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This website dedicated to bringing you the latest Australian country music news |
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NEWS ARCHIVES DATELINE : WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 2006 LBS approaches 100 albums LBS Music is planning a special release to commemorate its fast approaching 100th album in the coming months.
A summary of a number of current and new releases highlight the impact the label continues to have as one of the nation's leading independent labels. Brian Letton's latest release Today is still going strong. The first single, Two Chords, rose as high as number four on the Country Tracks Top 30 national singles chart. Shaza Leigh is pushing up the Country Tracks chart with Old Calare. Next week, she starts recording the second single for her forthcoming album which will be ready for release mid-year. The new album for Ernie Constance – Goin' Walkabout – is now completed and due for release at Easter. The album features 13 new Ernie Constance originals plus the song That Old Hat, Ernie's tribute to the late Slim Dusty. The debut LBS release for New Zealand country star and NZ Gold Guitar winner Noel Parlane is nearing completion and will hit the marketplace before Mothers Day. Now residing in Australia, Noel has been building a strong following in this country over the past couple of years. Other new releases scheduled for release in the coming months include leading bush balladeer Tom Maxwell and "young gun" guitarist Lindsay Waddington. The unveiling of the 100th album is expected shortly after. Entries close Friday for Pacific Songwriting Contest Entries for the Pacific Songwriting Competition close this Friday, March 31.
Australian singer/songwriter Nathan Tasker won more than $12,000 last year which helped fund a trip to Nashville to record his eighth album (an album which has already achieved a number one in Australia). Korean songwriter So-young Kim has received 13 distribution deals as a direct result of her win. All genres, all nations and all songwriters are eligible for the competition which "seeks to support and encourage songwriters. Further information can be obtained at www.pacificsongwritingcompetition.com. ARIA reports on music sales for 2005 The launch of Apple's iTunes in Australia encouraged spending of almost $8 million on digital music last year but was not enough to offset dwindling sales of music on CDs.
ARIA said that 34 percent of all money spent on digital music during the year had come in the two months following the October launch of iTunes in Australia. But as the digital market expanded, most of the physical formats experienced a decline in both volume and value. ARIA said, however, that the industry considered 2005 "to have been a transitional year and anticipates a return to growth in 2006". Indeed, the value of sales so far this year were better than sales for the same period in 2005. According to ARIA, it is not only digital music cannibalising sales of CDs. Competition from DVDs and console games combined with the rapid penetration of broadband internet access into households are also believed to have contributed to the declines. "While broadband provides the necessary platform for the development and success of legitimate online businesses, it also makes it easier for illegal internet downloading of music to occur. "The industry is committed to maintaining the fight against illegal internet traffic of recordings and remains optimistic that consumers will continue to make the transition to legitimate services," ARIA said. To mark the changing market dynamic, ARIA will formally unveil a new digital track chart later this week. Some other key outcomes announced by ARIA yesterday... • Missy Higgins' The Sound Of White was the highest selling album of all albums in Australia (including international releases) for 2005. Other high selling Australian releases in the year included Anthony Callea's self-titled album, Pete Murray's See The Sun, Ben Lee's Awake Is The New Sleep and Bernard Fanning's Tea And Sympathy. • Per capita album sales in Australia now stand at an average of 2.8 albums per person over 15 years of age. • Local albums performed well over the Christmas period with significant chart success recorded for releases including Human Nature's Reach Out: The Motown Record, Bernard Fanning's Tea And Sympathy, Shannon Noll's Lift, John Farnham's I Remember When I Was Young - Songs From The Great Australian Songbook and the tribute album She Will Have Her Way – The Songs of Tim and Neil Finn. More information can be obtained from www.aria.com.au. Sara performs for the Queen Sara Storer had the honour of performing at a luncheon hosted by Prime Minister John Howard for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 2nd at the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne during her visit to Australia for the Commonwealth Games.
Sara was the only artist invited to perform. She was chosen by the Prime Minister and his Department because she is considered quintessentially Australian and a songwriter who sings in her own voice. Sara performed three of her songs – Sweet Dreams, Katherine and Molly Green – all of which were well received by the 1,200 in attendance. She was introduced to the Queen at the end of the function and, in typical fashion, made a remark that put a smile on the monarch’s face as the photo shows. More photos, and information, are available at www.sarastorer.com.au. Sydney Show stages a "country music festival"
Saturday April 15, Easter Saturday, is the day, and the "festival" will run in the Show's "The Shed" venue which will operate in the Amphitheatre next to the main arena. In addition to Sara, stars lined up to appear during "the festival" are The Sweetie Darlin’ Sweeties, The Yee Haa Boys, The Baileys, Travis Sinclair and The Pigs. The 2006 Show runs from April 7 to 20 at Olympic Park, Homebush. "The Shed" venue runs for four days from the 13th to 16th. More information about the Show can be obtained from www.greataustralianmuster.com.au. Photo: The Baileys, from left, Lindsay Dallas, Crystal Bailey, Daniel Conway, Charlene and Kurt Bailey. Alex Watt update Rising country star Alex Watt has just completed a mini tour in southern NSW where he played at Braidwood, Yass and Bungendore.
So successful was his visit, he has been asked back to be part of the entertainment for the Braidwood Heritage Festival. Alex's debut album – Window Down – continues to do well selling more and more as he tours to support the release. "The album is currently distributed through One Stop and, after a succesful in-store promotion in Tamworth during the January festival, we are hoping to establish a direct relationship with Sanity," Alex said. The only single release from the album to date has been the title track, but more look to be on the horizon. Urban Country... back for the third year The QUT Urban Country Music Festival at Caboolture celebrates its third birthday on the May long weekend. The festival has already established itself as a major happening on the Australian country music calendar, and this year’s “musical bonanza” from Friday April 28 to Monday May 1, features the return of many highly popular events together with some new additions. Situated only 40 minutes drive from Brisbane and 30 minutes from the Sunshine Coast, Urban Country offers four days of non-stop entertainment with eight stages and more than 500 artists.
And easy access is a major plus for Urban Country – free shuttle bus services from key locations to the various venues take the problems out of parking during the weekend. Major attraction is the Main Stage Concert on Saturday kicking off at 2pm at the Caboolture Showgrounds, this year featuring Troy Cassar-Daley, Adam Harvey, Paul Kelly, Lee Kernaghan, Tania Kernaghan, Melinda Schneider and Aleyce Simmonds with Jim Haynes as compere. Other feature concerts include The Burbs ‘n Bush Party with the The Borderers and the Bushwackers and the Urban Blaze Concert & Fireworks with Jonah’s Road, 2006 New Talent Golden Guitar winner Samantha McClymont, 2006 Toyota Star Maker winner Cat Southern and emerging star Claye Middleton. The Farewell Concert headlines “the horse-breaking hitmaker” Tom Curtain and Luella together with winners of all competitions – Busking Championships, Talent Search and Queensland Champion of Champions. The popular Songwriters Cafe is operating on Saturday and Sunday in the Town Square and Bush poetry fans are well catered for with the popular Bush Poets Breakfasts (and competition), Comedy Crackpot Poets and a Bush Poets corner in the Town Square over the weekend. Competitions include the RSL Talent Search heats and finals, the local heat of the Telstra Road To Tamworth and the Busking Championships. And Line Dancing is also well represented with workshops and socials all weekend at the Memorial Hall. New additions to the Festival this year include Mission Australia’s Locals in Lions Park showcases, local music clubs and the Walk Up Stage, The Grass Roots and Gospel Stage, the Urban Diversion dance demonstrations and the new Urban Country Rock Stage. More information can be obtained from www.urbancountry.com.au or by calling the Festival Hotline – 1800 810 400. And Gems Of Country Queensland's Gems of Country – "Australia's most glittering talent search" – is back on track for 2006 and will be "sparkling" on June 18 and 19 in Emerald, Central Queensland. Most of the "old faces" organisers will be there including Peggy Smith, Hugo Spooner, Penny Bulger, Daryl Hayward and Fred Wild, along with a host of new volunteers and supporters. While Emerald Shire Council is still supporting Gemza, information requests should go to Hugo Spooner on 07 4984 1105 or Fred Wild on 0416 095 997. "The committee is keen to conduct the Friday night walk-up concert," said Fred, "but the venue has been demolished. We are keeping our eye out for an alternate site. "A web page is in the process of being constructed... it will be a brand new site." Tom Curtain wins Country APRA PDA Tom Curtain has been named winner of the 2006 APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) Professional Development Award (PDA) in the Country category.
Six Professional Development Awards were presented in the categories of Country, Jazz, Film & TV, Popular Contemporary (by two) and Classical Music as well as The Jessica Michalik Contemporary Music Endowment in conjunction with the producers of the Big Day Out. Almost 500 applications were received for this year's awards via 22 partner organisations. The short-listed entries were judged by 25 music industry professionals grouped into panels for each category of music. "The quality of PDA submissions for 2006 are testament to a flourishing creative community that, with encouragement, has the potential to make a significant contribution to music in Australia" said Nigel Westlake, Composer and APRA member. The winner’s in each category received a cash grant, travel as well as recognition in the early stages of their careers. The cash component is $10,000 plus a further $1,500 to assist with travel costs. Winners also received a Gibson Les Paul Faded DC Guitar valued at $2,000 as part of their prize package plus three hours of recording time by courtesy of Trackdown Scoring Stage and Recording Studio. Tom's citation read... A trip to the Northern Territory in 2001 inspired Tom Curtain to start writing his own songs about life in the bush. In June the following year, he won the Best Male Vocal category at the Adelaide River Country Music Festival and gained entry to the Country Music Association of Australia College of Country Music course in Tamworth. At the college, Tom met renowned musician and producer Garth Porter and went on to record an album of 12 original songs. At the 2006 Tamworth Country Music Festival, Tom gave several performances including the Australian Country Music Foundation Roll of Renown Concert, Fanfest series of concerts, the TIARA Awards concert, Buttercup Open House, at The Vault, the Territory Night and his own very successful show with Martin Oakes. In the months ahead, Tom intends to start recording his next album, in between horse breaking commitments! He intends to use his APRA Professional development award to expand his experience and skills in song writing and performing. The other category winners are... Damian Crosbie (Popular Contemporary), Sarah Kelly (Jessica Michalik Music Endowment), Ashley Klose (Film & TV), Johannes Luebbers (Jazz), Amira Pyliotis (Popular Contemporary) and Natalie Williams (Classical). The Australasian Performing Right Association Limited was established in 1926 to administer the rights of composers, songwriters and music publishers in Australia and New Zealand. Photo (by Tony Mott), from left: Ashley Klose, Johannes Luebeers, Amira Pyliotis, Damian Crosbie, Tom Curtain and Natalie Williams. Good Times roll for Wolverines The Wolverines have released their fifth album – Good Times – to wide acclaim in the Australian country music industry.
Released through the award-winning ACMEC Records, the release is described as "a fine 12 track album featuring standout tracks Up & Done Died, This Tattoo, The Man I Used To See, The Ballad of Young Bobby Dale, and the Dale Juner penned Bundy Haze. The first single released to radio is Angel Eyes (written by Matt Shelton, son of Louie) which has been added to many playlists including a number of influential stations such as CMR (Country Music Radio Network), KIX FM, Queensland, SMA (Satellite Music Australia) and Ray Hadley 2GB. The Wolverines have won many accolades in their career to date including a Golden Guitar, a Gold Record, three ACE Awards and four "MO" Awards, you can see why the phenomenon of the Wolverines is not slowing down. Further information can be obtained from www.wolverines.com.au or www.acmecrecords.com.au. Nellie is Cruising Talented Queensland singer/songwriter Nellie Donovan is set to hit the radio airwaves in early April with her new single Cruising, written by Jason Kemp.
The video clip for song also received high exposure on CMC (Country Music Channel). In January, Nellie launched her debut album, Steppin Out at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. "Once in a while a voice emerges that by its very tone fills the ears and hearts of the listeners like an orchestra," said Deborah Minter writing in "Country Music Capital News". "Nellie has a quality in her voice which you can’t help compare with some of country’s leading females," said Bob Anthony Jnr, writing in "Country Update" magazine and "The Tweed Times". "There is plenty to like on this album which has a broad appeal and should reach an audience that’s just not only in country." Following a successful Tamworth Festival, Nellie says her phone has not stopped with invitations to appear at some of Australia’s most prestigious country music festivals, a multitude of interviews from radio and other media, a double page feature story in "Country Music Capital News" and outstanding album reviews. Steppin Out was produced by Michael Flanders, engineered and mixed by Jason Millhouse and features some of Australia’s finest musicians. Cruising will be released to radio on NfS 104 in April. Further information can be obtained from www.nelliedonovan.com. Ted Egan to re-launch music career on the 2007 Tamworth Train Counry singer, songwriter and folklorist Ted Egan, currently serving his third and final year as Administrator (similar to state governor) of the Northern Territory, will re-launch his music career as a special guest on the 2007 Country Music Express to Tamworth.
"The Express will be Ted's first official music gig for more than three years," said Arthur Smith, Director of Cross Country Express which runs the annual train from Melbourne to Tamworth. "And we are delighted he has chosen the Country Music Express to relaunch his music career." The Express is on track for another sell out according to organisers, six months before the official close of bookings. "We expect all berths to be sold by July," Arthur said. "The phone has been constantly ringing since the end of January." Last year the train sold out a month before the official close of bookings in October. Ted Egan will be joined as a Country Music Express host by Peter Pratt, Hank Sasaki, two times 2006 Golden Guitar nominees The Sunny Cowgirls and regular hosts Grant Luhrs, Ian Muir, J R Williams and Jeanette Wormald. The train will be carrying 160 passengers plus staff and entertainers to the 2007 Tamworth Country Music Festival. Further information can be obtained from Arthur on (03) 5274 1009. Charts update George Strait hangs on to the number one spot for the fourth week with She Let Herself Go on this week's Country Tracks Top 30 national singles chart with The Flood's Hello Blue Skies is biting on his heels at number two up from four.
Tom Curtain's She Stays With Me and Mike Carr's Legend are steady at six and seven respectively with Toby Keith's Big Blue Note edging up one to number eight. Shania Twain's Shoes dropped to number nine while Keith Urban's latest single, These Are The Days, has entered the top 10 at number 10. Bullet performers this week include Troy Cassar-Daley's Going Back Home (up from 15 to 11), Darren Colston's Come By Chance (up from 19 to 15), Travis Sinclair's Midnight Run (in to the top 20 at number 16), Peter Denahy's Peppercorn Tree (in at 17), Shaza Leigh's Old Calare (in at 18), Jake Nickolai's Suddenly I (at 19) and Catherine Britt's Too Far Gone (at 20). New entries to the chart this week include Amos Morris with The Rain Don't Tumble Down In July Here (at 28), Ronni Rae Rivers with It's Only Make Believe (29) and Adam Harvey with That's Just How She Gets (30). The full chart can be viewed at www.nfspublicity.com.au.
Buck Owens dies American country star Buck Owens died on Saturday (March 25) at age 76 at his home near Bakersfield, California.
He had performed the night before at his club, Buck Owens' Crystal Palace, for about 90 minutes. "He was one of the true innovators; he did it his own way, an outside gunslinger type who used his own band and made music in Hollywood rather than Nashville. That free spirit made him important to a lot of people," Shaw said. Several generations of musicians – from Creedence Clearwater Revival and the Grateful Dead in the 1960s to Dwight Yoakam in the 1980s – were influenced by Owens' gritty "Bakersfield sound," with prominent guitars and drums. Buck was elected to the American Country Music Hall of Fame in 1996. Alvis Edgar Owens Jr was born on August 12, 1929, in Sherman, Texas. The son of a share farmer, Buck traveled with his family to the Phoenix, Arizona, area in 1937 as they searched for a better life. Eventually, they travelled to California's San Joaquin Valley doing farm work. At a young age Buck vowed that when he grew up, he would not be poor. He found a way out of his family's poverty through his musical talent. That talent blossomed after Buck moved to Bakersfield in 1951. Within months he was a member of the hottest honky-tonk band in town, Bill Woods & The Orange Blossom Playboys, who held fourth at the legendary Blackboard night club. He began playing a Fender Telecaster guitar, which provided a unique new sound in country music. Soon he was playing for recording sessions at Capitol Records. His first session as a leader came in 1957, but the session produced no hits Shortly thereafter, Buck began his other career, as a broadcaster. He moved to the Tacoma, Washington, suburb of Puyallup and bought part-interest in a radio station where he worked as a DJ and ad salesman as well as playing gigs in the area. He also had a live TV show in Tacoma. Buck's first Top 10 record, Under Your Spell Again, was released in 1959. In 1960, he sold his interests in Washington state and returned to Bakersfield, which was his home until he died. From 1962 to 1968 Buck released a series of number one records that established him as one of the greatest country entertainers of the time. In 1969, he was asked to host "Hee Haw," a country-themed music-and-comedy variety show that stayed on the air until 1986. Despite his broad popularity, Owens vowed to stay true to country music. Accused once of abandoning country to record a "rockabilly" song, he said: "I didn't say I wasn't gonna do rockabilly. I just said I ain't gonna sing no song that ain't a country song. I won't be known as anything but a country singer." Vale – Cindy Walker Cindy Walker, one of America's most prolific and respected songwriters, died last Thursday (March 23). She was 87.
Typing out lyrics on a pink Remington manual typewriter, she crafted top 10 hits in America each decade from the 1940s to the 1980s. Her body of work made her a charter member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970 and she was elected to the American Country Music Hall of Fame in 1997. A virtual constellation of stars recorded her songs: Wills, Arnold, Gene Autry, Willie Nelson, Tubb, Roy Orbison, Hank Snow, Ray Charles, Merle Haggard, Jim Reeves, Ricky Skaggs, Glen Campbell and Lacy J. Dalton. Those who worked with her over the years remembered a professional who fiercely protected her privacy yet proved a loyal and generous friend. Popular music star Bing Crosby recorded one of her earliest songs, Lone Star Trail, in 1940 and it soared on the charts. The American Country Music Hall of Fame described her as "perhaps the finest female composer in country music history". – Carl Hoover Tribune-Herald | |||||||||
Lindsay Butler started his own label in 1988 to release the albums he produced, an output that has produced widespread success for many artists and numerous awards, including many for Lindsay himself as a producer and the studio.
The second annual Pacific Songwriting Competition offers $40 000 cash prizemoney plus two Video iPods.
According to figures released by ARIA (the Australian Recording Industry Association), while the digital market expanded rapidly, the total dollar value of the recorded music industry in Australia fell by almost 10 percent during 2005 to $547 million.
The luncheon was to mark the opening of the Games and was attended by various heads of state from all of the Commonwealth countries.
Meanwhile, Sara will be one of the stars of a new country music festival day declared by organisers of this year's Sydney Royal Easter Show.
Alex's visit to the area was well publicised due to airplay on the Yass and Canberra local and regional radio stations and coverage in the "Yass Tribune", "Braidwood Times" and "Tallaganda Times".
A bonus to Festival-goers that makes this a unique visit is the close proximity of so many tourist attractions – from the beaches of the Sunshine Coast and Bribie Island within a half hour drive to the Hinterland, the Australia Zoo and many others.
Winners were announced on Monday night in Sydney.
Produced by respected Nashville hit-maker Louie Shelton at his Gold Coast Studio, songs on the new release range from the original Wolverines country rock sound through to subtle ballads.
It’s been a huge year so far for Nellie following the late 2005 release of her debut single Sing Me An Angel which gained widespread airplay both in Australia and internationally.
The popular music identity has released 28 albums since 1969 and is currently the official patron of the Year of the Outback.
Sara Storer's Since I've Gone has risen to number three, Stuie French & Camille Te Nahu (pictured) bulleted from eight to four with Wives Don't Like Old Girlfriends while the Dolly Parton/Keith Urban duet of The Twelfth Of Never has dropped to number five.
Buck, who sold more than 16 million albums and popularised country entertainment on American television as host of the program "Hee Haw", died of heart failure, according to his keyboard player Jim Shaw.
Walker wrote such songs as Cherokee Maiden, Miss Molly, Bubbles In My Beer and You're From Texas, which Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys turned into western swing standards; Warm Red Wine for Ernest Tubb and You Don't Know Me, a hit for Eddy Arnold.