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This website brings you the latest Australian country music news. News releases can be sent to news@countrymusicbulletin.com.au |
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2017 Finalists announced for 2018 People’s Choice Awards Finalists have been announced for the 2018 Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards to be announced in Tamworth next month. And they are… For Best Female Vocal… Laura Downing, Christie Lamb, Stephanie Penrose, Amber Joy Poulton and Gina Timms.
For Best Male Vocal… Ian Burns, Paul Costa, Graham Rodger, Ali S and Jim Williams.
For Best Group or Duo… Brothers3, Destiny, The Long & Short Of It, The Viper Creek Band and The Wolfe Brothers. For Best Album… Clickbait by Jim Williams, Couldn’t Do This On My Own by Ali S, The Plains Of Nappa Merrie by Graham Rodger, Thank You by Gina Timms and Whisper In The Crowd by Paul Costa.
For Best Song… Gypsy Whitemoon by The Long & Short Of It (written by David Baird, Kenny Royster & Patsy Toop), I Need A Beer by Ali S (written by Catherine Britt & Ali Sacipovic), No More Waltzing Matilda by Graham Rodger (written by Graham Rodger & Marc Glasby), Thank You (Just Doesn't Seem Enough) by Gina Timms (written by Gina Timms) and Whisper In The Crowd by Paul Costa (written by Paul Costa & Drew McAlister). For Best Bush Ballad… Engine Angels by Ali S (written by Ali Sacipovic), Just Like Your Dad by Dale Duncan (written by Allan Caswell & Manfred Vijars), One Last Muster by Allan Caswell (written by Manfred Vijars & Allan Caswell), The Plains Of Nappa Merrie by Graham Rodger (written by Graham Rodger) and Uncle Harry by Dianne Lindsay (written by Peter Simpson). For Best Video… Everything Will Be Alright by MICKS, The Homesick Boomerang by Graham Rodger, Puttin’ On A Show by Cassidy Rae Gaiter,Thank You (Just Doesn't Seem Enough) by Gina Timms and Whisper In The Crowd by Paul Costa. In a positive sign for the future of country music in Australia there was a marked increase in voting For Most Promising Future Star, so much so that Awards organisers resolved to nominate 10 finalists rather than the usual five. They are Cassidy Rae Gaiter, Phoebe Jay, Emma Jene, Finnian Johnson, Tyson Lucas, Blake O’Connor, MICKS, Stephanie Penrose, Ali S and Jim Williams.
For Most Popular Country Music Program or Radio Station… Aussie All The Way (2MCR), The Australian Country Songwriters Show (todayscountry94one), My Kinda Country (2SSR), Planet Country (Alive 90.5 FM) and todayscountry94one. For Most Popular Country Music DJ… Alan Gilmour (Australian Country Songwriters Show), Jane Kellaway (2MCR), Rhonda Francis (2SSR), Tracy & The Big D (104.9 Sunshine FM) and Big Stu & Mal (Planet Country).
Award winners will be announced at the Tamworth Services Club on Thursday evening, January 25. Weblink – www.peopleschoiceawards.com.au. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2017 Lee to star in the Ord Lee Kernaghan will headline the 2018 Ord Valley Muster in WA in May. Lee will feature with The Cat Empire in the Kimberley Moon Experience.
"To think there’s a country rodeo, the comedy festival, the culinary offerings with the indigenous food and arts and dance... I think the Ord Valley Muster should be on everyone's bucket list to go at least once," Lee said. Since its inception 18 years ago, many of Australia’s biggest artists – like Jimmy Barnes, Daryl Braithwaite, Bernard Fanning, Paul Kelly and Guy Sebastian – have headlined the Kimberley Moon Experience. Ord Valley Events Chairman Narelle Brook said: "Every year the Ord Valley Muster rewards locals and thousands of visitors from around the country and overseas with a spectacular festival earning itself a reputation as a ‘must-attend’ on the national social calendar. "It’s held in Western Australia’s most remote yet most captivating region – the country is simply breath-taking and has such a connecting force that everyone who experiences it is truly touched by the magic of it." The host town – Kununurra – is situated some 800 kilometres from Darwin and more than 3,000 kilometres from Perth. Organisers have a number of transport options for visitors. The Ord Valley Muster is a nine-time Festival & Events winner at the WA Tourism Awards including induction into the Hall of Fame in 2011. Weblink – www.ordvalleymuster.com.au. MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2017 "Hell of a ride" for Ray
The 75-year-old Brunswick Heads retiree worked with former Tamworth journalist and "grey nomad" Anna Rose to document his life. "Fortunately, Ray has been somewhat of a bowerbird, keeping photos and mementos of his early years on this earth," Anna said. In one particular incident a capacity crowd at the Lismore Showground in 1985 saw Ray flung from his trotting gig in a near-fatal accident. The indomitable Essery returned 12 months later to win the same race, the Inter Dominion. His first public performance was at the Byron Community Centre in 1989 where, he said, he was shaking with nerves. "I hope the book helps to let young people of today know that you can succeed in life even if you're born into a low income family with little education," he said. "It just means you have to work harder, have more determination and above all common sense." The book can be obtained from Book Warehouse, Keen Street, Lismore for $25, telephone 02 6621 4204. Ray is pictured above with Anna and the book. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2017 Country stars at Carols A number of country stars are featuring in a variety of Christmas Carols events in Australia this month.
First cab off the rank was Adelaide last Sunday which featured Amber Lawrence (left) with co-stars including Cameron Daddo, Taylor Henderson and Hugh Sheridan . Tonight is Sydney's Carols In The Domain which will feature Beccy Cole and Adam Harvey alongside the likes of Dami Im, Samantha Jade, Justice Crewm Jay Laga'aia Katie Noonan and The Wiggles. Next Sunday, the iconic Melbourne Carols by Candlelight at the Myer Music Bowl will feature Australian Idol winner Judah Kelly (right) together with Anthony Callea, David Campbell, Casey Donovan, Colin Hay, David Hobson and Marina Prior. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2017 Boyup Brook announces 2018 line-up
To be held from Thursday February 15 to Sunday February 18, Boyup Brook is billed as one of the top country music festials in the nation. The star line-up includes Craig Adams, Jasmine Atkins, Billy Bridge & Rebecca Nye, Kathy Carver & Desert Mist, Sandie Dodd, the Benn Gunn Band, Codee Lee Band, Pete Delle Coste, Kate Hindle, Hussy Hicks, Keith Jamieson & Alisha Smith, Latehorse, Donna Lou & the Jay Katz, The McClymonts, Ray Rider, Graham Rodger, Simply Bushed and Warren H Williams (with Dani Young). In addition to the music, the festival has a street carnival, truck and ute musters, buskers and markets as well as the West Australian Country Music Awards. Industry activities such as workshops, a panel session on songwriting, bush poetry and more are also a part of the festival program. Weblink – www.countrymusicwa.com.au. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2017 Buried Country Homecoming Buried Country: Live in Concert – the touring stage show version of Clinton Walker’s iconic book/film/CD "Buried Country: The Story of Aboriginal Country Music" – will have a "homecoming" in Tamworth this January.
Buried Country came out in 2000 and after the book and album were re-released in new editions in 2015, a new found success propelled it up onto the stage, premiering in Newcastle in August last year. It subsequently appeared at Melbourne Festival and Artlands Dubbo, and then, even despite the sad death of cast-member Auriel Andrew, at the Port Fairy Folk Festival and Dark Mofo in Hobart in 2017. Buried Country’s Tamworth Festival concert at the Capitol Theatre on Sunday, January 21, is a much anticipated homecoming to where the show began two years ago, and its first full-scale performance at Australia’s home of country music. "The program brings together a rotating cast of star singers from across the generations and across the continent performing a selection of the genre’s greatest hits," a spokesman said. "It is a moving and coherent song-cycle full of laughter as well as tears, complete with a video-remix component drawn from the original Buried Country documentary plus a production design based on artwork by famed Aboriginal painter the Blak Douglas." Buried Country appearances will include legendary elders like Roger Knox and L J Hill with those by rising younger talents like Leah Flanagan, Luke Peacock and James Henry and those in between like Warren H Williams, Buddy Knox and Franny Peters-Little. "House-band the Backtrackers, under the musical directorship of Brendan Gallagher, numbers an all-star line-up of some of the country’s hottest pickers. The repertoire includes classic songs written by the likes of Bob Randall, Jimmy Little, Bobby McLeod, Vic Simms, Black Allan Barker and Harry Williams, many of whom cut their teeth in Tamworth." Co-presenting the show in Tamworth is the Jimmy Little Foundation. Jimmy Little was the first Aboriginal musician to achieve mainstream success in Australia enjoying a career that spanned six decades. Jimmy's music saw him officially recognised as a National Living Treasure, awarded an Order of Australia Medal and induction into the music industry's ARIA Hall of Fame in 1990, and on to the Country Music Roll of Renown in 1994. Jimmy died in 2012 after a long illness. Pictured (from top): Leah, Buddy, Roger, Warren H. Weblink – www.buriedcountry.com.au. MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2017 TSA semi finalists Semi finalists have been announced for Tamworth Songwriters' Association activities this January.
Bush Ballad... A Dog Or Two by Anita Ree, A Thousand Different Pictures by Sharon Heaslip, Battered Old Quarts by Gerard Hintz, The Clarence River by Dale Duncan, Ray Essery & Keith Jamieson, Corner Country Traveller by Peter Coad, Dad’s Younger Days by Sharon Heaslip, His Last Rodeo by Lex Kunst, The Legend Of Wally Dowling by Brian Letton & Warick Edwards, Mother Nature by Keith Jamieson, The Plains of Nappa Merrie by Graham Rodger, Uncle Harry by Peter Simpson, We Still Sing Three Rivers Hotel by Ian Quinn, Woman Of The Outback by Graham Rodger and Yesterday’s Men by Lex Kunst. Contemporary Ballad... A Lifetime Loving You by Carmelo Cacciola, Beautiful Silence by David Carter, Merelyn Carter & Antonio Corea, Behind The Seen by Brendan Smoother, Blow My Way by Luan Baldwin, Bourbon Every Time by Allan Caswell, Mary V I Harrison, Robyn Hull, Shirley Lynn, John Collins & Michael Carpenter, Can’t See Me by Ali Sacipovic, Coat of Arms by Kalesti Butler & Anita Ree, Couldn’t Do This On My Own by Ali Sacipovic, Gypsy Heart by Rebecca Lee Nye & Peta Cherae Peters, If I Don’t Have Love by Peter Christie & Roger Corbett, Jacaranda Tree by Col Finley, Just Down The Hall by Lola Brinton & Kevin Bennett, Life’s About The Little Things by David Carter, Tori-Rae (Davies), Jason Forsyth, Donna Mathews, Iona Grace, Merelyn Carter & Samantha Bellamy, Little Country Town by Brian Stitt, Leaving Old Ireland by Patricia Thompson, Looking Through The Eyes Of A Child by Heath Watts, Mountains To The Sky by Gerard Hintz, Nobody Wanted To Know by Shaza Leigh & Anthony Brookes, Not Counting The Days Go By by Scott Douglas & Emily Joy, Once In A While by Wendy Wood, One Tear In My Heart by Rebecca Lee Nye & Peta Cherae Peters, Our Love Will Always Live by Graham Rodger, So Close Not Far Enough Away by Michael Carpenter, Kylie Whitney & Casey Atkins and Want To Sing by Ian Burns. Contemporary Song... Above The Blue by Col Finley, Because I Have You by Sharon Heaslip, Beside Myself by Scott Douglas & Paul Grierson, Brisbane To Barbed Wire by Ian Quinn, Cars And Guitars, by Rory Phillips & Roger Corbett, Control by Chloe Styler, Country Rhythm by John Abbott, Crazy For One by Tony King & Roy Nicolson, Don’t Worry ‘Bout That by Rebecca Lee Nye & Peta Cherae Peters, Drive by Rebecca Lee Nye & Billy Bridge, Dust If You Must by Tony King & Rose Milligan, High Hopes by Allan Caswell & Michael Carpenter, High Time Rollin' by John Abbott, Karma Cafe by Wendy Wood, Keep This Old Truck Tickin' by Greg Champion & Johnny Chester, Lately by John Murphy, May There Always Be A Country Hall by Lex Kunst, Me And The Radio by Rebecca Lee Nye & Billy Bridge, My Midnight by Luan Baldwin, Not Where I’m Supposed To Be by Wendy Wood, Pass Me By by Chloe Styler & Lyn Bowtell, The Secret’s In My Eyes by Kalesti Butler & Val Butler, So Much More by Renee McAlpin & Luke O’Shea, Stand Tall by David Carter & Merelyn Carter, Storm Chaser by Chloe Styler & Lyn Bowtell, Sweden by Chloe Styler, Talking 'Bout Brooks And Dunn by Ali Sacipovic, Travelling With You by Lloyd Back and You’re Not The One by Kalesti Butler, Roger Corbett & Kathy Dobson. Finalists for the New Songwriter Award are... Carmelo Cacciola with A Friend Forever and A Lifetime Loving You, Lloyd Clarke with Threading The Eye Of The Needle, Scott Douglas & Emily Joy with Not CountingThe Days Go By, Arna Georgia & Michael Carpenter with Broke And Single, Scott Leslie with All Is Well, David Martin with Eight O Three To Eight Three O and North Coast Road,David Martin & Eileen Newell with Jacaranda, Dane Owen with In This World, Inner-City Daze, Inside My Head and You And Me, Ali Sacipovic with Engine Angels, Noeleen Smith with The Bottle and Since You Came Along, Ron Till with Railway Man, Gina Timms with Thank You and True Aussie Hero, Heath Watts with Belle Of The Ball, Leonie Wheeler & Stuart Seymour with Made In Australia and Kylie Whitney & Casey Atkins with Patsy Cline Times Two. Semi-finalists for additional Songwriter Salute Awards categories can be viewed on the TSA website together with semi finalists in the TSA National Songwriting Contest. A full listing can be viewed on the TSA website. The TSA will be showcasing a number of finalists in the Association's weekly program "TSA Showcase" on Capital Country Radio from this Tuesday at 9pm. Weblink – www.tsaonline.com.au. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2017 Star Maker finalists announced Ten of Australia’s top emerging country artists will vie for the honour of becoming the 39th Toyota Star Maker in a winner-takes-all, free event during the 2018 Tamworth Country Music Festival this January. The star search takes place at Country Music Capital's Bicentennial Park (known as Toyota Park for the duration of the Festival) on Sunday evening January 21. And the finalists are... Brad Cox (from Jindabyne, NSW), Tanya Cornish (Tintinara, SA), Emily Joy (Sorrento, WA), Heath Milner (Mackay, Qld), Tammy Moxon (Hermit Park, Qld), Taylor Pfeiffer (Walkerville, SA), Cassidy Rae Gaiter (Flagstaff Hill, SA), Jake Sinclair (Springhurst, Vic), Chloe Styler (Gold Coast, Qld) and Hayley Wilson (Aspley, Qld). Toyota Star Maker Co-ordinator Cheryl Byrnes said it was always a joy seeing who applied for Toyota Star Maker each year. "Within the industry, the quest is a highly-respected vehicle and there are any number of aspiring artists wanting to emulate the feats of previous winners such as Keith Urban, Lee Kernaghan and Beccy Cole," Cheryl said. "It’s the ideal platform for artists to showcase what they have. It’s the perfect jumpstart to any career, with the $100,000 prize package that goes along with the prestige of the title. "Many of the benefits of being part of the Toyota Star Maker family are intangible – but absolutely priceless. The networking among the past alumni and the current crop of Star Makers is extraordinary. You can’t put a price on that." Toyota Australia spokesman Andrew Wearing said he was delighted to see continuation of Toyota’s support of Star Maker. "It’s a wonderful thing that Star Maker continues to be accessible to a worldwide audience through live-streaming in the park," he said. Toyota Star Maker continues the tradition as the main event of the first weekend of the biggest music festival in Australia. For the second time in its long history the event will be free to the public with all 10 finalists being judged on the night to decide the winner who will receive a prize package which includes the use of a new Toyota motor vehicle and an unlimited fuel card for 12 months plus guaranteed performances at major festivals and events throughout Australia. The 2018 Toyota Star Maker event will include a performance from outgoing title holder Rachael Fahim as well as compere and Star Maker 1996 winner Darren Coggan. Weblink – www.starmaker.com.au. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2017 Senior Academy students announced The class of 2018 has been announced for the Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) Academy of Country Music.
Instrumental participants are Joel Cummins (Gulgong, NSW), Luke Dallas (Moonbi, NSW), Molly Goodeve (Cambridge, NZ), Sharon Russel (Dehradun, India) and Ben Westphal (Rothwell, Qld). The course runs in Tamworth for two weeks culminating in a graduation concert just prior to the start of the January country music festival. Weblink – academycountrymusic.com.au. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2017 Lee on the radio Lee Kernaghan will host a regular country music program on the Triple M regional network next year.
Lee has long been a champion of the country music scene with two million album sales, 34 chart topping singles, four ARIA awards and 36 Golden Guitars. He has been named Hit Maker of the Decade twice, in 2001 and 2011, for having more chart hits in Australia than any other country music artist in the world. Southern Cross Austereo’s regional head of content Mickey Maher said: "We are looking forward to showcasing great country music from Australia and the world across our Regional Triple M network and syndicated partners. "To have someone of Lee’s calibre host the show is the icing on the cake!" "I’m super excited to be hosting The Range in 2018 and to get the opportunity to play some of the hottest country songs from Australia and around the world," Lee said. "I grew up on country and it literally has been the soundtrack to my life. So I’m looking forward to cranking out some great tracks and having people tune in, turn up their radios and be a part of the show." The new show begins on January 28 during the Australia Day long weekend, the day after the 2018 Golden Guitar Awards in Tamworth and will be heard on more than 66 stations. Named Australian of the Year in 2008, Lee has raised millions of dollars for drought, flood and bushfire relief, hospitals, schools, ambulance and volunteer organisations. Weblink – www.leekernaghan.com.au. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2017 Jessica release with Warren H Jessica Mauboy has released a cover of the classic song Always On My Mind with Warren H Williams.
Warren is an elder, mentor and a significant part of Jessica’s wider Aboriginal family connections. It was Warren H who opened the door at CAAMA Music to the then 11 year old Jessica, immediately recognising her vocal talent. He swiftly got her into the studio where Jess was able to record for the first time. In 2004 at age 14, Jessica won the Tamworth grand final of the Telstra Road to Tamworth talent search and reclorded a cover of Cyndi Lauper's Girls Just Wanna Have Fun before moving further into the pop music field with her involvement in Australian Idol. Fast forward to the Yabun Festival in January this year when a chance meeting saw Jessica and Warren H make a pact to record together again. With a tight schedule and little time outside of her television and promotion responsibilities, Jessica made the duet project happen in the course of her busy life by writing Warren into an episode of "The Secret Daughter" (Season 2). Warren plays a cameo role in a scene which showcases a duet of Always On My Mind performed acoustically around a campfire. Weblink – www.facebook.com/WarrenHWilliamsMusic. MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017 Morgan weds Kelsea Rising Aussie country star Morgan Evans has tied the knot with his American star beau Kelsea Ballerini.
One such medium, countryfancast.com. reported the couple exchanged vows in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. "With our careers, we get to do what we love, then we get to find time to be with who we love. I think that makes for a really full life – when you can do everything that you want, and then share it with someone," said Kelsea. "In the lead-up to a wedding, you ask a lot of your married friends — especially people that are in similar situations or similar age — 'Does anything change or is it just the same but a little more awesome?' Everyone keeps telling us, 'Ah, it gets better,'" Morgan added: "And so whatever that means, I’m looking forward to that, and it’s gonna be fun." The couple met in Australia when they co-hosted the CMC Awards. After a whirlwind nine months of dating, they got engaged last Christmas. Photo: a selfie of the happy couple from Morgan's Instagram. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2017 Bungendore finalists Finalists have been announced for the 21st Stan Coster Memorial Bush Ballad Awards to be staged during the 2018 Bungendore Country Muster in February. They are...
Pictured at right (from left): Sharon, Trudy and Dianne. And below: Brian, Tom and Graham.
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The festival, which runs from May 11 to May 20, will also feature rodeo events and acts from the Melbourne Comedy Festival.
Organisers of the 2018 Boyup Brook Country Music Festival have announced the line-up of entertainers for the event.
Co-presented by the Jimmy Little Foundation, the show will be staged in the city's Capitol Theatre during the country music festival on Sunday January 21.
In key categories, they are...
Participants are... Ainslie Allen (Porirua City, NZ), Benny Allen (Menzies Creek, Vic), Mikayla J Birthisel (Tannum Sands, Qld), Maddison Collier (Leumeah, NSW), Rachael Duggan (Gracemere, Qld), Lara Duncan (Avalon Beach, NSW), Jessica Emily (Belmont, Qld), Brittany-Elise Johansen (Clinton, Qld), Aaron Jurd (Toronto, NSW), Mitchell Lyneham (Wynnum West, Qld), Matthew Munro (Bundaberg, Qld), Blake O'Connor (Port Macquarie, NSW), Jessica Panegyres (Glenbrook, NSW), Mellissa Preusker (Hope Valley, SA), Cath Purcell (Mt Isa, Qld), Tegan Reid (Tauranga, NZ), Elizabeth Steadman (Kootingal, NSW), Kevin Sullivan (Gerringong, NSW), Jarred Taylor (Tamworth, NSW), Kaitlyn Thomas (Wallan, Vic), Rebekah Thornton (Nambour, Qld), Sammy White (Townsville, Qld), Kelly Winning (Riverview, NSW) and Kim Wright (Blackstone, Qld).
From mid-January, the Aussie country star will present The Range With Lee Kernaghan each Sunday morning from 6 til 8, "sharing his love for country music and the stories and artists behind 'Today’s Best Country’."
The track features on the second album from the television series "The Secret Daughter"
News of the US time Saturday wedding was announced yesterday by various media.
For the Female Vocal award... Sharon Heaslip with A Thousand Different Pictures, Trudy Hintz with Saddle Up And Ride and Dianne Lindsay with Uncle Harry.
For Male Vocal... Brian Letton with The Boyup Brook Waltz, Tom Maxwell with Behind The Boundary Gate and
Graham Rodger with Our Love Will Always Live.