January, as they showcase their talents to thousands of fans,” said Mr. Naidoo.

Tickets are now on sale with more free and ticketed shows and venue line-ups to be announced in the coming months.

To book and find out more head to tcmf.com.au/whatson.

Tamworth Country Music Festival is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

SURE THING AGENCY PRESENTS

ADAM HARVEY

LET THE SONG TAKE YOU HOME ALBUM TOUR

FRIDAY 18 JAN SATURDAY 24 JAN BLAZES SHOWROOM, WESTS

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festivals

Hallf of Fame

Powerstantion Museum

JOURNEY THROUGH TIME Take a journey into the past at next year’s Tamworth Country Music Festival with a visit to both the Australian Country Music Hall of Fame and Tamworth Powerstation Museum.

T

he Australian Country Music Hall of Fame has a splendid showcase of instruments, memorabilia, stage costumes and much more, from many of Australia’s major artists who made country music their career.

‘Country Music Capital’ was declared in 1969 by a 2TM group of Warwick Higginbotham, John Minson, Eric Scott, Kevin Knapp and Max Ellis and the Hall of Fame is a perfect way to journey through the decades prior to that, through until the early 2000s.

The air-conditioned museum will be open from 9am to 4pm daily, throughout the 10-day festival, adding live country music from 10.30am to 11:30am. Among the performers will include Golden Guitar winner Pixie Jenkins, Mark

Atkins, one of Australia’s finest didgeridoo players, and the 2024 Golden Gig winner Maia Fletcher.

A new activity for children aged 6 to 13 allows them to explore the Hall of Fame with a free 8-page information booklet. They’ll be able to search for items featured in the picture book, create their own guitar decal, or design a stage outfit as if they were a country music star.

At the other end of Peel Street from the Hall of Fame, you’ll discover the Tamworth Powerstation Museum, which provides a fascinating look into Tamworth’s history.

The museum highlights Tamworth’s pioneering role in electricity generation, as the first city in the southern hemisphere to have municipally funded electric street lights in 1888 – 15 years before Sydney – which gained it the title, ‘First City Of Light’.

From 10am to 3pm on January 23 to 25, the museum will display its stationary John Fowler undertype steam engines. Enjoy watching these impressive machines while catching live performances each day at 10:30am. Artists will include Toria Richings, the 2024 Toyota Busking Champions Ben and Robbi, and Dennis Comino.

The museum will be open daily during the festival (except Sunday, January 26) from 9am to 2pm, offering guided tours.

THE REALLY LONG GOODBYE

After 53 years on the road, singer-songwriter, and multi-award winner, Allan Caswell, is planning his finale.

Now aged 72, Caswell wants to enjoy every show from now until his last, preparing how it should look.

Allan said; “Touring is challenging these days and CD sales that once paid for diesel and accommodation, are all but gone.”

Caswell is Australia’s most recorded songwriter and one of its very best story tellers.

He wants to visit all the places he has enjoyed playing at through the years, and considering he has played nearly every town in NSW, every state in Australia, NZ, the USA, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan (I’m unlikely to go the latter) as well as most of the big country and folk festivals around the country, it might take a while.

Whilst best-known for his 1979 iconic worldwide hit 50

TAMw ORTH C O U N T R Y M U S I C C A P I TA L news

On The Inside (the theme from the television series Prisoner), he has won eight Golden Guitars from 48 nominations, ARIA and APRA Awards, gold and platinum records and many other music industry awards. This year he was elevated to the Australasian Country Music Roll of Renown, and has very little left to prove.

His “Used To Be A Gold Song … The Allan Caswell Tribute Show starring Allan Caswell as Himself” will travel the country whilst more shows are planned with Dane, and other friends like Lindsay Waddington,

Pixie, and Matt Scullion.

“I am not retiring; I am still writing too many songs and making too many records, and besides that, I can’t retire … my golf game is terrible,” Allan said.

“I want to keep my songwriting and workshops going and getting In front of an audience with my songs and stories is a huge part of my life and songwriting? well, that goes forever.

The tour kicks off at the Tamworth Services Club on Australia Day 2025, with his friend Dane Sharp.

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WED 22 JAN • TAMWORTH REGIONAL ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE BOOK NOW AT TRECC.COM.AU OR DUETGROUP.COM PRESENTED BY WESTS ENTERTAINMENT GROUP

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festivals $8675$/Ζ$ 7285

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Multi-award-winning children’s music group The Wiggles are heading to the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

L

ast month, The Wiggles launched their newest single Big Red Ute at an exclusive concert at Parramatta Park.

Big Red Ute is a lively country-rock infused song that blends The Wiggles’ signature upbeat melodies, playful lyrics and irresistible beat.

While most Australian’s are familiar with the iconic Big Red Car, for the first time ever The Wiggles have also unveiled their brand new, official roadworthy vehicle, the Big Red Ute, they’ve named ‘Buute’.

Blue Wiggle, Anthony Field says Big Red Ute is a playful nod to the original Big Red Car. “There’s something truly special about taking everyday things like electric windows, cup holders, and the sound of the engine, and turning them into exciting adventures for children. Young minds have a beautiful way of being fascinated by the simplest things”, Anthony said.

TAMw ORTH C O U N T R Y M U S I C C A P I TA L news

The Wiggles will be taking a road trip to Tamworth in the new Big Red Ute and will perform two shows at the Toyota 53rd Tamworth Country Music Festival. The group is taking the show off road, performing two special shows at the AELEC (Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre) on January 21.

Event Manager Barry Harley says “we are excited to welcome The Wiggles to Tamworth. There’s no better place to showcase their latest country hits than in Australia’s Country Music Capital, and we can’t wait to see The Wiggles pose in front of the Golden Guitar—two icons coming together this January!”

Tickets, of course, are selling like hot potatoes, via The Wiggles website.

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festivals COOL COUNTRY TAKES OVER SYDNEY’S CBD From cowboy hats to cowgirl boots, country themed albums and a resurgence of classic country sounds, the country genre and all that it encompasses has made its mark in popular culture this year.

U

S based artist Lainey Wilson made light of the trend in her hit single Country’s Cool Again but as the 53rd Tamworth Country Music Festival edges closer, it’s evident country’s always been cool in Tamworth.

Proclaimed Australia’s ‘Country Music Capital’ in 1969 by Radio 2TM, Tamworth hosted its first country music festival four years later. In the lead up to the 2025 event, Tamworth is reinforcing its position as the

home of country music and embracing the popular move toward the authentic look and sound which attracts hundreds of thousands of people to the region every January.

In October, two Toyota Star Maker winners Max Jackson (2022) and Wade Forster (2024) made their way through Sydney’s Pitt Street Mall. Confident and striking, Max and Wade captured the essence of what it means to be country wearing their authentic outfits which stood out in a stream of business attire and urban

Max Jackson and Wade Forster

casual wear.

With many fashion brands, businesses and artists embracing the country flair, Tamworth awaits familiar friends and many new people to return and experience the home and heart of where country has always been cool. It’s an event not only for music lovers, but for families, young adults, partygoers and travellers.

BE OUR

Kent Street, Tamworth, NSW | (02) 6765 1200 | all.accor.com N OV E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

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festivals

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PARADE The Country Music Parade will return to the Toyota 53rd Tamworth Country Music Festival with a new and improved route and organisers want every artist to consider getting involved.

F

or 10 days in January, Tamworth Region hosts visitors from far and wide. The iconic parade is a chance for artists, along with local community groups, organisations and businesses to put on a display and get involved with fans in a personable setting.

In 2024, the parade returned to Tamworth in a new look format, reimagining the traditional cavalcade.

Festival manager Barry Harley says the new-look parade was well received with more than 280 people taking part.

“The parade is a popular event where fans and community members can get up close to some of their favourite artists.

“It’s wonderful seeing Tamworth’s streets come alive for a colourful celebration of country music.

TAMw ORTH C O U N T R Y M U S I C C A P I TA L news

“The 2025 parade will be no different and I encourage buskers, venues, musicians, local businesses and community to get involved.”

The 2025 parade will commence at 9am on Saturday, January 25, from Peel Street, just south of Hill Street and travel north, turn left into White Street, left into Kable Avenue and travel south along Kable Avenue concluding at the intersection of Kable Avenue and Hill Street.

Participants will walk the short one kilometre route, with some small vehicles decked out with country props also set to be featured. Applications can be submitted via the Tamworth Country Music Festival website tcmf.com.au

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2025 TAMWORTH COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL

JANUARY Sunday 19, 1:30pm Runaway Dixie’s Gospel, Bluegrass & Ballads – Balladeer Homestead Monday 20, 2pm Tribute To Tradition – Dean Perrett, Peter Pratt with guitar legend Charley Boyter – North Tamworth Bowling Club $25 at door Monday 20, 6pm Ronald McDonald Charity Show – The Pub Tuesday 21, 9am Two Old Mates – Dean Perrett and Jeff Brown – Balladeer Homestead $25 at door Wednesday 22, 10:45am The Atrium Wednesday 22, 7pm Back To The Bush Spectacular, Toyota Park Thursday 23, 1:30pm Slim, Bazza, Stan, Rick & Thel Tribute Show – Balladeer Homestead Friday 24, 1pm Our Songs And Inspirations – Dean Perrett, Anita Ree and Paul Ricketts – Southside Uniting Church $25 at door www.deanperrett.com

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soundADVICE 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 cheryl@tamworthcountrymusic.com.au

MICHAEL CARPENTER & THE BANKS BROTHERS SPLITSVILLE

INDEPENDENT Sydney singer-songwriterproducer Michael Carpenter and The Banks Brothers lured some vital guests from down south to fire their fourth album in 14 years.

Hamish Davidson adds fiddle and dobro to bluegrass fuelled Running Out Of Gas, featuring Abbie Ferris’ lead vocals, and returns for Lassister’s Reef and instrumental finale Gold Fever. It’s most fitting for Carpenter’s haunting vocals on the death desert drama of the gold rush fever on Lassister’s Reef.

Jy-Perry Banks’ pedal steel laces Carpenter-penned entrée song, Dollar In My Pocket, that segues into the title track and Zane Bankspenned Self Taught Medicine Man and Carpenter tune Everyone’s An Asshole, featuring pub crowd guests. Zane provides lead guitars, banjo, mandolin and harmonies and Carpenter adds his drums, organ, piano, guitar and lead vocals on their nine original songs. This dynamic disc hits home from track one to his other originals including Old Country Music. Equally accessible are Zane and Jy-Perry Banks tune No Getting Away and the Zane-penned title track. These nifty tunes prove they are in no danger of splitting up.

PEPPERCREEK REVIVAL

SALLY-ANNE WHITTEN

INDEPENDENT

INDEPENDENT

PEPPERCREEK REVIVAL

Melbourne-based PepperCreek Revival boasts some of the city’s most experienced musicians, notably Barry Hills, Brian Fraser and Roland Kretschmer, with Hills’ CV including playing bass for Jean Stafford in the late 1970s.

Fast forward to a series of casual meetings where these long-time acquaintances had originally earmarked the band to perform session work for local artists.

Those plans changed when Kelly Auty added her earthy vocals to the mix, as well as bringing in long-time drummer Nick Carrafa.

The result is PepperCreek Revival’s debut self-titled album, a blend of alternate country and blues.

Train I’m On is an immediate standout, not only due to Auty’s vocal delivery, but also Kretschmer and Fraser’s energetic guitar licks.

Elsewhere, Kretschmer adds mandolin to the delightfully breezy Through The Storm, Auty sings of social media negativity amid a swampy blues backing on B Grade Movie, while Falling, with Fraser’s lap steel on show, is a true country ballad. A classy album that’s available digitally and exclusively on CD through the Bandcamp website.

GREG BUSH

A LITTLE TOO MUCH

Tamworth troubadour Sally-Anne Whitten harvests heartbreak on her evocative fourth album featuring eight of her original songs. Whitten honours the painful passing of her beloved mother during the Covid pandemic when she couldn’t visit her in Not Afraid Of The Dark penned with James Craswell on Messenger and the passionate paean Daughter Of A Queen. Sally-Anne draws inspiration from her mum who died in 2020 and parodies troll twerps in her fitting finale Good Girl, promoted by a vibrant video. She revs up her second song Blue Steel Ride, a tribute to her dad’s driving with the family on board, with gusto that segues into another family inspired resilience anthem Carry Me. How Deep You Gotta Dig is another soul-searching journey into her inner psyche that is followed by self-explanatory passionate pride in Saving Me. Whitten also echoes her desire to chase her dreams in Restless Soul that precedes Good Girl.

The singer’s co-production with Alwyn Aurisch, who adds guitars, dobro and bass guitar, ensures this is a righteous return to delivering memorable new songs from deep in her heart and soul. A true gem.

LOWHEART

DIRTY DRINKIN’ BOOTS INDEPENDENT

Lowheart is a songwriting and recording duo from Victoria’s southern bayside area, consisting of Jason Lowe and Simon Hart thus the name! This is their seventh album, and to be honest the first I’ve heard, but it kind of grabbed me with its raw production and, if country music has a grungy side to it, this might just be it. There’s plenty of up-tempo songs like the opener Hit The Track, Lost and Found, Gravel Or Gold and the flat-out Rock Du Jour, but these are tempered with slower, maybe darker tracks like Every Single Time and Working Man. I don’t think I’m the first to notice some Jagger-esque tones in some of the vocals. I was intrigued by the inclusion of the only cover – the century old Wreck Of The Old 97 – one of the first songs to be acknowledged as in the hillbilly or country music genre – and it is generally credited as being written

by Henry Whitter and Henry Clay Work, and made popular by Vernon Dalhart in 1924.

RatWheel Records JON WOLFE

SAW006 DAVID DAWSON

Big Radio and RTC Records DAVID DAWSON

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PATSY & DAVE THE WILLOW AMBITION

Williamstown lawyer Patsy Toop and Yarraville singer-signwriter Dave Baird recruited former rock star Russell Morris to join them on their ninth album The Willow. The duo, formerly recording and performing as The Long & Short, changed their name to Patsy & Dave for this 11-song gem. Morris flew south from Queensland to perform at the Yarraville CD launch and was an apt addition. The singer, 76, co-wrote the album title track and entrée tune with Patsy & Dave. The Willow had its roots in a tree in Dave’s grandfather’s backyard and segues into Dream Vacation - a joyous journey penned by their Nashville producer Kenny Royster and Lonnie Williams. The duo, who illustrate their tunes with vibrant videos, revive Tear-Stained Eye, penned by Jay Farrar of Son Volt and excel on the sad saga of the widow of a Vietnam war conscript who never returned from the killing fields. But there’s a joyful trip to Peru and beyond on their collaboration with Morris on their dynamic duet Rumblin’ Train that precedes another journey in Upside Down. Patsy & Dave inject more nostalgia into Just One Moon, A Lot Like Georgia and Wake Me Up. They complete this accessible album with evocative love songs Beside You and How Big Is It? A delicious dream.

AMBITION 249 DAVID DAWSON

HELEN TOWNSEND

TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT INDEPENDENT

This album from Freemantle WAbased singer-songwriter Helen Townsend covers what is best described as a forging of folk, blues, pop, honky tonk and country. It also offers a fine juxtapositioning of emotions and themes ranging from love, struggle, and resilience to hope as in Better Days. Demons, the fifth single released from the 11-track album, is an alt-country moody song about battling addiction, while listeners can share a visit to Melbourne Streets after a vivid drive along the Indian Ocean Road. The album highlights Helen’s deft songwriting talents, especially on the six solo efforts including Battlefields, the afore-mentioned Demons and Turn To Stone, but she collaborates well with cowriters on tracks like Questions (with Helen Shanahan) and the album’s opening track Is This Love (with Phil Richardson). The brass on Baby Come Home works a treat and we’re taken on an international trip to find love on You Know I Do. Great production highlights Helen’s vocal perfectly and congratulations to all on turning out a wonderful album.

JON WOLFE

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OWEN SMITH THE SNOWIES INDEPENDENT

Owen graduated from the Senior CMAA Country Music Academy in 2024 and this six-track EP (with a bonus track) highlights his grasp of writing and performing songs based on his growing up on the land. The opening track, Wild Wild Weather sets up guitar-driven blast of country rock, while a complete change of feel comes with the bush ballad cheek of That Old Hills Hoist, which saw some chart action earlier in the year.

Vocally Owen, drops into darker moods on Auburn Sun and A House On The River Bend, while a trip to Market Day is fraught with a scary drive to town with “Pop in the van”. What is basically the album’s title track, Back In The Snowies, is another distillation of life in a unique part of this country.

Owen brings a talent and a passion for crafting distinctively Australian experiences into song, and producer Simon Johnson and his A-team of musicians help capture the true essence of his music and this is only a taste of what’s to come from Owen.

JON WOLFE

ERROL GRAY BRAIN FARTS AND THOUGHT BUBBLES INDEPENDENT

Most of Errol’s stories in this book are about characters, events and places featuring 80 well-written verses. Some of these bush style poems have been put to music and released previously. Errol’s poems are written through his eyes and he does seem to have a different view on some of the situations that he writes about like Mysteries Of Life and Coke Bottle Blues. Chapter 2 has an interesting focus on men and women in The Battle of the Sexes. Chapter 4 has several poems on old farts and caravan parks including Backing In The Van which was recorded by Terry Bennetts. A must read is the wonderful Colourful Characters and I found a ‘toilet’ poem, which is fabulous, titled The Great Dunny Debate. I have enjoyed reading this book and I love the way the poems are all different and tell a story. A very good read for anyone who loves humorous poetry.

E: errolgray@bigpond.com LORRAINE PFITZNER

CHARLY REYNOLDS (USA) OFF THE RECORD INDEPENDENT

Off The Record is Florida-born Charly Reynolds’ debut album. This highly anticipated release marks a huge moment for the 25-year-old’s career, blending the spirit of twang with the energy of Texas dance hall music, while showing her personal journey through song. The album has a few stellar producers on board, including Zachary Manno, Chris Utley and Alex Kiel, who wave their magic in the studio and make this record a very listenable adventure. With shades of Dolly, Emmylou and Linda, Charly’s vocals are delightful and have a sense of good time about them.

Her latest single, People Think, has been getting a lot of attention on several Spotify playlists as well as Apple Music’s New in Country playlist. She has been selling out shows in Orlando and Nashville, and is becoming a force in the industry. Apart from I Will Survive, all songs were co-written by Charly showing her writing strength. Off The Record is available to stream on all platforms. www.charlyreynolds.com

DARREN ERSKINE

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new COUNTRY SINGLES Get your fix of some of the latest new single releases right here and listen on our Country Music Capital News Spotify List

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COMING

events

All event information is correct at time of printing. Please check with organisers that the event you’re interested in is going ahead, before setting out to attend. If you’d like your event listed here please email cheryl@tamworthcountrymusic.com.au.

NOVEMBER 2024 2 3 19 23

Ridin’ Hearts Festival | Sydney | NSW Ridin’ Hearts Festival | Melbourne | Vic Toyota 53rd Golden Guitar Awards Nominees Announcement Industry Symposium | 12noon | Venue: JMC Academy Harris St Campus | 561 Harris St, Ultimo NSW | W: country.com.au 23 CMAA Achiever Awards | 7pm | Venue: JMC Academy Harris St Campus | 561 Harris St, Ultimo NSW | W: country.com.au 29-30 Roma CMF | Bassett Park Hall & Showgrounds | Roma | Qld | W: regfest.com.au/roma 29-Dec 1 Wild As Country | Pine Rivers Park | Strathpine, Brisbane | Qld | W: wildascountry.com.au

DECEMBER 2024 6-7

Regfest | Wangaratta | Vic | W: regfest.com.au/Wangaratta

JANUARY 2025 17-26 com.au

Toyota 53rd Toyota Country Music Festival | NSW | W: tcmf.

Grab the spotlight at Australia’s largest country music event.

TAMWORTH COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL

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LIVE music SCENE ANDREW SWIFT

NOVEMBER

17 i98FM Illawarra Convoy NSW 30 Roma CMF Qld

DECEMBER

7

Eel Skinners & Duck Pluckers BnS Ball, Carranballac Vic

ANTHEA

NOVEMBER

23 The Woolpack Hotel, Mudgee NSW

ADAM HARVEY

NOVEMBER

1 2 3

7 8 9 10 14 15 16 22 23 24

Panthers, Port Macquarie NSW Ballina RSL NSW Coutts Crossing Coronation Hall NSW Centro CBD, Wollongong NSW Astor Hotel, Goulburn NSW Waterfront Hotel, Moruya NSW Club Sapphire, Merimbula NSW Morwell Hotel Vic York On Lilydale, Mount Evelyn Vic Gateway Hotel, Corio Vic The Centre, Beaudesert Qld Racehorse Hotel, Ipswich Qld Kedron Wavell SC, Chermside Qld Civic Theatre, Wagga Wagga NSW Street Theatre, Canberra ACT

BETH LUCAS

NOVEMBER

22 23 29 30

Honky Tonks, Brisbane Qld Hip Hops Brewers, Brendale Qld Lefty’s Music Hall, Brisbane Qld Nindigully Pub Qld

DECEMBER

6 7

Lefty’s Music Hall, Brisbane Qld Honky Tonks, Brisbane Qld

BRAYDIN GOOD

NOVEMBER

1

The Beer Shed, Leumeah NSW

BRIAN LETTON

NOVEMBER

18&24 Blazes, West Tamworth LC NSW

4 7 8 9 13 17

AMBER LAWRENCE

1 Nobby Town Hall Qld 14 Boonah CMC Qld

29 30

JANUARY 2025

NOVEMBER

16 Paterson School of Arts Hall NSW 22 Little Sisters General Store, Sisters Beach Tas 24 Franklin Palais Theatre Tas 30 Roma CMF Qld

DECEMBER

7

RegFest Wangaratta Vic

AMY RYAN

NOVEMBER

1-3 ABHA State Show, Widgee Qld 8 Beenleigh Road Distillery Qld 23 Monte Music Muster, Slacks Creek Qld 30 Jimboomba Christmas Carols Qld

60

Evans Head RSL NSW Caboolture Senior Citizens Qld Bundaberg Railway Hotel Qld CDCMA Hall, Rockhampton Qld Chinchilla RSL Qld Club Warwick RSL Qld

DECEMBER

BROOKE MCCLYMONT & ADAM ECKERSLEY

Up, Down & Sideways Tour *w Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham, Jay & Mark O’Shea ** The Amazing Gig w Pete & Bridget Helliar

NOVEMBER

2

Lakeside Festival, Tuncurry NSW

DECEMBER

6 Shoalhaven Heads BC NSW 7 Milton Theatre Qld 13 Evan Theatre, Panthers, Penrith NSW*

TAMw ORTH C O U N T R Y M U S I C C A P I TA L news

14 Eatons Hill Hotel Qld* 15 Twin Towns SC, Tweed Heads NSW

BRYEN WILLEMS

*Canterbury Country **Bayou Boogie Boys ***w Glenn Skarratt

NOVEMBER

14 Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL NSW* 16 Bargo Sports Club NSW** 22 Bargo Sports Club NSW*** 30 The Vault, Port Kembla NSW**

DECEMBER

7 8 12

Bargo Sports Club NSW*** Salisbury Hotel, Stanmore NSW** Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL NSW* 31 Sutton Forest Inn NSW**

CARROT BOWEN & THE COLLECTIVE

28 Paradise Cafe & Pizzeria, Lower Portland NSW

CHELSEA BERMAN

NOVEMBER

1

The Great Northern Hotel, Newcastle NSW 8 The Loft on Broadway, Ultimo NSW 29 The Beer Shed, Leumeah NSW

DECEMBER

14 The Great Northern Hotel, Newcastle NSW

CHRIS STAPLETON (USA) FEBRUARY 2025

25&26 Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Vic 28 Brisbane EC Qld

MARCH 2025

NOVEMBER

1 Brisbane EC Qld 4&5 QUDOS Bank Arena, Sydney NSW 7&8 Spark Arena, Auckland NZ

DECEMBER

COOPER ALAN (USA)

CASEY BARNES

1

2 Coolah Sports Club NSW 3 Two Rivers Wine, Denman NSW 30 Muswellbrook Hotel NSW 6

Royal Hotel, Denman NS

*w The Buckleys

NOVEMBER

8

Kings Beach Tavern, Sunshine Coast Qld* 9 Racehorse Hotel, Ipswich Qld* 15 Edge Hill Tavern, Cairns Qld* 16 Dalrymple Hotel, Townsville Qld* 30 Roma CMF Qld

*Guest Melanie Dyer

NOVEMBER

2 3 5

The Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane Qld* Sydney Showground NSW Caribbean Gardens, Melbourne Vic Power Station, Auckland NZ*

DALE HOOPER

*w Tommy Miller

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

1 Club Dubbo NSW 31 Ilford Community Club NSW

CASSIDY JOAN

DERIC RUTTAN (USA)

7

Regfest, Wangaratta Vic

NOVEMBER

1 Oriental Hotel, Springwood NSW 17 Wallacia Hotel NSW 23 Paradise Cafe & Pizzeria, Lower Portland NSW 24 Oriental Hotel, Springwood NSW

DECEMBER

1&6 Oriental Hotel, Springwood NSW 8 Wallacia Hotel NSW 22&27 Oriental Hotel, Springwood NSW

w Catherine Britt, Anthony Snape

JANUARY 2025

22 Capitol Theatre, Tamworth NSW

FANNY LUMSDEN

*w Sara Storer

NOVEMBER

1

2

Burrinja Cultural Centre Upwey Vic* Tongala Hotel Vic*

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2024 3 8 9 10 15 16

Black Barn Farm, Stanley Vic 5 Church Street, Bellingen NSW The Citadel, Murwillumbah NSW The Vue Restaurant, Boonah Qld Canobolas Dance Hall NSW The Arts Centre, Tin Shed Theatre, Cootamundra NSW

FELICITY DOWD

*Guest of Corey Legge **w Tuck Shop Ladies ***Guest of Dallas Frasca

NOVEMBER

8-10 Majors Creek Festival NSW 15 Smiths Alternative, Canberra ACT** 17 Flow Bar, Old Bar NSW*** 22-24 Bundanoon Folk Festival NSW

HAZEL & THE THIEF *w Hay Bales & Headbangers

HOPE RIVER ROAD NOVEMBER

JANUARY 2025

20 The Milk Bar, Inglewood WA

FRECKO

JADE GIBSON

10-12 Cygnet Folk Festival Tas

NOVEMBER

23 Kangaroo Valley Muster NSW

DECEMBER

15 Long Jetty Hotel NSW

GORD BAMFORD (AUS/CAN) NOVEMBER

1

2

Mingara Recreation Club, Tumbi Umbi NSW Seiffert Oval, Queanbeyan NSW

Duke of George, Fremantle WA

DECEMBER

NOVEMBER 2 9 22 30

Birallee Tavern, Wodonga Vic Beer Deluxe, Albury NSW The Greenhouse, Orange NSW Sporties, Barooga NSW

DECEMBER 7 13 15 24

Reg Fest, Wangaratta Vic SS&A, Albury NSW The Beach Café, Cobram Vic Precinct Bar and Restaurant, Wangaratta Vic

JAMES KEITH NOVEMBER 2

Forster Tuncurry Festival NSW

JANUARY 2025 17

Moonshiners Honky Tonk, Tamworth NSW

JAMIE LINDSAY GRAEME CONNORS 2NOVEMBER Tasmanian Independent CMA,

JANUARY 2025

24 Tamworth War Memorial Town Hall NSW

NOVEMBER

NOVEMBER

3

Murrah Hall NSW* Smokey Dans, Tomakin NSW*

*Guest of Kane Brown

HEATH BURDELL 10 Shakespeare Hotel, Sydney NSW

Hobart Tas 23 The Italian Club, Launceston Tas

Brisbane EC Qld Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney NSW Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Vic RAC Arena, Perth WA

KAMERON MARLOWE (USA)

DECEMBER 14 The Shed, The Pig & Whistle, Main Ridge Vic*

DECEMBER

6 7

16 19 22 25

JAYNE DENHAM

Risk It All Tour *Guest at Rob Mills’ Bon Jovi Show

NOVEMBER

29 Roma CMF Qld

JEMMA BEECH

NOVEMBER

15 The Beer Shed, Leumeah NSW 16 Cooee Hotel, St George’s Basin NSW

JOCEAN

NOVEMBER

2

Ocean Beach Hotel, Shellharbour NSW 16 Tahmoor Inn NSW 24 Camperdown Commons NSW

14 16 19 22 25

Spark Arena, Auckland NSW Brisbane EC Qld Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney NSW Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Vic RAC Arena, Perth WA

KATIE JAYNE

NOVEMBER

2 9 15 23 29

Fagan Park, Galston NSW Forbes NSW Muswellbrook Motors NSW Dirty Harry’s, Toowoomba Qld Budgewoi Hotel NSW

DECEMBER

7 The Alpine Hotel, Cooma NSW 21 Dirty Harrys, Toowoomba Qld 31 Honeysuckle Hotel, Newcastle NSW

KAYLEE BELL (NZ)

*Guest of Kane Brown

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

14 16 19 22 25

JORDAN DAVIS (USA)

NOVEMBER

8 Bulli Village Markets NSW 13 Flamin Gallah Brewery, Huskisson NSW 20 The Sherwood Macarthur, Leumeah NSW 27 Tahmoor Inn NSW

Guest of Luke Combs

JANUARY 2025

17&18 Eden Park, Auckland NZ 24&25 Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Qld 31 Accor Stadium, Sydney NSW

FEBRUARY

1 Accor Stadium, Sydney NSW 7&8 Marvel Stadium, Melbourne Vic

KANE BROWN (USA)

Spark Arena, Auckland NSW Brisbane EC Qld Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney NSW Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Vic RAC Arena, Perth WA

KIRSTY LEE AKERS

2 3

Gulgong Memorial Hall NSW Woodstock Soldiers Memorial Hall NSW 9 Clarence Town School of Arts Hall NSW 10 Mulbring Community Hall NSW 16 Merriwa School of Arts Hall NSW 17 Comboyne War Memorial Hall NSW

DECEMBER

7

The Beer Shed, Leumeah NSW

W Kameron Marlowe & Kaylee Bell

NOVEMBER

14 Spark Arena, Auckland NSW

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XXX UDNG DPN BV NBDDBT 5FSNT BOE DPOEJUJPOT BQQMZ

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LIVE music SCENE LANCE BIRRELL

NOVEMBER

1 Swan Hill Club Vic 3 Kyabram CMC, Bocce Club Vic 9&10 Kyabram Showground Vic 15 Wy Yung Hotel Vic 22 Geelong CMC, White Eagle House, Geelong Vic 29 Pascoe Vale RSL, Melbourne Vic 30 Geelong Dart Club Vic

DECEMBER

6 7 8 18 19 31

Hay SC NSW Darlington Point Sports Club NSW Wagga RSL Club NSW Manildra Showground NSW Cowra BC NSW Junee Ex-SC NSW

LANE PITTMAN

Guest of Luke Combs (USA)

JANUARY 2025

24&25 Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Qld 31 Accor Stadium, Sydney NSW

FEBRUARY

1 Accor Stadium, Sydney NSW 7&8 Marvel Stadium, Melbourne Vic

MAK & SHAR

DECEMBER

31 Lowe Family Wine Co, Mudgee NSW

MATT WARD

NOVEMBER

1 2 3

Altar Bar, Hobart Tas Royal Oak Hotel, Launceston Tas Wilder Tasmania, Gowrie Park Tas

DECEMBER

20 Exeter Hotel, Adelaide SA

1

5

The Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane Qld Power Station, Auckland NZ

MEM DAVIS

NOVEMBER

2 9 22 24

North Nowra Tavern NSW Tahmoor Inn NSW Berkeley Hotel, Wollongong NSW Ocean Beach Hotel, Shellharbour NSW

DECEMBER

7

Bankstown Hotel, Bankstown NSW 8 Lagoon Restaurant, Wollongong NSW 14 North Nowra Tavern NSW 21 Georgia Rose, Shellharbour NSW

MERILYN STEELE

FEBRUARY

1 Accor Stadium, Sydney NSW 7&8 Marvel Stadium, Melbourne Vic

LEE KERNAGHAN

NOVEMBER

1 2 8 9

Penrith Evan Theatre NSW Seiffert Oval, Queanbeyan NSW Twin Towns SC, Tweed Heads NSW The Events Centre, Caloundra Qld

Mingara Rec Club, Tumbi Umbi NSW 2 Seiffert Oval, Queanbeyan NSW 8 The Country Club, St Georges Basin, NSW 9 The Oaks Hotel, Albion Park Rail NSW 16 Forth Pub Tas

DECEMBER

8

Longley International Hotel Tas

JANUARY 2025

DECEMBER

23 The Longyard Hotel, Tamworth NSW

JANUARY 2025

MEGAN WOODS

7

Wangaratta Showgrounds Vic

23 TRECC, Tamworth NSW

NOVEMBER

LUKE COMBS (USA)

1

JANUARY 2025

*Guest of Cooper Alan (USA)

w Jordan Davis (USA), Mitchell Tenpenny (USA) & Lane Pittman (AU) 17&18 Eden Park, Auckland NZ

62

The Vic Hotel, Bathurst NSW

MELANIE DYER

NOVEMBER

TAMw ORTH C O U N T R Y M U S I C C A P I TA L news

NOVEMBER

1&22 Exchange Hotel, Kilcoy Qld

DECEMBER

NOVEMBER

FEBRUARY

1

PETER CAMPBELL

MITCHELL TENPENNY (USA)

17&18 Eden Park, Auckland NZ 24&25 Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Qld 31 Accor Stadium, Sydney NSW

NOVEMBER

15 22 22 29 31

NOVEMBER

JANUARY 2025

MAX JACKSON

8 15

Margaret River Bakery WA Good Day Sunshine Festival, Margaret River WA Margaret River Bakery, WA Rocky Ridge Brewhouse, Busselton WA Margaret River Bakery WA Par 3, Busselton WA Margaret River Bakery WA Margaret River Bakery WA Aravina, Yallingup WA

6 Exchange Hotel, Kilcoy Qld 19 Honky Tonks, Brisbane Qld 29 Jimboomba Tavern Qld

30 City Beach Function Centre, Wollongong NSW

17&18 Eden Park, Auckland NZ 24&25 Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Qld 31 Accor Stadium, Sydney NSW

DECEMBER

1 7

PIPPA J

3 5

Rosedale Hotel Vic Noojee Hotel Vic

DECEMBER

28 Noojee Hotel Vic

ROBBIE MORTIMER

1 Accor Stadium, Sydney NSW 7&8 Marvel Stadium, Melbourne Vic

*PBR Monster Energy Tour

MOONEE VALLEY DRIFTERS

2

NOVEMBER

17 Grand Hotel, Healesville Vic 24 Black Swan Hotel, Bendigo Vic

DECEMBER

14 Thornbury BC Vic

NATHAN LAMONT

NOVEMBER

2 Denman Food, Wine & Film Affair, Muswellbrook NSW

OLIVE MAE

NOVEMBER

2 2

Beerfarm, Metricup WA 2.30PM The Servo Taphouse, Cowaramup WA 7.30PM 3,10,17 Margaret River Bakery WA 30 Howard Park Winery, Cowaramup WA

NOVEMBER

Townsville EC Qld*

RODNEY VINCENT

*w Lucky Starr

NOVEMBER

8-10 Di Vinci Club Pyles Lane, Wangaratta Vic 12 Warrnambool Memorial BC Vic* 13 Ballarat South Seniors Rooms Vic 1pm* 14 Highland Club, Maryborough Vic 2pm* 15 Shepparton East BC Vic 7.30pm* 16 Bendigo Golden Hills Motel Vic 7.30pm* 17 Wagga Wagga RSL NSW 2pm* 22 Corowa RSL Club NSW

ROSS WILSON

NOVEMBER

1 Eildon Boat Club Vic (Sold Out) 15 Missing Gorilla, Eltham Vic 16 Corowa RSL NSW

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2024 17 Memo, Healesville Vic 22 Tallagandra Hill Estate, Gundaroo, NSW (Sold Out) 23 Milton Theatre NSW (Sold Out) 24 Tilba Valley Winery NSW

DECEMBER

8

Way Out West, Newport Bowls Club, Vic (Sold Out) 28 Bellarine Estate Winery Vic 29&30 Avoca Beach Theatre NSW (Sold Out) 31 Cronulla Golf Club NSW

RUBY SHAY

NOVEMBER

23 Kangaroo Valley Muster NSW

RUSTY PICKUPS

NOVEMBER

29-30 RegFest, Roma CMF Qld 11am

SAM BUCKLEY

*Blues Cartel

NOVEMBER

2 8

Norton Music Factory, Caloundra Qld Eddie’s Grub House, Gold Coast Qld 15 Little Shack, Port Macquarie NSW 16 Yamba Distillery NSW

DECEMBER

5 6 7 8 15 27 29

The Northern Byron Bay NSW* Pacific Hotel, Yamba NSW* Dag Pub D’Aguilar Qld* Revel Brewing Morningside Qld* Park Beach BC, Coffs Harbour NSW Little Shack, Port Macquarie NSW Jetty Beach House, Coffs Harbour NSW

SARA STORER

*w Fanny Lumsden

NOVEMBER

1 2

Burrinja Cultural Centre, Upwey Vic* Tongala Hotel Vic*

SHEPPARD

NOVEMBER

1 8 9

Northcote Theatre, Melbourne Vic Carnival of Cups, NSW The Pavilion, Kiama NSW

STEFFANY BECK (NZ) NOVEMBER

15 Canterbury Park A&P Showgrounds, Christchurch NZ

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TAYLOR MOSS

NOVEMBER

8 9

Dirty Harry’s, Toowoomba Qld* Norton’s Music Factory, Caloundra Qld** 22 The Beer Shed, Campbelltown NSW* 23 The Stag & Hunter, Newcastle NSW*

TELITA LEE & THE HUSKIES

NOVEMBER

16 Block’n’Tackle, Kincumber NSW

DECEMBER

21

Link & Pin, Woy Woy NSW

THE DOLLYS (NZ)

NOVEMBER

10 Ballarat Polocrosse Club Vic 14–17 Melbourne Showground Vic 22 Leighdale Equestrian Centre, Teesdale Vic 23 Noorat Showground Vic 24 Casterton Polocrosse Ground Vic 29 Pinnaroo Showground SA 30 The Rising Patch, Strathalbyn SA

DECEMBER 1 6 7 8 13

Eudunda Showgrounds SA Whyalla Showgrounds SA Cummins Showground SA Streaky Bay RC SA Woolibar Station King Battery Site, Feysville, Kalgoorlie WA 14 Mukinbudin Town Oval WA 15 Bruce Rock Pony Club WA

2

Gore Town and Country Stadium, Gore NZ 20 Clutha CM Club, Balclutha NZ 23 Invercargill Working Mens Club, Invercargill NZ

NOVEMBER

29 Waywards, Newton Sydney NSW^ 30 The Stag & Hunter, Newcastle NSW^

DECEMBER

DECEMBER

6 7 13 14 15

15 Glen CM Club Invercargill NZ

THE WOLFE BROTHERS

2

1 2 8

DECEMBER

8

Longley International Hotel Tas

JANUARY 2025

24 The Longyard Hotel, Tamworth NSW

TOM CURTAIN’S

Katherine Outback Experience & Good Life Tour W Laura Frank, Chris Matthews

NOVEMBER

1 2

3 8 9

Cooma Race Club NSW Murrumbateman Recreation Grounds NSW Woomargama Cricket Ground NSW Bundalong Tavern Vic Corringle Station, Moama NSW

The Evelyn Hotel, Melbourne Vic^ The Barwon Club, Geelong Vic^ The Royal, Nundah Qld^ Kings Beach Tavern Qld^ Dirty Harry’s Toowoomba Qld^

JANUARY 2025

NOVEMBER

Mingara Rec Club, Tumbi Umbi NSW Seiffert Oval, Queanbeyan NSW The Country Club, St Georges Basin, NSW 9 The Oaks Hotel, Albion Park Rail NSW 16 Forth Pub Tas

WADE FORSTER

^The Drifter Tour

TROY CASSAR-DALEY BETWEEN THE FIRES TOUR Guests *Bo’Ness **The Maes

NOVEMBER 8 9 10 21 22 23 24 29

Civic Centre, Ipswich Qld* Kingston Butter Factory, Logan Qld* The D’ag Pub, D’Aguilar Qld* Bairnsdale RSL Vic** Noojee Hotel Vic** Memo Music Hall, St Kilda Vic** The Sound Doctor, Memorial Hall, Anglesea Vic** Majestic Theatre, Pomona Qld*

JANUARY 2025 23 TRECC, Tamworth NSW

Knuckleheads, Kansas City, Missouri USA* 3 Cains Ballroom, Tulsa, Oklahoma USA* 17 Opening Concert, Toyota Park Tamworth NSW 19 Toyota Star Maker, Toyota Park Tamworth NSW 24 The Longyard Hotel, Tamworth NSW

WOODY CAMPFIRE

NOVEMBER

7

Fremantle Buffalo Club WA

DECEMBER

5

Fremantle Buffalo Club WA

JANUARY 2025

2

Fremantle Buffalo Club WA

ZAC CROSS BAND

NOVEMBER

1 Maraboon Tavern, Emerald Qld 30 Wild As Country Party, Brisbane Qld

TAMw ORTH C O U N T R Y M U S I C C A P I TA L news

63

TOYOTA GENUINE ACCESSORIES

Toyota Genuine Stargazer

Toyota Genuine Alloy Roof Tray

GENUINELY MADE, GENUINELY USEFUL Toyota Genuine Accessories are designed, engineered and tested by Toyota, so you can rely on them to live up to those everyday uses. Just like your Toyota Vehicle.

Scan the QR code to discover more Vehicle shown fitted with optional Toyota Genuine Roof Racks and Alloy Roof Tray, sold separately. See your Dealer for Toyota Genuine Accessory suitability and fitment, & Owners’ Manual for GVM limit. Colours depicted may vary from actual. Visit toyota.com.au/vehiclepayload.

64

TAMw ORTH C O U N T R Y M U S I C C A P I TA L news

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