NEWS ARCHIVES

Tamworth Festival underway

The giant Telstra Tamworth Country Music Festival got underway on Friday (January 13) with the Festival Countdown leading up to the official start of the Festival proper this coming Friday, January 20.

Tamworth's population is expected to double during the Festival with an influx of around 50,000 visitors.

Hundreds of country performers, from the very newest talent to established stars and industry pioneers, will play some part in the Festival. With only a relatively few exceptions, virtually every country music artist in Australia will perform or appear in Country Music Capital this January.

Over the next two weeks, this website will be running daily editions to report the news as it happens from the nation's biggest country music festival, indeed, one of Australia's biggest festivals, and one of the top 10 music festivals in the world.

So come back often to keep in touch with Tamworth Country Music Festival 2006.

Tamworth to see special advance screening of Johnny Cash movie

The Australian Country Music Foundation (ACMF) and Country Music Capital’s Regent Cinema have scored a major coup by gaining the rights to an advance Australian screening of the Johnny Cash movie Walk The Line.

Following negotiations last year by Regent Cinema Manager Grant Lee, distributors of the film have allowed for one screening only of the movie at the Regent apart from the movie’s premier and prior to its opening across the nation in February.

The Regent is supporting the ACMF with the advance screening as a special fundraiser for the proposed new Australian Country Music Hall of Fame to be built in Tamworth.

The screening will take place on Saturday, January 28, at 2pm.  Tickets are $20 each and available from the ACMF in Brisbane Street, Tamworth.

Walk The Line is the story of the young Johnny Cash and his incendiary love affair with June Carter Cash from a script based on Cash’s books Man In Black and Cash The Autobiography.

The film, developed for seven years with the close co-operation of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash before their deaths in 2003, stars Academy Award and Golden Globe nominee Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash and Golden Globe nominee Reese Witherspoon as June Carter.

Very popular in the USA since opening last year, the film has also been gaining numerous award nominations. Some, like the People’s Choice Awards, have already been won by Reese for her performance and by the movie for its soundtrack.

Just yesterday (January 16), Walk The Line swept the Musical or Comedy Motion Picture category of the 2006 Golden Globe Awards in Hollywood taking out Best Picture with Reese Witherspoon named Best Actress and Joaquin Phoenix winning Best Actor.

The story begins in Depression-era Arkansas, and the film traces the origins of Cash’s sound back to his beginnings as a sharecropper’s son; moves through his wild tours with rock and roll pioneers Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis and Waylon Jennings; and culminates in his unforgettable 1968 concert in Folsom Prison.

“The Australian Country Music Foundation is also pleased to be able to pay tribute to America’s ‘King’ of country music by highlighting the film in this special advance screening,” said Foundation President Bob Kirchner.

“The Johnny Cash sound crossed borders the world over making him a truly international phenomenon. He is certainly going down in history as one of the most legendary country music stars ever.”

Cavalier becomes Cutting Edge Talent Search

The well known Cavalier Talent Search held annually as part of the Tamworth Festival has been renamed the Cutting Edge Music Talent Search.

Hosted and staged by the South Tamworth Bowling Club, the Talent Search – now in its 10th successive year – has established  a fine reputation for helping to identify and further the careers of many of the best of Australia's young dedicated country music talents including Simon Bruce, Kieran Lancini, Samantha McClymont, Brooke Shields and Aleyce Simmonds, to name just a few according to organisers.

But it's a change of name only, not of sponsor, as Cutting Edge Music (CEM) and Cavalier Recording Studios are separate divisions of the same company.

"We felt it would be bettter to emphasise the close alignment we now see between the Blade guitar's 'Magical Tone, Mystical Feel' and the versatility and professionalism of country music guitar players," said Warrick Steel, National Sales Manager of CEM.

As part of the sponsorship package, the company is donating a Blade electric guitar valued at more than $ 1,000 to the winners of both junior and open categories.

It's been a very satisfying year for Cutting Edge Music who re-introduced the legendary Levinson "Blade" guitar to the market here last year.

"We have been astonished and gratified by the number of serious players who remember the name with great respect, and who have never stopped playing the original R4s from the early '90s," Warrick said.

At Tamworth 2006, the full range of models will be on show. "CEM will be offering local and visiting musos the opportunity to ‘test drive’ one of these outstanding guitars at a gig where they can be tested and experienced under professional conditions."

Musicians who wish to take advantage of this opportunity can contact Warrick on 0411 023 721 or by email warrick@cuttingedgemusic.com.au.

"Phil Emmanuel, one of Australia's most famous electric guitarists, has played many great guitars during his illustrious career. One of his favourites is still his original R4, now a veteran of around 15 years – with more than 3,000 gigs and approaching 10,000 hours of on-stage playing," said Warrick.

"As always, it will be the guitar featured in his Tamworth gigs, including the highly popular 'Shadows' show Phil does every year at the South Bowlo, this year on Thursday January 26.

"Phil has also kindly made himself available for a special Blade demo and workshop for present and prospective Blade owners during the Festival," Warrick said. The workshop will be free but bookings will be essential. Those interested should contact Warrick Steel on 0411 023 721 to register.

Tania launches Festival shuttle

Tania Kernaghan will officially launch the Tamworth Buslines "flag & ride" Festival Shuttle available throughout the 2006 Telstra Country Music Festival at the Kable Avenue bus stop this Friday, January 20 at 1.30pm.

The shuttle will start running the following day and will end after the early morning service on Sunday 29 January.

“On average, 44,231 trips are made on the Festival Shuttle bus around Tamworth each year,” said Tamworth Buslines Manager Chris Lanham. Single trip tickets cost $4 and can be purchased from the driver when boarding the bus (10-trip vouchers for $32 will be available from the Kable Avenue Festival Stand, the Visitor Information Centre or Ray Walsh House (Tamworth Regional Council's Festival Headquarters).

Anyone who uses the shuttle also has the opportunity to enter a competition with the chance to win a "Tania Pack" including an autographed copy of Tania's new CD Higher Ground, a tour poster, cap and T- shirt.

The winner of this competition will be announced at Tania's autograph signing at 10am Friday January 27 at the Big Golden Guitar Tourist Centre.

Further information about the Festival Shuttle can be obtained from Tourism Tamworth on 02 6767 5300 or by visiting www.visitttamworth.com.

NU Country TV returns in two states

Eclectic Melbourne music show Nu Country TV has returned to air on C 31 in Victoria and South Australia with a new producer for series number five.

The popular show, a finalist in the annual Antenna Awards, is also likely to expand into New Zealand and NSW during 2006.

Former Adelaide filmmaker Sofie B produces the series under tutelage of show founder and executive producer Peter Hosking, now flooded with thespian work.

The veteran actor and voiceover expert won wide acclaim for his role as Feste – the grim jester in the summer season of Twelfth Night in South Yarra.

Sofie B has recruited a wide variety of guest hosts including Arizona country singer Billy Wyatt, multi-media country singer and TV personality Felicity Urquhart, ARIA award winner Mia Dyson and former Git singer Sarah Carroll.

Nu Country TV airs on Victorian community broadcaster C 31 at 9pm on Tuesdays with repeats on Fridays at 3.30pm and Sundays at 2am. It also screens on Adelaide broadcaster C 31 on Thursdays at 8.30pm with repeats at 10pm Sundays.

Nu Country TV has plans to film at country festivals as far afield as Port Fairy, Whittlesea and Bunyip.

With audience figures exceeding 150,000, the show has impacted heavily in the Victorian and South Australian markets

“We’re trying to fill that vast void for country music on Australian TV that is only being catered for by Pay TV channel CMC,” said Nu Country TV Music Director David Dawson.

Nu Country TV needs more local artist video clips to blend in with live footage. For editing purposes, preferred formats are MiniDV (or DVcam), DVD and VHS. The address to send to is PO Box 625, Northcote 3070.

An innovative demo recording service will be offered to musicians and performers at the Tamworth Country Music Festival this year.

The service is being set up by Paul Kinney from Redwood Guitars at the Tamworth Festival Musicians' Headquarters "to accommodate artists requiring a quality demo during the Festival for promotional or souvenir needs," said Headquarters Co-ordinator Jim Guider.

The Musicians' Headquarters is located opposite the Central Hotel in Country Music Capital's Peel Street.

"Paul operates a logic program with Avalon Pre-Amp," said Jim, "as well as utilising Apogee Convertors and has at his disposal a range of quality studio guitars and effects. Night time recording is preferred but not essential."

Paul also offers other production skills including for video and DVD, skills which have seen him produce clips for artists who have been selected for Rage and other music channels.

The Musos' HQ is set up at the Tamworth Festival every year to provide artists and industry people a place to relax during the busy festival time "in air conditioned comfort," said Jim, "with tea and coffee facilities, a place where messages can be left and a program of seminars and workshops for those wanting to develop their expertise."

Further information about the Musos' HQ and contact detail can be obtained from www.musiciansheadquarters.com.au.

Natalie releases new radio single

Natalie Howard has released a new promotional single to radio, Is It Just Me, the fourth single from her debut album Yesterday's Makeup.

The song was written by Natalie with noted Nashville songwriters Rob Crosby (Martina McBride/Brooks & Dunn) and Craig Carp (Alan Jackson).

Last year was a big one for Natalie, with three previous consecutive Country Tracks Top 30 top 15 Hits and three top five Hot FM Top 100 Hits, two number one video clips on the CMC (Country Music Channel) Top 20 Countdown and wins in the 2005 Musicoz Awards (Best Country Artist Award with I Can't) and the 2006 USA Independent Music Awards Country Song with I Don't Want To Live LIke That.

The new single is modern country, according to Natalie, mixed with pop and rock styles. "Opening with an ear-catching sliding pedal steel hook and fusing guitars, with a spunky beat, it grabs your attention and gets you in the mood for summer and makes you want to turn it up as you're driving down the highway with the wind in your hair," she said.

Further information can be obtained from www.nataliehoward.net.

ABBA's Tamworth 2006

The Australian Bush Balladeers' Association (ABBA) has a big schedule of independent concerts and showcases lined up for Tamworth 2006.

ABBA will be headquartered again at "The Balladeers' Homestead” (Salvation Army Hall) at 328 Goonoo Goonoo Road.

The entertainment schedule kicks off on Sunday, January 22, with Gospel & Ballads and runs through to Saturday January 28.

Dozens of artists will feature during the weeklong program which includes a series of ABBA Member Showcases at 5pm Monday to Friday.

A new event – the Country Music Hall of Fame Fundraiser – will be staged at 1pm on Friday, January 27. Artists appearing will be the Charley Boyter Band, Kimberly and Ashley Cook, Peter Pratt, Matt Manning, Nathan Charlton, Kate Botfield, Chris Strohfeld, Jeff Gibson, Bob Easter, Jeff Brown, the Coad Sisters, Trent Holder and the 2006 Star Quest Winner plus, Alec Beckert will launch his new CD.

ABBA's annual Star Quest will take place at Wests Diggers on Tuesday, January 24.

Full details of the ABBA Tamworth 2006 program can be obtained from www.bushballadeers.com.au/festival.htm.

Photo: Sarah McMonagle and Chris Strohfield, one of the finalists for Star Quest 2006.

Troy still at number one

Meanwhile, on this week's Country Tracks Top 30, Troy Cassar-Daley (pictured) maintains his hold on the number one spot with Lonesome But Free.

Keith Urban's Better Life jumps one spot to number two pushing Tania Kernaghan's Yee Ha down to number three.

Paul Kelly and Kasey Chambers' You're Learning jumped a couple of spots up the chart to number four while Adam Harvey's I've Been Loved By The Best bulleted to number five.

Catherine Britt drops back one position to six with Poor Man's Pride while Melinda Schneider is steady at seven with Sgt Bean.

Adam Brand rises one spot to eight with This Time Of Year, Felicity Urquhart bullets to number nine with The Flood and Beccy Cole drops to the 10th position with A Better Woman (having held the number one spot with this track for three weeks).

New entries this week include Sara Storer with Since I've Gone (at 29) and Mike Carr with Legend (at 30).

The full chart can be viewed online here.

New guitar website

Christie Eliezer reports at TheMusic.com.au...

Citing high prices of guitars sold here, new Australian website justguitars.com.au claims to sell rare, vintage and collectable axes (guitars) at affordable prices.

There are bargains on discontinued and display models. The site pays particular attention to brands previously hard to get in Australia – Harmony, Silvertone, Univox, Eko, Kay, Fernandes, Teisco Del Rey and Hagstrom were often sold only in the US, Europe or Japan.

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

Haggard and Bradley to be honoured at the Grammys

Two country music legends – both members of The American Country Music Hall Of Fame: Merle Haggard and the late Owen Bradley, will be honored at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards next month in Los Angeles.

Merle Haggard will be one of seven artists (including David Bowie, Cream and the late Richard Pryor) to receive "The Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award."

One of country music's most prominent songwriters and performers, Haggard pushed the boundaries of country, taking the entire genre to a new level by using electric instruments, borrowing elements of rock and roll and presenting songs that had a raw and realistic edge.

Haggard was a dominant member of his native Bakersfield country scene in the 1960s and is still releasing music today – his critically acclaimed Chicago Wind CD was released in October. Haggard is up for another Grammy award this year, for Best Country Collaboration With Vocals, his duet with Gretchen Wilson on Politically Incorrect," which appears onher current "All Jacked Up" CD.

The late Owen Bradley was a very influential country music producer and had a major impact on the industry during the '50s, '60s '70s and beyond. He began playing piano professionally as a teenager and at the age of 20, began working at WSM radio and was swiftly promoted to arranger and instrumentalist and then music director.

Later, as the President of Decca Records' Nashville Division, he was able to produce a wide range of artists, including such luminaries as Patsy Cline and Kitty Wells, along the way helping develop what became known as "the Nashville Sound" or "Countrypolitan" (a sound that became the country standard in the '60s). He died on January 7, 1998 at the age of 82.

"This year's honorees are a prestigious group of diverse and influential creators who have contributed some of the most distinguished and influential recordings," said Recording Academy President Neil Portnow. "Their work exemplifies the highest artistic and technical standards, creating a timeless legacy that has positively affected multiple generations, and will continue to influence generations to come."

The Lifetime Achievement Award honours lifelong artistic contributions to the recording medium while the Trustees Award recognises outstanding contributions to the industry in a non-performing capacity. Both awards are decided by vote of The Recording Academy's National Trustees.

DATELINE : WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2006

Golden Guitar Awards move to Southern Cross Ten

The Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) has entered a three-year agreement with Southern Cross Ten for telecast of the annual Golden Guitar Awards in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

The agreement ends a 33 year association with (the now) Prime Television.

The Awards were originated in 1973 by Radio 2TM who's sister television station 9-8 Television (later to become part of the Prime network) had an exclusive association with the Awards, an association continued for 13 years by the CMAA when it took over the Awards in 1993, through to and including last January.

Reports in Tamworth's Northern Daily Leader and on the CMAA's website said the deal with Southern Cross Ten would mean extended coverage of the 2006 Golden Guitar Awards.

"In making the move to Southern Cross Ten, the Awards immediately picks up an additional three million potential viewers," CMAA General Manager Cheryl Hayes said.

"The Southern Cross Ten network is highly regarded and respected as an entertainment based network."

Usually the Awards broadcast was a condensed version of the Saturday night concert and presentations, but this year it would also include red carpet and backstage snippets and reports from throughout the Festival's 10 days.

The Awards will go to air on Southern Cross Ten and affiliates on Saturday, February 4.

The Leader reported the CMAA had confirmed that Channel Ten weatherman Tim Bailey would be hosting the telecast and the network was also hopeful Tim would be telecasting live from the Festival for the 10 days during the 5pm weekday NSW news programs.

Russell Crowe to perform on the Golden Guitars

The CMAA has also announced that Russell Crowe would be among performers to appear on the 2006 Golden Guitar Awards presentation concert.

Russell is to perform a song from his new album My Hand, My Heart with Felicity Urquhart and is also to present an award on the night.

The full list of artists appearing this year includes Troy Cassar-Daley, Col Elliott, The Flood, Adam Harvey, Paul Kelly, 2005 Toyota Star Maker Samantha McClymont, Sara Storer and John Williamson.

Beccy Cole has been named host for the Awards, taking over from long-time host Colin Buchanan.

The 34th annual Golden Guitar Awards will be staged in Tamworth, Country Music Capital, on Saturday, January 28.

Keri McInerney admitted to hospital

Australian country music performer Keri McInerney was admitted to Brisbane Private Hospital last week to undergo major surgery.

After numerous medical tests, Keri was recently diagnosed with an ovarian tumour.

Speaking for Keri, Robyn Bates said: "Keri's doctor is hopeful that the tumour will be benign, but we will be awaiting further pathology before we can be sure Keri is out of the woods. Keri is in good spirits and is hopeful of a positive outcome."

Due to the finding, Keri has been forced to cancel her shows during the Tamworth Festival 2006.

"Keri is very disappointed not to be a part of this year's Festival and extends apologies to all her fans," Robyn said.

All messages of support for Keri at this time can be forwarded to kerriemc@big.net.au.

Tamworth to host salute to Smoky Dawson

A special dinner to be held in Tamworth, Australia’s Country Music Capital, this month will pay tribute to Australian country music legend Smoky Dawson and his wife Dot.

Organised by the Australian Country Music Foundation (ACMF), the Smoky & Dot Dawson Salute will also be the first major fund-raiser for the proposed new Country Music Hall of Fame in Tamworth.

Smoky is renowned as one of the earliest pioneers of country music in Australia. But for a commitment to the band he was performing with at the time (the early 1930s), he might have been the first to record original Australian country music.

As it was, Smoky made his first recording in 1941, just five years after Tex Morton and two after Buddy Williams.

But in the following six decades, Smoky was to become a household name in Australia, even making an impact on Nashville in the early development days of the American country music industry.

Smoky was, in fact, the first artist to record for the famous Acuff-Rose Hickory label in the States and performed on the Grand Ole Opry in the early 1950s.

After returning home from America, the now famous Smoky Dawson Show debuted on Australian radio running for the next 10 years.

Smoky was elevated to the Country Music Roll of Renown in 1978 and was awarded an MBE for services to country music in 1983.

In 2004, Smoky and Dot celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Smoky, who is still recording (believed to be a global record in the music business, certainly in country music), celebrated 60 years in the business three years earlier in 2001.

Both Smoky and Dot have spent a lifetime in the radio industry (the couple first met while working in radio) and remain involved to this day in broadcasting.

The Salute Dinner will be held at Tamworth’s Quality Hotel Powerhouse on Friday, January 27, 2006, during the annual country music festival. Tickets are $99 with all surplus funds raised going to the Hall of Fame project. Smoky has been patron of the ACMF since its inception in the early ‘90s.

Entertainment during the night will include a performance from Golden Guitar winner Reg Poole and a silent auction.

Further information, and tickets, can be obtained by telephoning the ACMF on 02 6766 9696 or by emailing info@countrymusichalloffame.com.au. Seating is being allocated on a first come first served basis.

International songwriting success for Kirsty

Kirsty Lee Akers has achieved more success with the current recording of her original song Bashed Up, Beaten, Battered, Broken Heart released to radio via LBS Country Collection CD Volume 11.

It has just been announced that the song has now qualified for the second round of judging in the current International Songwriting Competition.

A spokesman for the international competition told Kirsty: “We received almost 15,000 entries this year and want to congratulate you on this achievement.”

There is still some waiting for her, though, as finalists won't be announced until the end of January with overall winners to be announced in March.

The overall winners prize is in excess of US$20,000... $10,000 in cash plus and prizes including recording time and career development and support material.

Winners of each category collect US$3,000 in cash and prizes and the Teen section (Kirsty is eligible!) winner receives a full scholarship to Boston’s Berklee College of Music’s five week Summer Performance Program.

It's been a fulfilling couple of years for Kirsty since graduating from the youth country music school Tamworth Camerata in 2004 and 2005.

More recently, she has been busy with Tamworth Country Music Festival activities including the finals of the Telstra Road To Tamworth competition.

Kirsty performs in the opening and closing concerts for the festival and will appear in a wide range of Tamworth venues promoting her CD single.

Country stars go into bat for Hope Cottage

Country music stars will go into bat for charity at the fourth annual Telstra Country Music Celebrity Cricket Match at Tamworth on Thursday January 26.

Competing for the John Gleeson Trophy will be the Tamworth Regional Council Mayor’s team headed by James Treloar and a "star spangled" country music celebrity team.

Organiser of the match John Bamford said funds raised would go towards the John Bosler Country Music Scholarship as part of the CMAA Australian College of Country Music and Hope Cottage.

Hope Cottage at Tamworth is a new facility that will provide a holiday retreat, a "getting away from it all" time, so that families can catch their breath and regroup following life-threatening illnesses.

The limited over match will commence at 10am at Number One Oval, Kable Avenue, Tamworth.

The celebrity team will include Billy Bridge (pictured, top), Carter & Carter, Bobby Cash, Greg Champion (pictued, centre), Darren Coggan, Col Finley, Jonah’s Road, Ian "Macca" McNamara, Dobe Newton, seven-times Golden Guitar winner Sara Storer (pictured, below), Brendon Walmsley and the Wolverines.

Compere for the match will be country music identity Jon Farkas.

A feature on the day will be the auction of a fiddle and a Maton guitar. Some of Australia’s best-known fiddle players will autograph the fiddle while country music stars and students at the 2006 College of Country Music will autograph the guitar.

Click here for more info on Hope Cottage.

A big year coming up for Anita

This year is set to bring some changes for country star Anita Ree with a new album of Australian story songs expected to be released in May.

"This time I will be recording at the Valley Studio with Roger Corbett," Anita said, "with a date set to start after the Tamworth Festival in February.

"I have been madly writing and look forward to fans hearing some of the new tracks to be featured. Songs from my own pen will feature predominately and I am also fortunate to have a song written by Ian Quinn called Bush Girl's Heart that has been receiving great response already."

The songs Anita has written are again reflections of her own experiences of Australia, "some good yarns and true tales of my heritage as well," she said.

"Joe Daley has also penned another poem that I have made into a song about Joe himself called It Don't Come Much Better Than That. With his recent passing, this is indeed a special track and I feel very privileged to have the opportunity to record this song."

Anita will also record a duet with Tracy Coster of "a special Stan Coster track".

"This year I will also be doing some touring with Ian Quinn. Ian is a very accomplished songwriter and performer with many nominations and awards including several Golden Guitar nominations."

Anita is also delighted to see the release of the Australian Balladeers Remembered CD 2006 that will feature two songs from her grandfather Dick Eckert.

"I am sure he would be proud to be featured on this special CD reserved for artists of the past who have since passed on. These will be available after the Tamworth Festival."

Wayne Horsburgh and Deniese Morrison – "Together Again"!

Wayne Horsburgh and Deniese Morrison will be performing together at the 2006 Tamworth Country Music Festival for the first time in 15 years.

Audiences have been asking for years when the two performers they will sing together again. Over the years since they first toured together in the '80s with the Singing Kettles on Morry Porter’s “Travellin’ Country Showcase”, Wayne and Deniese have built a loyal following "who are more like family and friends than simply members of the audience," they said.

‘We’ve had so much fun preparing 'Together Again', dusting off and rehearsing old duets and learning some new ones. It’s been hilarious gathering old photos of our touring days, record covers and posters to put on display at our shows and coming up with some surprises for the folk who come along.

"And, of course, I’m enjoying planning new terrible things I can do to Wayne while he’s trying to be serious during his bits," added Deniese.

It was in 1983 that Wayne and Deniese first toured South Australia and with Alan Clement and Radio 5PI helped establish the Port Pirie Country Music Festival.

Port Pirie was named SA’s Country Music City, Wayne and Deniese were named official ambassadors and the Country City Music recording label was established.

The first record released was in 1984, a collaboration by Wayne and Deniese, Sequins & Satins & Buckles & Britches, which won finalist nominations in the Best Group or Duo, Male Vocal and Female Vocal categories at the 1985 Golden Guitar Awards in Tamworth.

Deniese went on to win three Golden Guitars and a "MO" Award with Country City Music and Wayne four "MO" Awards and two ACE Awards.

The pair continued to tour Australia together in the 1980s and, in 1989, the owners of the Hodag Festival in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, the Eckerts family, saw Wayne and Deniese perform at the Tamworth Festival.

They extended an invitation to both Wayne and Deniese to travel to the US to perform at Hodag. Deniese was unable to accept the offer due to family commitments (Deniese's son Dan was only two then!), but Wayne did… and the rest is history.

Each year since, Wayne has travelled to the US and now spends more than six months of each year working in America from his home base of Branson, Missouri.

Over the years he has built up a huge American following performing eight times at the Hodag Festival, he has had a booth at Fanfare in Nashville for 15 years and has just released his 20th album, Songs Of The Islands.

Deniese has continued to perform all over Australia, at the Sydney Opera House, West Point Casino, the Melbourne Concert Hall, the Adelaide Festival Theatre and the Melbourne Cricket Ground (for Pope John Paul II) – and just about every country town and city in between.

She hosted the Golden Guitar Awards on the 7 Network for three years and has toured Australia many times over with "old mates" such as Dick Emery, Gene Pitney, Chubby Checker, Max Bygraves, Freddy Fender, Johnny Chester, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Conway Twitty, Leo Sayer, Manhattan Transfer and Frank Ifield – "just to name a few".

Tamworth 2006 will bring Wayne and Deniese back "Together Again" for their very special reunion show in the Scully Room at the Southgate Inn, Saturday January 21 at 12 noon and Tuesday January 24 at 5pm.

Jean at number one on US swing chart

Jean Stafford’s self penned western swing song Steelin' The 2 Step has maintained its number one ranking on the latest Swingin’ West Radio Network Chart in America.

A spokesman for Jean said the song had been very successful in the swing charts generating a lot of radio interest. It commemorates the last album produced by the late Jimmy Crawford and Jean herself and showcases the talents of leading Nashville musicians Pig Robbins, John Hughey and Brent Mason (among others).

In other news, Jean's song It’s Like Living With A Stranger from her album Let The Dance Begin has been featured by Graham Lees' Country Connection radio program in Yorkshire, England.

Meanwhile, JLCM Marketing has re-scheduled Jean’s national Australia tour. Jean, who is still recovering from major surgery undertaken late last year, was told by her doctor she would not be ready to tour for another two months.

Jean said: "I’m disappointed as you would expect. However I am looking forward to being well enough to tour and perform nightly for the duration of each show. The 26 show 32 day schedule is fairly hectic by any standard and I’m really excited about working with the new band out of Nashville.  For some of these musicians it’s their first chance to see Australia and they’re as excited about that as I am to work with them."

This means that Jean's original tour dates in February will now change to April/May 2006. Further information can be obtained from JLCM Marketing, email marketing@jlcm-group.com.

Boyup Brook Club gains grant funding

The Country Music Club of Boyup Brook has been successful in gaining funding from Country Arts WA to assist the Club with administration costs and to allow them to provide arts activities within the town and regional area.

Club Secretary Sharon Tuckett said: "This is a very exciting step for the Club... and will allow us to incorporate arts projects (in their activities). Funding like this helps to keep our spirits alive and the enthusiasm of small groups active."

In the past the Club has incorporated many arts projectsin its annual activities some of which have included banner making, variety nights, photographic displays and competitions.

Boyup Brook's annual country music festival provides many opportunities to have creative arts projects take place in front of a large audience.

"For the next 12 months, the Club will be looking at assisting with lessons for a visual art program, encouraging people to come along to the festival with their camera to take festival shots and perhaps be awarded a prize," Sharon said.

"Perhaps for ute enthusiasts there (will be) the opportunity to decorate an old ute. We will be working with indigenous artists to showcase art and dance and our local belly dancers will be providing a showcase of their style."

The Club now has an office situated in the main street in Boyup Brook and this allows for different artworks to be displayed, Sharon said.

"If you are an artist, musician or sculptor, the Country Music Club would love to hear from you and could have a number of opportunities for you to showcase your style of art."

The number to ring for further information is (08) 9765 1657.

Hectic time for The Borderers

It's been a busy year for the Borderers touring in the UK and Asia and in Australia, including the televised Adelaide Christmas Pagent where they performed in front of 350,000 people.

In December, the Borderers performed at the Adelaide Carols By Candlelight for the fifth time in front of 30,000 people and then headlined the Federation Square Concert in Melbourne on New Years Eve... 15,000 people in the audience plus all the Channel 9 viewers saw the band do the countdown to midnight.

The Borderers are just about to make their sixth appearance at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, now playing to near sold out houses at The Longyard Hotel. (Click here for exact dates.)

The video for the Borderers song The Dark Horse from their latest album Grace (a top five nominee at Musicoz and top three at the Port Fairy "Peace & Tolerance" Awards) was a favourite on the Country Music Channel and their new single for the country music market – The River Is Deep – is proving just as popular.

Finally, Jim and Alex have just been asked to write a song for the Eurovision Song Contest. They'll find out in a few weeks if their song has been accepted.

Regency hits Tamworth again

Marc and Vicki Lea of Regency Sound Studio are back for Tamworth Festival '06 and say "it's great to see so many Queensland artists represented in the nominations, in nearly every major award ceremony, during the two weeks".

In recent years, Regency Sound has become synonymous with bush ballad artists and this year’s festival is expected to reinforce this feeling with so many Regency Sound recording artists nominated in nearly every music award to be staged in Tamworth.

It was only 12 months ago when the studio's Jeff Brown and Wave Jackson took out Bush Ballad of the Year at the 2005 Golden Guitar Awards with Where The Yellow Kapocks Blooms.

This year, the Golden Guitar Awards have Graham Rodger and young up and coming balladeer Amos Morris nominated in the final five for Bush Ballad of the Year. "Both of these blokes are doing great things for traditional Australian country music," Marc and Vicki said, "and it is wonderful to see the next generation of balladeers recognised for their ambition to keep true country alive."

Both Graham and Amos recorded new albums last year with Marc at Regency Sound.

The label is also well represented by a number of their recording artists at the 2006 TIARAs including four of the final five nominations in the Bush Ballad section. "It is pleasing to see Graham Rodger, Pete Smith, Jeff Brown and Amos Morris nominated for Best Bush Ballad," said Marc and Vicki. "The only problem is, only one can win, but they're all deserving of this award!"

Alisha Smith has been nominated in the Instrumental section and would be a sentimental favourite for the Barry Thornton Memorial Award, having been mentored by Barry before his untimely death. Laura Downing and Michael Fix have again been nominated in the Collaboration Section.

In the Tamworth Songwriters' Association Awards, Graham Rodger has received five finalist nominations in a number of categories alongside Keith Jamieson, Pete Smith, Rachel Richards and Harmony James, all of whom recorded with Marc in 2005.

All of these artists will be performing at the Frog & Toad Conference Centre in one of three Regency Sound Showcases, scheduled for Monday January 23 at 8pm, Wednesday January 25 at 10am (including Graham Rodger's launch of his Muster On The Great Divide CD) and Friday January 27 at 10am.

There will also be a Regency Sound Showcase at the Bush Balladeer’s Homestead on Goonoo Goonoo Road on Tuesday January 24 at 9am.

"After Tamworth, it's off down to Bungendore for the Stan Coster Memorial Awards," Marc and Vicki said. "Here it all starts again with Graham Rodger, Amos Morris, Keith Jamieson and Cathy Diete all receiving finalist nominations for albums recorded at Regency Sound in 2005."

Photo: Marc Lea (left) with Graham Rodger and Graham's TSA award for Matilda Highway.

2006 College underway

Country Music Capital's Northern Daily Leader reports that "school was in" for the students of the 10th Australian College of Country Music course on Saturday.

Merelyn Carter, of Carter and Carter, is a first time tutor at the College, but has plenty of experience to pass on to the students.

"I do mentoring packages back home but I've never done a live-in course before," she said. "I'll be sure to work them hard."

Merelyn's focus will be teaching the students how they can make it as independent artists, as she has done, and believes the best thing the students gain is the relationships they build.

"All the students are already really talented so it's a good chance for them to ask lots of questions," she said.

College Director Peter Winkler, who started the College 10 years ago, is returning after seven years.

"I saw it grow and now I have the luxury of coming back and seeing the changes," he said. The best part of the College had been his discovery of how good country music was, as he didn't even like it 10 years ago.

The College runs for two weeks, culminating with a Graduation Concert at West Tamworth League Club on Friday January 20 at 8pm.

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

Bee Gee buys Johnny Cash home

Singer-songwriter Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees has purchased Johnny and June Carter Cash's former home in the Nashville suburb of Hendersonville, Tennessee, a spokesman for the Cash estate confirmed last Wednesday.

The 13,880-square-foot home was officially purchased by Balinda LLC, a Florida company wholly owned by Gibb and his wife, Linda. The couple plans to restore the home to its original condition.

"This place will always be the spiritual home for the Cashs," Gibb said in a written statement. "My wife, Linda, and I are determined to preserve it, to honour their memory. We fell in love with it. It's an incredible honour for us. We plan to use the home to write songs because of the musical inspiration."

The house on Old Hickory Lake served as the Cashs' home for 35 years. The primary residence throughout the couple's marriage, the house itself plays a major role in "Walk the Line", the film biography starring Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon. June Carter Cash died May 15, 2003, and Johnny Cash died September 12, 2003.

The property, which includes a 4.6-acre lakefront lot, was placed on the market in June 2005 with an asking price of $2.9 million but reportedly sold for $2.3 million. The home was sold by Robert L and Catherine C Sullivan, the estate trustees, as part of the directives left by the Cashs.

When the property was listed, real estate agent Tommy Cash, the singer's brother, said it would be sold "as is" and would include seven pieces of antique furniture. Built in 1968, the house has seven bedrooms, five full baths and an outdoor swimming pool.

Meanwhile, Reese Witherspoon has been named Best Actress in a number of critics' awards for her portrayal of June Carter Cash, wife of American country singer Johnny Cash in the film "Walk the Line".

Reese (pictured in her role as June Carter Cash) was nominated, and won, in both the New York Film Critics' Circle's 71st annual awards and the 11th annual National Society of Critics' Awards.

Reese has also been nominated with Joaquin Phoenix (who plays Johnny Cash in the movie) for Screen Actors Guild awards which will be announced in Los Angeles on January 29.

In other news, Joaquin and Shooter Jennings visited California's Folsom State Prison on last Tuesday (January 3) for a brief acoustic concert and a screening of the "Walk the Line" movie.

More than 50 inmates watched the movie according to The Associated Press. Cash recorded his landmark album Live at Folsom Prison there on January 13, 1968.

Jennings plays the role of his father, Waylon Jennings, in the movie.

Brazilian country music star dies

Jose Carlos Ferrarezi, a country music star who recorded more than 20 albums and performed with Brazil's top entertainers, has died of lung cancer, his producer said last Wednesday. He was 67.

Ferrarezi, known professionally as Robertinho do Acordeon (Portuguese for Little Robert of the Accordion) died last Tuesday, January 3, at the Albert Sabin Hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil's biggest city, Synesio Ximenes Jr said by telephone.

"He played with all the greats, he played solo, he was an actor and a TV performer," Ximenes said. "In Brazilian country music, he was one of the biggest of all."

Ferrarezi was a child circus performer in the 1950s and turned professional when he was offered a movie role by Amazio Mazzaropi, the top star of Brazilian-made comedies.

In 1959, Ferrarezi recorded his first LP and soon was invited to perform with the top-selling stars of Brazilian country music. He became a featured performer with Waldick Soriano and later with the popular duos Tonico and Tinoco, Chitaozinho and Xororo, and Zeze di Camargo and Luciano.

He also toured as a solo performer and was featured on the weekly TV program Viola, Minha Viola, or Guitar, My Guitar, a country music show broadcast nationally on Brazil's TVE educational network.

Details about his family were not announced. Ferrarezi was to be buried Wednesday at Araca Cemetery in Sao Paulo.

DATELINE : WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2006

The biggest hits of 2005

Keith Urban's Making Memories Of Us, from his current top selling album Be Here, has topped the Country Tracks Biggest 50 Hits of 2005 chart.

Compiled from points scored by each entry on the weekly Country Tracks Top 30, the chart is tabulated from entries after November 1, 2004. Songs that have peaked or almost peaked at the end of 2005 have points for their projected positions on the chart in weeks ahead added to allow them to be positioned in the year-end tally.

Keith had two singles in the chart, the second, You're My Better Half, coming in at number three.

Melinda Schneider's I Wanna Be Married came in at number two while Adam Harvey's Missing Heroes and That's What You Call A Friend were at number four and seven respectively.

Lee Kernaghan and Colin Buchanan's duet of Missing Slim took the number five position while Kasey Chambers' Pony was at number six.

The top 10 was all but dominated by Australian releases, Travis Sinclair holding number nine with A Heavenly Body and Beccy Cole at 10 with Rainbows, Dreams And Butterflies.

Toby Keith was the sole foreign entry in the top 10 at number eight with As Good As I Once Was.

Keith and Melinda took "the daily double" for 2004 and 2005, holding the number one and number two spots for both years (last year, Keith's number one was Days Go By, Melinda's number two was Real People).

A total of 119 tracks entered the Top 30 during 2005.

On this week's Country Tracks Top 30, Troy Cassar-Daley holds the number one spot with Lonesome But Free, Beccy Cole is at number two with A Better Woman, Tania Kernaghan at three with Yee Ha, Aleyce Simmonds at four with Mighty Mighty Love and Brad Paisley at five with Alcohol.

New entries this week include The Flood with Hello Blue Sky and Paul Costa with It's Good To Be Me.

The full weekly chart can be viewed online at www.nfspublicity.com.au.

Keith wins Radio Award

Meanwhile, Keith took out another major American award in December when he was named Artist of the Year/Country Radio at the 2005 Radio Music Awards.

Keith beat out nominees Kenny Chesney, Brooks & Dunn, Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith and George Strait to take the award, announced in Las Vegas on Wednesday, December 21.

"Thank you very much. Thank you to country radio for playing my records. And, I want to thank everybody else in this category with me. Everybody in there has been a great help to me," Keith said in his acceptance speech.

Kenny Chesney & Uncle Kracker took the overall RMA award for Best Driving Song for When The Sun Goes Down.

Rascal Flatts performed an acoustic version of Bless The Broken Road with Jay DeMarcus on piano and Joe Don Rooney playing acoustic guitar, just before the song was named Country Song of the Year.

Tamworth Festival Guide out now

The Official Guide to the 2006 Telstra Tamworth Country Music Festival is now available.

With a total of 228 pages of information, including the Official Festival Program, the Guide can be purchased direct from the publishers, Rural Press Events on 02 67 622 399 for $8 including postage and handling within Australia.

As well as the program, the Guide contains the exclusive artist-by-artist listing which allows fans to track down where there favourite artists are performing "at a single glance".

Also included, in addition to numerous pages of informative advertising, is information on such important activities as the Golden Guitar Awards, Toyota Star Maker, the Country Music Roll of Renown, Hands of Fame, Australian Bush Laureate Awards, TIARAs and TSA Awards.

A detailed story on "how Tamworth became Country Music Capital" is a feature, together with venue maps, bus timetable and route map.

A detailed rundown of Festival venues is also provided.

The Guide will be available at numerous locations throughout Tamworth and District in the weeks leading up to, and during the Festival.

New album for Lucky

Lucky Oceans has released a new solo album, Secret Steel.

"Just as a pedal steel guitar can slide between the conventional notes of Western music, so Lucky Oceans' music slides effortlessly between genres," said a review on the artist's website.

"He cruises from African groove to country ballads via reggae, zydeco, swing, blues and more. The remarkable thing is that it never sounds like someone constantly changing stations on the radio. It all just seems part of the broad, natural flow of Lucky's music."

In the 1970s, Lucky was part of the acclaimed country/jazz crossover band Asleep at the Wheel in America (with whom he won two Grammy Awards). In 1981, he moved from the US to Perth. Since then he has probably become best known in Australia as presenter of "The Planet" on ABC Radio National.

"For Lucky's new album, he pulled together a purpose-built band that crosses the generations as much as it does musical styles with ex-Catholics and Mighty Reapers guitarist Dave Brewer, drummer Ric Eastman and bassist Matt Willis.

"Together they head off on a musical adventure that at a stroke redefines the pedal steel as one of the most versatile and expressive of all instruments, shaking off its type-casting as a strictly country sound."

The album is available in shops and can also be ordered through www.luckyoceans.com.

And a new CD from Graham Gould

Graham Gould is spending the beginning of 2006 circulating his new four track CD to Australian radio stations.

"This will serve as something to go on with," he said, "while the rest of the album is being worked on.

"I have just been added to the playlists at HOT FM Mildura and 2RRR in Sydney and these are the ones I know about, so thanks heaps to them."

Of the four tracks on the album, two are original songs, Goodbye Lover, Hello Friend (the title track) and There's a New Way.

Got To Find Me was written by two fellow members of Stoney Creek and the fourth track is If You Gotta Go, Go Now.

"Anything I achieve with these songs will be a bonus for me," Graham said, "as I believe there is so much talent in Australia that it would be an honour to rate alongside them.

"My goal or fantasy would be to become 'The Oldest New Talent' in Tamworth. The 'oldest' indicates I've been around awhile, which I have. I've toured with Stoney Creek through four states regularly, supported or backed just about everyone during the 1980s, appeared in Tamworth many times including headlining at the Workmens Club for the week.

"But, although we released several singles and were a Gold Guitar nominee, we never won one. I did win a Gold Guitar for songwriting in the New Zealand awards at Gore in 1983 for a song that we never released. So now it's time to get cracking and put all these songs on an album.

"When the album is finished, I would like to get out and appear at some festivals, just like the old days," Graham said.

Bobby Cash to record his third album

Bobby Cash is returning to Tamworth early January to record his third album prior to the 2006 January Country Music Festival.

"For Bobby, recording in Tamworth is a sentimental thing," said a spokesman for his management, "as it was here three years ago he made his Australian debut busking on the packed and sweltering streets.

"This year he will be playing one of the best venues in town at West Tamworth League Club's Blazes auditorium."

The last three years have been an amazing journey for Bobby. He’s played from agricultural field days to concert auditoriums and test matches, and everything in between.

He’s appeared from Croydon in North Queensland to Melbourne in the south, Tweed Heads in the east and Geraldton in the west. "And everywhere he goes the reaction is the same: 'Nobody plays country music like this anymore'," the spokesman said.

"His albums have consistently been amongst the best performers on the independent country charts and his popularity is growing each time he visits (this is his 10th)."

When in Australia, Bobby tours with his Tamworth backing band led by Lawrie Minson on guitars, pedal steel, accordion and harmonica and, on the last two tours, joined by Randall Wilson (ex John Williamson) on drums and Jeff Dallas on bass.

"But a large part of his shows is still Bobby solo on stage with his guitar - and it’s here his extraordinary ability shines. From flamenco to bluegrass to classic Jim Reeves ballads, audiences still can’t believe it’s just him playing."

The reaction was the same in the USA in mid 2005 when Bobby was invited to the CMA Music Festival in Nashville as a Global Artist Award nominee.

Between tours Bobby has been organising the building work at the school his family runs in Dehradun, north India. So far the extensions have included two new class rooms and more accommodation for those who can’t afford to pay.

Being able to record in a brand new state of the art studio in Tamworth is another dream of Bobby’s come true. This will be Bobby’s second album of original material and songs co-written with local songwriters from Australia and India.

Lawrie Minson and Matt Scullion wrote two of the songs with Bobby in the shadows of the Himalayas on a visit in 2004.

Once again Lawrie Minson wears the producer’s hat and award-winning engineer Ted Howard is taking the road to Tamworth to be at the controls.

“There’s a certain Jaadoo (Hindi for magic) about Tamworth,” says Bobby. And he’s hoping to capture some of that in this recording.

Bobby’s next dream is to tour India with his Australian band later in 2006.

Further information, including performance dates, can be obtained from www.bobbycash.com.au.

Illawarra Folk Festival moves

The Illawarra Folk Festival will be staged at a new venue and a new time in 2006.

After 20 festivals in the village of Jamberoo, the event will move to the Bulli Showground north of Wollongong and to January.

The Festival will run from Thursday January 26 to Sunday January 29.

The reason to move are many, according to organisers. “The festival had grown too large to control with its volunteer base; the timing of September between the local football and cricket season was dreadful with the winds and weather; the scale of organisation for camping, toilets, parking was huge; the set-up of temporary fencing, staging, tents was enormous.”

There will be around 80 acts and more than 350 performers in 100 concerts, workshops, dances, poetry and storytelling events over the three and a half days of the Festival.

Performers will include Alex & Annette Hood, Alison Boyd, Allez-Gator, Anthony McGloin, Avalanche, Beeswing, Bhan Tre, Blackwood, Big Snore Hammers, Cantolibre, Cheeky Tzatziki, Chloe & Jason Roweth, Christina Giorgio Band, Collector, Craig Dawson & Simone Olding, Crazy Creek, David Beniuk & The North Shore Girls, David Meyers, Davidson Brothers, EcoBeaT, Electra Complex, Erikas Jive, Fiddledance, Gael Mor, Glover & Sorrensen, Gobsmacked!, Harp Irish Set Dancers, Jane Brownlee’s Australian Folk Orchestra, Jane Scott, Jeff Lang, Jess Randall & Friends, Jigzag, Joe Dolce & Lin Van Hek, John Dengate, Junior, Kalalaya Dance Group, KaOZ Klezmer, Kevin Baker, LEmigrante, Leon Arundell, madd marianne, Margaret, Kate & Bob Fagan, Maureen O’Brien Trio, Michael Kennedy, Mihirangi, Molonglo Mayhem Border Morris, Myriad, Neil Adam and Judy Turner & friends, Nick Charles, Nick Rheinberger, No Such Thing, Obrobini, Pete Bennett & Steve James Tamnesia, Phyl Lobl, Prestons Punch and Judy Show, Robbie Long & Dave Hellens, Seamus Begley & Jim Murray (Ire), Silver Soles Cloggers, Steve & Ros Barnes, Sydney Irish Ceili Dancers, The Rhythm Hunters, The Sydney Cove Project, The Wings, Tim Bali Hoevenagel, Union Choirs, Vic Jefferies, Vince Brophy, Vivienne Sawyer, Waffletall and Popple Woffits, Wallaby Stew, We Love You Madly, Women in Docs, Wongawilli and more to come.

Further information can be obtained from www.illawarrafolkclub.org.au.

Troy Cassar-Daley to be "waxed"

Troy Cassar-Daley will become the 26th Australian country music star to be "waxed" in Tamworth’s Gallery of Stars Wax Museum during the 2006 Tamworth Country Music Festival.

Troy will come face to face with his wax likeness for the very first time at 2pm on Tuesday, January 24 at the Big Golden Guitar Tourist Centre on Country Music Capital's Sydney Road.

"The public is warmly invited to attend Troy’s wax figure unveiling," said a spokesman for the Centre.

Tamworth 2006 is set to be one of the biggest ever festivals for Troy whose sixth career album, Brighter Day, released on Nash Chambers’ Essence label, has elicited seven finalist spots in the Golden Guitar Awards.

Troy first came to Tamworth as an 11-year-old in 1980 and, after making a big impression as a grand finalist in the annual Star Maker Quest, was offered a worldwide recording deal by Sony Music in 1993.

His debut album, Beyond The Dancing, was released the same year, spawning four top 10 hit singles.

So far in his career, Troy has won nine Golden Guitars, four "MO" awards, two ARIA awards, four Deadly awards and has toured Australia with Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, LeAnn Rimes and The Dixie Chicks.

He made a cameo appearance in the movie Race The Sun starring James Belushi and Halle Berry and, in 2003, became one of the youngest ever subjects of the television program This Is Your Life.

Since leaving Sony, Troy has made three albums with Nash Chambers on the Essence label – Long Way Home in 2002, Borrowed and Blue in 2004 and, the latest, Brighter Day in 2005.

Tamworth Train concerts

Country Music fans can be a part of a unique experience at Tamworth this year in a series of "up close and personal" dinner and luncheon concerts with top line artists on board "the Country Music Express" (the historic Southern Aurora train chartered each year to run from Melbourne to Tamworth for the January festival).

Owen Blundell, Carter & Carter (pictured), Bobby Cash, Greg Champion, Tracy Coster, Laura Downing, Reg Poole, Ronnie Rae Rivers, The Sunny Cowgirls and Jeanette Wormald will perform during the limited seating shows.

Fans are treated to a two-course a-la-carte dinner prepared by the train's resident chef, and then an intimate concert from the featured artist in air conditioned comfort while the train is "stabled" at the West Tamworth Siding.

Country Music Express Director Arthur Smith said the concerts were a rare opportunity for fans to see their favourite artists up so close.

"There is no jostling for seats, no crowds, no background noise, just a great meal and great music in a fantastic and historic atmosphere in one of the Southern Aurora dining cars," he said.

"The concert series was so popular last year that we have extended the program to offer four lunch-time concerts as well."

The most popular concerts sold out quickly last year, Arthur said, and with some shows already more than half full, fans needed to book their tickets quickly through Tourism Tamworth.

"The 2006 Country Music Express to Tamworth sold out in September and tickets are already being snapped up for the 2007 train."

Bookings can be made through Tourism Tamworth on 02 6767 5300 or online at www.tamworth.nsw.gov.au/tickets.

Audrey offers free download

Audrey Auld Mezera, who now lives in California, won't be home for the Tamworth Festival in 2006 so is offering a free download from the RecklessRecords.com website.

Half A World Away is a new song inspired by living in the Northern hemisphere and features Nina Gerber on guitar.

"For the first time in my life my ability to differentiate between left and right is totally mixed up," Audrey said.

"I blame this new hemisphere for that!  I'm sorry to miss the Tamworth Country Music Festival in January, but keep an eye for my new album, produced by Bill Chambers."

Hugos' last stand

The Re-Mains "on the road"

Mark and Alison wed

Queenslander Mark Tempany and South Australia's Alison Hams were married at St Aloysius Church, Sevenhill, South Australia, on December 11.

Both popular and successful independent singer/songwriters, Alison and Mark shared their special day with friends and family from all over Australia. And, in the best tradition, performed a song each at their reception.

The talented duo will celebrate the new year performing in South Australia before journeying to Tamworth for another season of "Concerts in the Chapel" (with Golden Guitar-nominated Michael Fix) at the Tamworth Regional Conservatorium of Music.

Honeymoon plans have been further delayed by the exciting announcement that Mark and Alison will support UK star Charlie Landsborough on his Australian tour in February.

Further details available from www.alisonhams.com or www.marktempany.com.

Young Stars 2006

The Young Country Stars Concert 2006 will be staged at The Pub, Tamworth, at 12 noon, Saturday, January 28.

"These are the future stars of country music," said organiser Greg Williams. Many are graduates of Tamworth Camerata, the annual youth country music school and they come from all over Australia and New Zealand.

All performers in the popular free concert are backed by professional players.

Stars of the 2006 show are...

Kirsty Lee Akers, a multi-award winning singer/songwriter, Camerata graduate 2004 and 2005, a Telstra Road To Tamworth finalist 2006, who gained Australia-wide airplay and sales of her debut single Bashed Up, Beaten, Battered, Broken Heart.

Dean Johnston from Newcastle, NSW, a crowd favourite who made is making his recording debut this year.

Anna MacDonald from New Zealand's Southland, South Island, a Camerata 2002 and 2005 graduate and Gore Gold Guitar Junior winner 2004.

Amos Morris (pictured), bush balladeer from Kempsey, NSW, a Camerata 2005 graduate with a top-selling debut album Memories Live On and a Golden Guitar Awards Bush Ballad category finalist with his song The Rain Don't Tumble Down In July Here.

Melissa Partridge from Dunedin on New Zealand's South Island, a Tamworth Camerata graduate 2003 and Gore Gold Guitar Intermediate winner 2004.

Jared Scott, a Tamworth guitarist and singer, a Camerata 2003 and 2005 graduate who has completed the NSW Talent Development Program and performed in the NSW School Spectacular 2005.

Penelope Somerville, a fiddler and singer from Fosterville, Victoria, a Tamworth Camerata graduate 2002/03, Telstra Road To Tamworth Finalist 2006, overall winner Mildura Country Music Festival Junior Talent Quest 2004 and Victorian Champion of Champions 2004.

Tiffney Stroh from Mount Barker, South Australia, a rising young South Australian singing star who won the Cindy Shelton Memorial Scholarship from Arts South Australia to Camerata 2005.

Daisy May Wegner from Mackay, North Queensland, a Camerata 2004 and 2005 graduate who released her debut CD EP in 2005.

A special appearance will also be made by the winner of the Bundaberg Rum Junior Jazzer Talent Quest 2006.

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

Elvis and Johnny gain additional multi-Platinum awards

CMT.com reports...

Gone but obviously not forgotten, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash ended 2005 with additional multi-platinum certifications from the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America).

Elvis' 30 #1 Hits was certified quadruple platinum for shipments of four million copies. His It's Christmas Time and Cash's 16 Biggest Hits went double platinum for shipments of two million copies each.

Kenny Chesney's The Road And The Radio also went double platinum in December.

The Legend of Johnny Cash attained platinum status for shipments of one million copies. As previously reported, other RIAA platinum certifications for December included Carrie Underwood's debut album Some Hearts and the latest releases by Trace Adkins, Dierks Bentley, Sheryl Crow, Martina McBride and Reba McEntire.

Going gold for shipments of 500,000 copies were Gary Allan's Tough All Over and Miranda Lambert's debut album Kerosene.

Banjo art on display in Washington

Picturing the Banjo, the first exhibition to emphasise the instrument's symbolism in American art, is underway at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the oldest art gallery in Washington.

Organised by the Palmer Museum of Art at Pennsylvania State University, the exhibition features paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture and decorative arts dating back to the 18th century.

Included are banjo images by such artists as Thomas Hart Benton, William Sidney Mount and Norman Rockwell.

A series of related lectures and performances include a January 30 concert by folk musician Mike Seeger who will be demonstrating banjo styles on six different instruments.

Photo: one of the exhibits in the exhibition, Blue Period with Banjo, 1980, by William Wegman (American, b. 1943). Polaroid ER print 24 x 20 inches from the collection of Emily Todd. Photo Rick Gardner, Contemporary Arts Museum Houston.

Ferlin Husky undergoes heart surgery

Country singer Ferlin Husky underwent heart surgery late December.

Stents were placed in two of his arteries and the 80-year-old vocalist was expected to be released from the hospital within a week.

Husky scored his first number one single in 1953 with A Dear John Letter, a duet with Jean Shepard. As a solo artist, his number one hits include 1957's Gone and 1960's Wings Of A Dove.

Now signed to Heart of Texas Records, Husky is scheduled to return to the studio this month to begin work on a new album.