Australia's Country Music Bulletin News Archive, January 2006

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0DATELINE : MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2006

Tamworth Festival wrap

The Tamworth Country Music Festival has come and gone for another year, with most reporting the 10 day event (plus lead-up Countdown) as highly successful.

Certainly, the Festival has well and truly bounced back towards normal from the previous year when date changes caused all sorts of problems.

Overall Festival co-ordinators Tamworth Regional Council and new Festival promoters Tourism Tamworth have been putting a very positive spin on Tamworth 2006 and for good reason. According to a report in the Northern Daily Leader, Tourism Tamworth, which also sells tickets for many of the Festival's major events, reported ticket sales of 38,590, almost 10,000 up on last year with many shows selling out either before the concerts or at the door.

The three major focal points of the Festival – Tamworth Town Hall (and the city's central business district), West Tamworth League Club and the Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre (hosting the annual Golden Guitar Awards and Toyota Country Theatre for seven days) – all seemed to be very well supported.

As were most other venues, ranging from pubs and clubs to church and community halls, visitor attractions and shopping Centres.

This issue of our Internet News completes our daily coverage of Tamworth 2006 with a catch-up of some of the last events and competitions. Our regular weekly news re-commences from Wednesday (subject, of course, to any breaking news which will be added to the site as it happens.

Coca-Cola Battle of the Bands winner

The Aaron Daniel Band has taken out the inaugural Coca-Cola Battle of the Bands at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

The competition, which ran through the main Festival week, culminated on Friday afternoon in a tough grand final, according to organisers.

Other finalists included the Paul Hicks Band and Maryanne & Co.

Busking Champion

There were more than 500 entrants in the Australian Country Music Busking Championship at Tamworth this January.

Winner of the Championship, determined in a final "Best of the Buskers" concert conducted on Saturday by convenors The Northern Daily Leader, was Jazzie Smith, a multi-talented, diversified "one man band" act who gained plenty of attention and support from Festival-goers.

Other finalists included Hannah & Saplin Creek, Rod Dowsett, T J Elvis, Johnny Huckle, Jabaru and Freedom Summer.

0DATELINE : SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 2006

34th Golden Guitar Awards – the winners

Troy Cassar-Daley, John Williamson and Paul Kelly were the big winners from this year's Golden Guitar Awards presented in Tamworth, Australia's Country Music Capital, last night.

Troy took out a total of four – Male Vocal, Instrumental (his first), Vocal Collaboration (with Jimmy Barnes) and APRA Song of the Year (with Paul Kelly).

John won Album of the Year and Top Selling Album with Chandelier Of Stars and Bush Ballad of the Year while Paul won Heritage Song of the Year, Video Clip and Song of the Year (with Troy).

Rounding out the total with one Golden Guitar each were Jimmy Barnes (for his vocal collaboration with Troy), Kasey Chambers (for Single of the Year, Pony), The Flood (Vocal Group), Samantha McClymont (New Talent) and Ben Saunders (video clip director).

John Wiliamson's wins firmed his place as Australia's second highest Golden Guitar winner with 23 inching him closer to the late Slim Dusty's tally of 37 and three ahead of Lee Kernaghan.

With his four wins last night, Troy has rocketed past Graeme Connors to go from nine to 13 in one fell swoop and fourth highest on the Golden Guitar tally (click here for a full rundown).

Paul Kelly's three Golden Guitars last night, giving him a total now of five, firmly entrench his status and position in the Australian country music industry, a position which may have seemed tentative until now with Paul's previous successful career as a pop/rock star.

Sara and Kasey's additional Golden Guitars take them to nine and eight, respectively, both well into the top 15 of the Golden Guitar Tally.

A full rundown of winners follows...

Album of the Year

Chandelier Of Stars – John Williamson

Male Vocalist of the Year

Troy Cassar-Daley – Lonesome But Free

Female Vocalist of the Year

Sara Storer – Firefly

Top Selling Album of the Year

Chandelier Of Stars – John Williamson

Vocal Group or Duo of the Year

Hello Blue Sky – The Flood

Heritage Song of the Year

Rally Round The Drum – Paul Kelly

New Talent of the Year

Cookin' In My Kitchen – Samantha McClymont

Bush Ballad of the Year

Bells In A Bushman's Ear – John Williamson

Instrumental of the Year

Yellow Belly – Troy Cassar-Daley

Video Clip of the Year

Song Of The Old Rake – Paul Kelly, directed by Ben Saunders

Single of the Year

Pony – Kasey Chambers

Vocal Collaboration of the Year

Bird On A Wire – Troy Cassar-Daley and Jimmy Barnes

APRA Song of the Year

Lonesome But Free – Paul Kelly and Troy Cassar-Daley, recorded by Troy

Bush poetry comp winners

Hundreds of people flocked to West Tamworth League Club yesterday for the finals of the CountryEnergy Tamworth Bush Poetry Competition, one of the highlights for fans of bush poetry during the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

Top bush poetry performers vied for the chance to win one of two trophies known as Golden Dampers, one for original poetry and one for performances of traditional or established poets.

The Original Section was won by Dave Proust (pictured) of Forresters Beach with an hilarious performance of his poem Santa's Little Helpers, a very funny tale of slightly inebriated fathers trying to assemble a swing set on Christmas Eve.

"Dave's larrikinism and over-the-top acting almost mask the fact that he is a very talented poet and polished performer," said Jan Morris, speaking on behalf of the organisers. It was the second win in a row for Dave.

Melanie Hall, who came second, "showed a different side to her usually very bubbly personality to give a rapt audience an extremely emotional and poignant poem entitled The English Rose and John Lloyd impressed everyone with a beautifully written poem about Coopers Creek called The Land Where Two Rivers Make a Creek, to take third place," Jan said.

The traditional or established works winner was Gabby Colquhoun "for her very funny rendition of Bill Kearns' poem Pierced To The Eyeballs, a salutary warning to anyone considering body-piercing".

Dave Proust took out second place with "an exceptional rendition" of How McDougall Topped the Score by Thomas Spence and third place went to Carol Heuchan with her portrayal of a local gossip in C J Dennis' Tittle Tattle.

TSA elections

Among industry activities at this year's Tamworth Country Music Festival, the Tamworth Songwriters' Association held its annual general meeting and elected its office bearers and committee for the next 12 months.

Bev Daniel was re-elected as President and elected to the position of Treasurer.

Ron Daniel was re-elected as Vice President and Greg Williams as Junior Vice-President.

Vicki Walsh was re-elected as Secretary as was Wendy Wood as Publicity Co-ordinator.

Lorraine Pfitzner was elected to the positions of Assistant Secretary and Assistant Treasurer and jointly to the position of Membership Co-ordinator with Ron Daniel.

The new Committee comprises Margaret Anderson, Col Behan, Shaza-Leigh, Robert & Chris Parkes, Smoky Sheldrick, Rhonda Sinclair and John P Toomey.

I N T E R N A T I O N A L • U P D A T E

Krauss, Haggard set for Les Paul tribute

Alison Krauss and Merle Haggard will join Aerosmith's Joe Perry and several other prominent rock guitarists in Los Angeles for a tribute to electric guitar pioneer Les Paul.

The February 7 charity show at the Gibson Amphitheatre is being billed as Les Paul & Friends: 90th Birthday Salute.

Also performing are guitarists Steve Lukather (Toto), Neal Schon (Journey) and Joe Satriani, keyboardist Edgar Winter and drummers Kenny Aronoff and Vinnie Colaiuta.

0DATELINE : SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 2006

Bush poetry comp draws to a close

The Country Energy Tamworth Bush Poetry Competition has just completed three days of heats leading up to the finals this morning (Saturday) at 9.30 at the Telstra Country Club Pavilion at Wests.

Finalists for the Traditional Section are Manfred Vijars, Dave Proust, Garry Lowe, Carol Heuchan, Lisa Quast, Gregory North, Ron Brown, Gabby Colquhoun and Michael Darby.

Finalists for the Original Section are Col Hadwell, Carol Heuchan, Dave Proust, Shirley Everingham, Gregory North, John Best, Melanie Hall, John Lloyd and Gabby Colquhoun.

The winners of each section will take home a "Golden Damper" trophy and cash prizes.

"Bush poetry offers an exciting adjunct to the country music festival," said a spokesman for the competition, "and the finals of the Country Energy Tamworth Bush Poetry Competition are a fitting finale to a week of poetic fun and mayhem."

Photo, by June Underwood: Carol Heuchan, a semi finalist in two categories of the competition.

ACMF Tribute Dinner success

The first Tribute Dinner staged by the Australian Country Music Foundation (ACMF) has been hailed a great success.

Held in Tamworth, Australia's Country Music Capital, last night, the inaugural dinner paid tribute to Australia's best loved country music couple, Smoky and Dot Dawson.

Tributes flowed during the night from the likes of Jim Haynes (who also compered the function), Mary and Rita Schneider (who performed a musical tribute with Mary's daughter Melinda), this year's Roll of Renown inductee and the latest country music identity to receive an Order of Australia Medal, Reg Poole, and one of the main driving forces behind the establishment of Tamworth as Country Music Capital (among many other achievements), Max Ellis.

A special audio-visual tribute prepared by one of the Foundation's major supporters, Peter Greenaway of Southern Cross Ten, was also shown for the first time during the night.

The Foundation presented Smoky and Dot with a Lifetime Achievement Award which was accepted by Smoky who, in turn, paid tribute to the country music fraternity and his "true love" Dot.

Those present at the dinner roundly applauded Smoky and Dot in a standing ovation.

The other main activity at the dinner was a silent auction, conducted, with the dinner, to raise money to go towards establishment of Australia's new Country Music Hall of Fame.

"It was most appropriate that we saluted Smoky and Dot at our first tribute dinner," said ACMF President Bob Kirchner.

"Smoky was one of the inspirations behind establishment of the Foundation which has a predominant objective of setting up a national country music archive in Tamworth.

"This is a job we are doing quite well at the moment, but more can always be achieved, especially with the proposed development of a new Hall of Fame.

"That will provide us with the space and resources we need to continue doing what we are doing and much, much more," Bob said.

The tribute dinner is planned to become an annual event, with next year's honouree yet to be announced.

Natalie a double semi finalist in the International Songwriting Contest

Two of Natalie Howard's songs have made it through to the semi-finals of the 2005 International Songwriting Competition (ISC).

Both songs – I Don't Want To Live Like That, winner of the 2006 Independent Music Awards County Song in the United States, and The Long Night', a former number one video clip on Country Music Channel are from Natalie's debut album Yesterday's Makeup.

Almost 15,000 entries were received for the ISC from 80 countries, "making the selection process an extremely challenging yet enjoyable one due to the many excellent entries received," according to an ISC spokesman.

More than US$150,000 in cash and prizes will be shared by 50 winners in the contest.

"To have two songs in the ISC is an exceptional achievement," said a spokesman for Natalie.

The 2005 finalists will be announced on February 1. Winners will be announced in March.

I Don't Want to Live Like That has also just been released as Natalie's debut single in the US. She is currently in Nashville promoting the single.

Meanwhile, in Australia, Is It Just Me is being released to radio on NfS#102. The song is co-written by Natalie with noted Nashville writers Rob Crosby (Martina McBride/Brooks & Dunn) and Craig Carp (Alan Jackson).

Visit www.nataliehoward.net for more information.

Golden Guitars on radio

Tonight (Saturday) CMR (Country Music Radio) will have a full coverage of the 2006 Golden Guitar Awards from 6pm (Tamworth time).

Nick Erby will preview the Awards ahead of the expanded all-star concert and Golden Guitar Awards presentation which begins at 7.30.

Throughout the broadcast Nick will talk with Golden Guitar winners backstage right after their presentation.

CMR can be heard on 2SM Sydney, 2HD Newcastle, 2TM Tamworth, 4WK Toowoomba, 4GY Gympie, Radio 97 Tweed/Gold Coast, 2LM Lismore, 2GF Grafton, 2RE Taree/Forster, 2MG Mudgee, 2PK Parkes, 2DU Dubbo, 2MO Gunnedah, 2VM Moree, 2NZ Inverell, 2AD Armidale, Radio 531 Port Macquarie, Radio 639 Coffs Harbour and 1089 Orange.

I N T E R N A T I O N A L • U P D A T E

Womack to honeymoon in Fiji

Lee Ann Womack's longing for a trip to Fiji will finally be over next month when she and husband country producer Frank Liddell jet off to their “long-awaited honeymoon” on the island nearly seven years after their wedding!

0DATELINE : FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2006

Bella inducted into Wall of Fame

Bella – the award-winning trio of Kate Ballantyne, Lyn Bowtell and Karen O'Shea – is being inducted into the Women In Country Music Wall of Fame in Tamworth today.

The Wall of Fame, located in and administered by the South Tamworth Bowling Club in Margaret Street, was instituted in 1997 to recognise the achievements of women in Australian country music, paying homage to singers, songwriters and industry people.

Bella joins previous inductees including Catherine Britt, Kasey Chambers, Beccy Cole, Anne Conway, the Crosby Sisters (Jodie and Kelly), Christina George, Lynette Guest, Gina Jeffreys, Tania Kernaghan, Anne Kirkpatrick, Shaza Leigh, the McKean Sisters (Joy and Heather), Deniese Morrison, Kate Nugent, Norma O'Hara Murphy, Anna Rose, Mary Schneider, Melinda Schneider, Sara Storer and Felicity Urquhart.

Coca-Cola Battle of the Bands today

Three bands will do battle today for the new title of winner of the Coca-Cola Battle of the Bands at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

The competition, which has been running all this week, culminates from 3 o'clock this aftenoon at Coca-Cola (or Hands of Fame) Park.

Finalists vying for their share of $1,500 in prizemoney include the Paul Hicks Band, Aaron Daniel Band and Maryanne & Co.

Coca-Cola activity this year has been up on porevious years with a 600 square metre pavilion erected for the comfort of patrons attending for the regular free concerts.

John Eggins District Sales Manager, Tamworth, Coca-Cola Amatil, said the company had been a proud supporter of the Tamworth Country Music Festival for more than 20 years and was pleased to be involved again in 2006.

Activity in the park wraps up Saturday evening after a huge day in town which starts with the Hands of Fame imprinting at 9.15am and proceeds through the Country Music Cavalcade down Peel Street.

Janine selected as a PDA finalist

Western Australia's 2003 top female country vocalist Janine Le Clair has been named a finalist in the APRA (Australian Performing Right Association) Professional Development Awards.

The PDAs are for Australian writers who can demonstrate that they possess outstanding potential in their field. Up to six professional composers and songwriters will receive awards.

The award presentations will be held on Monday, March 27, in Sydney.

Janine is currently in Nashville, pursuing further opportunities she has been presented throughout many years in the country music industry, both nationally and internationally. Recently, she announced she had renewed her relationship with Goodland Group Publishing in Nashville and said she looks forward to another year of success within the Aristo-Media Family.

Further information can obtained froim www.janineleclair.com.

0DATELINE : THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2006

Reg doubles his honours

Reg Poole, announced as this year's inductee to the Country Music Roll of Renown on Saturday (click here for that story), was today announced as a recipient of an Order of Australia Medal in the 2006 Australia Day honours.

His OAM citation reads: for service to the music and entertainment industry as a country music singer and songwriter, and to the community.

Since Saturday, Reg has been very busy answering media calls to talk about his Roll of Renown induction and there was a full house at his Meet The Pioneers session at the Australian Country Music Foundation yesterday morning.

With today's announcement, the media frenzy is only likely to increase!

Photo, by June Underwood: Reg at the unveiling of his plaque on the Roll of Renown on Tuesday.

TSA winners announced

Winners in the 2006 Tamworth Songwriters’ Association (TSA) awards were announced in Country Music Capital last night.

In the Songwriters’ Salute Awards...

Contemporary Country Song of the Year went to 30 Something by Fiona Kernaghan.

Bush Ballad of the Year went to Where The Cooper Flows by Graham Rodger.

Country Ballad of the Year went to Missing In Action by Graham Rodger.

Gospel Song of the Year went to God Didn’t Make Mistakes by David & Merelyn Carter.

Children’s Song of the Year was won by King Of Christmas by Colin Buchanan.

Comedy/Novelty Song of the Year went to Twenty Million Bulldog Ants by Joe Daley & Keith Jamieson.

The prestigious Country Song of the Year, selected from all category finalists, went to 30 Something by Fiona Kernaghan.

Rick Aitchison was named winner of the TSA SongMaker Award and Kate Nugent, long-time involved in country music through 2TM, BAL Marketing, Max Ellis Marketing, the Country Music Association of Australia and now Rural Press Events, was named winner of the TSA's Tex Morton Award for outstanding contributions to the cause of country music in Australia.

The TSA/Capital News New Songwriter Award went to Lee Forster with The Way He Rolls His Swag.

Winners in the TSA National Country Songwriting Contest were...

In the Professional Section, Graham Rodger with What Country's All About; in the Amateur Section, Harmony James with The Next Big Thing; in the Junior Section, Candice Arlott with Precious Lullaby; and in the Lyrics Only Section, Merv Webster with Main Top Balladeer.

More than 200 songs were nominated in the Salute Awards, 69 for the New Songwriter Award and 419 in the National Songwriting Contest... a total of almost 700.

Further information about the TSA can be obtained from the Association’s website www.tsaonline.com.au.

Photo, by June Undewood: last night's TSA award winners (click on the pic for a larger image).

Melinda releases her first DVD

Melinda Schneider has released her first DVD.

Titled The Story So Far, Live And More and distributed by Rajon Vision, the DVD "captures Melinda and her band at their best live at The Basement in Sydney".

AS well, it includes all of Melinda's video clips released to date including her hits The Story Of My Life, I Wanna Be Married and Real People.

The DVD also features interview footage providing an insight into Melinda as a person what has inspired her in her career so far.

Last year was "an amazing year" for Melinda taking home two Golden Guitar awards in January, indluding Album of the Year for Family Tree, and 2006 is said to be shaping up to be even better.

She is currently working on new songs for a follow-up to the Family Tree album.

Musos' Headquarters gears up

The Tamworth Festival Musicians' Headquarters, set up opposite the Central Hotel in Country Music Capital's main street (Peel Street) is gearing up for a big weekend of activity.

Operating since Sunday as an air-conditioned "chill out" centre for industry people, especially artists and musicians, the Headquarters offers a range of services from bulletin boards to Internet access.

A trade expo is also part of the HQ with numerous exhibitors displaying their wares and on hand to offer advice. A full list is available from the HQ website www.musiciansheadquarters.com.au.

The Headquarters conducts a number of important educational presentations and workshops as part of its activity, and it has just been announced that international didgeridoo star Mark Atkins is to conduct a workshop covering didgeridoo playing from beginners to advanced.

It will be conducted today (Thursday) and again on Saturday (January 28) both days at 4pm.

A full program of industry activities and workshops can be obtained from the HQ website.

In other Headquarters news, Cole Clark Guitars are running a Celebrity Playoff daily at 3pm.

Artists already slated to appear include James Blundell and Steve Gibson with more to be announced.

Further details about the Playoff can be obtained from Phil Jack on 0438 019 912.

Chart action

Keith Urban has taken over the number one spot on the Country Tracks Top 30 with his current hit Better Life.

The former number one, Troy Cassar-Daley's Lonesome But Free drops to number two while Adam Harvey's I've Been Loved By The Best jumps to number three.

The Paul Kelly/Kasey Chambers collaboration You're Learning is steady at number four while Tania Kernaghan's Yee Ha slips to number five and Felicity Urquhart's The Flood jumps to number six.

Melinda Schneider's Sgt Bean hangs on to the number seven spot for the third week while Adam Brand's This Time Of Year also holds steady at number eight.

The Sunny Cowgirls' Little Bit Rusty moved into the top 10 at number nine while Toyota Star Maker 2005 Samantha McClymont moved up to number 10 with Heart Of A Man.

Keith and Nicole...

The celebrity rumour mill, meanwhile, continues to work overtime regarding the possible marriage of Keith Urban to Nicole Kidman.

Some say it's on, some say it's off, most don't really know at all.

One of the latest, out of Britain (according to a source revealed in The Sun newspaper) is that the pair are set to tie the knot, reportedly, in March.

Nicole was quoted as saying she was the "happiest she has ever been in her life" with Keith.

A source told The Sun Nicole didn't want a long engagement.

"Keith proposed at Christmas (05) and she was thrilled. They are happy and in love.

"Nicole's only inviting close friends and family – she doesn't want a media circus. They are discussing venues and are talking about doing it in Australia."

0DATELINE : WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2006

TIARA winners announced

Winners in the ninth annual Blue Dog Clothing TIARAs (Tamworth Independent Artists Recognition Awards) were announced in the Toyota Country Theatre, Tamworth, last night.

Darren Colston took out the Male Vocal award with The Boundary Rider from his album Come By Chance produced by Herm Kovac.

Camille TeNahu won Female Vocal with Love You Like The Earth from her album Not Without You, produced by herself and Stuie French.

Jonah's Road won Country Group with Missing You from their album Hold On produced by Jay Collie and Jasper Somerville-Collie.

Camille TeNahu & Stuie French won Country Duo with Wives Don’t Like Old Girlfriends from the album Not Without You.

John Stephan and John Williamson took out the Vocal Collaboration TIARA with Wrinkles from the John Stephan produced album For You.

Stuie French was named winner of the Barry Thornton Memorial Instrumental Award with Ode To Roy And Chet from the album Not Without You.

Clelia Adams won the Gentleman Geoff Brown Memorial Award with Heartbeat Highway, title track off her album produced by Stuie French.

Paul Costa took out the Michael Cowdroy Memorial Songwriting Award with When The Right One Comes Along from his album Walkin’ In These Shoes produced by Rod McCormack.

Peter Pratt won the Bush Ballad TIARA with Where I’m Longing To Go from the album Ever True produced by Roger Corbett.

During the ceremony, long serving music industry photographer June Underwood was presented with the TIARA Services to Industry Award.

Performing at the awards were Col Finley, Tom Curtain, Samantha McClymont, Stacey Morris and Luke O’Shea & Medicine Wheel.

Australian Bush Laureate Awards – 2006 winners

Winners in the 2006 Australian Bush Laureate awards were announced before a capacity audience in the Tamworth Town Hall yesterday afternoon.

In Book of the Year, for the best Australian rhymed verse in book form, the winner was Old Bush Songs, a centenary edition of Banjo Paterson's classic collection edited by Warren Fahey and Graham Seal (published by ABC Books).

In Book of the Year, Original Verse, for the best original Australian work in book form, the winner was Australian Poems That Would Captivate A Koala by Philip Rush (self published). A prolific writer, Philip hails from Tasmania and has been a multi finalist in the Bush Laureate Awards over a number of years.

In Album of the Year, the winner was A Pocket Full Of Poetry by Carol Heuchan of Cooranbong in the Hunter Valley of NSW (Restless Music, produced by Roger Ilott). Carol is also widely known as an expert horsewoman.

For Single Recorded Performance of the Year, the winner was TV personality and broadcaster Jim Brown from Heathcote in Victoria with Angel Of Death, produced by Jim for Stanza TV.

The winner of the Judith Hosier Heritage Award, for outstanding achievement in nurturing Australia's heritage of verse, went to the Winton Business and Tourism Association (WBTA) which has staged the famous Bronze Swagman bush poetry events and published the Bronze Swagman books every year since 1972.

After the presentation to Louis Dean and David Strang representing the WBTA, poet Carmel Randle said Winton had "kept alive the legend of Banjo Paterson while at the same time encouraging today’s poets to write down that story – to tell that poem."

The Bush Laureate Awards were first staged in 1996 to recognise excellence in published and recorded Australian bush poetry. At the presentation it was announced that in 2007 a trophy would be awarded for the Bush Poetry Performer of the Year (see below).

The 12th Australian Bush laureate Awards will be held in Tamworth on Tuesday January 23, 2007.

Photo, by June Underwood, from left: Philip Rush, Carol Heuchan, Jim Brown and, representing the Winton Business and Tourism Association, Louise Dean, Peter Evert (one of the founders of the Bronze Swagman Awards in 1972) and David Strang, publican of the North Gregory Hotel where Waltzing Matilda was performed in public for the very first time. Click on the photo for a larger image.

Bush Laureates announce new award

It was announced yesterday at the Australian Bush Laureate Awards that, in 2007, the Awards would recognise for the first time the performance of Australian bush poetry with the introduction of a new category.

Since they started in 1996, all Bush Laureate awards have been made on the basis of recorded or published material.

A spokesman for the organisers said that over the years there had been a significant increase in the popularity of Australian bush poetry. This had been both encouraged and reflected by expanding public performance.

"The time has come for the Australian Bush Laureate Awards to recognise and salute the talented artists who, in the true oral tradition of the bush, are taking Australian bush poetry back to an ever-widening circle of enthusiastic followers," the spokesman said.

Called Bush Poetry Performer Of The Year, the new trophy will be presented to an individual performer whose public performance of Australian bush poetry over the current 12 month period (December to November) on stage, radio, television or any other public forum, is judged to be outstanding.

Criteria for the award will include frequency of performances, reach of performances, professionalism, popularity and entertainment value of performances and originality and Australian character of material used.

Judging for the Bush Poetry Performer Of The Year will be based on a system, which combines a panel of individuals who have a significant involvement in Australian bush poetry, including bush poets themselves and a popular vote conducted through the Australian Bush Laureate Awards website and other specialist media outlets and events to be announced.

Judging forms will be distributed through the year.

The winner of the inaugural Bush Poetry Performer of the Year will be announced at the annual Bush Laureate Awards presentations on Tuesday, January 23, 2007.

Further information can be obtained from the Awards website www.bushlaureate.com.au or PO Box 377, Tamworth 2340.

Nick Kingswell wins 2006 Telstra Road To Tamworth

Nick Kingswell from Phillip Island is off to Nashville and on the verge of an exciting career after winning the national Telstra Road to Tamworth country music talent competition in Tamworth last night.

Singing before a crowd of more than 1,000 and webcast to thousands of others around Australia and overseas who watched live online, Nick impressed the judges when singing his original song A Childhood Home.

Kirsty Lee Akers from Newcastle (who won the Wollongong heat) will also head to Nashville as part of a newly established songwriters recognition award, the Pub With No Beer Songwriter’s Award. Judges recognised Kirsty’s song writing skills by awarding her the inaugural package which includes songwriting appointments with top American country music songwriters.

For the main prize package, Nick Kingswell overcame seven other grand-finalists who initially qualified for the finals series after winning their hometown heat. More than 800 singers from across the nation entered the competition.

Nick said he was overwhelmed but delighted to have been chosen as the winner of the 2006 Telstra Road to Tamworth Competition.

“You don’t expect it. It’s like buying a raffle ticket, you don’t ever expect to win. When your name is called, it’s just unbelievable. I am extremely happy,” he said.

Telstra Country Wide Group Managing Director Geoff Booth said Nick staged a terrific performance and made a worthy winner.

“With such depth of talent on display, the future of country music in Australia is looking bright. This is the beginning of a prosperous career for all the heat winners in the competition,” he said.

Allied Artists Chief Executive Officer and Telstra Road to Tamworth judge Marius Els said Nick’s performance was outstanding and his life will be changed forever.

“Nick is a very talented artist with all the qualities of a future star,” he said. “The Telstra Road to Tamworth is a real launch pad for young country music singers."

Three American-based record company executives joined local industry officials to judge the Telstra Road to Tamworth country music talent competition grand final.

The package of prizes Nick takes home from the competition includes a single recorded and produced in Nashville through Sony BMG Australia including international airfare and accommodation; a performance on the Riverstage at CMA Music Festival / Fanfair; a video clip produced by and played on the Country Music Channel shown on Austar and Foxtel pay television; a Maton EM325C acoustic guitar; and a scholarship to either the CMAA College of Country Music Tamworth or the Tamworth Camerata in 2007.

Pub With No Beer Songwriter’s Encouragement Award winner Kirsty receives a return economy airfare to Nashville, seven nights accommodation, a daily allowance and songwriting appointments for five days.

Julie wins Star Quest

Julie Perandes has been named winner of the 2006 Bush Balladeer Star Quest.

Julie took out the prize from fellow finalists Patricia Cruzado, Sarah McMonagle, Jay Podger, Wally Sanderson and Chris Strohfield in Country Music Capital's Wests' Diggers, formerly Tamworth RSL Club, yesterday (Wednesday)

Born in Brisbane in 1987, Julie grew up listening to recordings of Shorty Ranger, Stan Coster, Slim Dusty and many others.

At the age of six, she won her first trophy. Since that first festival in 1994, Julie has won a variety of trophies at festivals she has attended. She has a strong interest in and loves performing the bush ballad style of music.

Julie was a top five finalist last year's Star Quest and felt honored to be chosen as the first recipient of the ABBA (Australian Bush Balladeers' Association) Camerata scholarship in 2005.

Currently a member of the Golden Wattle Country Music Club Julie performs regularly in her local area.

CMR's Australia Day Special

On Thursday night, a special Australia Day edition of CMR, Nick Erby’s Country Music Radio program, will go to air across the Super Radio Network.

Nick’s studio guests will include Arthur Blanch (Country Music Capital’s Australia Day Ambassador), Lorraine Pfitzner (who will introduce a new CD of vintage Australian country music), Felicity Urquhart (talking about her new CD) and Beccy Cole (who will take listeners’ calls after 10pm).

Nick will also play highlights from the Australian Bush Laureate Awards and Troy Cassar-Daley’s induction into the Gallery of Stars Wax Museum.

CMR is on air on Thursday from 12 midnight to 7am with Brian Howard and from 6pm to 12 midnight with Nick.

CMR can be heard on 2SM Sydney, 2HD Newcastle, Radio 97 Tweed/Gold Coast and 30 Super Network stations across western and northern NSW and southern Queensland.

Keith goes triple platinum

This year began with some very good news for Keith Urban: the CMA Male Vocalist/Entertainer Of The Year's third album Be Here is now triple Platinum, marking sales of more than three million, according to the RIAA (Record Industry Association America).

"Be Here is the fastest selling record of Keith's career," said Bill Kennedy, VP/Sales at Capitol/Nashville. "The fact that this artist has scored back-to-back three million sellers – his last album, Golden Road and now Be Here – proves Keith continues to connect with music fans throughout the country."

Since the album's debut in September 2004, Be Here has spawned four hits, including three number one singles: Days Go By, Making Memories Of Us and Better Life.

Additionally, the videos for Days Go By and Making Memories Of Us achieved number one status at music channel CMT. The fifth single from Be Here, Tonight I Wanna Cry, is moving up the Country charts, currently at number 12 in music trade publications BILLBOARD and R&R.

Keith is nominated for Best Male Country Vocal Performance at this year's 48th annual Grammy Awards on February 8th.

Country Music Community Service Award

Country Music Capital's Peel Valley Lions Club has announced its 2006 National Country Music Community Service Award recipient.

Nominations are called through Lions Clubs around Australia and Noel Smith from South Australia has been selected to receive the 13th award at the 2006 Tamworth Country Music Festival.

Noel's nomination came from the Lions Club of Cummins and District of South Australia.

The Peel Valley Lions Club Tamworth instigated an award in 1994 to honour people who have used country music to give community service in a voluntary capacity.

A spokesman for the Club said that Noel was not able to make the trip to Tamworth this year so Lion Terry Hill, project chairman, will present the Award live on Blue Dog Festival 101.5 FM at 11am Thursday January 26.

Graeme Hugo will accept the award on Noel's behalf and take the trophy back to Cummins Lions Club who will arrange for a suitable presentation along with a cheque for $500 for Noel's elected charity -Cummins Community Hospital.

Steve on shortlist for APRA PDA

Steve Graham reports he has been shortlisted as a finalist for an APRA Professional Development Award (PDA).

APRA PDAs offer $10,000 cash and $1,500 for travel expenses as well as recognition to music writers in the early stages of their careers. Up to six professional composers and songwriters will receive awards in the following genres: Popular Contemporary (two awards), Country, Jazz, Classical, Film and Television.

The APRA PDAs are awarded every two years in conjunction with partner music organisations. "There was a fantastic response this year with APRA receiving close to 500 individual applications for the 2006 Awards," a spokesman said.

"APRA is pleased to announce that internationally renowned music instrument company Gibson Guitars will be providing each of the six winners with a Melody Maker Guitar valued at $1,600 as part of their prize package."

The original Melody Maker guitar was introduced by Gibson in 1959 and was based on t