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NEWS ARCHIVES AUGUST 2007 FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2007 Leading Sydney based country music broadcaster Heken Kay is calling it a day after almost two decades in the business.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my friends within the country music industry, and you ALL know who you are. I have had a wonderful time. I have met so many people and have been truly blessed to have been part of such a wonderful family. Helen's last radio program will be this coming Monday September 3. Her last "gig" will be this year's Galston Country Music Festival (of which she is a director) the following weekend. "I want to thank all the fantastic guests that I have had over the years for their input on my radio shows and the industry for supporting me from the beginning. I will miss you all but looking on a more positive note. I should just about have a place in every city in Australia by now to stop for a 'cuppa' and a chat with a friend or two or three." Chart update – Spirit Of The Bush – third week at the top The Lee Kernaghan, Adam Brand, Steve Forde hit Spirit Of The Bush remains at number one on the coming week's Country Tracks National Top 30 Singles Chart for the third week in succession. George Strait's Wrapped is at two, Dianna Corcoran's Stepping Stones is down to five, American country star Toby Keith is at six with High Maintenance Woman while Melinda Schneider's Stronger is down to seven. Alison Krauss & John Waite are down to eight with Missing You while America's Brad Paisley and Rascal Flatts are at nine and 10 respectively with Ticks and Stand. Bullet performers for the week include Troy Cassar-Daley's Everything's Gonna Be Alright (16 to 11), Shea Fisher's Just The Excuse (15 to 12), Donna Boyd with Angels Fly Close To The Ground (18 to 15),Graham Rodger with Woman On The Land (19 to 16), Kirsty Lee Akers' Little Things (20 to 17), Nicki Gillis with Remember Me (21 to 18) and James Blundell's Ring Around The Moon (22 to 19). One new entry to the chart for the coming week, Travis Collins (pictured) with Yeah She Does (in at 30). The Top 30 Countdown goes to air Sunday night on CMR (Country Music Radio) on the Super Radio Network. The full chart can be viewed at www.nfspublicity.com.au.
2007 CMA Awards finalists announced Finalists in the 41st annual CMA (Country Music Association) Awards were announced on Wednesday.
For Entertainer of the Year... Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, George Strait and Keith Urban (pictured). For Male Vocalist of the Year... Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, George Strait, Josh Turner and Keith Urban. For Female Vocalist of the Year... Alison Krauss, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire and Carrie Underwood. For Vocal Group of the Year... Alison Krauss & Union Station Featuring Jerry Douglas, Dixie Chicks, Emerson Drive, Little Big Town and Rascal Flatts. For Vocal Duo of the Year... Big & Rich, Brooks & Dunn, Montgomery Gentry, Sugarland and The Wreckers. For the Horizon Award... Jason Aldean, Rodney Atkins, Little Big Town, Kellie Pickler and Taylor Swift. For Song of the Year... Anyway by Martina McBride, Brad Warren & Brett Warren, Before He Cheats by Josh Kear & Chris Tompkins, Give It Away by Bill Anderson, Buddy Cannon & Jamey Johnson, Lost In This Moment by John Rich, Keith Anderson & Rodney Clawson and Stupid Boy by Dave Berg, Deanna Bryant & Sarah Buxton. For Album of the Year 5th Gear by Brad Paisley, It Just Comes Natural by George Strait, Long Trip Alone by Dierks Bentley, Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing by Keith Urban and These Days by Vince Gill. A full list of finalists can be found at www.cmaworld.com. Award winners will be announced in Nashville on November 7. Garth Brooks has set another music industry record as he became the first artist to open at number one in the history of the R&R (Radio & Records magazine) Chart with the debut of his latest release, More Than A Memory. R&R's Director Of Charts and Operations/Nashville Wade Jessen also noted that Garth now replaces Buck Owens and Kenny Chesney as the all-time-high debut leader. Prior to Kenny's bow last week, Buck's number 16 opener with My Heart Skips A Beat in March 1964 was the chart's highest since it expanded from 30 to 50 positions in January the same year. Jessen notes one more factoid for Garth to paste in his memory books: Memory opened at a record high number four on America's Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems most-played tally on US radio. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2007 2007 Q Song Award winners announced Winners of the second annual Q Song Awards for Queensland songwriters were announced this month in Brisbane.
The night belonged to Cairn’s teenager Emma-Louise Lobb who took out both the Secondary School Award and the Courier-Mail People’s Choice Award for her song Kim’s Song and moved the audience with her heartfelt rendition of her winning song. Ellaways Song of the Year went to Tim Steward for Not The Same. Kev Carmody was recognised for his lifetime commitment to songwriting taking out the Grant McLennan Lifetime Achievement Award. The Blues and Roots award was won by Mason Rack (Mason Rack and Steve Balbi) for Dust. The Country category was taken out by Chris Pickering (pictured) with The Humming Song. Weblink – www.qmusic.com.au. Organisers of the annual Musicoz Awards have introduced a publicly voted award this year which is being determined by SMS voting.
A number of country artists also feature in other categories. Voters visit the Musicoz website (see weblink below) where they can listen to artists' music and decide who to vote for by sending an SMS message according to specific instructions there including a brief reason why voters think their choices should win. Described as a game of skill (because the most creative answer given will be judged) a winning voter will take home a Maton MS 503 electric guitar valued at $1,500. The Musicoz Artist with the most votes when voting officially closes on November 21 will be awarded the National Musicoz People's Choice Award for 2007, an award which will be announced at the Musicoz awards ceremony on November 22 at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney. Meanwhile, organisers have issued a final call for entries in this year's awards which close on Friday (August 31). Weblink – www.musicoz.org.
To be titled Doin' OK, the album is scheduled to be released at Tamworth 2008. The first single from the album will be Everything I Needed To Say to be released following the album launch together with a video clip. "I am looking forward to this album in 2008," Billy said. Weblink – www.billiybridge.com. Scripture Union presents night of Gospel music A taste of the January atmosphere of country music will come to Tamworth in October in the form of a night of country gospel music.
"Headlining the program will be the band Higher Ground who have been working hard on a collection of new songs especially for the occasion," a spokesman said. "The nine-piece band features harmony singing with first class musicianship on a wide variety of instruments including guitar, dobro, fiddle, piano, banjo, mandolin and pedal steel guitar. Higher Ground's Bruce O’Hara said the evening was designed to support the Scripture Union Tent Mission located on Kable Avenue during each January country Music festival. "Scripture Union have been an integral part of the festivities since 1994," he said. "This is where a hardy group of volunteers from a number of different churches come together to share the message of the Gospel through music and a friendly chat over a cuppa, or cool drink." Bruce said Scripture Union had significant expenses associated with staging such an undertaking each year. "So once again, (we) have decided to try and raise some much needed financial support by staging a night of top country gospel music”, he said. Admission is free, however, there will be an opportunity to contribute to the work of Scripture Union and, in particular, the up-coming Country Music Mission. Tamworth has hosted the annual country music festival for the past 34 years, and it seems as if each year, more and more people come from all over Australia and beyond, to enjoy the 10 days of music. Photo (from left back): Garry Adams (guitar/vocals), Craig Davis (drums), Kym Beare (bass/vocals), Mark Moulynox (guitar/dobro/banjo/pedal steel guitar/vocals) – (seated): Steve Martin (keyboards/vocals), D J Konz (mandolin/vocals), Louise Konz (fiddle/vocals), Dianne Cameron (vocals) and Bruce O’Hara (guitar/vocals). TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2007 Liam wins Muster Talent Search Liam Brew has taken out the 2007 talent search staged as part of the Toyota National Country Music Muster at Gympie.
Liam beat fellow finalists Danny Hooper and Tiffney Stroh, both from South Australia, to take the title which earns the winner a prize package including $4,000 cash, a scholarship to the Australian College of Country Music and an appearance on the main stage at the Toyota Muster in 2008. He also took home the special prize of his choice of a $2,000 Maton guitar. Total prizes in the talent search are valued at $25,000. Weblink – www.muster.com.au. "Cook Bluey" fires up his ocker humour Glenn Jones has always been a country kid stuck in the city. He grew up in Sydney's western suburbs but knew it just wasn't for him.
"My dad always told me stories about him being a knockabout lad in the bush, he had heaps, and they sounded a lot better than what I was used to." Today, Glenn is as ocker as they come and plays "Bluey" for nightly crowds of more than 1,000 at the Warner Village attraction. And Glenn has been nominated in the entertainment category of the Gold Coast Honours Awards, a glittering gala, black-tie event which recognises the efforts of Gold Coast residents across a wide section of community interests. "The best thing about 'Bluey' is that he is really just me, Jonesy," Glenn said. "They call him 'Bluey' because he likes to fight, that's not really me, but he is this great character who thinks he has been everywhere and done everything when he really hasn't done anything but be a cook. "I love the role because it really isn't a departure from who I am." Glenn has recorded and released 10 country music albums, performed with Slim Dusty, wrote and sang a tribute song at Aussie legend R M Williams's funeral and has been nominated for several Golden Guitar awards at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. "I spent 20 years travelling the bush and singing," he said. "That's been my life and I am proud to be able to bring the bush to the beach every night. I can use all my ockerisms and slang, and the audience loves it." Gold Coast Award winners will be held announced on Friday September 5 in the grand ballroom of the Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort. Weblink – www.jonesysings.com.au. – GoldCoast.com.au Jeanette celebrates widespread airplay and surviving the Muster! Jeanette Wormald is celebrating widespread airplay for her latest single – Pukulpa Days – and surviving the just concluded "wet" Toyota National Country Music Muster at Gympie.
The previous two singles, Boundary Rider's Daughter and the title track were top 10 hits for Jeanette who is based in South Australia's Northern Mallee, with Boundary Rider's Daughter reaching number four on the Country Tracks National Top 30 Chart. Pukulpa Days celebrates the Pitjantjatjara language and was inspired by Jeanette's work in the Anangu community of Oak Valley in the Maralinga Tjarutja lands. Meanwhile, Jeanette has returned home from "a successful and very wet Gympie Muster" – "although the flooding saw my 2WD hire car marooned at the Muster site and travel plans home delayed for 24 hours!" she said. "I did say I wanted an excuse to wear gum boots and to see the Amamoor (Creek State) Forest site wet. Well I got my wish!" Jeanette and husband Dean crossed the final creek bed at 4.30am in the morning on Friday to be at the site to help host the ABC Radio breakfast show with Wayne Shearman. Hours later, the crossing was completely blocked to all traffic by a deluge of water. They were only able to leave the site later that night when Muster organisers sourced a special 4WD bus from Fraser Island which was to able to ford the rising creek crossings. Nevertheless, Jeanette said she enjoyed her third Muster experience. "It was wonderful to see the drought breaking rain and also to hear the feedback from Muster audiences who cheered as I began to sing Boundary Rider's Daughter and when I dedicated my song Never Give Up to locals fighting the damming of the Mary River." Photo (by Jim Zenner, Wildshots Photography): Jeanette performing at the 2007 Muster Club. Weblink – www.jeanettewormald.com. Steve Passfield has released a new single – A Man Will Risk It All. Co-written and produced by Rod McCormack, the single is the second from Steve’s debut album Goin’ It Alone. The video clip of the first single, the title track from the album, reached number seven on the CMC (Country Music Channel) countdown.
"It was all about a girl," Steve said. "Now that’s something the history books won’t tell you." As lead singer of the successful Handpicked Band, Steve is no stranger to the country music touring scene. His years on the road and in independent studios across Australia helped build the confidence in his music and in himself to break into the solo scene. "I’m a building consultant by trade, so walking away from that secure lifestyle and commiting myself full-time to a solo music career was no small thing," he said. "With the support of my family, I quit my job and started to work on the songs that would become the Goin’ It Alone album." Wanting to make sure that his debut would make it’s mark, Steve turned to Rod McCormack to help him shape the album. Producing all the tracks, Steve said Rod took a particular interest in the A Man Will Risk It All demo. "The story of Robert O’Hara Burke and the fact that it was his love for an actress which drove him to blindly lead an expedition that he wasn’t qualified to lead is the stuff of bush-legend," Rod said. "I couldn’t resist co-writing the final version of the track with Steve." "Rod’s contribution to writing (the song) was invaluable," Steve said. "Together, we took a solid piece of music and turned it into something really special that I hope will stand the test of time. "The stories of our land are, to me, what country music is all about. I reckon this is a damn good one." Weblink – www.stevepassfield.com. MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2007 Somebody Stole My Horse is single number two for Tennant Creek (NT) based singer/songwriter Harmony James.
Just one day after Somebody Stole My Horse was released to radio, it appeared on playlists of major stations across the country which delighted Harmony no end. "I’m really pleased people are responding so warmly to the songs I’ve written," she said. "When they’re your own, it’s hard to know if other people will relate to them and love them as much as you do. Horse is a real favourite of mine and I’ve had some wonderful support with that particular song from the Northern Territory Government." This has been a momentous month for Harmony with her signing a distribution agreement with One Stop Country. This will see her self-titled EP in stores Australia wide. From her home in the Territory, Harmony has managed to cover most eastern Australian states, starting with her attendance in Melbourne at esteemed international songwriter Pat Pattison’s workshops. Then it was northwards to Brisbane, to film the new clip for the new single. Australia’s Top End was next on Harmony’s dancecard for a series of Darwin Festival appearances. With three great shows to her credit there, plus her surprise live radio guest appearances on Darwin ABC, Harmony won more fans than she bargained for. The next few months will be busy for Harmony with gigs booked as far afield as Toowoomba in Queensland and Alice Springs Rodeo in the Territory. Weblink – www.harmonyjames.com.
His fans have already chipped in with funds but he needs $30,000 to finish off the sessions (by September 15) and another $10,000 to market it globally. If you want to help, you can make a tax deductible donation to ABAF, the Australia Business Arts Foundation, specifying that you'd like your donation to be directed to 8 Ball's new CD production via ABAF's Australia Cultural Fund. The Australia Cultural Fund is a unique facility which enables people to make tax deductible donations to ABAF and nominate an individual artist as the recipient of the gift. ABAF has enabled many artists to raise funds for the development of their work. Contact 8-Ball's manager Bird Jensen (bird@phoenixmovement.com), mobile 0408 075 959, for more information.. Weblinks – www.abaf.org.au/giving/acf/donors.html, www.8ballaitken.com. CMC Top 50 – Amber at number one Amber Lawrence (pictured) has taken over the number one spot this week on the CMC (Country Music Channel) Top 50 playlist with the clip of her hit The Things That Bring Me Down.
Miranda Lambert is steady at five with Famous In A Small Town while Brad Paisley is at six with Online and Emerson Drive are at seven with A Good Man. Reba McEntire is steady at eight with Because Of You while the Lee Kernaghan, Adam Brand, Steve Forde hit Spirit Of The Bush is down to nine and Adam Brand moves into the top 10 at 10 with That Changes Everything. Bullet performers this week include Jetty Road at 12 with Real Smooth Cowboy, Kirsty Lee Akers' Little Things at 16, Jonah's Road with Counting Down The Days (20 to 17), Keith Urban's Stupid Boy (25 to 19), Aaron Bolton with Rockin' Up (39 to 36) and The Yeehaa Boys with Shake Baby (44 to 41). CMC's Country Pick for the week is Steve Forde's Metropolis, the first single from his self-titled album due for release on September 22. Parts of the clip were filmed near Steve's home in Grenfell, NSW. The full playlist can be viewed at www.countrymusicchannel.com.au. FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 2007 Wet Muster The Toyota National Country Music Muster at Gympie has reportedly been suffering some due to heavy rain which has fallen in the area over the last few days. Yesterday (Friday) there were reports that the site was not accessible for a time but official road condition bulletins said although one of the primary entry routes, the Traveston Crossing Road, was closed due to flooding, Muster traffic was being advised to travel to Gympie and use the Gympie-Brooloo Road to gain access. The Sunshine Coast area recorded heavy rainfall mid week. The coastal town of Rainbow Beach (the Muster site is inland about 90 kilometres by road from Rainbow Beach), reportedly recorded 820 milimetres (or more than 32 inches on the old scale). Conditions on site were such it is understood the Muster's main stage area had to be re-located. Though conditions might be considered less than desirable, it appears the thousands of fans in attendance are coping and, in true Muster style, making the best of the situation and still having a good time. Anyone travelling to the Muster on Saturday and Sunday and wanting to check road conditions should call RACQ Road Info on 1300 130 595 or the Queensland Government's Department of Main Roads Traffic Reports line 13 19 40 (also accessible via the internet, www.131940.qld.gov.au). Adam Harvey will release a new album, I'm Doin' Alright, next month, his first since signing a worldwide deal with Sony/BMG last year and follows on from three consecutive gold albums on ABC Music.
First single from the album – Someone Else’s Dream, one of nine songs on the new 13-track work that Adam wrote – will be at radio on Monday. The song was co-written and produced by multi award-winning songwriter and leading producer Rod McCormack. Adam has only recently returned from Nashville where he was awarded the Country Music Association Global Artist Award for his efforts and dedication to country music through his career, recognition of his talent and enthusiasm for country music from around the globe, and follows on from a huge amount of touring from NZ to Ireland since the release of Can’t Settle For Less in 2005. That album was certified gold with three number one singles and received five Golden Guitar finalist nominations. Over the last few years, Adam has scooped the pool at Tamworth winning the coveted Golden Guitar for Male Vocalist of the Year in 2005, 2004 and 2002 and Album Of The Year in 2002 along with numerous other accolades including "MO" Awards and ARIA Award nominations. His success has been further established with certified gold sales of his albums, Workin’ Overtime and Cowboy Dreams and numerous number one singles and video clips. Adam has also been working as the official Ambassador of the Telstra Road to Tamworth talent search for the last two years. "I am really proud to be the ambassador for this contest as country music can’t move forward without programs such as Telstra Road to Tamworth," he said. "I only wish this competition had been around when I was an unknown kid trying to make it in the country music game. The competition reflects the growth of country music as a popular genre and will help identify and foster aspiring country music artists." In recognition of the success the competition has achieved so far, Adam’s special guest for his upcoming tour will be Telstra Road To Tamworth 2007 Winner Morgan Evans. The Newcastle-based singer, songwriter and guitarist travelled to Nashville to perform and record his debut single Big Skies due for Australian release on Sony/BMG later this month. Adam's I'm Doin' Alright will be released on September 22. His national tour kicks off in the Murgon Town Hall on Tuesday, September 11. Weblink– www.adamharvey.com.au. Sara's new album set for release Australian country star Sara Storer will release her long-awaited new album in November with a first single due out early next month.
Sara, who has shown herself to be a leading chronicler of life in the bush, came to fame after attending the first Australian College of Country Music in Tamworth in 1997 and teaming up with legendary record producer Garth Porter and ABC Music. The partnership worked well as Sara released three landmark albums including the multi Golden Guitar winner Beautiful Circle. The new album will be released via EMI and co-producer Matt Fell and The Waifs’ Josh Cunningham have worked with Sara "to embrace some refreshing new sounds," according to a spokesman for the record company. Silver Skies is the name of the forthcoming album while Land Cries Out will be the lead single, "carrying on a tradition of writing intelligent and uniquely Australian songs from the rural heartland," EMI says. On the new single, "electric guitars and drums add a powerful sense of foreboding to Sara’s tale of an imagined conversation between a farmer and the land he is being forced to leave. This is a unique perspective on an all too common situation in Australia, sprung from a conversation Sara had with her mother – herself a farmer’s wife – at her kitchen table. "The women were bemoaning the effects on all parties when families are forced to leave properties that have been theirs for generations." "Who will come and will they treat it with the love and respect the previous family did?" Sara asks. "There’s a connection. When he looks after his land, the land returns the love by producing good things. I wanted the song to talk about the land having a soul. I wanted to sing it from the point of view of the land, to be able to call 'don’t give up'." "Land Cries Out is a timely reminder both of how tough life is on the land, and what a talent we have in Sara Storer," the spokesman said. The single will be released to radio on Monday September 3. It will be available for digital download from Saturday September 15. Silver Skies will be released on Saturday November 3. Weblink – www.sarastorer.com.au. Noll Brothers to release debut single The Noll Brothers – singer/songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Adam and Damian – are about to make a splash in the country music scene by releasing their debut single. Their younger brother Shannon burst into the spotlight through "Australian Idol" and went on to become the only Australian male performer to have 10 consecutive top 10 hits. The three brothers grew up singing in bands together for more than 20 years. Adam and Damian played in Shannon’s band (respectively guitar and drums) for the past three years and Damian wrote a song called The Way That I Feel for Shannon which sold a million copies.
"It’s a very country music sentiment," said Damian, "which is not surprising because we’re born and bred country folks. It’s about people you enjoy being around because they make you smile. As the song says, we’re friends, so you don’t have to pass any test with me." "Country music is about simple folks passing their feelings to others through a story," said Adam. "Shining Star is a tale that people can make a difference. The guy digging trenches to feed his kids is just as important as the rock star flying around the world in jet planes. Both are doing it for their families." In the accompanying video, the Noll Brothers featured people of many colours, races and religions. The b-side Give A Little is based on a philosophy the brothers' parents Sharyn and Neil imparted to their sons – "don’t expect to get anything out of life until you put something in". Adam and Damian grew up in Condobolin, a small town 600 kilometres west of Sydney. The Nolls are fifth generation farmers, running sheep and cattle and growing cereal crops for 100 years since their ancestors the Knowles came from Prussia. Neil Noll was an outstanding sportsman who passed those skills on. Adam and Damian played football for the state, and have single figure golf handicaps. As a drummer and singer, Neil Noll encouraged his kids to express themselves. "When you live in a remote area, most of the music you hear is on the car radio," says Damian. "We grew up singing along in the back seat to John Williamson and Randy Travis." In his late teens, Adam formed Scandal. The three Noll brothers then formed Cypress (named because they rehearsed in a timber mill) and toured the outback and all along the East Coast. "We learned as we went along. We developed our harmonies, you know it’s the Noll Brothers when you hear us. We played some interesting places. At a horse race day we played on a hay trailer and halfway through the first song, it started to roll away from the crowd!" After Neil Noll died in an accident in 2001, the brothers ran the farm. But the ravages of drought saw them sell it. They stayed on in Condobolin to raise their young children, remain with their mother, and work on the music. Damian is a sharefarmer and contractor and Adam runs Nolls Bakery, which makes "the best pies in the state". "I’m a musician by trade," he said. "I expect to be coming home at 4 in the morning – not go to work at the bakery at that time!" Three years ago, Emporium Music boss Dimitri Pavicevic approached them to make an album. The Nolls said they weren’t ready. "That was a wise move," said Damian. "In the past three years, we have written our best songs." “Shining Star” comes from The Noll Brothers’ debut album A Country Heart which is due out in the first week in November. The Noll Brothers will tour with their band behind the album’s release. Weblink – www.myspace.com/nollbrothers. Warren "beats around the bush" Bush legend Warren Fahey has been collecting and performing folk songs, city ditties, stories, poems and yarns for nigh on 40 years, and carries a virtually bottomless swag of folklore that he dips into, pressing nostalgia buttons wherever he travels. And, during September, Warren will be touring his show – "Beatin' Around The Bush" – to northern NSW.
This year, Harper Collins is publishing "The Big Fat Book of Australian Humour". In addition to his books, Warren is also well known as an ABC broadcaster having scripted and presented countless radio series on Australian folk music and history. As a folklore collector he has interviewed many Australian life stories including many singers of old songs. He has been honoured with the Order of Australia and, in 2004, the Australian Bush Laureate Awards Judith Hosier Heritage Award for his contribution to Australian bush poetry. Warren has many recordings of bush songs and poetry including A Panorama of Bush Songs (ABC), Larrikins, Louts & Layabouts (ABC) and Classic Bush Poetry (ABC Audio). This year, he embarked on an ambitious program to record nine albums tracing the history of Australia in its formative pioneering era of the 19th century. He has already completed five of the albums: Rare Convict Broadside Ballads, Colonial Life, Rooted in the Country (bush romance and dalliance), Shearers and Station Life and Stockmen and Skallywags. Joining Warren on his tour are his "fellow larrikin mates" – who also worked on the recording project – Marcus Holden (one of Australia’s most sought-after fiddle, mandolin, guitar and viola players) and Garry Steel (a remarkable virtuoso player of the accordion). A typical performance on the "Beatin' Around The Bush" tour takes the audience through an entertaining and enlightened potted history of Australia – its ups and downs from convict barracks to colonial expansion, digging on the goldfields to riding high on the sheep’s back, boundary riding with drovers, avoiding cranky station cooks, down coal mines, going snowdropping and cadging with "roads" scholars during the lean times, visiting the "big smoke" and saluting the flag at Federation. "We also go to war with the Diggers," Warren says, "into the frustration of the Great Depression, and look at life in the 20th century. All told and sung with a keen eye on Australia’s laconic sense of humour through songs, poems, toasts, curious history and yarns." The current "Beatin' Around The Bush" tour kicks off at Maitland on Friday September 7 and concludes in Barraba on Sunday September 16, taking in Tamworth, Armidale, Glen Innes, Inverell, Gunnedah and Bingara. Weblink – www.warrenfahey.com (full tour details under the news section). The Music Council of Australia will conduct its 14th annual General Assembly in Sydney in September.
An arts policy address will be presented by both Federal Arts Minister George Brandis and Labor Shadow Arts Minister Peter Garrett (subject to special campaign contingencies). A special underlying theme of the Assembly will be "Music: Brain, Body, Health – An overview of brain research, occupational hazards for musicians, The Assembly, which will be open to the public, will be held in the Dixson Room, State Library of NSW, on Sunday and Monday, September 23 and 24. Weblink – www.mca.org.au. Chart update – Lee, Adam & Steve hang on to number one The Lee Kernaghan, Adam Brand, Steve Forde hit Spirit Of The Bush remains at number one on the coming week's Country Tracks National Top 30 Singles Chart.
George Strait's Wrapped is at five, Amber Lawrence's Things That Bring Me Down is up two to six while the Alison Krauss/John Waite duet of Missing You is steady is down to to seven. The Casey Watt/Brendan Radford duet If I Needed You drops to eight as does Harmony James' Tailwind to nine while American country star Toby Keith enters the top 10 at 10 with High Maintenance Woman. Bullet performers for the week include Troy Cassar-Daley's Everything's Gonna Be Alright (20 to 16), Markus Meier's Walk In The Rain (30 to 26) and Carter & Carter's The Best Things In Life Are Free (new at 27). Other new entries to the chart for the coming week are Amos Morris (pictured) with Sign Of The Times (in at 29) and Kerri McInerney, Michael O’Rourke and Steve Eales with their cover of Stuck In The Middle With You (at 30). The Top 30 Countdown goes to air Sunday night on CMR (Country Music Radio) on the Super Radio Network. The full chart can be viewed at www.nfspublicity.com.au. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2007 Toyota Muster '07 – "having fun never felt so good!" That's the catch-cry of Toyota National Country Music Muster organisers this week as the giant country music celebration gets into full swing on the dedicated Muster site just out of Gympie, Queensland.
"Muster patrons will be helping out their mates... just by having a great time! A portion of each dollar spent at the Muster or on Muster merchandise will go directly to our mates in the bush!" Along the way, the Muster is giving financial assistance, a new Toyota and "time out" to some rural communities who are doing it tough. Rural community groups from across Australia were invited to apply for financial assistance from the Muster. An independent selection panel looked at applications from rural community groups throughout Australia and have chosen 11 to receive assistance. Representatives from the winning community groups will also be able to take some time out at the 2007 Muster. One deserving family from each group has received complementary tickets to kick back and relax for a few days. The 11 winners take to the Muster's Main Stage on Sunday August 26 at 4pm, when Toyota will present a new Toyota Hilux to one of the successful community groups. Toyota Australia wanted to help ease the pain of drought and they’ve donated a new Toyota Hilux SR 4 litre V6 manual petrol pickup including air conditioning and on-road costs valued at $27,000. "So you know when you go to the Muster you’re not just there for a good time... you’re flat out helping out your mates... it never felt so good!" The 2007 Toyota National Country Music Muster runs through until Sunday with 100 acts, 170 shows and 227 hours of music on 14 stages. Weblink – www.muster.com.au. Bush Laureate Award for children’s poetry
"There has always been a strong tradition of bush verse written for children and the Bush Laureate Awards feel this should be encouraged. Poets such as C J Dennis and Banjo Paterson were famous examples of this tradition and it is hoped that with a special category in the Awards, more poets will consider verse of this type." Other changes for the next Australian Bush Laureate Awards include a clarification of Book and CD of the Year. Both categories will be now open to original and re-released material (published or released during the eligibility period) but when the winner does not qualify as original verse, another Award will be presented for Book or Album of the Year Original Verse. Nominations for the 2008 Australian Bush Laureate Awards are now open with forms currently being distributed to previous nominees and enquirers. A nomination form is also available for download from the Awards website (see weblink below). Nominations close on Wednesday, October 31. The 2008 Australian Bush Laureate Awards will be staged in the famous Tamworth Town Hall on Tuesday, January 22. Tickets will go on sale in October. Weblink – www.bushlaureate.com.au.
They are Donna Boyd & David Carter with Luckiest Girl Alive, Susie Davies-Splitter & Phil Splitter with Hearts In Harmony, Brenda-Lee Heathcote (pictured) with So This Is Life, Danny Hooper with She's The One, Paul Jamieson with Reindeer On My Roof, Matt Larsen with Spoken For, Anni Piper with Love's Truly Blind, Jo-Kelly Stevenson with Deep End, Daniel Thornton with Hope's Holding On To Me and Peter Tonna with Oh Baby. All entries submitted by ASA members (including members joining with contest entry) are eligble for the Rudy Brandsma Award, presented in recognition of Association co-founder Rudy Brandsma. Weblink – www.asai.org.au. The Rustlers sign with Hardrush
The Adelaide-based four-piece group's critically acclaimed Sad Dark Lies album is set for full commercial release on the Hardrush label in September and the boys are celebrating. The Rustlers burst on to the scene in June 2001 with the release of their Broken Pieces' album at the Barmera Country Music Festival. After the album was sent to the United States in May 2006, the band sought commercial distribution and a new release. Hardrush CEO Kelvin Fahey said: "The Rustlers are a unique act that effortlessly blend the best of melodic pop with progressive country. A bit like Elvis meets the Beatles somewhere west of Tulsa. In addition, the boys have got that something special that will endure and get the crowds responding." The band comprises Garry Burrows (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), John Murphy (lead guitar and vocals), Gary Cailes (drums, percussion and vocals) and Derek Manning (bass and vocals). Between them they cite their music influences to include The Beatles, Del Shannon, Travelling Wilburys, Hank Williams, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Elvis and Chad Morgan. The Rustlers' main songwriters are Garry and John... Gary provides the country pop hooks while John is "a technical genius as a composer and performer of great lead riffs" Weblink – www.therustlers.com.au, www.hardrushmusic.com.
The Jetty Road journey has been a remarkable one, the group says. Having achieved national chart success with three hit singles, including the recent hit Real Smooth Cowboy and a multitude of award nominations, the band is beginning to reap the rewards of their hard work. Jetty Road’s Lee and Paula Bowman, Julian Sammut and Simon Ross have been out on the road touring extensively promoting their new highly anticipated second album Dirt Roads ~ City Lights. They are currently on tour with Australian country music legend James Blundell, Travis Collins, Dianna Corcoran and 2007 Toyota Star Maker winner Kirsty-Lee Akers. Jetty Road are also appearing at this year’s Toyota Gympie Muster. Weblink – www.jettyroad.com. APRA 06/07 performance returns
All composers need to lodge their submissions in order to obtain their performance royalties in November. APRA (the Australasian Performing Right Association) is holding a Connect & Live Performance Return Workshop for members today at 3-5 Sanders Place, Richmond, Victoria, from 6.30pm. Con Kalamaras and Sibylla Stephen from the Melbourne office will officiate and Jonathan Williamson, Program Manager for Victoria Rocks – Arts Victoria will also give a talk about the New Arts Vic Funding Program. RSVP to victas@apra.com.au or telephone 03 9426 5200. Weblink – www.apra.com.au. TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2007 Wolverines Sail For Kids raises $35,000
Along the way, the band say they heard some very sad and touching stories, "like Jesse from Eumundi who at 15 has a life expectancy of just two more years, or the Rocky Special School which had its only bus smashed and then in Gladstone there was the Bradley Wolf Brave Heart Foundation, and in Cairns, sisters who lost their Mum just before we arrived… we hope we have helped a little. "On the sailing front, conditions (and temperatures) slowly improved as we came north. From freezing cold on the NSW coast, we can now enjoy ideal conditions in the Whitsundays where we perform at Airlie Beach & Hamilton Island Race Weeks. "We would like to thank everyone who rocked up to the concerts, especially those who dug deep to help the kids & Kids’ Charities in each town." Weblink – www.wolverines.com.au. Steve Forde returns to the radio airwaves this week with the first single from his highly anticipated self-titled album release on September 22 through ABC Music/Warner Music Australia.
The song is produced by mutli-platinum selling US producer Richard Landis whose track record is impressive having produced high selling albums with the likes of superstars Vince Gill, Neil Diamond, Kenny Rogers, Eddie Rabbitt and Ronnie Milsap, just to name a few. A video clip for Metropolis, directed by Matt Bourke who produced the Shea Fisher clip Just The Excuse as well as Aussie Philosophy for Steve in 2006, has been completed and will hit media this Saturday. Weblink – www.myspace.com/stevefordemusic. Ngawara wins Telstra Road to Tamworth Bairnsdale heat Ngawara Madison (pictured) from St Kilda won the Bairnsdale, Victoria, heat of the Telstra Road to Tamworth competition at the local RSL on Saturday night.
Saturday's heat judges said Ngawara was a stand out performer with her strong vocals and vibrant stage presence. "Performing two self-penned songs for the 360-strong crowd, Scratch and Lonely Alone, Ngawara strode on to the stage with a confidence that belies her 21 years." Classically trained during her school years, Ngawara now describes her sound as "rock 'n' roll country with a bit of blues thrown in for good measure!" "I've been wanting to perform in Tamworth since I was little, so I’m really excited about the opportunity to be there in January," she said. Ngawara will join fellow finalists in January for the talent search during the Tamworth Country Music Festival presented by Telstra to compete for "the ultimate prize" – an all expenses paid return trip to Nashville and a full album deal with ABC Music, distributed by Warner Music Australia. A separate prize, with an additional trip to Nashville, the Telstra Road to Tamworth Songwriters Award is also on offer with the winner afforded a number of songwriting appointments with some of the industry’s best. All 20 heat winners receive $1,000 to assist their travel to the finals series. Entries are now open for heats to be held at St Arnaud, Vic, on Sunday September 9; Cairns, Qld, on Sunday September 16; Mudgeeraba, Qld, on Saturday September 22; Western Australia's Harvey Dickson Festival on Sunday September 30; and Canberra, ACT, on Saturday October 6. Weblink – www.beinvolved.telstra.com/countrymusic. Musicoz prize pool value passes $100,000 Value of the prize pool for winners in the 2007 Musicoz Awards is now well over $100,000, organisers say.
For the first time since the Awards commenced, artists can now enter their music online, which is then showcased live for the public to listen and vote for their favourite artists. The Musicoz website is interactive and user-friendly. The Musicoz Awards provide vital recognition, exposure and development opportunities to Australian artists. The Musicoz judging panel are some of the music industries finest, organisers say, including major labels, independent labels, booking agents, artist managers and record producers. Some of the prizes include the opportunity to record in studios like Studios 301, Level 7 Studios, Velvet Sound Recording Studios, BJB Studios, Damien Gerard Studios, The Sound Academy, Trackdown Studios, Main Street Studios, Turtlerock Mastering, Schollum city Records and Tonemarket Music. Awards organisers have also announced that this year's Musicoz People’s Choice Award will be determined by a public vote via SMS, with one lucky voter taking home a Maton MS 503 Electric Guitar valued at $1,500. Weblink – www.musicoz.org. MONDAY, AUGUST 20, 2007 Finalists for 2007 Deadlys released Finalists for the 2007 Deadly Awards – the national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander awards – have been released and online voting is now underway. Country music or country-related artists feature in a number of categories... Patrick Davies and Shaz Lane for Most Promising New Talent; Sharnee Fenwick (How ‘Bout Never) and Dan Sultan (Your Love Is Like A Song) for Single Release of the Year; Kev Carmody (Cannot Buy My Soul) for Album of the Year; Black Image for Band of the Year; Troy Cassar-Daley, Jessica Mauboy and Dan Sultan for Artist of the Year. Sharnee (pictured) and Troy both took home awards from last year's Deadlys, Sharnee for Most Promising New Talent Award and Troy, gongs for Single Release and Artist of the Year, an award he also won in 2004 and 2003 (adding to a number of previous wins in preceding years). As well as music, Deadlys are also presented in arts and sporting categories. Voting in the 2007 Deadlys closes September 14. Winners will be announced at the Awards presentation on Thursday September 27 at the Sydney Opera House. Weblink – www.deadlys.vibe.com.au. Little Things lead to big things Little Things, the debut album from 2007 Toyota Star Maker winner Kirsty Lee Akers, has debuted in the Australian Recording Industry Association Top 20 Australian Artist Country Albums Chart at number seven. Little Things is the first ever album to be recorded by any winner of Star Maker as part of the talent search prize and was the first for Australian country music. "When Kirsty won Toyota Star Maker last January, the eyes and ears of the industry were upon this petite vocal dynamo," said a spokesman for her record company, Compass Bros. "She’s now been added to more than sixty radio stations nationally, the video clip (for the title track single) is currently at 19 on The Country Music Channel Top 30 Countdown, and she’s heading out on a national tour with Compass Bros stable mate James Blundell. "The pocket rocket from Kurri Kurri is certainly setting the bar for future Toyota Star Maker competitors." Weblink – www.kirstyleeakers.com.
In a surprising collaboration, Graeme Connors has teamed up with the Fiddlers Feast to deliver one of the most exciting releases of the year. "The Last Supperteers, as the project is cheekily called, delivers 13 distinctive new Connors songs in the vibrant and lush musical setting of the Fiddlers Feast," said the media statement announcing the release. The album will be on sale at this week's Toyota National Country Music Muster at Gympie and there will be a special launch performance by The Last Supperteers in the Muster Theatre on Sunday (August 26) at 3.30pm. The album was recorded in early December last year over five days at The Whitehouse Studios in the Southern Highlands of NSW. The project was the brainchild of producer Andrew Richardson. The recordings were a first-time musical meeting between Graeme and the band and a reunion of sorts for Graeme, Andrew and Keith Walker, the legendary studio engineer. Andrew, Keith and Graeme last met in Nashville 1993 to create The Return. Photo: John Elliott (click on the pic above for a larger image). Weblinks – www.graemeconnors.com, www.fiddlersfestival.com. UK songwriting success for Natalie
Four tracks received high scores, with finalist nominations for I Don't Want To Live Like That in the Folk/Country Category, I Want To Get Out in the Pop Category while I Can't and The Long Night were semi-finalists in the Folk/Country Category. Weblink – www.songwritingcontest.co.uk. An acoustic version of 'I Want to Get Out' has already won a Runner-Up nomination in an IAMA (International Acoustic Music Award). It was co-written with Nashville songwriter Brian Maher. Natalie's musical style is country mixed with pop and rock as demonstrated in I Don't Want To Live Like That which was co-written with Nashville artist and hit songwriter James Dean Hicks. This US 2006 IMA (Independent Music Award) Country Song of the Year is a top five hit on the Independent Music Network (Los Angeles/New York) Country Top 30 Countdown. This week it is sitting in the number nine spot and was also recently a finalist in the 2007 Singer/Songwriter Awards. Video clip of the song The Long Night, a duet with James Dean Hicks, was a number one hit on the Country Music Channel Top 30 Countdown. It was co-written with Nashville songwriters Terry McBride and Tommy Lee James and was a finalist in the ISC (International Songwriting Competition) Country Category as well as being voted into the number eight spot of the ISC People's Voice Awards. Weblink www.nataliehoward.net. Greg releases Star Quest prize single
Greg won the Star Quest title at Tamworth in January and, as the winner, receives the opportunity to perform on major festivals and events throughout Australia and recording time for a single. Storyline of the Ian Quinn song Can I Sing Trumby is built around the song Trumby written by the legendary Joe Daley and recorded by Slim Dusty in the late '60s. Ian's song reflects on the ongoing popularity of Trumby. "The song showcases Greg’s vocal perfectly and is a standout release from this popular Star Quest winner," said a spokesman for ABBA. Weblink – www.bushballadeers.com.au/bain.htm. CMC Top 50 – Shea hits number one Shea Fisher (pictured) gains her first number one this week with the clip of her hit Just The Excuse at the top of the CMC (Country Music Channel) Top 50 playlist.
America's Miranda Lambert is at five with Famous In A Small Town while Travis Collins moves up one to six with Yeah She Does and Brad Paisley is at seven with Online. Reba McEntire is new in the top 10 with Because Of You at eight, as is Emerson Drive with A Good Man at nine while Big & Rich are down to 10 with Lost In This Moment. Bullet performers this week include Adam Brand with That Changes Everything at 11, Kirsty Lee Akers' Little Things at 19, Jonah's Road with Counting Down The Days (new at 20), Keith Urban with the Stupid Boy (33 to 25), Matt Scullion with Feels Like Sunday (36 to 31), Gemma Doyle with All I Want Tonight (37 to 33), Casey Watt & Brendan Radford with If I Needed You (38 to 34), Aaron Bolton with Rockin' Up (43 to 39), The Yeehaa Boys with Shake Baby (49 to 44) and Harmony James with Tailwind (48 to 45). The full playlist can be viewed at www.countrymusicchannel.com.au.
The single exploded on to the Billboard/R&R country airplay chart at number 20, marking it the highest chart entry by a solo country female in American chart history. (In its second week, So Small is now at 17.) Written by Carrie with Luke Laird and Grammy-winning songwriter Hillary Lindsey (who co-wrote three tracks on Carrie’s debut disc, including the chart-topping Wasted and Jesus, Take the Wheel), So Small debuted as the week’s most-added new single at Billboard/R&R and Country Aircheck. The track also earnt the distinction of becoming the highest debuting single of any country artist this year. Carrie’s yet to-be-titled new album, which will include So Small, will be released in Australia on October 20. Weblink – www.carrieunderwoodofficial.com. After a rare three year break from recording, Grammy Award winner Steve Earle has released a new album – Washington Square Serenade – which will be released in Australia next month by Shock Records.
A deluxe CD/DVD version of the album will be available with bonus artwork plus an exclusive documentary about the inspiration behind Washington Square Serenade, including a walking tour of Greenwich Village with Steve and noted journalist Mark Jacobson ("New York Magazine"). The album will also be available as a limited edition 180 gram vinyl record. Tennessee Blues, the first song on the album, brings Steve full circle as he sings about leaving the "guitar town" he first wrote about 20 years ago. In addition to recording and preparing for live shows, which already include performances in Seattle and Austin, Texas, Steve will appear in his recurring role as "Waylon" in the final season of the cable TV channel Home Box Office "The Wire". Steve is also writing his first novel for the Houghton Mifflin publishing company. A protege of legendary songwriters Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark, Steve quickly became a master storyteller in his own right, with his songs being recorded by Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Waylon Jennings, Travis Tritt, The Pretenders, Joan Baez and countless others. His debut recording – Guitar Town – was released in 1986, shot to number one on the country charts and immediately established the term "new country". What followed has been described as an exciting and varied array of 11 releases including "the biting hard rock" of Copperhead Road (1988), "the minimalist beauty and perfection" of Train A Comin' (1995) as well as "the politically charged masterpieces" Jerusalem (2002) and the Grammy Award winning The Revolution Starts... Now (2004). Washington Square Serenade will be released on September 22. Weblink – www.steveearle.com. Eleven IBMA nominations for Rhonda Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, whose recent Rounder CD All-American Bluegrass Girl proved a critical and commercial triumph inside and outside bluegrass circles, has garnered 11 International Bluegrass Music Award (IBMA) nominations at Thursday’s announcement ceremonies at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville.
Legendary bandleader, vocalist and instrumentalist Doyle Lawson (who read the contributions of the two newest inductees into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame) and his band Quicksilver earned nine citations, among them Song of the Year for Sadies’s Got Her New Dress On, Entertainer of the Year, Vocal Group of The Year and Album of the Year for More Behind The Picture Than The Wall. Lawson is also vying for Mandolin Player of the Year, plus Recorded Event of the Year for his participation on Salley’s CD and Gospel Recorded Event of the Year (the songs We Shall Inherit and He Lives In Me). Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, The Del McCoury Band and Ricky Skaggs received seven nominations each. Carl Story – frequently billed as "The Father of Bluegrass Gospel Music" – and Howard Watts aka Cedric Rainwater, famed as the bassist in the greatest edition of Bill Monroe & his Blue Grass Boys, were named as 2007 inductees to the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. It was also announced that the name had been changed from Bluegrass Hall of Honor at the behest of previous inductees and others within the industry. Guitarist Mike Auldridge, the publication "The Bluegrass Breakdown", Czech bluegrass pioneer Marko Cermak, Happy and Jane Traum of Homespun Tapes and California event producer and philanthropist Warren Hellman were named winners of the IBMA’s Distinguished Achievement Award. This year’s 18th annual IBMA awards will be hosted by acclaimed instrumentalist and multiple award winner Sam Bush and held at the Grand Ole Opry on October 4 and will be the centerpiece event during the World of Bluegrass week, which runs from October 1-7 in Nashville and includes the industry’s Business Conference and Bluegrass Fan Fest. Weblink – www.BMA.org. Garth Brooks is delivering a newly-recorded single to country radio in America on August 27 as part of the initial media push to promote the November 6 release of his new CD/DVD package, he confirmed on Saturday during a press conference in Nashville.
The new single, More Than a Memory, was co-written by Lee Brice, Kyle Jacobs and Billy Montana. Garth co-wrote another new song, Midnight Sun, with Jerrod Niemann and Richie Brown, co-writers of his 2005 single, Good Ride Cowboy. Garth and Huey Lewis are featured on a duet remake of one of Huey's rock hits from the '80s, Workin' For A Livin'. Leave The Light On, written by Randy Goodrum and Tommy Sims, is designated as a bonus track. The release of The Ultimate Hits marks the end of Garth's exclusive deal with Wal-Mart which made the retailer and its Sam's Club stores the only place his music could be purchased. Although he will be selling his CDs through all retail outlets, Garth is still refusing to make it available for digital downloads, noting that he has always approached his albums as cohesive works, he says he will not authorise digital downloads if the songs are sold as individual tracks. Through the years, Garth has compiled his music in various greatest hits and boxed set packages, but he said he has no qualms about once again including the previously-released tracks on The Ultimate Hits. "All I can think of is my love for James Taylor," he said. "Do I have every one of James Taylor's records? Yes. Do I have the Greatest Hits album that's just the white cover. Yeah. ... Do I have his latest greatest hits (CD) that has those same things on it? Yeah, I do. And, for me, the reason why James is worth it is because his music is the soundtrack of my life." Garth said the low price point for The Ultimate Hits was another reason he'd decided against downloads. "If you want to go online – if you want to pay 99 cents (per track) for all of them – at 33 bucks, the math's pretty easy. So I feel really good about this." Although he will be actively promoting the project through TV, radio and print, he insists he is not planning a concert tour or even a major concert event. However, though he was thin and appeared to be in excellent physical shape at the press conference, he said he's merely trying to remain competitive. "I don't know if you have your eyes open... but Keith Urban is a beautiful guy," Garth said. "He can play the hell out of a guitar, he can sing his butt off, and he's a great entertainer. Well, that's just one of about 50 out there that you're gonna go face-to-face with this fall. And if you're not gonna bring your A-game, you're gonna get run over. So I'm gonna do my best, at 45, to try to represent myself the best I can." – CMT.com FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2007 ABC's "Saturday Night Country" for Central Coast Country music fans are in for a treat on September 22 when the ABC’s "Saturday Night Country" is broadcast live from the NSW Central Coast for the launch of Bob Pigott’s latest album Wallaby Hill.
Bob will be playing some of his hits as well as songs from the new album at the 8pm Davistown RSL launch before rushing off to guest star on the Saturday Night Country from 10pm. "I’m looking forward to launching Wallaby Hill next month with John Nutting at what will be a great show for local country music fans," Bob said. "Scott Levi, the host of ABC Central Coast, lent his considerable musical talents to my new album and has convinced John to host Saturday Night Country live from the ABC’s Central Coast studio after the launch." Bob has been recognised with a swag of awards in the 2003, 2005 and 2006 ABC 1233 Newcastle Music Awards including the coveted ABC/APRA Songwriters and Composers Recognition Award last year. ABC Music Publishing recently signed Bob to their writers roster. Weblink – www.bobpigott.com.au. On "Saturday Night Country" tomorrow night, reigning Toyota Star Maker Kirsty Lee Akers joins John to chat about her just released prize album Little Things. Unusual duo Jack Blanchard and Misty Morgan call from their home in Florida to chat about their big 1971 hit Tennessee Birdwalk and the new Australian sourced album, Weird Scenes Inside The Birdhouse. And Michael Fix joins John in the SNC studio to launch his new album Rewind. Weblink – www.abc.net.au/snc. Following the success of his debut album The Spirit of Australia (including the release of the title track on ABC Music's debut Heartland CD), Craig Stewart is set to release his second album – Bellbirds & Blackboys – at next week's Toyota National Country Music Muster at Gympie Muster and month's Mildura Festival.
"A song Craig feels will hold great appeal to many within the country community is There's Only The Two Of Us Here Tonight - a tribute song to Slim which has been done a bit different. Inspired by his grandfather's love of playing the harmonica to Slim's music late at night, Craig decided to tell the story of an old cocky whose 'old bush mates have gone' through the use of Slim's song titles. Over 30 of Slim's song titles have been interwoven to tell the cocky's story from Slim's perspective. "Craig wanted someone a bit special to sing harmonies for the album, and who better to turn to than his good friend from Bella, Kate Ballantyne. Kate generously contributed her talent for which we are truly thankful. On top of that, the album features a full range of instrumentation, with Craig's regular band lineup (bass guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, drums, harmonica) being assisted by keyboard, piano, pedal steel, banjo, dobro and even a bit of didgeridoo to create something we feel is quite unique." Weblink – www.myspace.com/craigstewartentertainment. Marie features as "Cashbox" indie number one South Australian based country entertainer Marie has scored a number one on the American "Cashbox" Indie Country Picks.
The song Marie recorded is a cover of the Gabrielle hit Out Of Reach, theme song of the film "Bridget Jones' Diary". It was number two last week and has so far spent a total of five weeks among the "picks" which are selected by Cashbox from independently released CDs and singles on a criteria of quality songwriting, performance and production. Marie, who was born and grew up in New Zealand, is now living in Port Augusta and is promoting herself as "Australia's Country Songbird". During her career to date, accomplishments have included playing support for Daniel O'Donnell and Foster & Allen on tours "down under". She has a band called Deep River and also performs in a duo. In 2002, she produced an album which contained the remake of Out Of Reach with "a country feel". Marie is delighted her recording has been recognised by the Cashbox organisation. Weblink – www.marie.net.au. International music publishers Ginny and Errol Peters of Pegasus Music New Zealand have a busy four weeks scheduled for their USA trip when they leave next week. Then it’s on to the National Traditional Country Music Association (NTMCA) Old Time Country & Bluegrass Festival for almost a week until September 2 with artists appearing including veteran performers Jeanne Pruitt, Stonewall Jackson, Red Steagall and Lacy J Dalton to name a few. Ginny will host and also appear at a Kiwi Invasion Show which features many New Zealand country artists including Jenny Blackadder (NZ Queen of the Banjo), Anne George, Heather Holland, The Johnny Possum Bluegrass Band and Marcie Alexander. An accomplished singer/songwriter herself, Ginny will receive two awards honouring industry achievements. First, an induction into the NTCMA Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame in recognition of her lengthy involvement in country music in the USA which began with her first record releases in Memphis in 1972, to her charting singles in 1988 and successes with country music legend Cliffie Stone and her several NTCMA appearances in the '80s. Perhaps the award that Ginny will treasure the most will be from the Rural Roots Music Commission, the International Original Song of the Year award for her song In The Arms Of A Memory, recorded 12 times around the world including in Australia by Brian Letton and in the US by Cliffie Stone. Following their Festival involvement, Ginny and Errol will visit Nashville for a number of meetings with industry specialists, management groups and artist representatives promoting their Pegasus Music catalogue. High on the list of songs they will be promoting will be those by writers in the Aussie Independent Music catalogue. Chart update – Lee, Adam & Steve hit the top The Lee Kernaghan, Adam Brand, Steve Forde hit Spirit Of The Bush bounds into the number one spot on the coming week's Country Tracks National Top 30 Singles Chart. < | ||||||||||||
Helen says she has loved doing what she has done but needs to stop and attend to some family matters which must take priority for a while.
Amber Lawrence's Things That Bring Me Down jumps to number three and 
For the main categories, finalists are...
"I had to get out," said the performer who plays Bluey in the "Australian Outback Spectacular" on the Gold Coast. "I was about 15 when I began writing and singing country music.
And he will hit the road around the same time in Queensland to promote the new release, the beginning of what Adam plans to be a national tour for the next 12 months and, he says, he is excited to be playing to Queensland audiences first on this long trek. After recently filling in hosting the KixCountry breakfast radio show for Larry Cann ("The Larrican"), Adam is also looking forward to meeting all the listeners at his shows while in "the sunshine state".
And it's bound to be a different direction for country music's "golden girl" as she sets sail with a new record company and producer.
The Noll Brothers debut release, the single, will be Shining Star on Sydney based Emporium Music through Shock Records (the duo's debut album – A Country Heart – is due out in November).
The Assembly will cover topics relevant to many different sectors in the music community including "The Fight for Australian Music Education", "Challenges and Opportunities for the Music Industry", "Research: Live Music in Licensed Venues", "Music in Australia Knowledge Base" and "Conservatoria in Context".
The next three places also remain the same as last week... Gina Jeffreys' at two with Stepped Right In It, Dianna Corcoran at three with Stepping Stones and Melinda Schneider with Stronger at four.
Acknowledging Australia's "worst drought in a hundred years", Muster organisers say: "We see the stories and really want to help... but how? By getting to the Muster and having a ball that’s how!
A spokesperson for the organisers of the Awards, which are now in their 12th year, said it was important that bush poetry catered for all ages.
The Australian Songwriting Association (ASA) has released finalists for the Rudy Brandsma Award to be announced as part of the Association's awards night in Sydney next Thursday, August 30.
Christie Eliezer reports in his weekly column at 
Titled Metropolis, the "powerful ballad" is the first Steve Forde track to be serviced to media since his signing to ABC Music and it demonstrates his growth as a recording artist, according to a spokesman for his record company.
Ngawara (pronounced Na-wara), 21, originally from Christchurch in New Zealand, calls herself a "singing backpacker" having performed in Europe, the UK and Nashville during her travels over the last four years. She is currently balancing her musical aspirations with part-time study for her law degree.
Released last week, the album will be officially launched at this week's Toyota National Country Music Muster at Gympie.
Vincent (pictured) & The Rage are nominated for Vocal Group of the Year, Song of the Year (All-American Bluegrass Girl) and Album of the Year. They are also among nominees for Entertainer of the Year, with Vincent being a Female Vocalist of the Year contender and band member Hunter Berry a Fiddle Player of the Year nominee. Vincent and Kenny Ingram were also tabbed in the Recorded Event of the Year category for their contributions to Jerry Salley’s New Songs, Old Friends and Tony Trischka’s Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular.
The Ultimate Hits will feature two CDs containing four new recordings and 30 of the most popular songs from his 18-year recording career, along with a DVD of 33 music videos. Garth said the package was likely to be discounted for a retail price of US$ 11 to 14.
The popular Central Coast singer/songwriter is fast building an international fan base with his singles reaching number five on the charts of 103.9 FM Essex in the UK and 17 on the Hotdisc European Country Charts. 
"Carrying on Craig's commitment to tell Australian stories in song, Bellbirds & Blackboys focuses on a trip out to the New England region of NSW where much of his family reside," said the release accompanying the launch announcement. "With 10 original tracks and Craig's first cover – a "rocked up" version of Raining On The Rock – the album covers a wide range of topics, from stories of the first settlers and bushrangers to up-tempo tracks about rural life in general.
"Cashbox" was revived last year as an internet-only publication after ceasing as a printed publication in 1996.
First stop on their itinerary will be the rural Missouri Valley in Iowa to attend the Farm Folks Music Fest over the weekend. The festival in the Old Farm Museum raises funds for the flood aid fund where the Missouri Valley had disastrous floods earlier this year.