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THE LATEST NEWS
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2009
Ace Award winners
Troy Cassar-Daley, The McClymonts and Melinda Schneider have come up trumps in country categories of last week's ACE (Australian Club Entertainment) Awards presented in Sydney.
Troy took our the Country Male Performer award from fellow finalists Adam Brand, Travis Collins, Adam Harvey, Wayne Horsburgh and John Williamson.
The McClymonts won the Country Group/Band award from Buckshot, Chasing Bailey, Feral Swing Katz, Bob Howe & Hillbilly Heaven and the Wolverines.
Melinda Schneider won the Country Female Performer title from Donna Boyd, Kel-Anne Brandt, Beccy Cole, Sara Storer and Felicity Urquhart.
Of related country music interest, perrenial winner Darren Carr took out two ACE awards... in the Sight Act category and for Comedy Act.
Photo: Melinda accepts her award on the night.
Weblink – www.aceawards.com.au.
AIR Awards
Winners of the fourth annual AIR (Australian Independent Record Labels Association) Awards will be announced in Melbourne this Sunday.
Finalists for Best Independent Country Album are Kirsty Lee Akers' Better Days, James Blundell's Portrait Of A Man, Adam Brand's Hell Of A Ride and Tania Kernaghan's Livin' The Dream.
Featured performers on the Awards show will include Kirsty Lee Akers.
Weblink – www.airawards.com.au.
Keith features again in CMA Awards
Keith Urban has again featured among the winners in the American CMA (Country Music Association) Awards.
Keith teamed with Brad Paisley to take our the Musical Event award for their duet Start A Band. Brad was also named Male Vocalist of the Year.
This year's Awards were dominated by Taylor Swift who won four categories, Album of the Year (for Fearless), Music Video of the Year and the coveted Female Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year awards.
The Vocal Group award went to Lady Antebellum while Sugarland took out the Vocal Duo award.
Weblink – www.cmaawards.com.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2009
Chart Update – Amber at number one
The McClymonts' Kick It Up hits number one this week on the national Country Tracks Top 30.
Amber Lawrence's former number one – Don't Do Lonely Well – slips to second place while Adam Brand's Ready For Love is at three and Melinda Schneider's Courageous is steady at four.
Harmony James' Precious Little is at five, Lee Kernaghan's Planet Country jumps to six and Lianna Rose's I Want My Tractor Back is at seven.
Carter & Carter's Surviving Black Saturday is steady at eight, Keith Urban's Only You Can Love Me This Way slips to number nine and Liam Brew's Girls With Girlfriends is at 10.
Bullet performers for the week included The Bobkatz/Davidson Brothers duet The First Step, Greg Storer's duet with sister Sara on When I Was A Boy, Felicity Urquhart's Roller Coaster, Jetty Road's World Keeps Turning, the Adam Harvey/John Williamson cover of Roger Miller's King Of The Road, Tori Darke's You Better Run and Jayne Denham's Girls Of '75.
The only new entry for the week is Luke O'Shea's How Well Have You Loved (in at 29).
Weblink – www.countrymusicradio.com.au.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2009
Finalists announced for 2010 Golden Guitar Awards
Finalists were announced in Sydney today for the 38th annual Country Music Awards of Australia, or Golden Guitar Awards, presented by Jayco.
Troy Cassar-Daley topped the list with seven places, for Single of the Year, Album, Male Artist, Song, Heritage Song, Video Clip and, with The McClymonts, Vocal Collaboration of the Year. All nominations, except Vocal Collab, come from his latest album, I Love This Place.
Keith Urban makes a potential return to the Golden Guitar winning stakes after not featuring at all in nominations over the last few years. He is a finalist for 2010 in four categories... Male Artist of the Year, Album, Single and Song of the Year.
Adam Brand, The Bushwackers, Jetty Road, Amber Lawrence, The McClymonts and Lianna Rose (her first time in) all have three finalist nominations each while Carter & Carter, Paul Costa, Davidson Bros, Harmony James, Tania Kernaghan, Greg & Sara Storer and Felicity Urquhart all have two.
Tamara Stewart also features in two finalist placings as writer of the Australian Country Music Unites Vocal Collaboration Tangerine Sky.
Other first time finalist nominees this year are Victoria Baillie, The Bobkatz, Liam Brew, Jayne Denham and Joe Robinson.
Rod Laing, Chairman of Awards organisers the Country Music Association of Australia, praised the standards of the finalists in all categories, saying it underlined the overall quality of our performers.
"Australia can be proud of the country music we create and perform in this country," he said. "This year’s finalists and the wide range of singers and songwriters just waiting for a chance confirms that country music in Australia has never been stronger.”
A full list of finalists follows.
Winners will be announced at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment & Conference Centre on Saturday, January 23.
The 2010 Tamworth Country Music Festival will run from Friday January 15 to Sunday January 24, preceded by the seven-day Festival Countdown.
Album of the Year
Defying Gravity – Keith Urban, produced by Dann Huff & Keith Urban
Hell of A Ride – Adam Brand, produced by Richard Landis
I Love This Place – Troy Cassar-Daley, produced by Rod McCormack, Troy Cassar-Daley & Jeff McCormack
Life at A Million Miles – Jetty Road, produced by Julian Sammut & Mark Moffat
Tailwind – Harmony James, produced by Herm KovacMale Artist of the Year
Adam Brand – Hell of a Ride
James Blundell – Good Wood
Keith Urban - Kiss A Girl
Paul Costa – Survivor 1932
Troy Cassar-Daley - I Love This PlaceFemale Artist of the Year
Amber Lawrence – When It All Comes Down
Felicity Urquhart – Roller Coaster
Harmony James – Precious Little
Lianna Rose – Angels
Tania Kernaghan – Second Time AroundGroup or Duo of the Year
Carter & Carter – Surviving Black Saturday
Davidson Brothers – A Showman’s Life
Jetty Road – Life at A Million Miles
The Bobkatz – The Long Haul
The Bushwackers – The Good Old Days
Vocal Collaboration of the Year
Ain’t Gonna Change For You – Troy Cassar-Daley & The McClymonts
Courageous – Melinda Schneider & Australian Girls Choir
King Of The Road – Adam Harvey & John Williamson
Tangerine Sky – Australian Country Music Unites
You’ve Got A Friend – Songbirds (Gina Jeffreys, Beccy Cole & Sara Storer)Bush Ballad of the Year
Droving Cattle with the Boys – written by Tania Kernaghan & Fiona Kernaghan, recorded by Tania Kernaghan
Old Black Quart – written by Coster/Coster/Quinn/Pritchard/Corbett, recorded by Tracy Coster
The Dust of Kalkadoon – written by Ian Quinn, recorded by Dean Perrett
The First Lady of Country – written by Graham Rodger/ Deirdre Willmington, recorded by Graham Rodger
The Road to Thargomindah – written by Colin Buchanan, recorded by the BushwackersHeritage Song of the Year
Chasin’ Rodeo – written and recorded by Troy Cassar-Daley
Surviving Black Saturday – written by David Carter/Merelyn Carter, recorded by Carter and Carter
Survivor 1932 – written by Costa/Costa/McCormack, recorded by Paul Costa
Tangerine Sky – written by Tamara Stewart, recorded by Australian Country Music Unites
When I Was A Boy – written and recorded by Greg Storer and Sara StorerInstrumental of the Year
Flying Pig – The Bushwackers
Fox On The Freeway – Davidson Brothers
It’s Not Easy – Joe Robinson
Jolly Swagman – Tommy Emmanuel
Waiting At The Station – Lawrie MinsonNew Talent of the Year
Jayne Denham – Shake This Town
Liam Brew – Girls With Girlfriends
Lianna Rose – Jack
Ronni Rae Rivers – Running on Fumes
Victoria Baillie – Make Me
APRA Song of the Year
Big Big Love – written and recorded by Troy Cassar-Daley
Girl In The Mall – written by Felicity Urquhart/Mark Seymour, recorded by Felicity Urquhart
Survivor 1932 – written by Costa/Costa/McCormack, recorded by Paul Costa
When It All Comes Down – written and recorded by Amber Lawrence
Why’s It Feel So Long – written and recorded by Keith UrbanVideo Clip of the Year
Big Big Love – Troy Cassar Daley, directed by Ross Wood
Don’t Do Lonely Well – Amber Lawrence, directed by Glenn Wilson
I Want My Tractor Back – Lianna Rose, directed by Ross Wood
Kick It Up – The McClymonts, directed by Myles Conti
When I Was A Boy – Greg Storer & Sara Storer, directed by Duncan ToombsSingle of the Year
Big Big Love – Troy Cassar-Daley
Kiss A Girl – Keith Urban
Million Miles – Jetty Road
Ready For Love – Adam Brand
Shotgun – The McClymonts
Weblinks – www.country.com.au, www.tcmf.com.au.
Howdy hangs up the headphones
Veteran broadcaster Brian ("Howdy") Howard has retired after 30 years behind the microphone.
Inducted into the Broadcasters Hall Of Fame in 2006, Brian's radio career began on 2SERFM in Sydney and, after moving to Tamworth in 1988, he joined the famous "Hoedown" program broadcasting from the studios of 2TM to a huge audience across Australia networking via 2TM in NSW and Queensland's 4WK.
In the mid '90s, "Hoedown" became "Country Music Radio" (CMR) which was then aired over the entire Super Radio Network including Sydney and Newcastle.
Among his most memorable highlights, Brian says, were the many interviews with his boyhood idols... "including Roy Rogers, Johnny Cash, Hank Snow, Wilf Carter, Kitty Wells, Hank Thompson, Bill Monroe, Connie Francis, Carl Perkins, Brenda Lee and Wanda Jackson".
Some of his regular studio guests included "great old timers like Tex Morton, Gordon Parsons, Reg Lindsay, Shirley Thoms, Buddy Williams, Smoky Dawson, Rick and Thel Carey and the legendary Slim Dusty".
"Slim was great," Brian said, "he was always very generous with his time. I could call him anytime and he would love to have a chat about what he was doing, I even phoned him on air as he and the family were wrapping presents on Christmas Eve!"
Brian says his early radio inspiration came from Tim McNamara: "Tim was radio's first country music disc jockey, who introduced young stars like Kevin King, Reg Lindsay and the McKean Sisters on Radio 2SM in the 1950s.
"And, of course, its been very rewarding working with John Minson, Kevin Knapp, Ted Hintz and Nick Erby. I’ve always admired their confidence and communication skills."
And what now? Howdy says he is looking forward to having weekends off... "So I can get out and see a few shows and to do the occasional gig myself."
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2009
Chart Update – Amber at number one
Amber Lawrence (pictured) takes over the number one position on this week's national Country Tracks Top 30 with her hit Don't Do Lonely Well.
The McClymonts' Kick It Up is at two, Harmony James' Precious Little is at three and Melinda Schneider's Courageous is at four.
Adam Brand's Ready For Love is at five, Lianna Rose is at six with I Want My Tractor Back and Keith Urban's Only You Can Love Me This Way bounds into the top 10 at seven.
Carter & Carter's Surviving Black Saturday us at eight, Liam Brew's Girls With Girlfriends is at nine and Lee Kernaghan's Planet Country enters the top 10 at 10.
Bullet performers for the week included The Bobkatz/Davidson Brothers duet The First Step, Dianne Lindsay's posthumous duet with her dad Reg on Country All The Way, Greg Storer's duet with sister Sara on When I Was A Boy, Victoria Baillie's Stupid, Felicity Urquhart's Roller Coaster, the Adam Harvey/John Williamson cover of Roger Miller's King Of The Road and Jayne Denham's Girls Of '75.
New entries for the week include Jetty Road's World Keeps Turning (in at 29) and Tori Darke's You Better Run (at 30).
Weblink – www.countrymusicradio.com.au.
Lou Bradley album release
ARIA and Golden Guitar Awards nominated singer/songwriter Lou Bradley released her album La La La Not Listening on Joy McKean and Slim Dusty's Nulla Records label this week.
From the NSW town of Mullumbimby, Lou "creates songs of the land, life and of the heart and delivers them with an intoxicating mix of country, folk snd occasionally with a little bit of rock," a spokesman for Nulla Records said.
"Lou refers to her unique 'mix' as 'Bohemian Country' or 'Hillbilly Pop'."
The album was produced by Shane Nicholson and mixed by Nash Chambers."Lou and Shane have created a sparse sound that allows her unforgettable stories to unfold easily and always truthfully," the Nulla spokesman said.
Lou will celebrate the release of her new album with one "a rare Sydney show"... next Wednesday (November 18) at the Excelsior Hotel in Foveaux Street, Surry Hills.
"It will be a bit of a treat for Sydney country music fans as Sam Hawksley and Mitchell Shadlow will also be performing at the Excelsior Hotel that night," the Nulla spokesman said.
Weblink – www.myspace.com/loubradley.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2009
Remembering Smoky Dawson
An appeal has been launched for funds to build a permanent memorial to Australian country music legend Smoky Dawson in Tamworth.
Smoky died on 13th February 2008. His wife and long time partner Dot, aged 103, is still living in a nursing home in Sydney.
The memorial will take the form of a statue by well-known sculptor Tanya Bartlett (acclaimed for her statue of Don Bradman in Bowral and the Light Horse memorial in Tamworth).
It will be placed in a prominent position in Tamworth, the city Smoky and Dot always regarded as their second home and which they helped transform into Australia’s Country Music Capital.
The appeal will only run until the end of January. It is planned to unveil the memorial in January 2011.
In launching the appeal, John said: "For more than seven decades, Smoky and Dot working together made an extraordinary contribution to Australian life.
“A superb singer and songwriter and a consummate showman, Smoky was above all, admired for his humility and his infectious good nature. He revelled in the spotlight, sharing his achievements with enthusiasm, spreading laughter and happiness wherever he went.
“All who knew him were influenced and uplifted by his generous and effervescent spirit. Together with Dot, he was an inspiration to us all and we will always treasure his memory."
Contributions to the Smoky Dawson Memorial Appeal are tax deductible and can sent to the Australian Country Music Foundation, PO Box 1842, Tamworth, 2340.
Weblink – www.smokydawsonmemorial.com.
Tribute to "the pioneering ladies"
On Saturday, January 16, the Australian Country Music Foundation (ACMF), will present the Australian Country Music Hall Of Fame Tribute To The Pioneering Ladies Concert in the Tamworth Town Hall from 2pm.
"Honouring pioneering females like The McKean Sisters, Shirley Thoms, Sister Dorrie, The Schneider Sisters, Lily Connors, June Holms and Bernie Burnett, this wonderful concert will feature Anne Kirkpatrick (pictured), Dianne Lindsay, Wayne Horsburgh, Clelia Adams, Jodie Crosby And Steve Newton, Peter Pratt, Tracy Killeen, Lou Bradley, Laura Downing, Paul Wilson and will also include a special quest appearances by 2008 Roll Of Renown inductee Geoff Mack and ventriloquist Sue Archer.
"All this great talent will be backed by the Hall Of Fame Orchestra featuring Bob Howe on guitar, Rod Coe on bass, Mike “Fettler” Kerin on fiddle and Gary Brown on dobro).
"This concert will bring back memories of our pioneering ladies and the great music that is still enjoyed by many fans today and it’s fitting that it takes place in the famous Tamworth Town Hall," a spokesman for the ACMF said.
As the major fundraising concert for the Australian Country Music Hall Of Fame, the concert will also feature the announcement of the 2010 Hands Of Fame inductees and those being honoured in the Country Music Broadcasters’ Hall Of Fame.
Tickets at $30 each can be obtained over the counter from the Tamworth Visitor Information Centre, by phone on 02 6767 5300 or online here.
Weblink – www.countrymusichalloffame.com.au.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2009
Country ARIA nominations
Troy Cassar-Daley, Shane Nicholson, Jasmine Rae, Keith Urban and Felicity Urquhart (pictured) are final nominees for the 2009 ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) Awards Best Country Album.
Finalists for the 2009 ARIAs were announced today.
Troy is a finalist for I Love This Place (on the Liberation label through Universal Music Australia), Shane for Familiar Ghosts (also Liberation/Universal), Jasmine for Look It Up (on the ABC Music label through Universal), Keith for Defying Gravity (on the Capitol label through EMI Music Australia) and Felicity for Landing Lights (on the Shock Entertainment label).
Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson are also nominated for Best Music DVD for Rattlin’ Bones Max Sessions (Liberation/Universal) up against projects by Jimmy Barnes (Live At The Enmore), The Cat Empire (Live At The Bowl), Sia (TV Is My Parent) and various artists (for Rockwiz – Salutes the Bowl).
Pop princess and "Australian Idol" alumni Jessica Mauboy (who came to prominence in the music business by winning country music's Telstra Road To Tamworth competition) leads this year's ARIA nominations overall with seven for her debut album Been Waiting which has achieved double-platinum sales to date.
The 20 year-old from Darwin is nominated for Best Pop Release, Best Female Artist, Breakthrough Artist – Album, Breakthrough Artist – Single (for Running Back), Highest Selling Australian Album and an impressive double nomination in the Highest Selling Australian Single category for Running Back and Burn.
The 2009 ARIA Awards will be announced at Sydney's Acer Arena on Thursday November 26 and will be telecast on the Nine Network from 8.30pm with a special live red carpet broadcast taking place on MTV from 7.30pm on the day and an encore screening on Friday November 27.
Weblink – www.ariaawards.com.au.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2009
Jetty Road dominates Southern Stars
Hot country group Jetty Road dominated the 2009 Australian Independent Country Music Awards (the Southern Stars) in Mildura last night taking out two of the eight judged categories and being named Australian Independent Country Music Artist of the Year.
The band, which has been running from success to success this year, won the Group/Duo award with World Keeps Turning and Independent Album of the Year with Life At A Million Miles.
Amber Lawrence built on her success from last year taking out Single of the Year with The Mile while Dean Perrett won Heritage Track of the Year with The Dust Of Kalkadoon.
Sam Hawksley was named Male Vocalist of the Year with Sounds Like Summer and Harmony James took home the Female Vocal award with Fly.
Doug McIntyre won the Male Rising Star award withThe Man Who Might Have Been with Lianna Rose following up on her recent Golden Saddle Awards taking our the Female Rising Star awarded with Angels.
Co-founder of the Mildura Country Music Festival and 2009 Australian Country Music Broadcasters' Hall of Fame inductee Max Thorburn was presented with the Awards' Barry Thornton Memorial Service Award.
Weblink – www.milduracountrymusic.com.au.
Deniese to headline in the north
Well known country music artist Deniese Morrison will headline the annual Far North Queensland Country Music Festival at Kerribee Park, Mareeba, next weekend.
The Festival, run by the Walkamin Country Music Club, kicks off on Thursday and runs through to Sunday. Deniese will appear with Peter Pratt and Ryan Sampson on the "Saturday Night Supa Show".
Deniese Morrison has been recording since 1974, winning the Female Vocalist Golden Guitar three times – with Now I’m Easy (1987), Battle Hymn Of Love (1989) and You’ve Gotta Learn To Dance (1990).
She hosted the major Golden Guitar Awards three times and has worked extensively in television and radio over the years.
Deniese has toured Australia with major international and Australian artists including Max Bygraves, Chubby Checker, The Drifters, Dick Emery, Freddie Fender,Gerry and the Pacemakers, Tom T Hall, Gene Pitney, The Platters, Jimmy Rogers and Conway Twitty.
Earlier this year, Bellbird Music created a new series of "Classic Collection" album, under which Deniese’s album No Charge was the first to be released.
No Charge – distributed by One Stop Country and available from from music retailers – is a 14 track "best of" compilation tracing Deniese’s success over the past 20 years.
Weblink – www.deniesemorrison.com
The 2009 Deniliquin Ute Muster was staged successfully this weekend.
Troy Cassar-Daley and Adam Harvey headlined the main Saturday night concert with fellow country stars Kirsty Lee Akers, Catherine Britt and The Sunny Cowgirls.
Beccy Cole (pictured) also headlined at the Festival with rising stars Sinead Burgess and Travis Collins.
A new Guinness World Record was created on Saturday for "the largest gathering of people wearing blue shearer’s singlets" with 2,230 people gathered in blue shearer’s singlets.
Wet conditions prevented organisers from attempting to break its 1999 record of the largest parade of legally registered utes The attempt will be made at next year's Festival.
Among results from the weekend, Robert Martin from Horsley in NSW won the 2009 Ute of the Year winner title with his 2006 Holden VZ.
The 2010 Deniliquin Ute Muster will be held Friday and Saturday October 1 and 2. Stars already booked for the event include Kasey Chambers and John Williamson.
Weblink – www.deniutemuster.com.au.
Canberra Country Music Festival next weekend
More than 50 individual performers or groups will appear during Canberra's first major country music festival being staged in the nation's capital next weekend.
They include major artists like Bill Chambers, Greg Champion (pictured), Adam Harvey, Jimmy Little, together with rising stars including Chuck's Wagon, Kelly Cooper, Nicki Gillis, Bec Hance, Kylie Hogan, Leanne Melmoth,Craig Morrison Little Cowboys, Ronni Rae Rivers, Mitchell Shadlow and Kimber Sparks.
The Festival runs this Friday, Saturday and Sunday across five stages at Tuggeranong Homestead at the corner of Ashley and Johnson Drives in Richardson, ACT.
Meanwhile, organisers have announced that, in recognition of the contribution of performers and grassroots support of fans, the Canberra Country Music Festival is to host a special session called "Dreamtime Country" which will profile emerging indigenous country music artists.
To be held from midday on Saturday at the True Blue Stage, organisers are planning to make this an annual feature.
Festival Director Kelvin Fahey said: "We wanted to ensure that opportunities are available for both the performers and audiences to experience indigenous artists performing country music. Whilst much is made about developing urban indigenous music, we know there is so much talent and indigenous community support for country music."
The "Dreamtime Country" program will include performances from Johnny Huckle, Dale Huddleston and James McLeod, among others, according to organisers. This will be in addition to the traditional "Welcome To Country" ceremony and a special performance by Jimmy Little who will headline the festival opening on Friday night.
Tickets are available online from Moshtix, Canberra area newsagents and numerous music stores. Children under 13 are admitted free.
Weblink – www.canberracountry.com.
Chart update – Troy at number one for fourth week
Troy Cassar-Daley's latest hit – Sing About This Country – is at number one for the fourth week on this week's national Top 30 Country Tracks chart.
The McClymonts' Kick It Up jumps three places to be in second position while America's Brad Paisley is at three with Welcome To The Future and Adam Brand's Blue Sky Cathedral is at four.
Slim Dusty's Give Me Room is up three places to number five, Amber Lawrence's Don't Do Lonely Well jumps four places to number six and The Sunny Cowgirls' Grog Monster slips one to seven.
Tania Kernaghan's Dad's Not Gonna Like It is down to eight, John Williamson's Better Than A Picture enters the top 10 at nine and James Blundell's Queensland Calling is at 10.
Bullet performers for the week include Harmony James' Precious Little (15 to 11), Lianna Rose with I Want My Tractor Back (16 to 12), Ronni Rae Rivers' Waiting On Lonely (19 to 16), Melinda Schneider's Courageous (22 to 18), Liam Brew's Girls With Girlfriends (23 to 19), Carter & Carter's Surviving Black Saturday (24 to 20), Keith Urban with Only You Can Love Me This Way (26 to 21), Brad Cole's Hold Me In Your Arms Tonight (29 to 25) and Adam Brand's Ready For Love (new at 26).
Other new entries to the chart this week include Greg Storer & Sara Storer with When I Was A Boy (in at 29).
The full chart can be viewed at www.countrymusicradio.com.au.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2009
The 2009 Mildura Country Music Festival is in full swing and leading up to Sunday night's announcement of winners in this year's Australian Independent Country Music Awards.
At the Festival, meanwhile, crowds have flocked in for the 20th annual event which kicked off last week and concludes on Sunday.
First results to hand are from the Festival's Top of the State Talent Quest where Jordy McMillan (pictured) from Airly was named Grand Overall Winner.
Jordy also won the Junior Overall title while Amanda Lawlor from Mildura took out the
Senior Overall award.
Katie Giddings from Mildura was named Senior Champion of Champions while Maddison Caruso from Traralgon won the Junior Champion of Champions title. Katie also won the Buttercup Showcase Invitation and the Norfolk Island Trans Tasman Entertainer of the Year Invitation.
In detailed results...
Kaylee-Rose Andrews from Cootamundra won in Juvenile Vocal – 13 Years & Under, Maddison Caruso from Traralgon won in Junior Vocal – 16 Years & Under and Caroline Caputo from Berri took out the Senior Vocal title.
Jordy McMillan won the Junior Australian Country Vocal 16 years & Under section, Amelia Richards from Bradbury took out the Junior Country Rock 16 Years & Under title while Skye Armstrong & Kaylee-Rose Andrews (from Young & Cootamundra) won in Senior Open Duet Senior or Junior.
Katie Giddings from Mildura won Senior Australian Country Vocal, Sonya Traha from Hampton Park took out the Open Songwriters Junior/ Senior section and Melody Feder of Dernancourt won the Senior Country Rock title.
Andrew Mahony from Skipton was presented with the Karl Williams Memorial Trophy and Eliza Parker from Elizabeth East was awarded the Sommerville Family Instrumental Award of Excellence.
The "Slim Dusty Way" will be a uniquely themed tourist drive giving visitors to NSW "a truly Australian experience" from Nulla Nulla and Kempsey, Slim's birthplace, via Port Macquarie through Wauchope, Walcha and o on to to Tamworth, whose transformation into Australia's Country Music Capital was strongly supported by the man himself.
A feasibility project is currently under way for the drive which will include a market demand analysis and a review of visitation trends and forecasts, the preparation of a route development report identifying possible opportunities and risks; and engage the local community and business groups to compile local stories and histories relating to Slim Dusty’s music and heritage.
Part of the project will involve conducting a survey to examine people's perception about travelling the proposed "Slim Dusty Way" and collecting people’s thoughts from all over Australia, including those who are Slim Dusty fans and people that have no association with country music who travel, or are intending to travel and may be interested in the project.
The survey can be completed on-line and will take less than 10 minutes. It can also
be completed in hard copy at visitor information centres along the proposed route at
Kempsey, Port Macquarie, Wauchope, Walcha, Tamworth, Nundle, Manilla and Barraba.
The survey will close at 4pm Friday October 16, 2009.
It can be accessed here.
The "Slim Dusty Way" will also build on Slim's vision, "to show visitors the real 'country
Australia', its people, its places, its culture and Australian country music, now more popular than ever."
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2009
Lee Kernaghan will release his new album on Friday November 6.
Planet Country is the title of the new work and will also be the first single from the album.
The song was written by Lee, Colin Buchanan, Garth Porter and Matt Scullion.
Planet Country will be Lee's first career album release since The New Bush three years ago in 2006.
Two years in the making, the album will feature what Lee describes as the world’s finest country musicians with recording sessions taking place in Sydney and Nashville.
The album is described as "contemporary and totally tapped in to the pulse of Australian culture and way of life".
"I’ll always remember playing a fundraising concert in the backblocks of Western Queensland," Lee said. "The little place was Yaraka and there wasn’t much there but a pub, a school and the bush medical clinic. But for the 30 odd people living in Yaraka this place was home.
"The then Premier of Queensland Peter Beattie and his wife Heather flew out for the show along with 3,000 people from all over the outback who came in from parts further out to help raise funds for the school and bush medical clinic
"After the show we all went back to the old pub and were invited to write a message on the wall. Peter Beattie wrote, 'Yaraka Qld – Centre of the Universe!' Years later, I recalled that legendary town, the people and the spirit.
"Planet Country is for you and all those people across Australia who are livin’, breathin’ and workin’ this hallowed ground," Lee said.
Weblink – www.leekernaghan.com.au.
TSA entries close October 15
Entries in the TSA (Tamworth Songwriters' Association) Songwriters’ Salute Awards of Australia, New Songwriter Award and National Country Songwriting Contest close on Thursday October 15.
The Songwriters’ Salute Awards comprise the following categories: Traditional Bush Ballad, Country Ballad, Contemporary Country Song, Comedy/Novelty Song, Children’s Song, Gospel Song, and Country Song of the Year selected as best song from all categories.
Entry to the Salute Awards is open for songs commercially released between October 16, 2008 and October 15, 2009.
The New Songwriter Award carries a prize of $1,000 and entries are open for material released by an Australasian country music artist between October 16, 2008 and October 15, 2009... to any person who has had their first commercial release after January 1, 2005.
In the National Country Songwriting Contest, trophies and prizemoney will be on offer for the following categories: Amateur Contemporary, Amateur Traditional, Professional Contemporary, Professional Traditional, Junior (16 years and under) and Lyrics Only.
Winners will be announced at TSA’s Gala Concert on Wednesday January 20, 2010, at the West Tamworth League Club.
Also presented will be the Songmaker Award which is decided on votes by TSA’s members and the Tex Morton Award which will be presented to someone who has made a lasting contribution to the cause of country music in Australia.
Entry forms for all awards and the songwriting contest are available from the TSA at PO Box 618, Tamworth 2340, by emailing tsa@tpgi.com.au, or by downloading from the TSA website www.tsaonline.com.au.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2009
Lianna wins Golden Saddle Award
Australian country singer/songwriter Lianna Rose was named winner of the 2009 Golden Saddle Award at Rooty Hill yesterday.
The award is presented "to recognise excellence achieved by artists from NSW, Queensland and Victoria within the Australian independent country music scene".
"Lianna was a finalist among some outstanding fellow nominees," organisers said, "Luke O'Shea, Ronni-Rae Rivers, The Harmonators and Victoria Baillie."
"To be named the winner from such a great bunch of talented artists was a great thrill and surprise," Lianna said. "Everyone's worked so hard and produced some excellent albums... I am shocked and extremely honoured to win this year's Golden Saddle Award."
During the last 18 months, Lianna has released her critically acclaimed debut album Soak Up The World, scored a number of chart hits, had songs cut by Adam Brand and featured in the new Paul Hogan feature film "Charlie & Boots" along with episodes of "Home & Away" and "Neighbours".
Her latest hit single, I Want My Tractor Back is gaining widespread airplay now and is featuring in a number of charts and major playlists.
And Lianna is about to hit the recording studio to work on material for her second album.
Weblinks – www.goldensaddles.com.au, www.liannarose.net.
Chart update – Troy at number one for second week
Troy Cassar-Daley's latest hit – Sing About This Country – is at number one for the second week on this week's national Top 30 Country Tracks chart.
Adam Brand's Blue Sky Cathedral is at number two, also for the second week, while Tania Kernaghan's Dad's Not Gonna Like It jumps three to number three and Sandra Humphries' Just Walk Away edges up one to number four.
Jayne Denham's Shake This Town is at five, America's Brad Paisley is at six with Welcome To The Future and The Sunny Cowgirls' Grog Monster is at seven.
Brooks & Dunn's Indian Summer is at eight, Jetty Road's Million Miles is at nine and The McClymonts' Kick It Up jumps five places to enter the top 10 at 10.
Bullet performers for the week include Slim Dusty's Give Me Room (14 to 11), Kimber Sparks' Movin' On (17 to 14), Amber Lawrence with Don't Do Lonely Well (19 to 15), John Williamson with Better Than A Picture (21 to 16), Harmony James' Precious Little (24 to 19), Lianna Rose with I Want My Tractor Back (26 to 20), The Sunny Cowgirls' Grog Monster (14 to 11), Jasmine Rae's Ain't The Same Girl (19 to 16), Ronni Rae Rivers' Waiting On Lonely (28 to 23), Liam Brew's Girls With Girlfriends (30 to 26) and Melinda Schneider's Courageous (new at 27).
Other new entries to the chart this week include Carter & Carter (pictured) with Surviving Black Saturday (new at 28) and Keith Urban with Only You Can Love Me This Way (at 29).
The full chart can be viewed at www.countrymusicradio.com.au.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2009
Adam wins "Dancing With The Stars"
Country star Adam Brand, with his dancing partner Jade Hatcher, has won the this year's "Dancing With The Stars" title.
In a tough "dance-off" with two Network Seven personalities – Kylie Gilles (with Carmello Pizzino) and Matt White (with Ash-Leigh Hunter), Adam took out the 2009 trophy.
And it was what must have been a massive fan vote to carry him across the line as he was marked below both of the other contestants by the judges.
Adam himself said he and Jade were somewhat shell-shocked when series favourite Kylie Gillies was knocked out in the first elimination last night.
In an emotional acceptance speech, Adam said his main motivation all the way through the series was on his selected charity, the Childrens' Cancer Institute Australia.
Weblink – au.tv.yahoo.com/dancingwiththestars.
Surviving Black Saturday, the latest single from multi award winners Carter & Carter, has been released to radio.
The single is also available on the new Carter & Carter special edition album and via their website (see below).
Merelyn and David Carter are both residents of Kinglake, one of the areas hardest hit when bushfires descended on Victoria on Saturday February 7 ("Black Saturday"), 2009.
"The purpose of recording this song was to say thankyou to everyone who helped in anyway with the recovery of the 'Black Saturday' fires, Merelyn and David said.
"After performing I Am Australian at the national memorial service with Bruce Woodley and his daughter Claire, we came to realise how the trauma of the 'Black Saturday' fires was felt by everyone around Australia, not just those directly caught in its path.
"Over the past six months, this has been confirmed time and time again as we have talked to people right around Australia.
"Something that we always bring into these conversations is how incredibly lucky we are to live in Australia where in times of trouble Australians come together and do whatever they can to help out those who really need it.
"The support that we have received in our hometown Kinglake has been incredible. While the song Surviving Black Saturday doesn't gloss over how horrible the day was, the main reason for writing it was to say thankyou.
"We'd like everyone in Australia to hear it so please pass this on to anyone you think might like to hear or download Surviving Black Saturday for free."
Weblink – www.carter-carter.com.
The lyrics – Surviving Black Saturday
Written by David Carter and Merelyn Carter ©2009
The day turned black
Like a moonless midnight sky
The wind it howled
Like a freight train running wild
The fire rained down
Like a million falling stars
They hit the ground
Tore our little towns apart
There was nothing
But ashes left behind
Burnt out homes
Broken lives
When the smoke clears behind the tears
We’ll find the strength to see
Together we can make it through
The darkest memories
And we all cried as one
‘cause we’re Australian
As we remembered those who lost their lives
And we’ll rebuild these towns
On ash covered ground
And we’ll stay
Surviving Black Saturday
Like a shockwave
Spreading out across the land
It broke our hearts
As only nightmares can
But it raised a spirit that held within it
The power to ease the pain
Heal the hurt, mend the broken
Together start again
‘Cause we all stood as one
And sang I’m Australian
As we remembered those who lost their lives
And we’ll rebuild these towns
On ash covered ground
And we’ll stay
Surviving Black Saturday
The sun will shine again
And the rain will fall on down
The green grass will break through this blackened ground
Our flags fly so proud
On the gate posts of our homes
Saying ‘Thank You
To all of you’
We know we’re not alone
‘Cause we all stood as one
And sang I’m Australian
As we remembered those who lost their lives
And we’ll rebuild these towns
On ash covered ground and we’ll stay
So let’s all stand as one
‘cause we’re Australian
And we’ll make it through together side by side
As we rebuild these towns
The strength that we found
Will remain
Will remain
Surviving Black Saturday
Davidson Brothers USA tour and new single release
The Davidson Brothers have embarked on a month long tour of America and released a new single.
Travelling with Hamish and Lachlan is a five piece all Australian bluegrass outfit with members hailing from almost every state of the nation.
The Brothers headlined this weekend at the Tri-State Bluegrass Festival in Kendallville, Indiana.
Other festivals will see them perform main stage shows to crowds of 3,000-10,000 people elsewhere Indiana, in Tennessee,, Missouri and Kentucky. They have been billed alongside artists such as J D Crowe, Joe Diffie, Ralph Stanley and Rhonda Vincent.
The tour leads them to an official showcase performance at the Nashville Convention Centre as one of 13 bands selected from across the globe.
Part of the IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) "World Of Bluegrass" trade show, the Brothers will let loose on a 25minute set in front of US bluegrass media, festival booking agents, labels and peers.
Their showcase will go to air live on Monday September 28 (US-EST) at www.bluegrasscountry.org.
The new single, A Showman’s Life, the first single off the Brothers 2009 album Born To Play, has been added to KIX FM on high rotation.
Weblink – www.davidsonbrothersband.com.
The 2009 Nanango (Queensland) Country Muster will be staged from this Thursday to Sunday (September 10 to 13).
Stars of the Muster include Jeff Brown, Ashley Cook, Ernie Constance, Laura Downing, Jeff Gibson, Lynnette Guest, Brian Letton (pictured) , Tom Maxwell, Dean Perrett, Reg Poole, Rachel Richards, Graham Rodger, Ricky Shipp, Sharon Smith, Daly Stephenson and Kedron Taylor.
Barry Williams will compere the event.
Billed as four days of traditional country music, the Muster kicks off on Thursday evening with a barbecue and walk-up concert, continuing Friday with breakfast and walk-up poets and main stage from 12noon
More main stage events are scheduled for all day and night Saturday while Sunday will feature a bush poet's breakfast and country gospel concert.
Bookings and enquiries can be made with Sandra Shearn on 07 4126 5061 or 07 4163 1273 or by emailing Sandra.46@bigpond.com.
Weblink – www.nanangoshowsociety.com.
The new single from 2008 Australian Bush Balladeers' Association Star Quest winner Rachel Richards is titled Carry On.
The single is the first from Rachel's new album Beautiful Dreams which is due for release on October 5.
Described as an inspirational story, Carry On was co-written by Rachel with Dave Richards and producer Stuie French. It tells of "our great Aussie spirit when times are tough... a perfect window into the special talents of this unique balladeer who paints musical canvasses of Australian stories and characters".
Following her Star Quest win, Rachel released her successful debut album I’m A Country Girl and was winner of the new talent awards at both the Gidgee Coal Bush Ballad Awards and Stan Coster Memorial Awards at Bungendore.
"But it’s the latest album... that really sets a new benchmark for Rachel," a spokesman said. "Wonderful stories based on her personal experiences – many drawn from travelling around Australia for 10 years as a crane driver, working on various construction jobs with husband Dave.
"With innovative production by Stuie French and featuring a cast of Australia’s finest musicians, Beautiful Dreams is a compelling collection."
"It's a collection of stories about my life and the lives of those around me," Rachel said, "and I have put my heart and soul into this to make you feel something – happy, sad, to remember the past, and to delight in the future."
Weblink – www.rachelrichards.com.au.
Greg wins Bush Poet Championship
Greg North has been named Australia's champion bush poet for the second year in succession.
"What do you get when you put 30 poets together with an audience and a microphone in a function room at Club Pine Rivers in Brisbane's northern suburbs
"Maintaining his rhythm from last year, Greg made it back-to-back victories to become the Australian Bush Poets Association male champion for 2009.
The female champion was Susan Carcary from Maclean, making another double for NSW.
"I gained a second place in the classical category," Greg said, "and won the original humorous section with my poem 'Stick It' about the problems and dangers of sticky tape around Christmas time.
"Although I made a stumble in two poems, my overall score through the four performance categories saw me retain the Australian male champion title.
"I just returned from the (Gympie) Muster which was great. My 'Man From Snowy River' rendition and 'What's In A Name' (hospital yarn) went over very well and I also won the poets brawl one-minute poem contest."
Weblink – www.gregorynorth.com.au
Chart update – Jetty Road six weeks at number one
Jetty Road's Million Miles is at number one for the sixth week in a row on this week's national Top 30 Country Tracks chart
Troy Cassar-Daley's Sing About This Country jumps three places to number two, Jayne Denham's Shake This Town slips one to number three and Adam Brand's Blue Sky Cathedral is at four.
Felicity Urquhart's Two Wheels is at five, Graham Rodger's We're Gonna Be Alright is steady at six and Brooks & Dunn's Indian Summer is up one to seven.
Sandra Humphries is up two to eight with Just Walk Away, Tania Kernaghan bounds into the top 10 at nine with Dad's Not Gonna Like It and America's Rodney Vincent is at 10 with Fifteen Minutes.
Bullet performers for the week include The Sunny Cowgirls' Grog Monster (14 to 11), Jasmine Rae's Ain't The Same Girl (19 to 16), Slim Dusty's Give Me Room (21 to 18), Kimber Sparks' Movin' On (22 to 19), The McClymonts' Kick It Up (26 to 20), Amber Lawrence with Don't Do Lonely Well (29 to 23), Lou Bradley with La La La Not Listening (27 to 24), Clelia Adams with My Mother's Wedding Band (29 to 25) and John Williamson with Better Than A Picture (30 to 26).
New entries to the chart this week include Harmony James (pictured) with Precious Little (new at 28) and Lianna Rose with I Want My Tractor Back (at 30).
The full chart can be viewed at www.countrymusicradio.com.au.
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