AUSTRALIAN COUNTRY MUSIC NEWS ARCHIVE – NOVEMBER 2018 |
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2018
Sony completes $2.3b acquisition of EMI
This month, music industry giant Sony grew even bigger as it completed its US$2.3 billion acquisition of EMI Music Publishing.
The expected merger of EMI Music Publishing and Sony/ATV is expected to generate revenue of $1.275 billion. The latest revenue posts saw EMI Music Publishing generate revenue of $663 million and Sony/ATV, $610 million.
 This makes the conglomerate the world’s biggest music publisher with a catalogue of more than 4 million songs... 2.1 million in the EMI catalogue, 2.3 million in Sony’s.
The agreement is Sony’s first major deal under its new Chief Executive Kenichiro Yoshida who noted that the music business has enjoyed a “resurgence” in recent years due to growth in revenues from streaming services provided by companies such as Spotify and Apple.
The global music publishing market is worth about $5.5 billion, according to MIDiA Research. The recorded music publishing market hit $17 billion last year.
This announcement of the final buy-out came three weeks after European regulators dismissed concerns by the independent sector and approved the remaining 60 percent buy-out on October 26.
European association IMPALA (Independent Music Companies Association), which led the indie sector’s opposition, is still working out whether to appeal.
Sony said in a statement: "As a result of this acquisition, Sony expects to record additional operating income of approximately Euro 105 billion (about US$925 million), representing a non-cash step-up gain for the approximately 40 percent equity interest in EMI that Sony already owned and reflecting costs relating to the acquisition, in the Music segment in the third quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019."
Sony Corp first started its EMI purchase six years ago, putting up $320 million as part of a consortium that offered $2.2 billion. Since then it has paid $2.3 billion paying off the others in the consortium.
It then acquired the Jackson estate’s near-10 percent share for $287.5 million and additionally assumed its $1.359 billion debt. Sony has also assumed EMI’s existing interest-bearing debt of approximately $1.3 billion, of which, it has already repaid $960 million.
To get the EMI Music Publishing rights, Sony has paid a total of $4.317 billion – about $3.97 billion in cash and 400 million in debt.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2018
Kasey wins Country ARIA
 Kasey Chambers, who was inducted into the ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) Awards Hall of Fame last night was also named winner of the 2018 Best Country Album award.
The win was for Kasey's Campfire album with The Fireside Disciples (Dad Bill, Brandon Dodd and Alan Pigram).
Troy Cassar-Daley announced the win from fellow finalists Travis Collins with Brave & The Broken, Adam Eckersley & Brooke McClymont with Adam & Brooke, Fanny Lumsden with Real Class Act and The Wolfe Brothers with Country Heart.
Kasey was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Paul Kelly.
This year's ARIA Awards were hosted by international country star Keith Urban.
Photo: Kasey with her Hall of Fame award and presenter Paul Kelly (from Kasey's own facebook page).
Weblink – ariaawards.com.au.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018
Summer Moon Festival
Catherine Britt, Lee Kernaghan and The McClymonts (pictured below from left) will headline the Summer Moon Country Music Festival at Josef Chromy Wines, Relbia (Tas), on Saturday December 15.
Presented by Jam Mountain Music, the Festival will also feature Casey Barnes, Matt Cornell, Montgomery Church and Alyece Simmonds.
Relbia is located just south of Launceston in northern Tasmania.
Weblink – summermoonfestival.com.au.
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2018
Live music awards next week
The 2018 National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) will be staged next Thursday, December 6.
A broad recognition of Australia’s diverse and successful live industry, the NLMAs are designed to "celebrate the diversity and success of the Australian live scene – recognising the best vocal talents and musicians alongside the best venues, events and festivals."
 The awards contain both national and state focused categories, voted on by the live industry (including fellow musicians, media, venues, bookers) with select public voted categories.
The national awards will be revealed at a gala event, while the State and Territory awards will be revealed at satellite events in their respective capital cities. The first annual event was held in November 2016, the second in December 2017. The Awards are described as "filling a gap" in Australia which does not have an entire awards show dedicated to contemporary live music.
"Considering live performance is now the most significant revenue stream for many Australian artists, and with the contemporary live music industry worth billions, this is a side of the industry that we believe deserves the focus, just as recorded sales, songwriting credits and radio play do in other award shows around the country," said an Awards spokesman.
A full listing of national finalists and state awards can be found at www.nlmas.com.au.
Of particular interest to our readers are the following...
Finalists for Live Country Artist of the Year... Brad Butcher (pictured above), Hana & Jessie Lee’s Bad Habits, Freya Josephine Hollick, Fanny Lumsden (pictured above) and Marlon Williams.
Finalists for Live Blues & Roots Artist of the Year... All Our Exes Live In Texas, John Butler Trio, Cash Savage and the Last Drinks, CW Stoneking and Dan Sultan.
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 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2018
Toyota Star Maker 2019 Grand Finalists
The 10 emerging artists who will compete this January to become the 40th Toyota Star Maker winner at the Tamworth Country Music Festival have been announced.
They are... Chelsea Berman from Terrigal (NSW), Arna Georgia, Sans Souci (NSW), Matt James, Mt Gambier (SA), Leigha Moore, Sippy Downs (Qld), Blake O'Connor, Port Macquarie (NSW), Juliet Oliver, McLaren Vale (SA), Stephanie Penrose, Moore Creek (NSW), Linc Phelps, Gympie (Qld), Jake Sinclair, Springhurst (Vic) and Lizzie Steadman, Kootingal (NSW).
Star Maker 2019 will be held at Country Music Capital’s Bicentennial Park (known as Toyota Park for the duration of the country music festival) at 7pm Sunday January 20. Like all events held in the Park, there will be no admission charge.
A special event celebrating 40 years of Star Maker will be staged at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment & Conference Centre at 12 noon on Wednesday January 23.
Some 30 of the 40 Star Maker winners will feature.
The Star Maker prize in 2019 has 21 separate elements, including use of the title 2019 Toyota Star Maker, 12 months use of a new Toyota vehicle, a 12 month fuel card, the recording, distribution and promotion of four tracks and production of two video clips.
Pictured (top down left then right): Chelsea, Arna, Matt, Leigha, Blake, Huliet, Stephanie, Linc, Jake and Lizzie.
Weblink – www.starmaker.com.au.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2018
Sheeran song dispute settled
Two Australian songwriters have settled a copyright lawsuit against singers Ed Sheeran, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, according to a report in The Sydney Morning Herald.
In their suit, Sean Carey and Beau Golden claimed the song The Rest Of Our Life was a "blatant" rip-off of their song When I Found You.
A lawyer for the songwriters said all parties have agreed in principle to settle the case and have it dismissed in 30 days if all "final issues" are resolved.
The settlement was disclosed in a letter filed with the US District Court in Manhattan.
Sheeran, the English singer and songwriter, had co-written The Rest Of Our Life for McGraw and Hill, the married US country music stars.
The song was released in 2017, two years after When I Found You, which was co-written and performed by Australian country star Jasmine Rae.
Carey, a former guitarist with Thirsty Merc, and Golden, who has played keyboards for Guy Sebastian, Samantha Jade and others, filed a lawsuit in New York in January, accusing Sheeran and his co-writers of "willful copyright infringement", including copying melodies, chords and lyrical themes from their song.
"The copying is, in many instances, verbatim, note-for-note copying of important and original elements of the song, and is obvious to the ordinary observer," the complaint, published by The Hollywood Reporter, said.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2018
Bush Ballad Awards finalists
Continuing the season of awards announcements with finalists for the Stan Coster Memorial Bush Ballad Awards to be announced on Saturday February 2 as part of the annual Bungendore (NSW) Country Muster.
Ernie Constance has the most finalist placings with three while Terry Bennetts and Dean Perrett have two each.
 And they are...
For the Male award (pictured from left) ... Ernie Constance with Jack, Brian Letton with WA Calling Me Home and Dean Perrett with Drovin On.
For the Female award (from left)... Rachel Jillett with Every Girl Wants A Cowboy, Shaza Leigh with Land of Our Kin and Dianne Lindsay with Paddy’s Soul.
For New Talent... Kylie Adams-Collier with On A Sandstone Ridge, Paula Hammond with Our Nan and Michelle Russell with If We Could Return.
For Instrumental... Terry Bennetts & Alisha Smith with Chicken Pickin’, Lindsay Butler with Anthony Baxter with Looking Forward, Looking Back and Lindsay Waddington with Nullabor.
For Group or Duo... Terry Bennetts, Evan Platschinda & Ginger Cox with Sons Of Australia, Tracy Coster & Jeff Brown with Coley and Graham Rodger & George Czender with I’m An Old Black Man.
For Album of the Year... Ernie Constance with Lead A Horse To Water, Dale Duncan with What Country’s All About and Dean Perrett with Earn Your Spurs.
For Comedy Song of the Year...
Ernie Constance with If It Ain’t Broke, Glenn Jones with It’s A Dog's Life and Graham Rodger with Riding In The Bar.
A Songwriter award is also presented but no finalists for this category were announced.
Officially the Festival of Australian Country Music, the Bungendore Muster turns 34 in 2019 and will run over two days, Saturday and Sunday February 2 and 3.
It will be the 22nd staging of the Bush Ballad Awards, of which, a spokesman said: "Once again these Awards have... proven that the bush ballad is thriving and is a major component of today’s 'modern' country music industry."
Announcements and presentations to the successful artists will take place with a special concert on the Saturday evening 2nd on the Greg Gordon stage at the Bungendore Showground featuring a performance by all 2019 finalists.
"These awards are a true celebration of the bush balladeer and the music of Australia and an experience never to be forgotten," the spokesman said.
"Thank you to all the artists, who supported the Awards by nominating, and we must not forget the award judges who spent many hours sorting through the many nominations particularly when they were so close. It is this support that enables the committee to maintain the Awards each year."
Weblink – bcmm.com.au.
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2018
2019 Golden Guitar finalists announced
Finalists for the 2019 Golden Guitars (Country Music Awards of Australia) were announced in Sydney this morning.
And they are...
For Alternative Country Album of the Year... Call Out For The Cavalry by Andrew Swift, Catherine Britt & The Cold Cold Hearts by Catherine Britt & The Cold Cold Hearts, Collide by Imogen Clark, Dawn Of The Dark by Tori Forsyth and Weeds by Bennett Bowtell & Urquhart.
For Bluegrass Recording of the Year... Kristy Cox with Ricochet, The Hillbilly Goats with Gypsy Girl, Montgomery Church with I’m Gonna Love Her All the Time, Mustered Courage with Fire In Her Fingers and The Weeping Willows featuring Allan Caswell with The Roses Fall.
For Bush Ballad of the Year... After January Rains by Jeff Brown, Earn Your Spurs by Dean Perrett, Feeding The Crew by Allan Caswell, Lady Of The Road by Rex Dallas and Please Don’t Forget Me by John Williamson.
For Contemporary Country Album of the Year... Adam & Brooke by Adam Eckersley & Brooke McClymont, Brad Cox by Brad Cox, Brave & The Broken by Travis Collins, Country Heart by The Wolfe Brothers and Piece Of Me by Missy Lancaster.
For Female Artist of the Year... Beccy Cole, Imogen Clark, Kristy Cox, Tori Forsyth and Missy Lancaster.
For Group or Duo of the Year... Bennett Bowtell And Urquhart, Catherine Britt & The Cold Cold Hearts, Kasey Chambers & The Fireside Disciples, Adam Eckersley & Brooke McClymont and The Wolfe Brothers.
For Heritage Song of the Year... Buddy And Slim by John Williamson, The Campfire Song by Kasey Chambers & The Fireside Disciples featuring Alan Pigram, Kimberley Frontier by Graeme Connors, Shadows On The Hill by Troy Cassar-Daley and Those Holden Days by Adam Harvey.
For Instrumental of the Year... Back On The Horse by Mustered Courage, Middlingbank Road by Montgomery Church, Nullarbor by Lindsay Waddington, Tele Rambler by Runaway Dixie and Wheelin’ And Dealin’ by Tommy Emmanuel.
For Male Artist of the Year... Travis Collins, Graeme Connors, Adam Harvey, Andrew Swift and John Williamson.
For New Talent of the Year... Imogen Clark with Late Night Girl, Brad Cox with Lake House, Tori Forsyth with In The Morning, Judah Kelly with Real Good Time and Andrew Swift with Runaway Train.
For Single of the Year... Ain’t Seen It Yet by The Wolfe Brothers, The Campfire Song by Kasey Chambers & The Fireside Disciples featuring Alan Pigram, Day Drunk by Morgan Evans, High Horse by Travis Collins and Train Wreck by Adam Eckersley & Brooke McClymont.
For Song of the Year... Ain’t Seen It Yet by The Wolfe Brothers, The Campfire Song by Kasey Chambers & The Fireside Disciples featuring Alan Pigram, Day Drunk by Morgan Evans, Trainwreck by Adam Eckersley & Brooke McClymont and Wouldn’t Change A Thing by Troy Cassar-Daley.
For Traditional Country Album of the Year… Butcherbird by John Williamson, Campfire by Kasey Chambers & The Fireside Disciples, from the backcountry by Graeme Connors, Lioness by Beccy Cole and The Nashville Tapes by Adam Harvey.
For Video of the Year... Ain’t Seen It Yet by The Wolfe Brothers, The Campfire Song by Kasey Chambers & The Fireside Disciples featuring Alan Pigram, Elastic Waistband by Fanny Lumsden, Happy by Travis Collins and Kiss Somebody by Morgan Evans.
For Vocal Collaboration of the Year... Bennett Bowtell & Urquhart featuring Karl Broadie with Every Hello, Kasey Chambers & The Fireside Disciples featuring Alan Pigram with The Campfire Song, Jayne Denham & Troy Kemp with Hung Up On You, Adam Harvey featuring Lee Kernaghan with Three Rivers Hotel and Andrew Swift with Catherine Britt with Fire & Ice.
Winners will be announced in Tamworth, Australia's Country Music Capital, on Australia Day, Saturday January 26.
Weblink – www.country.com.au.
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2018
Gidgee winners
Terry Bennetts, Ernie Constance and Dean Perrett were multiple winners in this year's Gidgee Coal Bush Ballad Awards announced at the weekend in Pittsworth, Qld.
Terry featured in Group/Duo/Collaboration with Evan Platschinda & Ginger Cox's Band Of Mates with Sons Of Australia and Instrumental with Alisha Smith for Chicken' Picken.
Ernie won the Male Vocal category with Lead A Horse To Water and the Comedy section with If It Ain't Broke.
Dean took out the prestigious Album award for Earn Your Spurs and teamed up with Norma O'Hara Murphy to take out the Songwriter award with My Little Bay Mare's Mother.
Trudy Hintz took out Female Vocal with Saddle Up and Ride.
The New talent award went to Kylie Adams-Collier with On A Sandstone Ridge.
Vicki Walsh was presented with the Encouragement award while Graham Parfit took home the Living Legend award.
Our photos show (from left): Terry, Ernie, Trudy, Dean and Graham.
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2018
Keith wins second US Entertainer of the Year award
 Australia's Keith Urban has won his second CMA (Country Music Association America) Entertainer of the Year award.
The gong was announced during the Awards night in Nashville last night (Australian time).
Keith beat Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney and favourite Chris Stapleton to take the prize.
He was also a finalist in a number of other categories.
The Entertainer of the Year award is considered the most significant of all of the CMAs. Keith won the award for the first time in 2005.
Other winners last night were Brothers Osborne (Vocal Duo of the Year), Luke Combs (New Artist of the Year), David Lee Murphy with Kenny Chesney (Musical Event of the Year for Everything’s Gonna Be Alright), Kacey Musgrave (Album of the Year with Golden Hour), Old Dominion (Vocal Group of the Year), Thomas Rhett (Music Video of the Year for Marry Me), Chris Stapleton (Male Vocalist of the Year, Single and Song of the Year with Broken Halos written by Chris with Mike Henderson) and Carrie Underwood (Female Vocalist of the Year).
Weblink – keithurban.net, cmaawards.com.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2018
Busby Marou supply theme song for 7Cricket
Busby Marou’s new song Sound Of Summer is doubling as the theme for Channel 7‘s cricket coverage this season.
 Paul Cashmere reported at noise11.com that the duo recorded the song in an Air BNB in Los Angeles and then took the song on to Nashville for mixing. They had been on tour in Canada and the USA.
"This is a big tune and feels like it could be our biggest yet," Thomas Busby said in a statement. "We’re always being told that we have a distinct sunshine sound, so it felt only natural as we were writing it, to let it become a summer anthem."
Now back in Australia, Busby Marou will present their second annual "One Hot Night" at Rockhampton Showground on December 29. Guests on the show this year are Dean Lewis, Tia Gostelow and Silky Fuzz.
Click the image above to view the Channel 7 promo.
Weblink – www.busbymarou.com.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2018
Tamworth busking registrations open
Registration for buskers at the January 2019 Tamworth Country Music Festival has opened.
Sponsored by Toyota LandCruiser, the Tamworth Country Music Busking Championships is billed as one of the most anticipated aspects of the Festival each year.
 Up to 400 buskers take the opportunity to perform on Tamworth’s main street, Peel Street, also known in country music circles as “the Boulevarde of Dreams” – a reference to the potential for unknown acts to be “spotted” for their talent.
Stars of today reputed to have been discovered on “the Boulevarde of Dreams” include Troy Cassar-Daley, Kasey Chambers and Beccy Cole.
Buskers entering in the competition vie for a place in a top 10 which will be judged from Friday January 18 to Thursday January 24 inclusive.
The 10 will be invited to perform two songs in Bicentennial Park (renamed Toyota Park for the duration of the Festival) at 7pm on Sunday January 27.
A panel of judges will determine a Best Country Act winner and a runner-up. A public vote will determine, in addition, a “people’s choice” winner. Prizes will include cash and performance spots.
Further information can be obtained via the registration process here.
Weblink – www.tcmf.com.au.
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2018
Kasey for ARIA Hall of Fame
Kasey Chambers will become the youngest female recipient to be inducted into the ARIA Hall Of Fame at the 2018 ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) Awards in Sydney on Wednesday November 28.
Kasey's exceptional career has seen the release of 12 studio albums over 25 years. With five number one albums (the most by any Australian female artist, equalled only by Kylie Minogue and Olivia Newton-John).
Her impressive discography includes three multi-platinum albums, The Captain (1999), Barricades And Brickwalls (2001) and Wayward Angel (2004), all produced by her brother Nash Chambers.
On hearing the news of the induction, Kasey said: "I grew up learning to play music around a campfire in the outback of Australia with my family. Living in our car, hunting our own food and creating our own unique sound together that was always hundreds of miles away from any kind of audience. I never even dreamed that one day the music that I wrote and played would connect with so many people, let alone get me to a place where I received the phone call that I would be inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame!! You could have knocked me over with a feather.
"I am so proud to have been able to create the music I love in a way that has always felt so true and authentic to me and to have it reach so many people. To be recognised by ARIA through this award is one of the greatest honours I could possibly imagine and I am so humbled to get the chance on the night to share the journey this little country singer from the Nullabor has actually had. THANK YOU!"
ARIA Chief Executive Dan Rosen, said: "On behalf of the ARIA Board, I am honoured to announce that Kasey Chambers will be inducted into the ARIA Hall Of Fame. The longevity of her career is a testament to her enduring talent and artistry, with many timeless songs that have crossed generations of Aussie music fans.
"She is a much-loved artist and I am sure that music fans all around the country will be very excited to see Kasey take her deserved place with the other icons of the Australian music industry at this year’s ARIA Awards."
Prior to launching her solo career in 1998, Kasey was a key ingredient of success for the Chambers family band, the Dead Ringer Band with Dad Bill, Mum Diane and brother Nash. The band won three Golden Guitar Awards and one ARIA award.
Kasey was elevated to Australian country music's highest honour – the Roll of Renown – this January.
Her contribution to Australian music will also be celebrated in Arts Centre Melbourne’s Australian Music Vault with a specially created display which will include items from Kasey’s personal collection such as handwritten lyrics, awards and more.
The Australian Music Vault is free and the display can be viewed from Saturday December 1 onwards.
Weblink – www.kaseychambers.com.
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2018
TSA January activity
Tamworth Songwriters’ Association has announced preliminary details for its “biggest program yet” for the upcoming Tamworth Country Music Festival in January.
The main event will be the TSA’s Concert & Awards Show on Tuesday January 22 at The Longyard Hotel from 7pm.
Concert artists will include, pictured below in alphabetical order (left to right top and left to right bottom), Jeff Brown, Brad Butcher, Greg Champion, Tom Curtain, Cassi Marie, Steve Passfield & Handpicked, Wendy Phypers (the Cartwheels), Amber Joy Poulton, Aleyce Simmonds and Steve Sparrow.
Tickets for this event are $20 “at the door” or in advance from The Longyard Bottle Shop.
The TSA’s other main venue for 2019 will be Tamworth City Bowling Club in Napier Street.
Mini Concerts will be staged there from Friday January 18 to Monday January 21 from 6pm with three or four TSA artist members….
 TSA Songwriter Sessions “All Kinds Of Country” will run at the Club from Monday January 21, 1pm to 3pm...
And a new activity, a TSA Talent Quest, will run at the Club from Monday January 21, 3pm til 5pm, with finals night on Thursday January 24 from 6pm.
Entries are free and numbers have been limited for this first year of the quest which the organisation hopes will become a regular activity.
Prospective entrants can email tamworthsongwritersassociation@gmail.com for more information.
In addition to the Awards night and Bowling Club activity, Artists on the Deck will run each day from Saturday January 19, 10am til 12noon, at The Square Man Inn in Peel Street.
And TSA artists will feature nightly at Fanzone at the corner of Fitzroy and Peel Streets.
The TSA reports that entry into its National Songwriting Contest was good again for 2019 as it was this year.
Judging for this is now underway with semi-finalists to be announced later this month, finalists in December.
Weblink – www.tsaonline.com.au.
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2018
Big Country comes to Berry
Country music will take over Berry on the South Coast of NSW on Saturday 11 May 2019 for the inaugural Big Country Festival.
 Details were announced today for the one day concert which will feature some of the biggest names in Australian country music.
Travis Collins, Lee Kernaghan, The McClymonts, Caitlyn Shadbolt, The Sunny Cowgirls and The Wolfe Brothers, together with local artists Liam Maihi, Kevin Sullivan and Chalkie White, are headline acts for the event which will run at the Berry Showground.
General Public tickets to Big Country go on sale from Moshtix at midday on Thursday, 15 November 15. Limited, reduced price Early Bird tickets are available from midday on Tuesday November 13 and can be accessed by registering here.
Big Country will also feature a "ton of fun for all the family including great local food options and a wide range of tipples at the Craft Beer Corner as well as some of Australia’s best bull riders vying for the Big Country Buckle," according to a spokesman.
A "Little Country Kids" mini-festival which "keep little ones entertained" with free children’s activities including face painting, jumping castles, arts and craft.
Jack Stewart of Pink Salt Productions said the event organiser was excited to be bringing a festival of this scale to the Shoalhaven. "We’ve been to countless festivals all over the country and we can’t wait to bring this experience to the area we’ve grown up in with an incredible lineup packed with country music royalty and plenty of rising stars."
Weblink – big-country.com.au.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2018
2019 Senior Academy students announced
The student intake for the Australian Academy of Country Music 2019 senior course have been announced.
 More than 25 up-and-coming artists will arrive in Tamworth – Australia's Country Music Capital – for the intensive two-week course from January 5.
With one more yet to be announced, the 2019 students are... Ainslie Allen (New Zealand Entertainer of the Year), Wellington NZ, Ria Brcic, Camden NSW, Jem Cassar-Daley, Balmoral Qld, Tayla Clavarino (CCMA scholarship) from Tamworth NSW, Lisa De Angelis, Gilead NSW, Kylie Gale (Nebauer), Caves Beach NSW, Melanie Gray (Northern Territory Scholarship), Darwin NT, Jarrod Hickling (Indigenous Scholarship), Mungindi NSW, Harriet Kelly, Hillston NSW, Tameka Kennedy (Travis Collins Scholarship), Bathurst NSW, Joel McKay (Indigenous Scholarship), Hannah Pead, Bellangry NSW, Werris Creek NSW, Anthony Quinsee, Springfield Lakes Qld, Rachel Ricciuti, Silvan Vic, Dani Rigby, Ashburton NZ, Kiara Rodrigues, Alexandra Hills Qld, Michelle Russell, Bega NSW, Benjamin Seymour, Watanobbi NSW, Jaydin Shingleton, NZ, Ali Shield, Sunshine Coast Qld, Cassidy Rae Wilson, Sydney NSW and Billy Woodley, Perth WA.
In addition to the singer/songwriter/performer students, there are four instrumental students: Anthony Baxter (John Minson Scholarship), Tamworth NSW, Isabella Burnup, Airlie Beach Qld, Gabi Blissett, Ashtonfield NSW and Matt Bresolin, Taroomball Qld.
The Academy is led by six-time Golden Guitar winner Lyn Bowtell as Director, with "a stellar team of group leaders and mentors". Kevin Bennett, Catherine Britt, Lachlan Bryan, and Simon Johnson are group leaders specialist tutors Katrina Burgoyne, Allan Caswell, Liam Kennedy-Clark, Roger Corbett and Amber Lawrence.
An array of industry guest speakers will deliver the "real story" from behind the scenes, "which is invaluable to a young performer entering the country music industry and avoiding the pitfalls of a career in the arts," said an Academy spokesman.
"The students this year are such a talented group," said Lyn Bowtell of the 2019 intake. "It was extremely hard to choose the successful applicants but in the end we have a really spectacular group..."
Academy General Manager Roger Corbett said Academy graduates had "an astonishing track record of success over the years.
"At the Golden Guitars in 2018, our graduates won 13 Golden Guitars between them. On stage, Travis Collins and Amber Lawrence publicly acknowledged the contribution that The Academy had made to their careers."
"The success of The Academy and the experiences gained from the course comes from a range of factors," said Lyn "Maybe it’s the support of their new friends they make at The Academy, maybe it’s the teaching, the exposure, or the contacts in the industry and it’s probably everything, but every student seems to get a new kickstart to their careers after leaving The Academy."
The Academy Live! performance is on Friday, January 18 at 4pm in Blazes Auditorium at Wests. Tickets are available via www.wtlc.com.au.
Weblink – academycountrymusic.com.au.
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2018
Gwandalan farmer support concert
Leading bush balladeers Dianne Lindsay and Peter Simpson will host a special "Support The Farmers Concert" at Gwandalan Bowling Club next week.
 The lunch-time concert – next Monday (November 12) – will feature a number of special guest artists.
Tickets are $30 and will include a two course lunch and a wine.
Gwandalan is on Lake Macquarie, NSW, between Newcastle and the Central Coast.
Bookings can be made by telephoning the Club on 02 4976 1204.
Lucky door prizes and raffles be a part of the program.
All funds raised "go to support the farmers".
Weblink – www.diannelindsay.com.
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2018
New major event for Tamworth Festival
A new major event to be run on the first weekend of the Tamworth Country Music Festival in January was launched today.
The Australian Bushmen’s Campdraft and Rodeo Association (ABCRA) launched the Great Australian Round Up – a two day charity event to be held at the Australian Equine Livestock
& Events Centre (AELEC) raising money for the Burrumbuttock Hay Runners.
 Based around supporting Australia’s vital rural industries through awareness and fundraising efforts, the event is forecast to provide "an exciting, unique and new element to the Tamworth Country Music Festival for both tourists and locals," in the words of the Association.
The Round Up will "showcase all things that are Australian country, including a stockman’s challenge, working dog trials, sheep shearing, a ute, truck and antique machinery show, bush poets and live music."
Saturday January 19 from 6pm is thge first day and will see the feature event with internationally renowned Guy Mclean and his "incredible Australian stock horses" as seen on Australia’s Got Talent.
This will be followed by Australia’s Elite Rodeo Athletes from "Broncs & Bulls to Barrel
Racing in a rodeo extravaganza".
"Besides the excitement of rodeo action, the Great Australian Round Up Rodeo will tell a story of the heritage of rodeo in Australia," the ABCRA said, "highlighting its importance in today’s rural communities."
The Great Australian Round Up will also host a number of family attractions and events, from pony rides and petting farms to waterslides.
Member for New England and former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce launched the event at the AELEC this afternoon.
Photo: Barnaby, with ABCRA Executive Officer Craig Young.
Weblink – thegreataustralianroundup.com.au.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2018
Kasey joins campaign to "save the wave"
The West Australian newspaper reports that a number of notable figures – including Kasey Chambers – are supporting a campaign to save "the highway wave".
 Jillaroo Jess (Edwards) and author Tim Winton join Kasey in the campaign which aims "to get people waving on WA’s country roads as concerns mount about the future of the simple yet iconic gesture".
Breakfast radio presenter Angela Ayers started the "bring back the wave" following a study in early October by the West Regional News on a length of country road between Bunbury and Manjimup which found only five of about 270 people returned the highway salute.
"Apart from the funny side of it, it is making people pay attention on the roads, taking notice of their surroundings," said Jillaroo Jess.
Kasey said she was caught a little off guard by the suggestion, but was completely on board. "I can say I have been doing interviews for about 30 years and I have never been asked that question.
 "I am raising my kids to be wavers. Most people want them to be doctors, lawyers, whatever, I just want them to be wavers."
Tim said while some were perhaps a little too enthusiastic with the wave, it was a tradition worth holding on to.
Angela even managed to rope a team of researchers in to gathering more data on the prevalence of the highway wave between Perth and Karratha.
They found more than two per cent of people waved between Perth and Geraldton, and 24 per cent between Geraldton and Monkey Mia.
Up towards Coral Bay, that figure neared 50 per cent, before dropping back to 41 per cent from Coral Bay to Karratha.
"In conclusion the wave is not dead, but you and I have some work to do," Angela said. "When you are on the road today, do it, lift up that index finger* and forge a connection on a long dusty road that, while fleeting, says so much more about Australia than words can express."
* "The wave" is usually a two finger gesture based on the index finger but it can also be one, three or more.
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