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This website brings you the latest Australian country music news. News releases can be sent to news@countrymusicbulletin.com.au |
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FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019 New from Sunny Cowgirls The Sunny Cowgirls will release their latest recording – a mini album titled Happy Days – later this month.
The first single from the album – Raining Pineapples – was released on August 30. This was followed last Monday by the release of a mini documentary on the recording of the album which featured on the Country Music Channel. Sophie and Celeste said they hoped Raining Pineapples might "lift a few spirits for everyone and anyone affected by this bastard of a drought! "Let’s all pray for some bloody good rain sometime soon!" Happy Days celebrates 15 years of the Sunny Cowgirls. "We wanted to take a trip down memory lane and put it into a mini album. This is what came up with." The full release will be available September 20 through ABC Musicand features "some old songs re-done as well as a Kernaghancover!" Weblink – www.sunnycowgirls.com. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2019 Positive outlook for country music in Australia New research released by the Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) indicates a positive “place” and outlook for country music in Australia. It’s the first such research undertaken since foundational studies taken by the Association in the 1990s. The new report is compiled from detailed responses by 4,329 country music fans and 582 artists sourced over a nine month period with key findings estimating, conservatively, the sector has doubled in value since 1997 to more than half a billion dollars.
“But thanks to significantly increased live event and radio audiences and growth in streaming revenue driven by the genre’s increasing popularity, country music has not only recovered but all indicators point to a bright and sustainable future.” Highlights from the research include a reported attendance of 202,000 at major country music festivals with patron spending of $281.5 million. In 1997, the figure was $114.6 million. With audio and video streaming dominating the global and Australian recorded music markets, Spotify reported Australia as the third largest country music territory after the US and Canada, and the world’s fastest-growing country market. CDs still play an important role in country music with 82 percent of fans buying at least one in 2018. While ARIA’s top 50 albums (all genres) recorded a one percent decline in unit sales between 2017 and 2018, country music’s top 50 albums in the same period recorded sales growth of 24 percent, increasing country’s share from 15 percent to 19 percent of overall sales. Fourteen percent of APRA’s registered Australian songwriters identified as writing country in 2018 compared to six percent in 1997. AMPCOM, the organisation that monitors new-release Australian radio airplay on commercial stations, reported country music’s share at 14 percent. In 2000, it was 7.9 percent. Morgan Evans, Australia’s newest international star, topped the US and Australian country airplay charts and, by reaching number one on the Australian all-genre airplay chart, became the first country artist to do so since Taylor Swift in 2009. “Country is a safe place!” the CMAA said. “Eighty-five percent of male and female artists and fans have rarely or never felt unsafe or uncomfortable at a country music gig,” the research revealed. The research was managed and authored by CMAA President Dobe Newton drawing on his experience conducting two similar landmark studies – “The Melbourne Live Music Census” projects of 2012 and 2017. “Their willingness to be involved, matched by that of major businesses and organisations in our sector, is indicative of the passion we all have for country music.” Weblink – www.country.com.au. MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2019
Warren H Williams has shared in the Northern Territory Award for Excellence in a Regional Area at the 2019 Art Music Awards hosted by APRA AMCOS. The award was presented to Warren, Michael Sollis and Barkly Arts for One Sky Many Stories, "inspiring audiences as they explore their relationship to the night sky, Indigenous culture and the world around us".
FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019 Casey signs to Chugg Gold Coast country-rock performer Casey Barnes has signed a management and recording deal with Sydney-based Michael Chugg Music.
Casey's current album The Good Life debuted at number one on the iTunes Country Album Chart and peaked at number two on the ARIA Country Album Chart. He now has 134,000 monthly listeners across streaming services while his recordings have generated 4.37 million streams. "The last couple of years have been a time of incredible of growth for me personally and professionally"” Casey said. "I dared to approach Michael Chugg when I played CMC Rocks and was stunned to find that he knew my music." Michael has announcd that his new client has new music coming in September. "We’re assembling a world-class team to work with Casey, and we’ve been getting great feedback already from Australia and the US about what the music could achieve with Australian and international audiences," Michael said. Casey has signed for live bookings with Select Music and will be represented by Stephen Wade and Rob Giovannoni. His recent set at the Groundwater Country Music Festival on the Gold Coast won him the Inaugural P&O People Choice Award. Weblink – www.caseybarnes.com. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2019 Muster underway tomorrow As thousands of visitors and dozens of artists buckle down for this year’s Gympie Music Muster, kicking off tomorrow, final preparations are in hand for the 2019 Muster Talent Search.
Online auditions have been completed with semi finals to run on Friday and Saturday from 12 noon. The grand final takes place on the Muster Main Stage on Sunday from 2:45pm. Prizes for the open winner this year include a scholarship to the Australian Academy of Country Music in January and scheduled performances at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, scheduled performances at the Brisbane Ekka, Deni Ute Muster, Nannup Music Festival, Norfolk Island Country Music Festival, a paid performance spot at next year’s Muster and a trip to America’s home of country music, Nashville. Prizes for the junior winner include scheduled performances at the 2020 Tamworth Country Music Festival, a paid performance spot at next year’s Muster and a range of promotional opportunities such as a dedicated profile piece in the national publication Country Music Capital News. Photo: last year’s junior winner Leyon Milner with his winner’s plaque and senior winner Natalie Pearson in the background. Weblink – www.muster.com.au. MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2019 Jayne stars again at major US truck show Australia's Jayne Denham will be a feature performer again at this year's Great American Trucking Show (GATS) running this week in Dallas.
It's a return for Jayne who has performed at the show previously. Following her performance this week, Jayne and three stars of the reality TV show "Ice Road Truckers" will meet with fans. The upcoming music video of Black Coffee & White Lines is set to feature stars of "Ice Road Truckers" which follows the lives of semi-truck drivers who put their lives on the line braving the Arctic weather. "I met Jayne a few years back at GATS and was introduced to her music," said "Ice Road Trucker" Lisa Kelly. "I am really looking forward to being a part of the new music video..." Jayne will follow up her GATS performance in September when she performs at the Women in Trucking (WIT) Accelerate! Conference, also in Dallas, who have signed her on as an ambassador. It will be Jayne's fourth appearance for WIT having performed at the Salute To Women Behind The Wheel in Wisconsin in 2017, and at the 2018 and 2019 events in Louisville, Kentucky. Photo: Jayne on stage at last year's WIT conference. Weblink – www.jaynedeham.com. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2019 Southern Stars finalists announced Finalists have been announced for the 2019 Southern Stars (Australian Independent Country Music Awards). Leading the tally for the 23rd annual event are Carter & Carter, Allan Caswell, Darren Coggan, Dianne Lindsay and John O'Dea who have each scored two finalist nominations in a year that sees a total of 22 artists up for recognition in the seven judged categories.
Organisers have announced that the Rising Star Male category is not to be included this year due to lack of entries. "We received nominations from 66 individual artists and groups," said Awards Co-ordinator "Many of the 22 finalists have already achieved significant chart success with radio Award winners will be announced on Saturday night, Ocober 5, as the main event of the Mildura Country Music Festival which runs from Friday September 27 to Sunday October 6 with more than 70 artists performing during the 10 days at 24 separate venues. "The Festival plays a major role in fostering independent Australian country music Tickets are now available for the Awards presentation and concert which will be held at the Mercy Theatre, St Joseph’s College. Hosted by Dave Prior and Amber Joy Poulton, guest artists will include Jeff Brown, Keely Johnson, John O'Dea, Taylor Pfeiffer, Dean Perrett, Kiara Rodriques and Justin Standley. The 2019 Mildura Country Music Festival program is now available from the Festival website with a full list of 2019 artists and tickets for the Awards. Further general information from the Mildura Visitor Information Centre on 1800 039 043. Weblink – www.milduracountrymusic.com.au. Following is the full listing of Awards finalists... Honky Tonk Bar In The City by The TonyQ Band, My Family & Me by Destiny Band Oz, Together We Can Carter & Carter and The Writer by Friends of Gary Koehler. For Album of the Year... A Dream And A Song by John O’Dea, Alby Pool (The Best Of Vol 2) by Alby Pool, Earn Your Spurs by Dean Perrett and Like A Rhinestone Cowboy by Darren Coggan. For Bush Ballad of the Year... Dust Of Australia by Tom Maxwell, Feeding The Crew by Allan Caswell, Paddy’s Soul by Dianne Lindsay and Sons Of The Saddle by Dean Perrett. For Rising Star Female... Andersonlane with This Girl, Della Harris with Long As You’re Lonely, Pheobe Jay with Free Air and Kiara Rodrigues with Pretty Baby Blues. For Male Vocalist of the Year... Allan Caswell with Train To Godforsaken, Darren Coggan with The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress, Brad Marks What If You Can and John O’Dea with The Homestead Gate. For Female Vocalist of the Year... Derani with Drive South, Dianne Lindsay with Paddy’s Soul, Gayle O’Neill with Open Arms and Anita Ree with Sweet Sugar Cane. For Group/Duo of the Year... Big Sky Mountain with Homeland, Carter & Carter with Together We Can, The Long & Short Of It with When I’m Gone and The Weeping Willows with Devil’s Road An eighth award, for Independent Artist of the Year, is judged from all categories overall. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2019 TSA songwriting competition Entries are open for this year’s TSA – Tamworth Songwriters’ Association – Songwriting Competition with winners to be announced in Tamworth in January.
Categories are… Novice, Youth, Lyrics Only, Bush Ballad, Traditional, Bluegrass, Gospel/Spiritual, Country Rock, Country Ballad, Country Blues, Alt Country, Comedy/Novelty and Anzac. Full details can be obtained via www.tsaonline.com.au. The TSA has also announced it will be conducting a talent quest again during the Tamworth Country Music Festival in 2020. Entries for all categories can be made, and questions answered via www.tsa.songcentral.biz. MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 2019 Vale – Ron Adsett Ron Adsett, a quiet and modest man who was widely respected and loved for his low profile but highly effective involvement in many areas of the Australian country music industry, died on Friday after a long illness.
Over the years, Ron and his wife Rosie, individually and together, made a significant contribution to the growth and status of the entire Australian country music industry, but in particular its promotion and marketing, for many decades. Ron became income involved in the industry when he became a sales representative and promotions manager of Tempo Records in the early 1970s. He developed a love of country music and after two years as Music Director of Sydney radio station 2UE, moved to Brisbane where he became Music Director at 4KQ where he played a key role in converting the station into a country music powerhouse. During the period, 4KQ became number one in the Brisbane ratings playing country music (probably the only case this has happened in metro radio since the early 1950s). In 1987, when 4KQ was taken over and turned into a talk station, Ron and Rosie opened The Country Music Store in Brisbane’s CBD and developed a comprehensive catalogue of Australian country music, gradually moving into mail order and internet marketing. Ron recognised the value of the internet early in its development securing the domain name countrymusic.com.au which he used for many years. Through the decades, The Country music Store distributed Australian country music all over the world. It won the Country Music Association of Australia’s (CMAA) Achiever Award for Retailer of the Year five times and was by far the most effective and consistent retailer of Australian country music in the nation. Over the years, Ron ventured into associated areas. In 1993, he began a decade of group touring to the USA for the famous Fan Fair festival. In 2004, he and a group of friends launched the Bellbird Music label to reissue classic Australian country music recordings based on the well known Hadley Records catalogue. A versatile and friendly man, Ron was also extremely active working in other areas of the industry. He presented country music programs on 4BC and other stations and has written countless articles and reviews about Australian country music. He was also a judge of the Country Music Awards of Australia and innumerable other Awards and talent quests over many years. When the CMAA was formed in 1991/92, Ron was elected a founding Board Member and he contributed without a break until the late 2000s making a valuable contribution to building and running the industry organisation. Rosie Adsett, too, was involved as a full and active partner in the development and running of The Country Music Store. She has worked as a writer, broadcaster, academic and promoter of Australian country artists and songwriters. In January this year, Ron and Rosie were impressed into Tamworth’s Hands of Fame; two of the rare non-entertainers to be recognised in this monument. It is very easy to overlook people, who are not working in the spotlight but have, never the less, made a massive contribution to Australian country music over a long period. Over half a century Ron Adsett, with Rosie by his side, gave as much of his time, enthusiasm, skills and dedication to our industry as any headline artist or musician. Without Ron Adsett and people like him, there would not be a country music industry as we know it, today. Thank you for everything, Ron. FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019 Andrew goes country INXS co-founder and principal songwriter Andrew Farriss is working on his first ever solo album and it's country. "I’ve always liked the music genre and especially liked the pre-Beatles era of the '40s, '50s and early '60s," Andrew said. "Part of my thinking was to go back to what inspired those people, which was really the 19th century. That is where a lot of where my thinking about how I wanted to approach this album came from. "I was struggling a little at first with how I take the genre on and if I belong in it. Then I thought why not go back to an earlier time when technology meant you were meant to have a motor car or an electric light."
The origins of the song date back to the INXS days, Andrew said. "What I was doing at that point was experimenting with different styles of music. I couldn’t think of a more polarised era. I was experimenting with synthesizers, dance grooves, funk riffs… I was right into it. "I could see where the next wave was going with dance and funk and EDM. I began to realise that if we were going to continue we had to do that. But with Come Midnight the riffs I was messing around with I left. The guitar riffs, the chords. As time went on it was on my collection of music. My wife Marlina heard it and set it as her wake-up song. So I’d hear it all the time. I thought if she really likes it I need to finish. "When I started working on this project, I took those riffs and plonked them into 2018 or 19 when I recorded it. Basically that’s where the song is at. I also chose the song because it is a good representation of the direction my album is going. "When then you hear the other songs on the album you’ll understand why I put Come Midnight out first." Andrew recorded the album between his home in Australia and a studio in Nashville. He will perform solo this year at the Gympie Muster.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2019 Helpline marks 10 years Support Act Ltd’s Wellbeing Helpline has marked its first year of operation with some encouraging statistics. The free, confidential phone counselling service has been used by 150 artists, road crew and music workers from all genres to talk about any aspect of their mental health or wellbeing. They utilised close to 400 counselling hours, according to Support Act with the following breakdown by sector – 74 percent artists, 14 percent music workers and 12 percent crew. Fifty-four percent of helpline users were aged under 35 years and just over half were female.
"Having a dedicated helpline that is staffed by friendly, qualified clinicians who understand the challenges of working in the music industry can be an enormous help to someone who is struggling with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, addiction, suicidal feelings; or issues which can be mental health related such as loneliness, relationship breakdown, financial worries, illness and workplace conflict." Career concerns head the list of reasons people from the music industry have been calling the helpline. That was followed by anxiety, depression and other personal issues. The helpline has also provided support in relation to financial and relationship issues, stress management, health and substance use. It has been well documented that people in the music and creative industries experience symptoms of moderate to severe anxiety and depression at rates that can be 5—10 times higher than the general population. This has led to the development of a new pilot program, launched on July 18, that extends access to the Wellbeing Helpline to all performing arts workers throughout Australia. The pilot is implemented in partnership with Arts Centre Melbourne’s Arts Wellbeing Collective, which promotes positive mental health and wellbeing in the performing arts. "We are thrilled to be partnering with Support Act on this project," said Claire Spencer, Arts Centre Melbourne CEO. "People in the performing arts experience many of the same mental health challenges as people in the music industry, so it makes sense for us to be directing our resources in support of the Support Act Wellbeing Helpline, as another tool to help ensure that performing arts workers are well equipped to manage the unique environment of this profession.” The Helpline is accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days per year by calling 1800 959 500 within Australia. The Support Act Wellbeing Helpline is made possible through support from Alberts’ The Tony Foundation and Levi Strauss Australia. The Arts Wellbeing Collective receives funding from WorkSafe Victoria’s Mental Health Improvement Fund, which aims to make mental health and wellbeing a priority in the workplace. The Helpline is implemented by AccessEAP, a leading not-for-profit Employee Assistance Program provider with close to 30 years’ experience in mental health and workplace wellbeing. Weblink – supportact.org.au/wellbeinghelpline. MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2019 Joy doco announced Funding for a documentary on Australian country music legend Joy McKean has been announced.
Supported through the producer program, the Joy McKean doco is titled "Slim & I". It was written and directed by Kriv Stenders, produced by Chris Brown, Aline Jacques and James Arneman and made by Pictures in Paradise Pty Ltd. with Joy as Executive Producer. It joins two other female music heroes featuring among the 18 works to receive funding. The second is about recorder virtuoso Genevieve Lacey, the third about international rocker Suzi Quatro. "Slim & I" touches on Joy growing up on a dairy farm and hosting her own radio show with her sister Heather as a teenager. She married fellow country performer Slim Dusty in 1951 and went on to write some of his biggest hits, including Indian Pacific, Lights On The Hill and Walk A Country Mile. FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2019 New country music label launchedKurt Bailey, formerly of young country group Chasing Bailey and now manager of independent rock group Gang Of Youths and head of the Sydney based Mirror Music Group, has launched a country music label.
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Recorded at the Gunnible Homestead near Gunnedah in northern NSW by Matt Fell, the release will contain six tracks.
“Like all sectors of the music industry, country was impacted by the dramatic decade and a half decline in CD sales,” the CMAA said.
Warren H shares win in Arts award
Run by Michael Chugg and Andrew Stone, Chugg Music’s roster includes Avalanche City, The Griswolds, Lime Cordiale and Sheppard.
The competition has helped kick start the careers of artists like Liam Brew, Drew McAlister, Brooke McClymont and Mark O’Shea.
Jayne will appear on the Red Eye Radio stage on Friday at 5:30pm US time and will launch her single Black Coffee & White Lines to the American market.
The TSA has rationalised its competition and awards into one overall contest under the banner Songwriter Salute Awards which have been run in one form or another continuously since 1984.
He had just celebrated his 70th birthday.
The first song released from the album is Come Midnight.
"We are very happy with the take up rate, and the feedback from service users has been extremely positive," said Clive Miller, Sydney-based CEO of Support Act.
The Australian government screen development agency Screen Australia has committed $3.6 million to five commissioned and 13 producer documentary projects.
Supper Time Records is the label name and the first signing is Nashville-based Australian singer/songwriter Jedd Hughes.
"I've always wanted to dive back into the country scene after a long history with it since the age of 13," he said.