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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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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2018 WA Award winners Julie Kember and Karin Page are the big winners from this year's West Australian Country Music Awards.
Julie Kember was announced as the winner of Songwriter of the Year for her composition Your Shoes, Independent EP of the Year with Gypsy Woman (produced by James Newhouse, Matt Coles and Bryan Retter) and Female Artist of the Year. Karin Page won Independent Single of the Year with Wherever You Are, Video Clip of the Year with Still Got You (produced by Josh Favaloro) and the People's Choice Award. Independent Album of the Year went to the self-produced Home On The Hill by Jane Germain & Ian Simpson. Group of the Year was presented to Donna Lou & The Jay Katz while Jasmine Atkins was named Emerging Artist of the Year. Weblink – www.countrymusicwa.com.au.
Catching up on Tamworth The names of a few more winners from the annual country music bash in Tamworth have come to light, from the talent quest activity run in the famous Tamworth Town Hall by Tamworth Regional Council. Under the banner Coca Cola Country, Council runs a number of talent search events and this year incorporated elements of the Capital Country Music Association National Talent Quest... Australia's longest-running such activity. In the Battle of the Youngstars, the winners were Sam Thompson (junior section), Sarah Hamze (intermediate) and Finnian Johnson (pictured below). In the Battle of the NewStars, the winner was Michaela Jenke (pictured). In the Golden Oldies section, the winner was Al Buchan (right). In the Battle of the Bluegrass, the winners were William Louis (banjo), Tommy Chandler (guitar) and Paddy Mongomery (mandolin). In the Battle of the Bands, the winner was The Zack & George Band. The Town Hall talent quests ran right through the main week of the Tamworth Country Music Festival. Finals were held on the main Saturday following the Country Music Cavalcade. Weblink – www.tcmf.com.au. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2018 New regime at CMAA The Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) has a elected a new leadership team. Newly elected Board member Natalie Waller, Head of ABC Music & Events, is the new CMAA Vice Chairman. Roger Corbett, who has been Vice Chairman for some time now, remains in the position of Academy of Country Music General Manager and will "expand his focus on the growth of the Academy". Meryl Davis continues in the role of Secretary and Ross Johnson as Treasurer, "rounding out an executive team which is focused on increasing the profile of Australian and New Zealand country music of all genres globally," according to a statement from the Association. Dan, who has 20 years experience working within record labels and music management, said: "It is an honour to be entrusted with the role of Chairman for the CMAA, an organisation that has worked to further the interests of Australasian country music for over 25 years. "I want to thank Dobe and Roger for their hard work and dedication to the members of the CMAA over the last seven years and for steering the organisation towards a great era of confidence within the membership and stability within the industry." Non office-bearer Board members are journalist/publicist Rebecca Belt, recording artist Lachlan Bryan, HSF Artist Services Manager Tom Inglis and KIX Country Radio Program/Content Director Justin Thomson. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2018 Penrith Working Truck Show Back for its 31st year, the Penrith Working Truck Show will be another big day of non-stop entertainment next month.
A crowd of more than 20,000 are expected for the event which will have hundreds of vehicles on display from huge B doubles to custom trucks "plastered with chrome detailing and spectacular airbrushing" together with "the outstanding collection of fire engines owned by the Museum of Fire. Live entertainment will include Troy Cassar-Daley, Travis Collins, Missy Lancaster, Amber Lawrence, Dan Murphy and The Viper Creek Band. Children will be kept busy with 22 free rides, free fairy floss, free face painting, free airbrush tattooing and other activities. "There really is something to enjoy here for everyone and to make it better, the value for money at the Penrith Working Truck Show is unsurpassed by any other show. according to a spokesman for the organisers." Tickets are $35 and with each adult ticket purchase, three children can enter for free (under 16 years). Concession tickets are available for $25 each. For this cost, all rides, entertainment, activities and exhibits inside the show are free. "We think it is the best value family day in Sydney today," the spokesman said. As a registered charity event, all funds raised from the Show will be used to educate families in fire safety and to "preserve the history of our bravest". The event is supported by local fire fighters, who are helping to run the event. Gates open at 8am. Weblink – www.pwts.com.au. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2018 Special talent quest
Talent quest sections are comedy, country/original song, gospel and instrumental in junior, youth, adult and open categories. Grand prize on the day is a professional recording session for two songs. The event will be held at East Cessnock Bowling Club from 10am on the day. Entry forms are available from www.reglindsay.com.au or the club. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018 Tjungu Indigenous Cultural Festival returns to Central Australia The Tjungu Festival is returning to Central Australia at Ayers Rock Resort from April 26-29 for the fifth consecutive year.
"Tjungu (pronounced tjoo-ngoo) means coming together in local Anangu language, and the festival brings together the best of traditional and contemporary Indigenous culture, providing a platform for exciting new performers, designers and producers," said Andrew Williams, Chief Executive Officer of Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia. "This year, we are pleased to introduce a new art initiative which will shine a spotlight on prominent and emerging Central Australian artists."
Troy, and rising young star Alice Skye (pictured), will also give a special performance. New for 2018 will be the Tjungu Collective, an exhibition featuring art works from Central Australian Art Centres, and Tjungu Curates. The annual Tjungu Cup, including softball and AFL matches featuring local football teams, will play, supported by AFL hero and Indigenous rights ambassador Nicky Winmar. Weblink here. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2018 Country Rocks Sydney James Blundell, Adam Brand, Lee Kernaghan and Tania Kernaghan have been announced as headline acts for Country Rocks Sydney early next month.
The new one day event will be staged at Bella Vista Farm in Sydney's Hills District on Saturday March 3. Headline acts will be supported by Brewn, Matt Cornell, Paul Costa, Tori Darke, Rachael Fahim, Jade Holland, Christie Lamb, Ingrid Mae, Drew McAlister, Neilly Rich, Ben Ransom, Jonny Taylor and The Wolfe Brothers. As well as the music, the day will feature "an array of family friendly experiences" including rides, food and market stalls and demonstrations. Country Rocks Sydney General Manager Michael Bond said: "We’re proud to be bringing country music back to Sydney and showcasing some of the finest artists we have here in Australia. Pictured (from left): James, Adam, Lee, Tania. Weblink – www.countryrockssydney.com.au. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2018 Longhorn Festival kicks off today Australia's newest country music festival – the Longhorn Music Festival – kicks off at Deepwater (NSW) today.
Walk-ups run from today with "great prizes" and camping is available for visitors. Deepwater is on the New England Highway between Glen Innes and Tenterfield. The artist line-up includes Kylie Adams-Collier, Jeff Brown, Peter "Smokie" Dawson, Col Finley, Amber Goldsmith, Bobby Howson, Dave Prior, Anita Ree and Graham Rodger. Weblink here. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018
Finalists have been announced for the 2018 West Australian Country Music Awards. Winners will be announced during the Boyup Brook Country Music Festival which runs from Thursday to Sunday February 15 to 18. And the finalists are... For Female Artist of the Year... Jasmine Atkins, Sarah Broome and Julie Kember. For Group of the Year... Jane Germain & Ian Simpson, Donna Lou & the Jay Katz and Savannah & The Strays. For Independent Single of the Year... Sun Will Come Out Again by Jasmine Atkins, Lonely Night, Still Got You and Wherever You Area, all by Karin Page. For Independent EP of the Year... Gypsy Woman by Julie Kember (produced by Matt Cole, Bryan Retter and James Newhouse), Keeping It Real by Sarah Broome (produced by Mark Donohoe) and Key To My Heart by Jasmine Atkins (produced by Mark Donohoe). Independent Album of the Year... Heart, Soul, Feeling by Tracey Barnett (produced by James Newhouse), Home On The Hill by Jane Germain & Ian Simpson (produced by Jane Germain and Ian Simpson) and Savanah & The Strays – self titled and produced. Video Clip of the Year... Lonely Night by Karin Page (produced by Tom Blake and Karin Page), Still Got You by Karin Page (produced by Josh Favaloro) and Sun Will Come Out by Jasmine Atkins (produced by Jesse Anderson). For Emerging Artist of the Year... Applejack & Moonshine, Jasmine Atkins and Scarlet’s Way. For Songwriter of the Year... Lonely Night by Karin Page, Luca by Codee Lee and Your Shoes by Julie Kember. Weblink – countrymusicwa.com.au. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018 Gord heads "home" for a tour Australian born Canadian country star Gord Bamford is heading "down under" for a series of performance dates next month. He will be supported on the tour by well known Aussie country star Kevin Bennett. Gord's tour is predominantly to showcase his latest album release – his second in Australia, eighth studio album in Canada.
Part of Gord's tour is to appear at CMC Rocks Qld on the weekend of March 16 to 18 but also takes in shows in Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle and Sydney. Gord has established himself as one of the premier country music artists in Canada with 24 Canadian Country Music Association awards and two CMA (Country Music Association America) awards under his belt. He has scored 23 top 10 singles, including the smash #1 hit When Your Lips Are So Close from his sixth studio release Cowboy Junkie. After signing a record deal in Australia with ABC Music in 2016, Gord headed down for his first Aussie tour, an east coast run with The Wolfe Brothers. The tour was to promote his first Australian album release, Tin Roof which spawned three local top five singles. Returning to Australia in 2018 is something he has been working towards since the last tour. "I have been looking forward to getting back to Oz since I left," he said. "The industry and the country music fans have treated me so well and I believe it’s a hidden gem of a market for country music. It is a great atmosphere and I just feel blessed to be able to come to the place I was born, play my music and reconnect with my father and family." Gord grew up in Traralgon until the age of five when his parents separated. His mother moved him – and his sister Twila – to Canada. It was almost two decades before he returned to Australia again. Despite the time away, he says he has always felt an affinity with Australia. Neon Smoke will be released in Australia on March 16. Weblink – www.gordbamford.com. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2018 Brian is the king of Bungendore!
Brian snared four of the seven awards being named winner of the Male Vocal award with The Boyup Brook Waltz, Album of the Year for Western Australia Is Calling Me Home, the Comedy award for She’s Gotta Be Emu Export and the Songwriter award (with Warwick Edwards) for The Legend Of Wally Dowling. There was an unusual situation with the Female Vocal which was shared by Sharon Heaslip with A Thousand Different Pictures and Dianne Lindsay with Uncle Harry. New Talent went to Bob Gregory with The Ghost Of Bold Ben Hall and the Instrumenta Group or Duo award going to Lindsay Butler & Anthony Baxter for Things Are Not The Same On The Land. Weblink – bungendorecountrymusicmuster.com.au. Caves Beach this weekend
The Viper Creek Band will headline on the day with support from Tori Darke, Outlaw Avenue and Josh Setterfield. An outdoor event, the show gets underway at 12noon at the Caves Beach Surf Lifesaving Club. The event is a major fund-raiser for the surf club.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2018 CMC Awards open for voting Voting is now open for the CMC (Country Music Channel) Music Awards. Voting is limited to a pre-determined list of finalists; voters can vote every day until the close of voting on February 26.
For New Artist of the Year... Imogen Clark, Rachael Fahim, Tori Forsyth, Hayley Jensen, Missy Lancaster, Paddy McHugh, Melody Moko, Karin Page, Tailgate Drive and Gretta Ziller. For Group or Duo of the Year... Baylou, Busby Marou, Travis Collins & Amber Lawrence, Jetty Road, The McClymints, O'Shea, The Sunny Cowgirls. Viper Creek Band, The Weeping Willows and The Wolfe Brothers. For Female Artist of the Year... Kirsty Lee Akers, Chelsea Basham, Kasey Chambers, Melanie Dyer, Christie Lamb, Amber Lawrence, Fannu Lumsden, Caitlyn Shadbolt and Aleyce Simmonds. For Male Artist of the Year... Adam Brand, Troy Cassar-Daley, Travis Collins, Matt Cornell, Paul Costa, Morgan Evans, Lee Kernaghan, Drew McAlister, Shane Nicholson and Jason Owen. For Austraian Artist of the Year... Kirsty Lee Akers, Adam Brand, Busby Marou, Kasey Chambers, Travis Collins, Morgan Evans, Jetty Road, Lee Kernaghan, Christie Lamb, Amber Lawrence, Fanny Lumsden, The McClymonts, Shane Nicholson, O'Shea and The Wolfe Brothers. There are also categories for Internayional Vido of the Year and International Artist of the Year. The CMC Music Awards will air live on the Country Music Channel at 7:30pm (Qieensland time) on Thursday, March 15. The presentations will be hosted by The McClymonts. Weblink – cmcmusicawards.countrymusicchannel.com.au. Gold Medallon winners The 2018 Gold Medallion Awards, judged by Australian radio announcers, were announced during the Tamworth Festival. Becci Nethery was announced as winner of the National Female Artist of the Year, Caseuy Barnes National Male Artist and Group or Duo of the Year was The Long And Short Of It.
Regional winners are also announed, one for NSW, one for Queensland and one for SCW (South/Central/West). For Female Artist of the Year, the winners were Emma Jene for NSW, Becci Nethery for Qld and Rebecca Lee Nye for SCW. For Male Artist of the Year, Casey Barnes was winner for SCW, Dale Duncan for NSW and Justin Standley for Qld. For Bush Balladeer of ther Year, Greg Bain was the winner for NSW, Terry Bennetts for SCW and Ashley Cook for Qld. For Musician of the Year, Lindsay Butler was the winner for NSW, Rusty Cochrane for SCW and Lindsay Waddington for Qld. Awards were presented at Butlers Auditorium on Wednesday January 24. ICMAs
This year's ICMA winners are... Male Artist – Casey Barnes, Female Artist – Seleen McAlister, Balladeer – Kalesti Butler Group – Whiskey Business, Duo – Caswell & Carpenter. Photographer – Kat Blackwell, Producer/Director – Michael Carpenter, Album – Matt Cornell (pictured) My Soundtrack, Community Radio – Alan Gilmour (todayscountry94one). Video Clip – Simply Bushed Raise Your Glass, EP – Will Day, Single – Simply Bushed Raise Your Glass and Casey Barnes Just Like Magic (tied category), Encouragement Award – Sophia Chesworth, Best New Zealand Independent Artist – Phil Doublet. Weblink – www.indiecountrymusicaustralia.com. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2018 Bush poetry winners
Keith won all three categories... for Established Poetry with One Of The Best (written by Peter Blyth), Original Poetry with The Legend Of Mother McQ and the Frank Daniel Award for Walk-up Poetry with The Flying Dogma. Jacqui Warnock from NSW was second in Established Poetry with Cream Cowrie Shells (written by Noel Stallard) while Queensland's Anita Reed was third with The Waste of War. Catherine Boomer from NSW was runner-up in Original Poetry with Charlemagne and NSW's Jacqui Warnock was third with Leaving Town.
Competition judges also "highly commended" Donald Adams' Horse Sense, Tom McIlveen's Bluey and Val Wallace's A Parcel From Home. "Commended" were Shelley Hansen's Communication Breakdown, Helen Harvey's Her Place, Tom McIlveen's Pappinbarra Burning and Terry Piggott's The Love of her Life 2, The Poverty, The Ruins and Top Camp, Up in the Devil’s Lair. Thanks were extended to Jan Morris, co-ordinator of the 2018 Blackened Billy Verse and to the Tamworth Poetry Reading Group and the Australian Bush Poets Association for their support of the competitions.
Photo: the capacity audience at the bush poetry finals in Tamworth in January. "What a wonderful selection of poems this year," a spokesman said. "There was such a variety of subjects and styles. There were poems of nostalgia and regrets for past or passing eras. There were poems of the bush and about the ‘true blue’ characters who reside or travel there.
In southern NSW, winners in the Kembla Flame written Bush Poetry Competition were announced by Illawarra Breakfast Poets and Illawarra Folk Club. Winner of the Kembla Flame trophy was Brenda Joy (pictured) with Lament, second was Leonie Parker with Billy Crow and third, David Campbell with Cap In Hand and fourth was Terry Piggott with The Long Dusty Road, The Novice Prize went to Maureen Stahl with Rounding Up The Chooks. Weblink – www.abpa.org.au. More Tamworth talent quest winners Kathryn Luxford was judged winner of this year's Tamworth City Bowling Club Walk-up Competition held during the January country music festival.
Fellow finalists in the competition were Greg M Dillon, Johnny Doyle, Finnian Johnson, Leon Milner, Rod & Rhonda Owen, Cheri Penshorn, David Reeve, Eliza Spalding and Georgie Taylor. This was the third year of the competition which awarded cash prizes to placegetters as well as a "paid gig" at the January 2019 festival. Photo (by Al Slade): Paul, Kathryn and Alyssa. Weblink – www.tcbc.com.au. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2018 Troy carries Queen's baton
The baton – nearing the end of it's almost year-long journey from Buckingham Palace to the Games on the Gold Coast in April – came to Tamworth via Gunnedah. Sixteen baton bearers were selected as carriers through Tamworth ending with Troy at a special celebration next to the city's Bicentennial Park. Troy said he was humbled to be given the honour of carrying the baton alongside local "unsung heroes". "They’ve done things you don’t ever hear about it – a lot of fundraising things, people who have fought for our country," he said. "I just want to say I was completely humbled sitting in the bus hearing their stories..." Arriving in Australia in Canberra, the baton has travelled to Wagga Wagga, Narrandera, Griffith, West Wyalong, Forbes, Parkes, Orange, Wellington, Dubbo, Coonabarabran and Gunnedah. From Tamworth, the baton heads north to Armidale, then to Bellingen and Coffs Harbour before going down south to Sydney, Hobart, Melbourne, across to Adelaide and Perth, up to Karratha, Alice Springs, Darwin to Cooktown, Mt Isa, Cloncurry, Birdsville, Charleville, Longreach, Winton, Charters Towers, Cairns, Mackay, Rockhampton, Gympie. Caloundra, Kingaroy, Dalby, Toowoomba, Warwick, Brisbane and many other centres along the way before "landing" at Main Beach on the Gold Coast. Weblink – www.gc2018.com/qbr. |
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Award winners (pictured) were announced earlier this month during the Boyup Brook Country Music Festival.
Board members meeting this week elected artist manager Dan Biddle (pictured) as Chairman taking over from Dobe Newton who will remain as Association President.
Sunday March 11 is the day at the Museum of Fire in Museum Drive just along from Penrith Railway Station.
The annual Reg Lindsay Memorial Country Talent Quest will be held at Cessnock on Saturday, March 10.
The celebration of Australian Indigenous culture features music, dance, film, fashion, food and sport and will include a special focus on Indigenous art and a performance by Australian country music favourite Troy Cassar-Daley.
Highlights of the four day festival include an Indigenous fashion parade featuring top Indigenous model Samantha Harris, and celebrity chef Mark Olive will return to present the "Tastes of Tjungu Desert Dining Experience under the stars" featuring a contemporary bush foods-inspired menu.
The brainchild of Deepwater Inn owners, Longhorn Country runs up to and including Sunday with a feast of entertainment and activities.
WA Awards finalists
Titled Neon Smoke, the album has already made an impact overseas. The first single – Livin’ On Summertime – broke through the top 10 in Canadian country music charts and is gaining airplay here.
Country balladeer crooner Brian Letton dominated the weekend's Stan Coster Memorial Bush Ballad Awards presented during the Bungendore Country Music Muster.
The fifth annual Caves Beach Country will be held at Caves Beach, NSW (between Newcastle and the Central Coast), this Sunday (February 11).
Phoebe Jay (pictured) was announced as New Talent of the Year, Anthony Baxter & Lindsay Butler, Collaboration of the Year.
The ICMAs are a more low-key fan-voted awards presented to independent artists, groups, balladeers and bands during the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
Western Australia's Keith Lethbridge (pictured) was a triple winner at this year's Golden Damper Bush Poetry Performance Awards held during the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
In the Blackened Billy competition for written verse... Catherine Lee (pictured) was named the winner with And Did Those Hooves, Tom McIlveen was second with Pappinbarra Dreamtime and Shelley Hansen was third with On The Brink.
"There were stories of war. There were stories about our relationships with other species (especially dogs and horses). Then there were poems of life as it is in city, coastal, country or outback locations, highlighting the concerns and issues faced by Australians today. So many ‘stories’ to make you laugh, cry, think or marvel!"
Second place went to Alyssa Brache while Paul Crowder was third and an enouragement award was made to
the duo Georgia & Locki.
Troy Cassar-Daley was a key carrier of the Queen's (Commonwealth Games) baton in Tamworth, Country Music Capital, yesterday afternoon.