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NEWS ARCHIVE – AUGUST 2014
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FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2014

Bolder Music opens for business

Following seven years as Artist & Repertoire/Label Manager at ABC Music, Tim Holland has launched Bolder Music, an artist and music industry services company with the core purpose of "championing great music and creativity".

Bolder Music will specialise in a broad range of artist development, project management and content creation services for recording artists, songwriters, music brands and events, according to Tim.

"Our prime focus will be on getting the fundamentals right in an objective and transparent manner," he said, "while always celebrating our love of great music, originality and creativity.

"We are not about promising fairytale outcomes. Instead we are passionate about focusing specifically on client needs, setting achievable goals, effective planning, utilising our extensive industry network and focusing on the elements we can control with talented artists and clients we truly believe in."

Heading Bolder Music's list of foundation clients is 2014 CMC (Country Music Channel) Female Oz Artist of the Year, three time ARIA nominee, six time Golden Guitar nominee and ABC Music recording artist Jasmine Rae (pictured).

The singer/songwriter's latest album, If I Want To, has achieved significant commercial and critical acclaim with three consecutive number one singles on the Australian Country Charts and a Top 20 result on the USA iTunes Country Charts. Bolder Music is now the official management team for Jasmine Rae.

While other foundation clients include 2014 CMC New Oz Artist of the Year finalist Matt Cornell who will release his new self-titled album on September 5 through WJO Distribution. Matt also begins a 26 show national tour opening for Australian superstar Adam Brand at the start of September.

During Tim's time at ABC Music, the label re-established itself as the market leader for Australian artist country music releases with five Australian country ABC Music artist albums topping the ARIA Country Sales charts in 2013 alone.

Shortly before completing his role at ABC Music, label artists won a combined total of nine Golden Guitars at the 2014 Country Music Awards of Australia (following a record 26 nominations for the label) and then a further two fan voted 2014 CMC Music Awards.

Tim has worked with a significant number of Australian country music's current hit artists in recent times including Adam Brand, Catherine Britt, Lee Kernaghan, McAlister Kemp, Sara Storer and The Wolfe Brothers.

Bolder Music is also partnering with Rusty Gate Films co-creator and CMC Music Award winning producer and director Robb Cox to create "top class and affordable music videos".

Robb has produced more than 20 number one Australian Country Music Videos and has worked with the likes of Damien Leith, The McClymonts, Lee Kernaghan, Adam Brand, Troy Cassar-Daley & Adam Harvey, McAlister Kemp, Steve Forde, Jetty Road, Harmony James and many more.

Weblink – www.boldermusic.com.au.

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Gympie festivities in full swing

Muster organisers report...

After Day 1... following a spot of rain on Wednesday evening, fans, campers and revellers awoke at the crack of dawn to clear blue skies and the birds of the Amamoor Creek State Forest to get The Gympie Music Muster off to a whip-cracking start.

Early risers came out for all the fun of the "Sunrise" TV weather crosses with bush poetry, sheep dogs and, of course, "X-Factor" starlet Caitlyn Shadbolt (pictured) giving a taste of the celebrations ahead. With the weather report in, the clear skies and sunshine are set to hold up over the weekend.

Performances kicked off with bush poetry at the Muster Club. Festival-goers gathered to enjoy breakfast while taking in the wit, rhyme and storytelling of modern-day Banjo Pattersons who had the crowd in stitches with their rolling yarns, getting audience members up on the stage and into the action.

From then on, the Muster was everything it had promised, fans saw the cream of the country music crop at the Main Stage with artists like Australian music legend Jon English and critically acclaimed husband and wife duo O'Shea.

But, of course, there's something for everyone at the Muster, with stellar acts like Adam Eckersley Band playing over at the Blues and Roots Bar till Midnight. The fun didn't stop there though, diehard devotees stumbled over to The Crow Bar for a graveyard shift performance by The Wolfe Brothers till the early morning hours.

Gympie Music Muster General Manager Jeff Chandler said he was happy with the first day turn out, saying it affirmed everything The Muster is about.

"A lot of festivals are all about the music, and we have that, we have some of the best artists in Australia doing incredible performances over four days. But it's also about the whole experience, fans love it because they can come out to this beautiful venue and experience a great atmosphere with like-minded people. That's why some of them set up their tents over a month ago.

"If you leave the Muster performance grounds and head to the camping sites you'll find a mix of revellers, from the deadly serious to the seriously laidback. Some groups have marked their territories with towering flagpoles, others have gone beyond camping to construct miniature castles, complete with pool tables and bar tops. Others still are happy to just to sit back with a fire and some deck chairs and shoot the breeze."

What's up next?

No matter the set-up, just being present at this year's Gympie Music Muster means these happy campers are bound to see some stellar performances over the coming days. Headliners like Beccy Cole, Lee Kernaghan, The McClymonts, Sara Storer and many many more many, many more will bless the Gympie stages today and over the weekend.

There's even more fun to be had around the site with songwriting sessions, line dancing lessons, bush poetry and a silent disco providing entertainment for young and old. Some lucky fans will have the opportunity to meet and greet Kasey Chambers and Lee Kernaghan, or even share a meal with Adam Harvey or The Wolfe Brothers... just by pre-ordering their latest albums at the Merch tent.

The biggest treat though will arrive on Saturday when nearly 100 drought-affected farmers from the South-Burnett region will be bussed in for a day off from the hardships of the farm. The farmers, many of whom haven't had a day off in years, have been given tickets and transport to a day of music, laughs and good times by Muster organisers and their official charity partner, Buy A Bale.

With hundreds more acts to come, and everyone in high spirits, it looks like this is going to be the best Muster yet.

Weblink – www.muster.com.au.

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Chart Update – still at number one

Adam Harvey's She Don't Know She's Beautiful is at number one on this week's national Country Tracks Top 40 chart for the sixth week in a row.

Doug Bruce's Broke Down Heart is up two to number two, Dean Perrett's collaboration with Troy Cassar-Daley, My Country, My Land, is at three while The Wolfe Brothers' That Kinda Night bounds into the top 10 at number four.

The McClymonts' Here's To You And I is at five, Tanya Self's Listening In at six and McAlister Kemp's Fight Me is steady at seven.

Brothers3's They Call The Country is up two to number eight, Harmony James' Skinny Flat White is at nine and the Davidson Brothers' Take Me To The Mountains is steady at 10.

Bullet performers for the week include Graham Rodger & Catherine Britt with Reach Out (17 to 14), Sandra Humphries' Just One Night (19 to 15), Christie Lamb's Wish You Were A Cowboy (new at 16), Aleyce Simmonds' Stronger (40 to 23), Lynda Barnes' Flannel Flowers (37 to28) and Justin Standley's Stand By Me (new at 31).

Other new entries for the week include Jared Porter's Deep End (new at 38) and Jess Holland's Revolving Door (at 40).

The full chart can be viewed at www.countrytrackschart.com.au.

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014

New from The Sunny Cowgirls

The Sunny Cowgirls release their seventh album – My Old Man – tomorrow.

Described as " a collection of carefully selected covers paying tribute to paternal figures across the country" the new work will be launched at the 2014 Gympie Muster.

The girls take to the Muster main stage on Saturday night, followed by a late night performance at the Muster's Crow Bar.

Self-produced by the singer/songwriter sister duo Sophie and Celeste Clabburn, the album is described as a showcase of the country siblings musical influences "and songs that have stood the test of time... and resonated with fathers all over!"

The song choices gives an insight into the sisters musical upbringing and the many influences that have shaped their successful recording and touring career thus far.

Freely admitting the album recordings are also a personal tribute to their own father, Sophie and Celeste said: "Our Dad is a huge inspiration to us and our music. He brought us up on these songs, and taught us what good music was. Our style is very similar to his! We would jam with him as kids and a lot of those old songs ended up on this record! It's our little way of saying 'thank you' for teaching us. I think most Dads will find something they love on this album… and Mums too, because we love our Mum!

"Don McLean to John Williamson, Paul McCartney to Joy McKean and only enhanced further by the likes of Stevie Nicks, Bob Dylan and Burt Bacharach to name just a few, the underlying tone of this album is recognising great songwriters domestically and internationally."

The album is also the first time Sophie and Celeste have taken on the role of producer, a new territory they welcomed.

"It was a lot of hard work, but very rewarding! You don't realise how much is involved until you have a crack at it yourself," they said. "It felt great to be behind the wheel and make the decisions we wanted to make. Luckily, we were both on the same page... most of the time! We're very proud of this record."

The first single release from the album is the John Williamson classic The Shed.

The Sunny Cowgirls will be touring Australia with Adam Harvey in October in Victoria and November in NSW.

Weblink – www.sunnycowgirls.com.

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2014

33rd Gympie Muster about to kick off

Every year, masses of country, blues, roots and folk music fans make a pilgrimage to a sacred site near the small Queensland town of Gympie... to the Gympie Music Muster, in its 33rd year this year.

Now well established on its dedicated site in the Amamoor Creek State Forest outside of Gympie and 90 minutes north of Brisbane, the Muster always features a huge line-up of talent.

Festivities kicked off today with the Pre-Muster Party, almost like an opening ceremony for the Muster, where the whole town gets involved in the iconic festival's lead-up. Tourists can cruise down Mary Street and enjoy local buskers and troubadours, or view the artful decoration of local stores and businesses all getting in on the act.

"You can drop in to The Royal Hotel for lunch, wine and a songwriter's session with Linc Phelps, Pete Denahy (pictured) and the girls from Dozzi or get more of a taste of what's to come over at Kandanga or Billy's Hotels or the Gympie RSL for great food and live performances," organisers say.

"Schools are getting involved with a Pre-Muster School Showcase at the Gold City Centre Stage in Mary Street setting the scene as local school-age bands battle it out for big prizes, including a Fender guitar and amp package, and a performance at the Muster.

"The real fun starts on Thursday though, when the Muster gets into full swing with the first act at 9am, the Muster Poets. From then on it's all guns blazing with food, drink, dancing, poetry and performances by every single Golden Guitar winner from this year's Country Music Awards."

An expected 50,000 fans across the weekend will see headline acts including Kasey Chambers, Adam Harvey, Lee Kernaghan, The McClymonts and The Sunny Cowgirls.

Weblink – www.muster.com.au.

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

Hope Estate announces Campfire Festival 2015

NSW Hunter Valley winery Hope Estate has announced a new three-day music festival for 2015, the Campfire Festival to be held March 13 to 15 and set to feature a top lineup of respected Australian talent.

The event will replace the former CMC Rocks The Hunter concert which has relocated to a raceway in Ipswich.

"After CMC's unexpected exit, we were overwhelmed with messages from the music community," said Hope Estate owner Michael Hope. "So many people were looking forward to spending the three days here with their friends, it had become an annual and planned ritual for them. They’d already booked flights and accommodation, and wanted to know how they could help bring the show back."

Hope Estate has become one of Australia's sought-after concert destinations in recent years. The venue regularly hosts up to 20,000 fans in its amphitheatre, with the likes of Bruce Springsteen playing two nights in February this year and the Rolling Stones and The Eagles booked in for the coming season.

"All the major promoters now view Hope Estate as world-class venue capable of hosting and delivering world-class shows. It's a testament not just to our own people, but the whole Hunter event community that pitches in to show visitors a great time and unforgettable experience," Michael said.

The Campfire Festival will feature bigger staging, a wider variety of food and beverage options, including craft beer from the new onsite microbrewery, and a new "five-star" camping facility.

Impressed by the grassroots loyalty of country music fans, Hope Estate has structured the new event to "let the audience help create it". There will be two stages, major artists on the Main Stage which will be announced over the next few months.

"Ten of the acts out of the 15 scheduled on the B-Stage will be chosen via an online audience member vote leading into the event, giving up-and-coming performers a chance to shine in front of a big audience," Michael said.

"So many people have written in to us suggesting acts. There's a strong sense that the Campfire Festival can really belong to fans and we want to harness that energy and help build the next generation of Australian country stars. It's a great chance for new acts to score a paid gig that will get them noticed."

In addition to main stage and B-Stage performances, there will also be a busking competition voted by the fans using a phone app with the winner getting a paid slot on the main stage.

"The whole Hunter region is ready to get behind this event, and with the passionate support we've already felt from the fans, we think Campfire Festival 2015 will mark the start of something great," Michael said.

Weblink – www.hopeestate.com.au.

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Vale – Colin James

Victorian-based singer/songwriter, recording artist and broadcaster Colin James died yesterday.

Born in 1938, Colin contracted rheumatoid arthritis which confined him to wheelchair. At age 15 in 1953, he started writing songs. Keith Riordan being one of the first to record one of Colin's songs.

Colin began performing in public in 1958 as part of a group called Country Club, which also featured Olive Bice. In the early 1960s, Colin first recorded on Crest, two tracks, Sleepless Nights and What Is It?

Another single and an EP were released later as well as an album for the W&G label. He also started his own entertainment agency which he closed in 1975 after it became too much to handle.

In 1976, Colin moved to Geelong and teamed up with Caroline Sleep, then signed with Hadley records and in 1981 was recognised with an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for services to the community. He was inducted into the Country Music Hands of Fame in 1984.

On the international scene, Colin performed at clubs in New Zealand and America, including Honolulu, Nashville, Washington and Seattle where, in 1988, he sang to an estimated crowd of more than 8,000 at the Kiwanis Convention.

In the early 1990s, with the entertainment scene in Victoria in a decline, Colin and his wife Diane set out to travel as widely as they could, not only to see and enjoy the country at a leisurely pace, but to compile sufficient information to publish a travel guide for other "wheelies" listing as many accessible accommodation options and tourist attractions as they could find.

The book – titled "A Wheelie's Handbook of Australia" – was eventually published in 1995 by the couple.

In 1994, Colin was inducted into the South Australian Country Music Hall of Fame and in 1995, he was recognised for his efforts as a campaigner for the rights of disabled people and his efforts in fund-raising, by the National Telstra Phonecard, "Local Legends" promotion.

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MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

Another milestone for Slim

The late Slim Dusty has achieved another milestone in setting a new record for record chart performance.

This week, his The Very Best Of Slim Dusty album chalked up 800 weeks on the Australian Country Chart compiled by ARIA, the Australian Recording Industry Association.

In addition, the release has reached a massive five times platinum in sales or more than 350,000 copies sold.

The album was released initially in 1998.

The DVD compilation of was also released in 1998 and has gone triple platinum.

Weblink – www.slimdusty.com.au.

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 2014

Vale – Paul Rowe

Tamworth-based country music broadcaster Paul Rowe died on Friday.

Best known more recently for his annual stewardship of the Tamworth Country Music Festival radio station Festival FM, Paul worked as part of the Rural Press Events (RPE) team on numerous projects.

Previously an announcer at radio stations in New Zealand and Australia, including Tamworth's 2TM, Paul headed up the Festival FM station for the past 15 years and was the first contact for RPE's Official Tamworth Festival Guide publication and the on-site PA for the giant AgQuip field days.

"Paul's sudden passing has, and will affect many of us in different ways and our collective thoughts from not only the Rural Press Events team, but the whole country music family, go out to Paul's wife Marg and son Bradley and extended families," Barry said.

Paul's funeral will be held at Lincoln Grove, Gunnedah Road, Tamworth, at 10am Wednesday, September 3.

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Chart Update – Adam dominates the top spot

Adam Harvey's She Don't Know She's Beautiful has a stranglehold on the number one position on the national Country Tracks Top 40 chart, this week for the fifth week in succession.

Dean Perrett's collaboration with Troy Cassar-Daley, My Country, My Land, jumps four places to number two, The McClymonts' Here's To You And I is at three and Doug Bruce's Broke Down Heart is steady at four.

Tanya Self's Listening In is steady at five, Clelia Adams' Honky Tonk Moon debuts in the chart this week at six and McAlister Kemp's Fight Me is at seven.

The Jasmine Rae/Kellie Pickler duet Bad Boys Get Me Good is at eight, Amber Joy Poulton's Maybe Bay is at nine and Brothers3's They Call The Country enters the chart at number 10.

Bullet performers for the week include the Davidson Brothers' Take Me To The Mountains (new at 14), O'Shea's It Never Goes Away (37 to 15), Paul Costa's Right Back At Ya (19 to 16), Graham Rodger & Catherine Britt with Reach Out (30 to 17), Larkham & The Crosby Sisters with Stumblin' In (new at 18), Sandra Humphries' Just One Night (new at 19), Allan Caswell's Love In A Minor Key (new at 22), Kel-Anne Brandt's Green Door (35 to 24), Taylor Pfeiffer's Toughen Up Princess (new at 27), Small Town Culture's The Life Of A Country Kid (new at 28) and Lynda Barnes' Flannel Flowers (new at 37).

The full chart can be viewed at www.countrytrackschart.com.au.

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2014

CMC Rocks the Hunter moves to Queensland

After four years at the NSW Hunter Valley's Hope Estate, the three-day country and roots festival CMC (Country Music Channel) Rocks the Hunter will move to Ipswich next year and re-badge as CMC Rocks Qld.

The event will be staged at Ipswich's Willowbank Raceway from March 13 to 15.

Stars announced to date are Australia's own Troy Cassar-Daley and America's Lady Antebellum.

The news of the move was met with annoyance by some patrons who had already booked flights and accommodation in the Hunter Valley for next year.

A statement from promoters said "site considerations" were a major factor for their decision.

The new site is serviced by international airports in Brisbane and the Gold Coast (35 percent of attendees come from outside NSW) and direct bus and train services.

Being close to major centres Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Ipswich and Toowoomba, each between 10 to 90 minutes away, there will be greater accommodation options, the statement said.

For the first time, CMC Rocks would also introduce a tent-style motel service on-site.

CMC Rocks started in Thredbo in the NSW Snowy Mountains in 2008 before moving to Hope Estate in 2011.

While crowd numbers varied from 6,000 to 11,000 over four Hunter years, it is believed the larger Queensland site could allow numbers to grow to between 12,000 and 15,000.

Weblink – www.cmcrocks.com.

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MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 2014

New Zealand winners

Kaylee Bell has triumphed again with another award win in New Zealand.

On Saturday night, Kaylee was named joint winner of Female Vocalist of the year – with Tami Neilson – at the New Zealand National Country Music Awards.

Phil Doublet took out the Male Vocal title while Into The East was named Duo/Group of the Year.

Cam Luxton won the Horizon (or new talent) award and The DAG Songwriting Scholarship was awarded to Sarah Conlan.

Weblink – www.kiwiproamcountrymusic.co.nz.

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New from Adam

Family Life is the latest studio album from Adam Harvey, due for release at the upcoming Gympie Muster.

First single from the new work, She Don't Know She's Beautiful, has already made number one on the Country Tracks national Top 40 while the accompanying video clip is popular on the Country Music Channel (CMC).

With a career spanning almost 20 years, half a million album sales, gold and platinum albums and eight Golden Guitars, Adam is one of Australia's most popular and enduring recording artists.

The new album follows on from the outstanding success of The Great Country Songbook, his platinum selling album of covers with Troy Cassar-Daley.

Family Life is described as Adam's most personal and enthralling album to date... "a a collection of personal stories and observations that will resonate with people of all ages from all walks of life.

"Some are heartfelt, some are humorous and they're all delivered with Adam's impeccable vocal phrasing and expression. They tell of Adam's experience as a husband, a father and a son… of a man who is content with his life."

Adam will be launching the album at this year’s Gympie Music Muster before kicking off a tour to showcase and promote the new work.

Weblink – www.adamharvey.com.au.

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2014

Chart Update – Adam continues to dominate

Adam Harvey's She Don't Know She's Beautiful retains the number one spot on the coming week's national Country Tracks Top 40 chart for the fourth week in a row.

The McClymonts' Here's To You And I and McAlister Kemp's Fight Me are at two and three, respectively, while Doug Bruce's Broke Down Heart jumps eight places from number 12 to be at number four.

Tanya Self's Listening In enters the top 10 at number five, Dean Perrett's collaboration with Troy Cassar-Daley, My Country, My Land, debuts in the chart at six and The Wolfe Brothers' That Kinda Night is at seven.

John Williamson's Honest People is at eight, Harmony James' Skinny Flat White is steady at nine while Kasey Chambers' Wheelbarrow enters the top 10 at 10.

Bullet performers for the week include the Jasmine Rae/Kellie Pickler duet Bad Boys Get Me Good (19 to 13), Aleyce Simmonds' Stronger (new at 28), Graham Rodger & Catherine Britt with Reach Out (new at 30), The Sou'Westers with Lovers Do and O'Shea with It Never Goes Away (new at 37).

The full chart can be viewed at www.countrytrackschart.com.au.

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 14. 2014

Southern Stars finalists

Finalists have been announced for the 2014 Australian Independent Country Music Awards, or Southern Stars, to be held as culmination of the annual Mildura Country Music Festival.

Luke O'Shea (pictured) leads the finalist pack with four nominations, closely followed by Lachlan Bryan & The Wildes and Aleyce Simmonds with three each.

The full listing is...

For Single of the Year... Believe by Aleyce Simmonds, Black Coffee by Lachlan Bryan & The Wildes, The Next Thing That You Hear by Allan Caswell and Three Brothers (The Great War) by Luke O’Shea.

Album of the Year... Believe by Aleyce Simmonds, Black Coffee by Lachlan Bryan & The Wildes, Sing You Up by Luke O'Shea and Truth About Us by Seleen McAlister.

Heritage Track of the Year – Traditional... Albert Campbell by Bec Hance, Dad's Bottom Drawer by Luke O’Shea, I'm The Land by Dean Perrett and Jack Bridle by Dianne Lindsay.

Rising Star – Male... Damien Agius for Time To Say Goodbye, Damian Howard with Once In A While, Mick Lindsay with Imaginary Girl and Carl Wockner with Simple Pleasures.

Rising Star – Female... Alice Benfer with Driving, Kate Cook with Give The Girl A Spanner, Allison Forbes with What'll Happen To Me Know? and Gretta Ziller with Hunt For Love.

Male Vocalist of the Year... 8 Ball Aitken with I'm Going To Jail, Allan Caswell with The Next Thing That You Hear, Luke O’Shea with Three Brothers (The Great War) and Graham Rodger with Scrub Bull Hunters.

Female Vocalist of the Year ... Bec Hance with Nothin’ More To Say, Seleen McAlister with If I Had Only Known, Tanya Self with You Don’t Love Me (When You're Sober) and Aleyce Simmonds with Believe.

Group/Duo of the Year... Lachlan Bryan & The Wildes with Black Coffee, Carter & Carter with Little Patch Of Heaven, the Davidson Brothers with Travelling Bluebird and Simply Bushed with Makin' Hay.

Winners will be announced on Saturday October 4 during the awards presentation concert at 5:30pm in the Mercy Theatre, St Joseph's College, 11th Street, Mildura.

Tickets are available by calling 1800 039 043 for $33 (including GST).

Weblink – www.milduracountrymusic.com.au.

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2014

Two country finalists in X Factor

Television's X Factor is down to it's final 12 and two country acts are still in contention to win.

Gympie's Caitlyn Shadbolt – a member of judge Ronan Keating's "bootcamp" group – is one, while Brothers3, who were not selected as a part of judge Danni Minogue's team, was successful as the wildcard finalist on Sunday night.

Twelve acts, plus Brothers3, played to huge cheers from the audience in Sunday night's first live show in the series.

Last night's show, the first "decider" in the series, saw the elimination of the all-girl group Trill, part of Danni's stable of acts.

Members of the public can help decide the winners as the series pans out.

Weblink – yahoo.com.au/xfactor - or view 6:30pm Sundays, 7:30pm Mondays.

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MONDAY, AUGUST 11, 2014

Clarence Valley Muster

Details have been announced for the 2014 Clarence Valley Country Muster slated to run at Grafton (NSW) from Monday October 27 to Sunday November 2.

Among the highlights of this year's event will be a "best walk-up artist award" of a $2000 recording contract, raffle prizes including a week on a Clarence River houseboat and "spades full of seasoned country music".

"It's a recipe for maximum enjoyment," say organisers, "and it's all on offer at the second annual Muster on a property just north-east of Grafton.

"The ingredients for this feast of country music include more than 20 artists. Among them are Terry Gordon, Glenn Jones (pictured), Lindsay Waddington, The Kross Kut Showband, Marge Graham and acclaimed bush poet Ray Essery."

Fingers were crossed before the first muster last year when organiser Wendy Gordon decided to open her property to the festival at Calliope, a tiny but historically-rich hamlet in the lush Clarence Valley.

There was no need for anxiety. Country music fans, dominated by grey nomads and their vans, turned up to savour the delights of food, friendship and the sweet sounds of professional performers.

"The success of the first muster just blew me away," Wendy said. "But the follow-up was even more staggering. Given the response to bookings for this year's Muster, I wouldn't be surprised to see up to 1500 fans on the property."

The Clarence Valley Music Muster is held at the same time of the year as Grafton's nationally-recognised Jacaranda Festival. And that's no accident.

"Jaca pulls in thousands of visitors every year," Wendy said. "The Muster offers visitors another attraction just a few kilometres down river. The property is close to Ulmarra, an historic river port village settled even before Grafton itself.

"Ulmarra not only takes you back to a time when the Clarence River was the highway for goods crammed into sailing ships and steamers, but it now offers  accommodation at the Commercial Hotel, the now-dry Exchange Hotel opposite and up-market bed and breakfast outlets Woodfordleigh, Rooftops and Lulu's."

Proceeds from the rich raffles on offer at the Muster go towards easing the lot of sick kids through the Camp Quality organisation.

More information can be obtained, and bookings made, by contacting Wendy on (02) 6644 8012, 0432 741 947, on facebook or via email wgordon@cvcmuster.com.au.

Weblink – www.cvcmuster.com.au.


FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 2014

Gretta releases debut EP

Melbourne based alt country artist Gretta Ziller has released her debut EP Hell's Half Acre.

All five tracks on the release were written by Greta, one with Jasper Hollis. The EP was produced, engineered and mixed by producer Matt Fell.

Studio musicians involved in the recording included Matt himself (on "a swag of instruments"), Glen Hannah (guitars), Sam Hawksley (pedal steel), Luke Moller (fiddle) and Josh Schuberth (drums).

The EP's title track and second single was serviced to radio via WJO on Monday July 28, telling the story of a "getting out of the bed you made" situation, according to a spokesman for the artist.

"It's a tale of self-realisation, how you got yourself into this pickle, and how you got the hell out!"

Hell's Half Acre itself is a "badlands" (a type of dry terrain) in Wyoming in America but inspiration for the song came about after a visit to a "badlands" in Alberta, Canada.

The EP’s first single, Hunt For Love, peaked at 29 on the Country Music Channel's Top 50 Countdown. The video clip can be viewed here... youtu.be/wxNVVnyOe_I

Gretta, a 2011 Australian Academy Of Country Music graduate, grew up in Thologolong near Wodonga in the Upper Murray region of Victoria and spent a great deal of her youth dabbling in musical theatre, jazz, rock and classical.

As a teenager, she learnt to play a number of instruments including violin, cello and double bass but took a shine to the bagpipes in particular. "Once you learn of her Celtic and German heritage, it comes as less of a surprise and it presented her with many rewarding experiences like performing alongside legendary artist John Farnham at the 2009 AFL Grand Final," the spokesman said.

Gretta was introduced to country music via her sister who loaned her a Garth Brooks album. In 2006, she made a first and long-lasting impression on the Telstra Road To Tamworth team by winning the Albury heat. She has since gone on to place in the 2012 semi-finals which saw her perform at the Sydney Telstra 500 V8 Supercars event and the grand final in 2013 at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment & Conference Centre.

"Through her performances over the years, Gretta's vocal style has often been likened to Emmylou Harris and to her songwriting gods, Paul Kelly and Steve Earle."

Weblink – grettaziller.com.

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Chart Update – Adam still at the top

Adam Harvey's She Don't Know She's Beautiful retains the number one spot on the coming week's national Country Tracks Top 30 chart for the third week in succession.

The McClymonts' Here's To You And I is steady at number two while McAlister Kemp's Fight Me jumps two places to number three and The Wolfe Brothers' That Kinda Night is steady at four.

Christie Lamb's Manhunt is also up two places to number five, John Williamson's Honest People bounds into the top 10 at six as does The McClymonts former number one Going Under (Didn't Have To) at seven following its re-entry into the chart.

Morgan Evans' Like A Tornado is at eight, Harmony James' Skinny Flat White is at nine and Pete Denahy's Looking At My Phone debuts in the top 10 at 10.

Bullet performers for the week include Paul Costa's Right Back At Ya (new at 11), Doug Bruce's Broke Down Heart (new at 12), Tanya Self's Listening In (new at 13), Lyn Bowtell's Heart Of Sorrow (20 to 14), Greg Champion's Welcome To Woop Woop (29 to 20), Johnny Greenwood's Australia's Bert Hinkler (re-entered at 23) and Jared Porter's Deep End (28 to 24).

The full chart can be viewed at www.countrytrackschart.com.au.

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6, 2014

Missy records Slim

Pop star Missy Higgins has released a new album featuring the songs of other well-known Aussie artists including Slim Dusty.

Missy Higgins' OZ is described as "something different… an eclectic album of Aussie cover versions and a quirky book of related essays. The music and the prose are best experienced together in a beautiful clothbound CD/book edition but they can also be enjoyed separately in physical or digital forms, and all will be released on September 19," according to the release announcing the new works.

Other artists whose songs are covered include The Angels, Paul Kelly, Something For Kate and the Warumpi Band.

In the book accompanying the album,, Missy uses each of the recordings on the album as the starting point for a sprawling series of essays "reflecting on life, love and how not to wear high heels".

"I wanted to try something different this time around," Missy said. "I couldn't decide between making a covers album or writing a book so I decided to do both at once. Musically it's intended to be a real mixed bag of lollies.

"Obviously part of the reason I called the whole project OZ is that it's all about Australian songs. Plus, for the first time, I recorded the whole thing in Australia. However the title has a second meaning. I like the idea of songwriters being like the Wizard in 'The Wizard of Oz'. Some people think we’re special people who have special powers but really we're just scared little people hiding in a backroom somewhere, working like crazy to make sure we don’t get found out!"

There are four main threads that bind what is described as a disparate collection of tunes. "The first is obviously the lyrical and vocal combinations that allow Missy to truly inhabit each of these works as if she had written it herself. The second is the strikingly live production by Missy and American orchestrator Jherek Bischoff.

"The third thread that runs through the recordings is the presence of contributions from various friends of Missy's. Not only does she cover Dan Sultan’s timeless Old Fitzroy but the Deadly Award winner (and 'Bran Nue Dae' co-star) also adds his unmistakable voice to an ol' timey rendition of (the Joy McKean/Slim Dusty) The Biggest Disappointment. Kate Miller Heidke and Amanda Palmer are among others to feature prominently.

"Finally, the entire collection was mixed by multiple Grammy recipient Jay Newland who also mixed Missy's breakthrough album The Sound Of White."

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MONDAY, AUGUST 4, 2014

A new bluegrass event on the calendar

The new Bangalow (NSW) BBQ and Bluegrass event went off "with a boom" on Saturday, according to Bryon Echo Net Daily, "when the event sold out at around 2pm with 2,000 punters enjoying excellent music, fantastic food, and an awesome atmosphere".

The Daily said organisers were exhausted after a better than expected outcome. Sublime weather and the generous efforts of volunteers also contributed to a great first festival.

Dates for next year's event have already been announced: Saturday and Sunday August  8 and 9.

Weblink – www.bbqbluegrass.com.au.

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, 2014

Chart Update – Adam hangs on to number one

Adam Harvey's She Don't Know She's Beautiful retains the number one spot on the coming week's national Country Tracks Top 30 chart.

The McClymonts' Here's To You And I and the Jasmine Rae/Kellie Pickler duet Bad Boys Get Me Good retain the second and third places, respectively, while The Wolfe Brothers' That Kinda Night is up three to number four.

McAlister Kemp's Fight Me edges up one place to number five, Morgan Evans' Like A Tornado is up three to six as is Christie Lamb's Manhunt to seven.

Harmony James' Skinny Flat White is at eight, Tanya Self's The Jacaranda is at nine and Lee Kernaghan's Dirt Music re-enters the top 10 at 10.

Bullet performers for the week include Keith Urban's Somewhere In My Car (17 to 12), Kasey Chambers' Wheelbarrow (new at 13), John Williamson's title track from his new album Honest People (new at 15) and The Long And Short Of It (pictured) with Latter Day Cowboy (22 to 18).

The full chart can be viewed at www.countrytrackschart.com.au.

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