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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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TUESDAY, JULY 4, 2023 TSA Showcase 300th episode This week, the Tamworth Songwriters Association (TSA) celebrates 300 episodes of its weekly radio program TSA Showcase, broadcast on the digital Capital Country Radio out of Tamworth.
As an example, this week’s TSA Showcase features songs from Briana Dinsdale, Kathryn Turdak & Sally Estreich, Anne Fraser, Annette Hawkins, Tony Kennelly, Mackenzie Lee, Rae Leigh, Craig Lloyd, Susan Muranty, Ron Osborn, Sandy Rasmussen, Kevin Sullivan, Lucie Tiger, Jax Tonic, Wendy Wood and Craig Woodward. TSA Showcase is unique as it features the very essence of country music… the songs from the writers, reflecting the TSA’s longstanding motto First The Song. “And one thing can be guaranteed,” said Capital Country Radio’s Bob Kirchner, “the program is original... sometimes raw, but always original.” And it is coincidentally appropriate the 300th program goes to air this week when the Hats Off to Country festival is happening in Tamworth and the TSA is one of the most prominent event organisers with no less than a dozen activities hosted or presented by the association. “So Hats Off also to Athol Latham for his marvellous contribution to the cause of original Australian country music.” TSA Showcase goes to air at 9pm Tuesdays, 11am Thursdays and 6am Saturdays. Weblink – www.capitalcountryradio.com.
FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2023 Music marketing workshop for Hats Off Operators of Capital Country Radio and the Country Music Bulletin are running a special country music marketing workshop during next week’s Hats Off festival in Tamworth.
Organiser and host of the event, Bob Kirchner, has decades of experience in all forms of traditional and new media as well as a number of specialised and major marketing activities. The recording session will be led by well known producer and musician Steve Newton of Enrec Studios. Attendees at the workshop will be encouraged to “bring their issues” and also help in the workshop style by sharing their own experiences. The Country Music Marketing Workshop will be held at the Tamworth Services Club in Marius Street at 2pm on Friday July 7. It’s a free event but registration is required at the following link... www.eventbrite.com.au/e/country-music-marketing-workshop-tickets-644920292957 THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 Vale – Kevin King
Kevin became interested in country music after hearing Tex Morton singing Rocky Ned on the radio. In 1949, as a self-taught guitarist, he entered various talent quests winning for himself a guitar as first prize on Sydney’s Radio 2CH. He entered the Tim McNamara Talent Quest in 1951 and won a heat after which he teamed up with guitar picker Pat Ware playing numerous pubs, clubs, charity shows and on radio. In 1952, Kevin recorded several sides on the Regal Zonophone label, one of which was the song he is best known for, Rub-A-Dub-Dub backed by With This Ring I Thee Wed. The release sold about 20,000 copies. Kevin subsequently recorded 28 sides on the Columbia and Regal Zonophone labels. In 1956, he organised the All Star Western Show with Nev Nicholls, Chad Morgan, Rick & Thel and fiddler Peter Mollison. The show toured Australia for 15 months and played to big audiences in towns and cities. Kevin then spent two years travelling with The Reg Lindsay Show Australia-wide. During the late 1950s and early ‘60s, Kevin settled in Sydney and was resident singer with his band at the Texas Tavern, Kings Cross, entertaining American servicemen from Vietnam. He then moved to the Crystal Palace Hotel in Railway Square where he stayed for five years. From there he moved to the Regent Street Transport Club where he stayed for a further five years. In 1977, Kevin was inducted into the Country Music Hands of Fame in Tamworth and in 2007, he was elevated to the Country Music Roll of Renown. Kevin died unexpectedly on Thursday June 22 while travelling to Thailand. FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2023 Hats Off 2023 Thousands of visitors and locals are expected to converge on Tamworth, Australia’s Country Music Capital, next month for Hats Off To Country 2023.
At least 14 venues will host more than 80 individual artists and musicians for the upcoming 23rd event over four days, Thursday July 6 to and including Sunday July 9. Events are mostly free at pubs and clubs but there will be a handful of ticketed shows. Key among these will be the Adam Harvey & Beccy Cole Country Songbook Concert at the city’s famous Town Hall on the Friday night (July 7).
Tamworth Songwriters Association has a full program of showcases, giving their members an opportunity to present their songs to the general public, at venues including The Oasis Hotel, the Post Office Hotel, The Pub and Tamworth City Bowling Club. The festival’s famous Cowboy Crawl takes crawlers to up to four venues on a comfortable coach ride on the Saturday night. And the Country Music Association of Australia’s Academy of Country Music Junior Course Graduation Concert will be another major event. Major city attractions, including the Australian Country Music Hall of Fame and National Guitar Museum will open as usual during the event. MONDAY, JUNE 12, 2023 OAM for Jean
One of the earliest Golden Guitar winners for Female Vocalist of the Year, Jean has been performing through a career spanning more than 50 years, releasing numerous albums and EPs during that time. Some of the hit recordings she had on the Country Music Capital based Hadley label were What Kind Of A Girl (Do You Think I Am, Hello, Love and That Glory Bound Train. She has also received numerous other awards and accolades. In addition to her three Golden Guitars, Jean has notched up two finalist nominations in the ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) Awards and was elevated to Australasia’s Country Music Roll of Renown in 2008. Jean was a regular on television’s Midday Show with Ray Martin and also appeared on screen with the likes of Mike Walsh and Ernie Sigley, establishing a record at the time for the most appearances on Australian television for a female country music. Weblink – jeanstaffordmusic.com. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 2023 New "super" agency Chugg Music and Select Music today announced their partnership with country music manager Dan Biddle to launch Wheelhouse Agency, a new booking agency focussed on the growing country music sector. Wheelhouse combines the extensive live touring and country music market knowledge sets of Michael Chugg (Chugg Music), Andrew Stone (Chugg Music), Stephen Wade (Select Music), Rob Giovannoni (Select Music) and Dan Biddle (Dan Biddle Management) to provide what is described as "a premium agency service". Rob and Dan will take on the roles of co-heads of the agency while continuing in their existing roles... Rob as Senior Agent at Select Music and Dan as Special Projects Manager for Chugg Music and Dan Biddle Management. Katie Krollig, who has been part of the Select Music family for more than six years, joins the Wheelhouse team as lead agent while continuing to service her roster of Select Music artists.
The agency is launching with an impressive roster of award winning and best-selling artists combined with some of "the most exciting" emerging artists in the genre, including Casey Barnes, Sara Berki, James Blundell, Travis Collins, Andrew Farriss, Kingswood, McAlister Kemp, Taylor Moss, Shannon Noll, Lane Pittman, Loren Ryan, Amy Sheppard, Sara Storer and Henry Wagons. Pictured (from left): Dan Biddle, Katie Krollig, Rob Giovannoni, Michael Chugg, Stephen Wade, Andrew Stone. Photo by Don Arnold. Weblink – www.wheelhouseagency.com.au. FRIDAY, MAY 26, 2023 Vale – Joy McKean
Joy, who was known as the “grand lady” of Australian country music, wrote many of her husband Slim Dusty’s most famous songs. She was also an award-winning musician in her own right. The Dusty’s long time recording company EMI said earlier today that Joy “passed away peacefully last night with family by her side after a long battle with cancer”. “She will be remembered as a pioneer in Australian music,” thje company said. Joy was also Slim’s manager and a tower of strength in the Australian country music industry. Together with Slim, their partnership produced more than 100 albums, sold more than eight million albums and earned 45 Golden Guitars. Joy won the first Golden Guitar award at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, in 1973, for her song Lights On The Hill. The prolific songwriter has previously been described by Paul Kelly as “one of our greatest songwriters”, and as a “national treasure” by Troy Cassar-Daley. THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2023 Junior Academy students announced Students for the 2023 Australian Academy of Country Music have been announced. Aspiring singer/songwriters from across NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria will converge on Tamworth for the intensive eight day course leading up to Country Music Capital's mid-year festival. Twenty-one students in all will take part in the course under the leadership of Academy Director Lyn Bowtell, General Manager Roger Corbett and group leaders David Carter, Ashleigh Dallas, Liam Kennedy-Clark and Aleyce Simmonds.
Academy Director Lyn said all the students would learn so much from their mentors, but she was particularly excited that young musicians would be attending. “We have some young instrumentalists coming which is exciting because the Academy is a wonderful environment for them where they get to learn so much and have support from Liam and other musicians and interns,” she said. “It’s been a couple of years since we’ve run a full junior Academy so it’s going to be nice to see everyone face-to-face and work with the students and parents in person.” Group leaders mentor the students and their parents through everything a career in music involves including performance, musicianship, songwriting, music business, social media and media relations. “Parents are very much a part of their child’s early music career," said General Manager Roger, "so we mentor them on how to best manage their talented child." Students range in age from 14 to 18 with six males and 15 females. Three students from Tamworth are among the 13 from NSW, six from Queensland and one each from Victoria and South Australia. The intensive residential course runs from July 1 to 8 with three instrumental students and 18 completing the singer/songwriter/performer course. They are... Matthew Barrett – Moore Creek (Tamworth), NSW Weblink – academycountrymusic.com.au. WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 2023 Brisbane Truck Show launches tomorrow For the thousands of country music fans in Australia’s trucking industry, we report news of the 2023 Brisbane Truck Show which launches tomorrow.
With a display space covering more than 35,000 square metres, exhibits will fill all three levels of the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre and will include all the big truck and trailer brands, plus further expansion of activations and entertainment in the nearby South Bank Parklands. Buoyed by record demand for new trucks over the past 18 months, key brands Volvo, Mack, UD, Hino and Isuzu return to the Southern Hemisphere’s largest road transport equipment expo, joining stalwarts Kenworth, DAF, Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner, Fuso, Western Star, MAN and Iveco. “And the big brands have a slew of new products on show, some publicly for the first time,” according to a spokesman for Show organisers.
“Not to be left behind, more than 30 of Australia’s world-class trailer manufacturers will also be showcasing the latest innovations in trailer design, including a raft of new products from the likes of The Drake Group, MaxiTRANS, Robuk Engineering, CIMC, Holmwood Highgate and Bruce Rock Engineering. “Connecting it all together, a record number of parts and accessories suppliers and technology providerds will be exhibiting a raft of product advances that are playing an increasing role in delivering on the 2023 show’s key themes of innovation, safety, sustainability and knowledge.” With the support of Tourism and Events Queensland, the Brisbane City Council and South Bank Corporation, the South Bank Truck Festival will see Little Stanley Street and Stanley Street Plaza again closed to traffic to showcase an ever-expanding line-up of innovative trucks and trailers, including a new zone dedicated to EVs. Following its success in 2019 and 2021, there will also be an abundance of activities and entertainment in the Parklands, supported by the precinct’s retailers with a range of drinking and dining options.
“For old truck fans, cool classic trucks will again be a feature of the Brisbane Truck Show, with the Heritage Truck Association Australia staging its big annual event on the weekend of May 20-21at Rocklea Showgrounds.” And that’s just mentioning a few of the major drawcards of the 2023 Brisbane Truck Show. Full details can be found at the website www.brisbanetruckshow.com.au. HVIA Chief Executive Todd Hacking says the response to the show’s strategic expansion has been “fantastic”. “All of that success is a reflection on the leadership shown by so many of our exhibitors who did such an amazing job of showcasing the values of their companies and our industry to the broader community,” he says. “The opportunity to showcase our industry in this spectacular location provides the perfect opportunity to share our story with the community in a tangible and lasting way.” Now ranking among the world’s leading transport industry events, the Brisbane Truck Show has come a long way from its humble beginnings back in 1968 when 21 truck, trailer and component manufacturers and suppliers came together at Haulmark Trailers’ premises in Rocklea. These days, it is, by far, the biggest business event the road transport industry holds in the Southern Hemisphere. Photos: top and middle, taken from the previous Brisbane Truck Show, bottom: Mack Brand Manager Brenda Riley, "The Brick Builder" Ben Craig and VGA Regional Commercial Manager Nicole Laspa at the Burleigh Heads studio where the LEGO model is being built. FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2023 Capella underway from tomorrow The Capella Country Music Festival is back in a big way this year launching a substantial program of events from tomorrow running through to this Sunday (May 7).
Bush poets Gary Fogarty and Ray Essery will be in attendance to host breakfast events on Saturday and Sunday. Walk-up artists will feature Tuesday to Friday from midday to 5. A fund-raising dinner to support the Capella branch of the Queensland Country Womens' Association will be held on Friday night. In addition to his performances, Chad will be conducting a launch of his recently released book on Saturday and signing copies afterwards as well as following his performanc on Sunday. The festival will also feature members of the former Slim Dusty Travelling Country Band: Gus Fenwick, Doug Gallacher, Kelvin Nolan and Michel Rose. A special attraction will be cooking demonstrations by entertainer, educator, author and world record holder Ranger Nick, "a master of keeping it simple demonstrating camp oven and bush cooking skills, something he has done for many years". Ranger Nick whips up a cracker of a meal with whatever is in the tuckerbox. He is sure to teach you a thing or two about bush cooking and leave a lasting impression on you while he does it. All activities are being staged undercover at the Capella Events Centre, 23 Hibernia Road. The festival site has plenty of space for camping, caravans and motor homes. Weblink – www.capellaevents.com.au. FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2023
Casey Barnes has been announced the winner of this year's Most Performed Country Work award at the APRA Music Awards in Sydney last night. Casey took the title with God Took His Time On You which he co-wrote with Kaci Brown and Samuel Gray. Fellow finalists were Morgan Evans' Love Is Real, James Johnston's Raised Like That, Taylor Moss' Get It Girl and Seaforth's Good Beer. Xavier Rudd won Most Performed Blues & Roots Work with We Deserve To Dream. Weblink – apraamcos.com.au. SUNDAY, APRIL 9, 2023 Man From Snowy River festival celebrates bush heritage The Man From Snowy River Bush Festival is coming up at Corryong this month, celebrating Aussie bush heritage in the true style of Banjo Paterson’s famous poem. Corryong is situated in the far north east of Victoria around 120 kilometres east of Albury/Wodonga and has been running its famous festival since 1963. A crowd of more than 20,000 is forecast to attend this year’s event which runs from Thursday April 13 to and including Sunday April 16.
Headlining the 2023 event will be Travis Collins, Paul Costa, Peter Denahy, Grant Luhrs, Danny Phegan and Sara Storer, supported by Bonza Blokes, The Cartwheels, Tom Curtain, Jayne Denham, Geoffrey Graham, The Pigs, Rory Phillips, Kevin Sullivan & The Sulli-Vans and The Surreal Cowboys. The main focus at The Man From Snowy River Bush Festival are the Finalists then go on to attempt a brumby catch and a buckjump, and the winner gets to own the title of modern day “Man From Snowy River” until he’s challenged all over again the following year. On day five, Riley’s riders arrive at a property in Thowgla, near Corryong, where thousands have driven or been bussed in from the festival. Then comes the re-enactment itself. Music from the iconic Man From Snowy River movie blasts out as “The Man” joins “Clancy of The Overflow” and their fellow stockmen in a heart thumping display of cracking whips and thundering hooves as they race to gather up the “brumbies” and return “the colt from Old Regret” to the station in an hour-long performance. The Man From Snowy River Bush Festival brings people together to celebrate traditional Australian bush heritage in a beautiful, largely untouched landscape. Whether visitors come for a week, a weekend or a day they find the setting unchanged from Banjo’s visit; the mountain ranges are just as spectacular, the valleys as beautiful and the fast running rivers as dramatic, said a festival spokesman. And in 2023, a new event is taking place in the Rodeo Arena… a Feature Cut Out. “If you are ready to see a top-level performance for horse and rider put to the test Friday Night has you sorted!” organisers said. “In the Cut-Out event, the rider and horse must work together to hold the beast at the top of the pen away from the rest of the heard, in doing this they will showcase the amazing skill, ability and agility of horse and rider put together. “The Judge will be watching for the competitor skill with working his horse and reading the movements of the cattle to score them.” Full event details, including festival program, can ve obtained from the website – bushfestival.com.au. MONDAY, APRiL 3, 2023 A first for Rebel Rebel Custom Guitars made their first entry into the Tamworth Country Music Festival this year via sponsorship of the Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards.
Rebel Custom Guitars boasts an impressive range of guitars for stage and show, played by both national and international profile guitarists. Long term endorsed players David and Lyn Hinds flew the Rebel Custom Guitars flag at Tamworth 2023. Internationally, Rebel Custom Guitars are constantly on the road, being played by many players on many continents. Anestis said he was excited about the prospect of returning to Tamworth in 2024 for both the festival for the People’s Choice Awards. Weblink – www.rebelcustomguitars.com. THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2023 APRA Awards finalists Finalists have been announced for the 2023 APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) Music Awards. In the Most Performed Country Work category, the finalists are Casey Barnes with God Took His Time On You (written by Casey with Kaci Brown and Samuel Gray), Morgan Evans with Love Is Real (written by Morgan with Parker Nohe and Jordan Reynolds), James Johnston with his self-penned Raised Like That, Taylor Moss with Get It Girl (written by Taylor with Michael Delorenzis, Michael Paynter and Alys Edwards) and Seaforth with Good Beer (written by Jordan Dozzi, Thomas Jordan, Mitchell Thompson and Rocky Block.
Finalists for Most Performed Blues & Roots Work are Ziggy Alberts with his self-penned I Believe, The Black Sorrows with Livin' Like Kings (written by Joe Camilleri and Nicholas Smith), Ash Grunwald with I Want You To Know (written by Ash with Fergus James), Xavier Rudd with his own song We Deserve To Dream and Vika & Linda with the Ben Salter penned My Heart Is In The Wrong Place. In other categories of interest to the country and blues sectors, the late Archie Roach is a nominee for the peer voted Song of the Year with his song One Song. The 2023 APRA Music Awards will be staged on Thursday April 27 at the International Convention Centre in Sydney with host Celia Pacquola, guest presenters Fred Leone and Henry Wagons and Musical Director François Tétaz. Weblink – apraamcos.com.au. MONDAY, MARCH 20, 2023 Diesel Rust & Dust The 2023 Diesel Rust & Dust Truck & Machinery Show will be staged on Saturday April 22 at Denman, NSW. Featuring entertainment by award winning Justin Landers, the event is organised and staged by the Antique Truck & Machinery Club in association with the Denman Men's Shed, Denman Heritage Village, the Hunter Valley Classic Commercial Vehicle Club and the Denman Chamber of Commerce.
All Vintage, Classic and other type vehicle and machinery owners are welcome and encouraged to register and be involved. Contact Wayne on 0428 366 071 or Neal on 0409 045 264. Held in conjunction with the Autumn Main Street Markets in Ogilvie Street, Denman Diesel Rust & Dust will feature displays including Vintage and late trucks, cars, motorcycles, stationary engines and machinery. The day includes lunch time entertainment, this year featuring JUstin Landers in Diesel Rust & Dust Truck & Machinery Classic Country with special guests Happy Days and walk-up country artists. Childrens’ activities will also be plentiful with market stalls, woodchop demos, merchandise sales plus a barbecue with hot and cold drinks available. Weblink here. THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2023 Guitar maker success The 2023 Tamworth Country Music Festival was successful for a number of guitar makers whose presence was felt more so than usual by their high profile association with the Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards.
Cole Clark has a reputation for manufacturing state of the art, ground-breaking Australian developed Australian made acoustic and electric guitars using Australian sustainable Timbers. Cole Clark Guitars sponsored Best Female at the People’s Choice Awards, a category well suited for the company, considering its dedication to the long term needs of female performers including Golden Guitar winner and long term Cole Clark fan and endorsee Lyn Bowtell. Miles Jackson, Cole Clark Chief Executive had a brief but busy involvement at Tamworth 2023 connecting with players throughout venues as well as conducting a Cole Clark restring day at the city’s Capitol Music. Currently, Cole Clark Guitars International Ambassador Lloyd Spiegel is on an overseas tour spreading the Cole Clark mantra and making ready for Cole Clark Guitars 21st celebrations. Weblink – www.coleclarkguitars.com. This is the first in a series of articles highlighting the success of the 2023 Australian Country Music Peoples Choice Awards and sponsors involved. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2023 Junior Academy 2023 The Country Music Association of Australia’s Academy of Country Music is set to run a junior course this July and applications are now open. “Applications for talented young aspiring singers, songwriters and musicians are invited,” said a spokesman for the Association.
Ten-time Golden Guitar winner Lyn Bowtell leads The Academy as Director with fellow Golden Guitar winner and Bushwackers member Roger Corbett as General Manager. Group leaders will include award-winning artists who will mentor the students and their parents through aspects of a music career including performance, musicianship, songwriting, music business, social media and media relations, including David Carter, Max Jackson, Aleyce Simmonds, and a host of others. "Many of our junior students go forward after their Academy journey to forge amazing careers in country music,” said Roger, “James Johnston, Sinead Burgess, Jessica Mauboy, Max Jackson, Judah Kelly, Melanie Dyer and many more continue to have great success. “The parent course is the Academy's one-of-a-kind course on how to best manage your talented child,” he said “Guest songwriters and industry leaders will also visit The Academy for songwriting and music business-related topics which they will present to the students and their parents." This year, nine junior and senior Academy alumni won 14 Golden Guitars between them, demonstrating the calibre of artists who have graduated from the courses since 1997, Roger said. Director Lyn Bowtell can't wait to welcome junior students and their parents in person. “We are excited to welcome another talented batch of students back to our residential course,” she said. “A major highlight for me is seeing the growth that the students undergo through the intensive course and helping parents navigate the music industry to support their talented child’s career.” The Academy junior course runs for a week ahead of the Hats Off to Country Festival. Applications close on April 30. Weblink – academycountrymusic.com.au. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2023 A Night In Nashville A Night In Nashville – a special all-American themed country music festival – will be staged in Orange on the NSW Central West this weekend. The event runs over two nights, Friday and Saturday (February 10 and 11) in the old Agricultural Pavilion at the Orange Showground which will be themed with festoon lights, hay bales and neon signs along the lines of Nashville’s famous Broadway entertainment precinct. Entertainment will be provided by Abby Christo, Jake Davey, Robbie Mortimer and Clancy Pye on Friday night with Luke Fairbank, Bella Mackenzie and Robbie Mortimer again on Saturday night.
The event will also feature line dancing, American food vans and a mechanical bull, “creating the perfect setting for festival enthusiasts to come together and enjoy a fantastic end-to-end American Country Music experience,” according to organisers. Photo: taken at the 2021 event. Weblink – anightinnashville.com.au. FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2023, Boyup Brook gears up A traditional major event following the 10 day January experience in Tamworth is the Boyup Brook Country Music Festival in Western Australia. The festival offeers three days of non-stop entertainment, 25 hours of live music including "Tunes at Music Park: and the WA Country Music Awards, on top of "bootscootin’ and spoons workshops".
Organisers say there will be plenty of activities for children as well, like stilt walking, rock climbing, "Freedom Fairies" and "Top of the Stairs Puppets". Bush poetry will feature all weekend with the prestigious Bush Poets Breakfast on Sunday. The Boyup Brook Art Awards & Exhibition will also be a highlight, this year’s theme being "Focus on Flora for 2023". The famous Boyup Brook annual Ute & Truck Muster will make its way through the town on the Saturday. Headlining the performers line-up this year will be multiple winners from this year's Golden Guitar Awards, Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley with Terry Bennetts, The Bushwackers, Codee-Lee, Darren Coggan & Olivia Coggan, Siobhan Cotchin, Ginger Cox, The Eastern Line, Mike Goodwin, the Bradley Hall Band, Billy Higginson & The Pale Moon, Riders, Kate Hindle, Sally Jane, JoKeria, Ray Jones, Lansdell Family Music, "Cowboy" Roger Lawson, The Little Lord Street Band, Sam Lovell, Brandon Poletti & The Eagleton Brothers, J.V. Rail, Jonny Reid, The Red Ochre Band, Sibbsy and the Haines Train, Jonny Taylor, Helen Townsend & The Wayward Hearts and Phil Walleystack. Weblink – www.wacountrymusic.com.au. THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2023 Archie, Dianne and Peter in Australia Day honours
Archie has been posthumously elevated to the highest honour within the Order of Australia, a Companion (AC) in the General Division. The honour was bestowed “For eminent service to the performing arts as a songwriter and musician, to Indigenous rights and reconciliation, and through support for emerging First Nations artists.” Archie died in July last year. Husband and wife duo Dianne Lindsay and Peter Simpson have each been awarded an OAM (Order of Australia Medal) for service to the performing arts as entertainers.
They also jointly co-host the long running syndicated radio program the Australian Bush Ballad Show. Dianne is Patron of the Pittwater Country Music Club and Peter is a board member of the Country Music Association of Australia. Individually and collectively, they have mumerous awards and accolades to their credit, including induction into the Country Music Hands of Fame. TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2023 Vale – Michael Cooke Long time Country Music Capital based performer and recording artist Michael Cooke has died. He was 84.
In 1967, with the formation of the Tamworth branch of the Modern Country Music Association (now the Capital Country Music Association) in Tamworth, Michael joined with other locals performing at many concerts in the area. Through Ross Murphy of Opal Records, he sent a demo tape to Hadley Records which resulted in a recording contract with them. In 1968, he made the first of four EPs (extended play singles) with Hadley. An album was also released as part of the contract. Michael toured with Slim Dusty to New Guinea and also worked with the Geoff Brown Showband around the north and north-west of NSW. In 1974, Michael gave up music and moved to Sydney, becoming a professional fisherman until 1980 when he returned to Tamworth and performed with Lindsay Butler for eight months before giving music away again. Michael was inducted into Country Music Capital’s Hands of Fame in 1986. He died in Tamworth on Wednesday January 18 after losing a battle with cancer. MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2023 Busking winners Country Music Capital's Lane Pittman has been crowned the 2023 Best of the Buskers Champion following last night’s grand final at the 51st Toyota Tamworth Country Music Festival. The Festival’s top 10 busking musicians, as voted by festival goers and judges, performed to an enthusiastic crowd in Toyota Park on the final night of the festival, with Lane’s impressive performance winning over the judges.
Lane takes home a $2000 cash prize as well as two paid gigs at the Courthouse Hotel during the 2024 Tamworth Country Music Festival, plus the opportunity to perform at next year’s Opening Concert. Ziggy McNeill from Freshwater, NSW, took out second place and Scott Rathman Jnr from Pooraka, SA, placed third, with both receiving cash prizes and paid gigs in 2024, while Maddie Warden from Walgett, NSW, was crowned the "people’s choice" winner, taking home a Yamaha electric acoustic guitar. The remaining six of the top 10 – Matthew Barratt, Ruby Jane, Sunday Lemonade, The Meadows, The RnR Ranchgirls and Norman Shillingsworth – walked away with $200 each. Announcing the winners, Tamworth City Toyota Dealer Principal Tim Easey (pictured above with Lane) said it was wonderful to see the streets of Tamworth buzzing again with such amazing busking talent. “Over the last two weeks, we’ve heard some incredible artists playing their music all throughout Peel Street and I’d like to congratulate Lane on his win tonight against some immensely talented performers,” Tim said. “The Toyota Country Music Busking Championships showcases the community heart of this festival by supporting grassroots Australian country music artists and provides them with a platform to showcase their talents, and by the performances we have seen, the future of Australian country music is looking bright,” he said. Some of Australia’s country music icons got their start in busking on Tamworth's "boulevarde of dreams" – like Troy Cassar-Daley, Kasey Chambers and Keith Urban. “These championships are one of the most iconic parts of the Festival," Barry said, "and they do a fantastic job in showcasing the variety of musical styles and talent from the Festival’s main precinct. “It is a perfect launch-pad for aspiring musicians as it helps them to get their music out there to a large audience.” SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 2023
Winners of the Toyota 51st Golden Guitar Awards were announced in Tamworth, Australia's Country Music Capital, last night. Presented by the CMAA – Country Music Association of Australia – and Tamworth Regional Council - the event was staged in the Tamworth Regional Entertainment & Conference Centre (TRECC) in front of a large crowd of fans and industry represententatives including many artists. The biggest winners of the night were Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley, who took out three awards, and Casey Barnes, James Johnston and Luke O'Shea who took home two each.
Casey's category wins were the previoously announced Top Selling Golden Guitar and the award considered to be one of the main three, Album of the Year, both for his hit album Light It Up, produced by Michael DeLorenzis and Michael Paynter. Luke's wins – Heritage Song of the Year and Video of the Year – were both for the song South East Queensland which he co-wrote with Fred Smith and Mitchell Lynham. Jay Seeney directed the winning video with Luke. James' two Golden Guitars were for New Talent of the Year and Vocal Collaboration of the Year on Same Songs which he shared with Kaylee Bell. Amber Lawrence took home Female Artist of the Year. Andrew Swift was named Male Artist of the Year. Asheligh Dallas won Traditional Album of the Year for In The Moment, produced by her Dad Brett. Alt Country Album of the Year was won by Kim Cheshire for Looks Like Heaven, produced by Rod McCormack. Lyn Bowtell won Contemporary Album of the Year for wiser, produced by Shane Nicholson. Bluegrass Recording of the Year went to Kristy Cox for Good Morning Moon.
Instrumental of the Year was won by The French Family Band for Soda Cap Boogie. Expatriate Australian singer and instrumentalist Jedd Hughes was named 2023 Musician of the Year. Long time singer/singwriter and media personality Colin Buchanan was elevated to the Australasian Country Music Roll of Renown. His plaque will be unveiled at the Roll in front of the TRECC at 10am this morning. Pictured (top) Adam and Brooke, then Casey Barnes, James Johnston (centre) amd Luke O'Shea. Weblink – www.country.com.au. SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2023 Special tribute to "Redback" A special tribute to Slim Newton – creator of the Australian classic hit The Redback On The Toilet Seat who died a little over a week ago – will be held in Country Music Capital's Town Hall tomorrow.
Son and key organiser Steve Newton said: Dad began performing in the '50s, last century, and was touring throughout regional Australia and across the top end." He became famous in June 1972, however, when the now infamous Redback was released by Tamworth's Hadley Records, going on to peak at number three on the pop charts and sell more than 100,000 copies. "We know he got three gold records for Redback," Steve said, "there are two in the studios, which are a bit of a museum to him, and my sister has one too. But I have a sneaking suspicion there was a fourth, but we don't know where that is." The Tribute To Slim – with "some very special guests" – will kick off at 10am tomorrow morning (Sunday) with doors opening at 9:40am. "I would like to thank everyone for your kind words and condolences for Dad," Steve said. "Please join us on Sunday to remember him." THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2023 People’s Choice winners 2023 The best in Australian country music – according to “the people” – were recognised in Tamworth today at the Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards. Leading bush balladeer and perennial winner Graham Rodger was named Best Male Vocal while relative newcomer Courtney Keil took out the Best Female Vocal honour. The RnR Ranchgirls, an already established live act now moving into recording and building a strong fan base, won the Best Group or Duo category. Pictured top row (from left): Graham, Courtney, The RnR Ranch girls, Brendan; bottom row: James,, Andy, The Long & Short Of It, Laura. Brendan McMahon was successful in Best Album for his latest work …as the road unfolds. The latest sensation in Australian country music – James Johnston – won the Best Song category with his initial popular self-penned release Raised Like That. Best Bush Ballad went to another relative newcomer, Andy Penkow, with Ghostly Gums, co-written with David Carter, Angela Bristow-Baohm and Kathleen Stewart. Best Video was taken out by the very popular duo The Long & Short It of their hit song Midnight Choir. Most Promising Future Star was awarded to Queensland based rising star Laura Frank. In the broadcast categories, Alan Gilmour, another perennial winner who has one of the most popular programs on Australian radio – the Australian Country Songwriters Show – won Most Popular Country Music DJ while Danni Shaw’s Country Kickback – a new media program – was named Most Popular Country Music Program. Two inductees were elevated to the Australian Country Music Broadcasters Hall of Fame… Rhonda Francis, a long time broadcaster with 2SSR in Sydney and Ron Montague (aka Ronnieboy) of 2RRR. One of the day’s highlights was the announcement of Troy Cassar-Daley as Australia’s Country Music Entertainer of the Year for 2023. Troy’s Stellar, continuing career, and particularly more recent achievements, were recognised with the award which is new in this format. There have been a number of such awards presented in the past but not for some time, and the Country Music Bulletin group, organisers of the People’s Choice Awards, thought it was “high time it was re-introduced to recognise more than what is normally acknowledged in a series of category presentations – as important as they are”. The Australian Country Music Entertainer of the Year accolade is determined by a vote of Australian country music broadcasters and specialist media. Voting for the 2024 Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards will open in July. Weblink – www.peopleschoiceawards.com.au. TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2023 TSA winners Winners in the Tamworth Songwriters’ Association Songwriter Salute Awards were announced in Tamworth tonight during a gala presentation concert. The major Songmaker recognition was presented to prolific bush balladeer Graham Rodger (pictured).
The prestigious New Songwriter accolade was won by Felicity Dowd (pictured) with Handle It. Winner of the Tex Morton Award, for service to country songwriting, was local Tamworth legend Patti Morgan. For Novice Songwriting, the trophy went to Allan West & Ren Kyder with One For Sorrow. The Youth Songwriting category was won by Amy Ryan with Gem Gem.
The Bluegrass Song Award went to Dave Diprose with Stranger In My Home. The Country Blues Song Award was taken out by Empty, written by Shelly Jones & Lester Treuer. The Country Song Rock Award was presented to Blake Dantier for Wish You Were My Beer. The Country Ballad Award went to Craig Lloyd, David Carter & Merelyn Carter for Take The Wheel. Matt Scullion won Traditional Song of the Year with The Legend Of The Lamp. Terry Bennetts was the winner of Bush Ballad of the Year with The Dinner Tree. Mark Rigney won the Comedy/Novelty Award with Modern Day Country Song. The Local Heroes Song of the Year went to Free Again by Karen Law. Gospel/Spiritual Song was taken out by Clayton Saunders for God Knows. And the Radio Presenters Award went to the Shelly Jones Band. Weblink – www.tsaonline.com.au. MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2023 Hands of Fame inductees announced Five new famous hands will be be immortalised in concrete this coming Saturday following the announcement today of the 2023 inductees. A celebrated singer/songwriter, internationally acclaimed bluegrass export, award-winning cinematographer and recording artist, outback horseman and "honky tonk queen" will cement their place in history. Kevin Bennett, Kristy Cox, Tom Curtain, Duncan Toombs and Wanita (pictured from left) will place their hand impressions alongside 300 or so others at the Hands of Fame cornerstone in Country Music Capital.
Singer/songwriter Kevin Bennett is known as “the singer’s singer … the songwriter’s songwriter” and has led country blues and roots band, The Flood for many years. He’s also been part of the much-awarded trio, Bennett, Bowtell and Urquhart and is a regular tutor at the Country Music Association of Australia's Academy of Country Music and The DAG Songwriters’ Retreat. South Australian born Kristy Cox has quite the pedigree in country music, having come through the talent quest ranks to become an international bluegrass sensation. Now a dual citizen of Australia and the USA, Kristy has a string of award-winning albums to her credit and is kept busy performing at festivals across America and in her own homeland. Northern Territory based horse and dog whisperer Tom Curtain now has five successful albums, as well as an award-winning outback enterprise. He’s had number one hits from each release to date and the Katherine Outback Experience, his primary business, has won countless accolades for engaging tourists in the Territory. Duncan Toombs has long been the sideman to Australian country music’s biggest stars and has won countless awards for creating film clips to accompany their music. Duncan has stepped into the spotlight with his much-anticipated debut album, Steel On Steel, to be launched at Wests’ Event Centre on Wednesday at 3.30pm. Wanita was crowned Australia’s Queen of Honky Tonk by public acclamation in the early 1990s at a Hank Williams tribute show in Sydney. Now comfortable with the title, Wanita is the toast of the international film festival circuit following the release of "I'm Wanita!" – a documentary on her life. “The annual Hands of Fame imprinting ceremony is always a highlight of the festival," said Tamworth Country Music Festival Manager Barry Harley. “It is one of the most popular tourist attractions, and was established in 1977, with Johnny Ashcroft, Slim Dusty, Joy McKean, Smoky Dawson, Buddy Williams and Tex Morton among the crop of 21 artists saluted that inaugural year.” The 2023 Hands of Fame imprinting ceremony will take place on Saturday January 21 at 9.30am at the Hands of Fame Park at the corner of Kable Ave and Bridge Streets hosted by well known country music industry identity Lorraine Pfitzner. Tamworth Regional Mayor Russell Webb will present the 2022 inductees with their certificates. A full rundown of inductees to date, as well as more information about the Hands of Fame can be found at www.historyofcountrymusic.com.au. SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 2023 Loren wins Star Maker
Loren, from Tamworth, won the crown from fellow finalists Sari Abbott, Denvah, Emily Hatton, Finnian Johnson, Robbie Mortimer, Kora Naughton, Kiara Rodrigues, Claudia Tripp and Jacob Vincent. A huge crowd witnessed the final at Toyota Park (renamed from Bicentennial Park during the Tamworth Country Music Festival) and were entertained by previous winner Kaylee Bell and the reigning Star Maker Max Jackson. The winner of Star Maker benefits from a massive prize package designed to help them launch a major career in country music, including recording time and single releases, video production and the use of a Toyota vehicle for 12 months and fuel. Previous Star Maker winners have included Kirsty Lee Akers, James Blundell, Lyn Bowtell, Darren Coggan, Beccy Cole, Travis Collins, Brad Cox, Gina Jeffreys, Lee Kernaghan, Samantha McClymont and Keith Urban. Photo: Loren with her winner's plaque and 2022 winner Max. Weblink – starmaker.com.au. FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2023 Lifeline to benefit from Tamworth Festival As the 2023 Tamworth Country Mjusic Festival gets underway, Lifeline has been announced as the major charity partner for event. Funds raised at a number of activities, including major free nightly concerts in the park, will go towards the establishment of a hub for volunteers in the city answering calls from those in distress. The partnership is with the major festival sponsor, Toyota.
Tamworth has been described as a "missing spot" on the Lifeline services map according to Northern NSW General Manager Michael Were. "The ability for Lifeline to partner with Toyota and also with the Tamworth Country Music Festival is a huge opportunity for us to show that it is ok to not be ok," he said. The hub, slated for construction in Tamworth’s new business park this year, will boost mental health support - a "growing" conversation in regional Australia. "Tamworth is a key location for the development of our services," Michael Were said. "We're here to stay and grow mental health services in this region." The hub will also present opportunities for locals to become crisis supporters. "The process of training in crisis support is really intense, and it is really, really comprehensive," he said. "We start with a whole heap of online courses, and then that goes into supervised shifts, roleplays, mentoring." Lifeline hopes to call for expressions of interest from the community in the first few months of 2023, to begin the training process and get people on the phones before the end of the year. Lifeline will be very visible at the festival, according to Festival Manager Barry Harley. “People should pick up a straw hat, pins, a limited edition shirt or donate a bit of money during a meal at a participating pub or club,” he said. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2023 Tamworth Festival countdown Although it is now not promoted as heavily as it once was, the week before the annual January country music festival in Tamworth is known as the Festival Countdown.
One of Country Music Capital’s major venues – the Tamworth Services Club, for example – has been featuring the well known act Kerry Kennedy Double Barrel all week performing nightly shows in the club’s lounge area. On Wednesday (the 11th), the momentum starts to build with an Oz Opry Showcase at the (Lindsay) Butler Estate just south of Tamworth featuring the likes of Gavin Chatelier, Bella Dior, Tink Everett, Anthony Ferret, Rick Ferret, Sami Hollier, Kassidy Jewell, Andy Penkow, Rick & Friends, Bill Rowland, Tracey Rowland and “surprise guests”. Thursday (12th) the pace builds to a festival eve crescendo with venues including the Austin Tourist Park with acts including Peter Campbell, Col Finley (pictured) and Robyn Norton...
Riverside Campground Stage with Drew Blundell, Kirsty Bolton, Dennis Comino, Honey Duo, Sally Jane and Imogen Hall and Lane Pittman, Tamworth Town Hall with the Tamworth Country Music Festival Chariry Ball; Werris Creek Bowling & Tennis Club with the Australian Independent Country Music Brumby Awards and West Tamworth League Club withDarren Carr & The Cowpats and Shelley & Lawrie Minson... All joining the Oz Opry Legends of Country at the Butler Estate and Kerry Kennedy at the Services Club. Full details can be found in the... Festival program on-line Organisers of the Tamworth Country Music Festival – Tamworth Regional Council – have advised there will not be a Festival “app” this year, the decision taken to instead make the full festival program on-line. It’s available at www.tcmf.com.au click on the What’s On tab. The regular printed souvenir official program is still available from various locations including newsagents, Tamworth Visitor Information Centre and Festival HQ which this year is located in the former National Australia Bank building at the corner of Peel and Fitzroy Streets adjacent Toyota FanZone. SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2023 Vale – Slim Newton Ralph Ernest “Slim” Newton – best known for his hit song Redback On The Toilet Seat – has died. He was 90. Slim released his now famous song, recorded at Hadley Studios in Tamworth on Sunday October 24, 1971, on an EP (extended play single) in June 1972.
In 1973, Slim won the first Golden Guitar trophy for Top Selling Record at the inaugural Australasian Country Music Awards, now the Country Music Awards of Australia. He continued his career as a part-time musician and released several albums while also working in his trade as a welder. In 1977, he was inducted into the Australasian Country Music Hands of Fame by Radio 2TM, instigators of the Awards and the now famous Tamworth Country Music Festival. In 1992, Slim was honoured with the Tamworth Songwriters' Association's prestigious Songmaker Award. In 2009, he was elevated to the Australasian Country Music Roll of Renown by the Australian Country Music Foundation and Hall of Fame. During his career, Slim released upwards of nine albums and four EPs including a number of singles issued from these works. Born October 22, 1932, Slim grew up in Perth with two brothers. At the age of 17, while working as an apprentice welder, he started performing country music at weekends. He finished his apprenticeship at the age of 21 and, while still plying his trade, continued performing as a musician. In December 1956, he performed with the Gill Brothers Rodeo & Circus in Canberra, promoted as "West Australia's own Cowboy Singer". By 1957, Slim was living in Sydney where he performed on the Reg Lindsay Show both on radio and at local venues. Also that year, fellow country artists Rick & Thel Carey recorded You Can Say That Again which was co-written with Slim. He returned to Perth in 1959, forming a group in the mid 1960s, The Mavericks, with Mick Kodra. Slim had continued his songwriting and, in 1971, after contact from Eric Scott of Hadley Records, he and his family relocated to Tamworth so he could start recording his own material at their studios. The EP containing Redback was his debut release. In addition to the Go-Set chart, the song peaked at number five on the officially recognised Kent Music Report Singles Chart and remained in their top 100 for 28 weeks. In August 1972, Slim told Nan Musgrove of "The Australian Women’s Weekly" of an occasion where a visiting friend used his outside toilet in Perth where the light globe had blown. The friend reported that he was lucky there were no redback spiders on the toilet seat. The phrase inspired Slim to compose the hit song which he said was "easy to write”. His follow-up EP, How Did The Redback Die?, appeared in October of 1972 and continued the theme to explain what happened to the spider. In November 2003, Slim was honoured by a celebration of his life in country music with his children and grandchildren performing his signature song in recignition of his 70th birthday. Slim had five children with his wife Fay, nee Gill… Eric, Steve, Lisa, Linda and Jodi. Elder son Eric tragically died in a car accident in 1981. Son Steve was a co-founder (and now sole operator) of Enrec Studios in Tamworth, worked with John Williamson for many years and as a concert guitarist. Enrec (named in honour of his late older brother) is now located in the Hadley Studios, not the same building but the same label that Slim recorded with for many years. FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2023 Casey takes out Top Selling Golden Guitar Casey Barnes' Light It Up has been announced as winner of the Top Selling Album Golden Guitar award in the 51st annual Country Music Awards of Australia.
Sales figures are as reported by ARIA, the Australian Recording Industry Association, for the period January 1 to December 31, 2022, for albums of new material, first released in 2022. Light It Up was released in February 2022, debuting at number one on the ARIA Australian Country Album Chart and taking out the 2022 ARIA Award for Country Album of the Year. It features five current hit singles and has spent 11 months on the ARIA Australian Country Albums Chart to date. When told of his win Casey said: “This is a huge honour and extra special being my first Golden Guitar win capping off a year I’ll never forget. This one’s as much for the fans too who have been amazing with their support of the album. It’s always your biggest goal to release a record that people connect with so I’m incredibly grateful”. Although he has won the top selling award, Light It Up was not the biggest selling Australian country album of 2022. Lee Kernaghan's five album set of re-released material, The Very Best Of Lee Kernaghan, took out the top spot with Morgan Evans' 2018 release Things That We Drink To in second place. Light It Up was in third place with Keith Urban's 2020 release The Speed Of Now Part 1 in the fourth position and The Very Best Of Slim Dusty (originally released in 2003 and now having spent an amazing 1,246 weeks on the Australian Country Albums Chart) at number five. The judged Golden Guitar winners will be announced on Saturday January 21 at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment & Conference Centre. Weblink – www.country.com.au. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2023 Balladeers Homestead is back One of the latter institutions, and most popular, attractions of the annual Tamworth Country Music Festival has been the Balladeers Homestead run annually by the Australian Bush Balladeers Association (ABBA). And, after a couple of years of Covid downtime, the Homestead is back in 2023 with a huge line-up of shows and performers at the Salvation Army Complex Function Hall on the New England Highway (Goonoo Goonoo Road) on the southern entry to Tamworth. Bush ballads are Australia’s traditional country music, evolving from the earliest days of white settlement and especially our unique bush culture and poetry. And espoused by the likes of Tex Morton, Buddy Williams and Slim Dusty in the earliest days of Australian country music.
Star acts appearing will include Band of Mates (Terry Bennetts, Evan Platschinda & Ginger Cox), Jeff Brown, Peter Coad & The Coad Sisters, the Gunbarrel Highwaymen (Owen Blundell, Terry Gordon & Reg Poole)with special guest Chad Morgan, Ged & Trudy Hintz and Dianne Lindsay & Peter Simpson. Runaway Dixie will present a gospel, bluegrass and ballads concert with special guests Owen Blundell and Angus Gill and Jeff Brown and Ernie Constance will combine for a Golden Guitar winners showcase. Shows on the last day of the Homestead will include a dedicated Yodel & A Song event with performers Owen Blundell, Peter Coad, Virginia Coad, Lynette Guest, Jim Hermel, Dianne Lindsay & Peter Simpson and the Shelly Jones Band. A number of ABBA Member Showcases will be staged featuring the likes of Marcia Armfield, Ken Smith, Peter “Smokie” Dawson, Greg Dillon, Graham Doubleday, Paul Fleming, Anne Fraser, Henry Hollis, Ron Lynch, Phil Manning, Patti Morgan, Robyn Norton, Jim O’Neil, Lachie & Georgia Owen, Rod & Rhonda Owen, Jeanette Parsons-Cain, Lorraine Pfitzner and Rodney Walker. An ABBA Aussie Road Show will be staged on the Wednesday morning with artists including Anthony Baxter, Laurel Calvert, Tom Chesterfield, Angus Gill, Anita Ree and Anthony Tenace. And the popular Slim, Bazza & Stan Tribute Concert will run again on the Thursday with performers including Greg Bain, Anthony Baxter, Terry Bennetts, Jeff Brown, Jason Carruthers, Ashley Cook, Lachie Cosser, Johnny Greenwood, Lyn Manning, Phil Manning, Peter Simpson, Anota Ree and John Smith. This concert, set for 1:30 in the afternoon, will also include the official launch of bush ballad industry pioneer Lorraine Pfitzner’s book “My Life Story”. Further information, including links for show detail and tickets, can be obtained from the website www.bushballadeers.com.au. The Toyota Tamworth Country Music Festival runs for 10 days from Friday January 13 to and including Sunday January 22. SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2023 Performers announced for People’s Choice The artist line-up has been announced for the 2023 Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards gala presentation concert. A total of 12 individual acts are confirmed for this year’s event which will be staged for the first time in the famous Tamworth Town Hall at 12noon Thursday Januaryt 19. They are, in alphabetical order, Tracy Coster, Laura Frank, Tony Kennelly, Shaza Leigh, Dianne Lindsay, The Long & Short Of It, Brendan McMahon, Andy Penkow, The RnR Ranchgirls, Graham Rodger, The Silverline and Vixens of Fall.
Pictured, top row: Tracy, Laura, Tony and Shaza; secon row: Dianne, The Long & Short Of It, Brendan; third row: Andy, The RnR Ranchgirls; Graham Rodger; bottom row: The Silverline, Vixens Of Fall. A number of special surprise guests will also appear. Awards will be presented in 10 categories on the day… Best Female Vocal, Best Male, Best Group or Duo, Best Album, Best Song, Best Bush Ballad, Best Video and Most Promising Future Star together with the two broadcast categories, Most Popular Country Music DJ and Most Popular Country Music Radio Station or Program. The 2023 Australian Country Music Broadcasters Hall of Fame inductee or inductees will be announced together with a new accolade, Australian Country Music Entertainer of the Year, determined from nominations received from country music broadcast and media sectors in Australia. More information and a direct link for tickets to the Awards gala concert can be obtained from the website peopleschoiceawards.com.au. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2022 Academy set for January return The Country Music Association of Australia’s Academy of Country Music is running its senior course this January for the first time since 2020. Twenty-eight participants, ranging in age upwards from 18, are set to spend two weeks in Australia’s Country Music Capital from January 3 leading up to the 2023 Tamworth festival. They are…
The course – the only one of its kind in the world – kicks off on Tuesday January 3 and runs through until Thursday January 12 inclusive. Structured in learning groups, Academy group leaders for 2023 will be 2015 Star Maker winner Mickey Pye and Golden Guitar winners Kevin Bennett and Melody Moko. Instrumental group leader will be Liam Kennedy-Clark. The Academy is overseen by Director Lyn Bowtell and General Manager Roger Corbett. During the course, participants are immersed in all aspects of the music business, musical performance, songwriting, promotion and recording, among other aspects of making a career in music. Guest tutors will include the likes of The Buckleys, Kasey Chambers, Ashleigh Dallas and Amber Lawrence and participants will also have the chance to co-write with 2022 Toyota Star Maker Max Jackson and Golden Guitar winners Allan Caswell and Aleyce Simmonds. “My highlight of The Academy is seeing the growth the students experience during their time in the course,” she said. The intensive and residential nature of the course means students and staff members bond quickly and students discover like-minded friends, with many of these friendships lasting for life. “The relationships that students and staff members form are priceless for everyone and assist in the development of the students as artists,” said General Manager Roger. Participants will "show off" what they have learned at a Graduates Concert to be staged at Moonshiners Honky Tonk Bar in Tamworth at 8pm on Thursday January 12. Tickets are available here. Weblink – academycountrymusic.com.au. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2022 Songwriter finalists Finalists have been announced for the TSA (Tamworth Songwriters’ Association) 2022 Songwriting Contest and Songwriter Salute Awards. They are... For Alt Country
For Country Rock For Traditional For Bluegrass For Bush Ballad For Comedy/Novelty For Country Blues For Gospel/Spiritual For Local Heroes For Lyrics Only For New Songwriter For Novice For Youth Award winners will be announced at the TSA Awards Night to be held at The Longyard Hotel in Country Music Capital at 7pm on Tuesday, January 17. Weblink – www.tsaonline.com.au. MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2022 Gulgong festival returns
To be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday, January 6, 7 and 8, the Gulgong festival is steeped in music tradition having provided music, poetry trad sessions, busking and concerts at the Prince of Wales Opera House, dancing and "pure folk fun" for more than 35 years. Star of the coming event will be Shane Howard (pictured) , the well-known and prolific Australian songwriter, admired and respected for his integrity and commitment to music, a spokesman for Festival organisers said. Performances will also be made by acts including The Blues Preachers, The Full Irish, and Stringline. Weblink – gulgongfolkfestival.com. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2022 Finalists announced for People’s Choice Finalists have been announced for the 2023 Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards. They are… For Best Female Vocal (pictured from left)… Cassidy-Rae, Tracy Coster, Lily Grace, Della Harris and Courtney Keil.
For Best Male Vocal (pictured from left)… James Johnston, Tony Kennelly, Brendan McMahon, Andy Penkow and Graham Rodger.
For Best Group or Duo… Bo’Ness, The Long & Short Of It, The RnR Ranchgirls, The Silverline and Vixens Of Fall. For Best Album… As The Road Unfolds by Brendon McMahon, Campfire Stories by Bo’Ness, Knights Of The Saddle by Graham Rodger, Love, Lies & Dirty Dishes by Andy Penkow and Southerly Change by Tracy Coster. For Best Song… Ghost Of The Yaraka Line by Graham Rodger, I Like Your Truck by Faith Julija, The Northern Coast by The Silverline (written by Michael Lehnen), Raised Like That by James Johnston and The Two Of Us Meet by Lily Grace (written by Lily Grace & Chaise Flanders). For Best Bush Ballad… Common Sense by Tracy Coster (written by Ian Quinn), Family Tree by Dianne Lindsay (written by Rod McCormack, Dianne Lindsay & Peter Simpson), Ghostly Gums by Andy Penkow, (written by David Carter, Angela Bristol-Baohm, Andy Penkow & Kathleen Stewart), Lawson’s Legacy by Shaza Leigh (written by Billy Wye & Shaza Leigh) and Where The Three Rivers Flow by Graham Rodger. For Best Video… 1993 by Andy Penkow, The Northern Coast by The Silverline, Midnight Choir by The Long & Short Of It, Small Town by James Johnston and The Two Of Us Meet by Lily Grace. Most Promising Future Star… Anthony Baxter, Laura Frank, Faith Julija, Courtney Keil and The RnR Ranchgirls. Most Popular Country Music DJ… Alan Gilmour (todayscountry94one), Chantal Harth (Crow FM), Rhonda Francis (2SSR), Ronnieboy (2RRR) and Danni Shaw (Country Kickback). Most Popular Country Music Program or Radio Station… Australian Country Songwriters Show with Alan Gilmour, Country Kickback with Danni Shaw, Friday Drive with Ronnie T & Jaq, KIX Country and Oz CMR Mildura. Winners will be announced during the gala Awards concert in the famous Tamworth Town Hall at 12noon on Thursday, January 19. Weblink (for artist line-up and direct link to ticket sales) – peopleschoiceawards.com.au. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2022 Artists announced for WA festival
They are, in alphabetical order, Terry Bennetts, The Bushwackers, Darren Coggan & Olivia Coggan, Billy Higginson & The Pale Moon Riders, JoKeria (pictured), Ray Jones, Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley, Brandon Poletti & The Eagleton Brothers, Jonny Reid and Helen Townsend & The Wayward Hearts. The Festival, which features the annual West Australian Country Music Awards, will run from February 17 to 19. Weblink – countrymusicwa.com.au. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2022 People’s Choice move to Town Hall venue The 2023 Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards will be staged in the famous Tamworth Town Hall in January.
“The Awards have been held in a number of venues since they began in their current format in the year 2000,” said Bob Kirchner from the Country Music Bulletin, organisers of the event. “So in this 51st year of the Tamworth Country Music Festival, and almost our 25th year, we are delighted to move to the iconic Town Hall venue, birthplace of the January festival all those years ago.” In addition to award presentations, the Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards will feature performances from a number of finalists and special guest artists. Finalists for 2023 will be announced as soon as the counting process, which includes voter validation, is finalised. Awards are presented for Best Female Vocal, Best Male, Best Group or Duo, Best Album, Best Song, Best Bush Ballad, Best Video and Most Promising Future Star (new talent) as well as two dedicated categories for broadcasters… Most Popular Country Music DJ and Most Popular Country Music Radio Station or Program. “Because our awards are ‘the people’s awards’ we always try to keep the ticket price low so as many of our voters as possible and other members of the public can attend the presentation,” Bob said. “And this year, we have been able to keep the price at $10, the same as 2022.” Tickets are available from the Capitol Theatre box office in Tamworth or a direct link for on-line purchases can be found at the Awards website peopleschoiceawards.com.au. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2022 Country Music Entertainer of the Year recognition returns An Australian Country Music Entertainer of the Year award will be announced this coming January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival. The award, being re-established by Australia’s Country Music Bulletin and Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards, will be determined following a nomination process involving representatives from Australia’s country music broadcast and other media sectors.
“The award fits perfectly with our group,” Bob said. “Unlike the Golden Guitars, which are for recorded material, and the TSA Awards, which are dedicated to songwriting alone, ‘entertainment’ is a much broader field of view, one which sits neatly with the comprehensive industry coverage of the Bulletin and within a populist awards scheme like People’s Choice.” Criteria for nomination for Australia’s Country Music Entertainer of the Year will Broadcasters and other media representatives are currently being invited to participate in the nomination process. If you are in the business, don’t receive an invitation and would like to be involved, email bob@countrymusicbulletin.com.au. The 2023 Australian Country Music Entertainer of the Year award will be announced during the People’s Choice Awards and presented during the Tamworth Country Music Festival. A list of final nominees will be published prior to the start of the Festival. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2022 TSA semi-finalists announced
Finalists will be announced shortly. Winners will be announced at during the Awards Concert at The Longyard Hotel, Tamworth, on Tuesday January 17. And the semi-finalists are... In Alt Country 1823 ... Dave Diprose Country Ballad (the John And Judy Martin Commemorative Award) Beauty of the Bush ... Andrew Ryan Country Rock B & S Ball ... Mark Rigney A Song to Find Peace with Leaving ... Teri Young Bluegrass Bad Livin' ... Dave Diprose Bush Ballad (the Bev Daniel Commemorative Award) Below Tamborine Town ... Katelyn Newlands, Neil T Simpson Comedy/Novelty (the Geoff Mack Commemorative Award) Aussie As ... Mark Rigney Country Blues A Little Faith ... Cathy Dobson Gospel/Spiritual (the Britton Morrison Commemorative Award) A Table For Two ... Steve Stemp Local Heroes 1942 ... Peter Coad, V. Hermel Lyrics Only Down the Line ... Kevin Pye New Songwriter Burning ... Sari Abbott Novice (the Garry Koehler Commemorative Award) A Country Song ... Brian Murray Youth (the John P Toomey Commemorative Award) Brunette Country Girl ... Jake Murdoch Weblink – www.tsaonline.com.au. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2022 Star Maker finalists The 2023 Top 10 finalists for Toyota Star Maker, Australia's longest-running and most respected country music talent search, have been announced.
The Toyota Star Maker Grand Final will be staged at 7pm on Sunday, January 15, 2023, at Toyota Park in Tamworth. It is one of the biggest events of the annual Toyota Country Music Festival. Weblink – starmaker.com.au. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2022 Golden Guitar finalists Finalists for the Toyota 51st Golden Guitar Awards were announced this week. The CMAA – Country Music Association of Australia – and Tamworth Regional Council - joint organisers of the Awards, said there were more than 600 entries for the coming year's event... “a tremendous number”.
Casey Barnes, Adam Brand and Amber Lawrence each have five placings while Ashleigh Dallas, Angus Gill, Brook McClymont & Adam Eckersley and The Weeping Willows have four. Kaylee Bell, Lyn Bowtell, Michael Carpenter & The Banks Brothers and Luke O’Shea all picked up three finalist placings, while dual nominations went to Kristy Cox, Blake Dantier, Melanie Dyer, Morgan Evans, Isaiah Firebrace, Lee Kernaghan and Mitch Tambo. A further 32 individual acts feature with one placing. Awards Executive Producer Peter Ross said: “This year’s list of nominees is a true snapshot of how diverse and talented Australia’s country music artists are. The 2023 Awards will acknowledge and celebrate their creativity and passion.” NSW Minister for Tourism and the Arts Ben Franklin said: “The Golden Guitar Awards are a music institution that every year shines a light on the incredible depth of Australia’s country music talent.” Toyota Australia’s Sean Hanley said the Golden Guitar Awards showcased the very best of the best in country music.” The Awards will be staged in the Tamworth Regional Entertainment & Conference Centre on Saturday, January 21, 2023. The full finalist listing is… FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR (pictured below from left)
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR (pictured below from left)
GROUP OR DUO
OF THE YEAR
ALBUM OF THE YEAR ALT COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR SONG OF THE YEAR BUSH BALLAD OF THE YEAR HERITAGE SONG OF THE YEAR SINGLE OF THE YEAR INSTRUMENTAL OF THE YEAR BLUEGRASS RECORDING OF THE YEAR VOCAL COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR Weblink – www.country.com.au. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24. 2022 Casey wins Country ARIA
He beat Adam Brand's All Or Nothing, Georgia State Line's In Colour, Amber Lawrence's Living For The Highlights and Andy Golledge's Strength Of A Queen to take home the award. The late Archie Roach was named winner of Best Independent Release with One Song. William Crighton won the Blues & Roots category with his album Water And Dust. Photo: Casey after receiving his award with Michael Chugg (left) and Dan Biddle. Weblink – www.ariaawards.com.au. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17. 2022 Two major festivals this weekend Two major music events take place this weekend, one each in NSW and Victoria. Both run for thee days, Friday through to Sunday inclusive… the Australian Blues Music Festival at Goulburn in NSW, the Mountaingrass Festival at Beechworth, Victoria. Blues Festival The Australian Blues Music Festival is unique in that entry to all shows is free.
Performances can be seen at multiple Goulburn venues including the Goulburn Railway Bowling Club, Goulburn Workers Club, The Goulburn Club and Hume Conservatorium. More information can be obtained from australianbluesestival.com.au. Mountaingrass The Mountaingrass event is organised by the Australian Bluegrass & Old Time Music Association (ABOTMA) which was formed in 2013 to continue organising an annual bluegrass and old time music festival following on from the successful Harrietville Bluegrass & Traditional Music Convention after it ceased in 2012.
In addition to a packed music program, Mountaingrass also runs a series of workshops on bluegrass and instruments including banjo, bass, fiddle, mandolin, guitar and more. Stars of this year event include the likes of NSW’s Corn Nut Creek, Crow Mountain, Narrownecks and Willing Ponies, South Australia’s Bluegrass Junction and The Cherrry Pickers, Victoria’s Bluestone Junction, Dave Diprose & Hillbilly Radio, Slim Dime, Weeping Willows and Paul Wookey & Not My Band (featuring Peter Denahy), and many more. Further information, including full program and artist listing, is available from muntaingrass.com.au. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2022 Voting deadline looms for People's Choice
Voting is open in 10 categories... Best Female Vocal, Best Male, Best Group or Duo, Best Song, Best Bush Ballad, Best Album, Best Video and Most Promising Future Star plus the two broadcast categories, Most Popular Country Music DJ and Most Popular Country Music Radio Station or Program. Winners will be announced in January from Tamworth, Australia's Country Music Capital. Photo: The Silverline, with their 2022 award for Best Group or Duo. Voting is via the website peopleschoiceawards.com.au. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2022 Wangaratta Festival kicks off tomorrow The 2022 Wangaratta Country Music Festival kicks off tomorrow and runs for three days up to and including Sunday. Stars of this year's event, in alphabetical order, are Rob Breese, Robyn Gleeson, Melanie Hedt, The Hoffmans (pictured at left), Wayne Horsburgh (centre), Tony & Liz Kristalyn, Tom Maxwell (pictured at right), Lach McKay, Joe Musico, Jamie Neilsen, Anthony Tenace and Kinta Watts.
The festival runs at the Da Vinci Social Club, Pyles Lane, Laceby. More information can be found here at the festival's facebook page, including a link to ticket sales. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2022 Warwick Rodeo kicks off Monday The famous Warwick Rodeo kicks off on Monday with a full week of activity running through to the following Sunday (October 30). Culminating on the last full weekend of October every year, the Warwick Rodeo attracts the nation’s top rodeo riders and the best broncs and bucking bulls, according to a spokesman for the organisers, and is known as “Australia’s Most Famous”.
Warwick Rodeo was immortalised in song by Australian country music legend Buddy Williams in the early 1940s but well before then, Warwick had a tradition of horsemanship and great riders to match the city’s sandstone buildings, fine churches, rose gardens and wide, tree-lined streets. Today, Warwick Rodeo and Gold Cup Campdraft attracts crowds in excess of 30,000 with competitors and horses travelling from every mainland state to compete. “In 2021, we ran a full points Warwick Rodeo with $6000 being posted per open event,” the spokesman said. “The Gold Cup Campdraft is known as the Melbourne Cup of campdrafting and we can’t wait to welcome the competitors back to the arena.
In addition to the rodeo action, a range of top line entertainment is on the program, performing Friday and Saturday nights after rodeo events. Rising country star Will Day (top) will perform on the Friday evening while the Viper Creek Band with Josh Setterfield (below), will be the main music attraction. Further information can be obtained from the website warwickshowandrodeo.com.au.
Ariah Park underway The Ariah Park Mary Gilmore Festival is now underway running through to and including Sunday (the 16th). The event takes place at the Ariah Park Showground, Ariah Park, just west of Temora in Southern NSW off Burley Griffin Way. Walk ups continue through Thursday with a special concert also featuring the Darcy & Ally evening concert. Tom Maxwell (pictured, top) will be the main attraction on Friday night. Saturday morning brings a Poets’ Breakfast with Neil Smith followed by entertainment all day with stars including Tom again with Owen Blundell, Stephen Cheney, Charly Hackett, Bec Hance (pictured), The Hoffmans and John & Christine Smith. Saturday night features Royden Donohoe (picturedf) who will also be back again on Sunday with the Sunday morning morning gospel service, followed by Sunday markets in the newly beautified Ariah Park main street. More information (including for campers) available at the event’s facebook page here. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2022 ARIA finalists announced Finalists have been announced for the 2022 ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) Awards. For Best Country Album, they are All Or Nothing by Adam Brand (ABC Music), In Colour by Georgia State Line (Cheatin Heart Records/Virgin Music Australia), Light It Up by Casey Barnes (Casey Barnes Entertainment/Chugg Music), Living For The Highlights by Amber Lawrence (ABC Music) and Strength Of A Queen by Andy Golledge (I OH YOU/Mushroom).
In other categories with a country connection, the late Archie Roach is a finalist for Best Independent Release with One Song (Bloodlines/Mushroom Group), In the Blues & Roots category, finalists are Hard Up by The Bamboos (BMG/ADA), Live At Hamer Hall by The Teskey Brothers with Orchestra Victoria (Ivy League Records/Mushroom Group), Thornbird by Thornbird (Thornbird/MGM), Undone by Charlie Collins (Island Records Australia/Universal Music Australia) and Water and Dust by William Crighton (ABC Music). The 2022 ARIA winners will be announced in Sydney on Thursday night, November 24. Weblink – www.ariaawards.com.au. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2022 Carinda postponed The Let’s Dance Carinda Tribute Festival has been postponed because of the high risk of flooding and road closures due to the huge amounts of rain and flooding rivers in and around the town. “It’s our number one priority to make sure everyone is safe,” a committee spokesman said, “so unfortunately (we have) made the devastating hard decision to postpone the festival to a later date. “We will meet with the local Shire General Manager on Monday to form a plan. We are very sorry for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding and support.” A new date for the festival, which was to be held this October long weekend, will be announced as soon as it is known.
Not a story we would normally run on a country music website but this one has a definite country twist. It’s all about one of the world’s most famous, and iconic, music stars who made a video in a setting more country than many country videos! It’s about David Bowie – the late mega pop star, regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, acclaimed by critics and musicians, particularly for his innovative work during the 1970s. His career was marked by reinvention and visual presentation, and his music and stagecraft had a significant impact on popular music. Perhaps none more than the second subject of this story, the music video for one of his best known songs, Let’s Dance. For those who don’t know, Bowie chose the northern NSW outback town of Carinda (just south west of Walgett) and the Warrumbungle National Park to shoot the video for the title track to the album that drove him to the peak of his popularity and commercial success in 1983. Centred on the by now famous Carinda Pub, which quickly became a mecca for Bowie fans from all over the world looking to stand and be photographed in the same spot where Bowie filmed his video, the video inspired locals to establish the Let’s Dance Carinda Festival paying tribute to, and celebrating, David Bowie and his remarkable music legacy. The organising committee’s mantra is to embrace and develop the festival where it is a recognisable event with a highly regarded reputation. The festival is putting the small rural township on the map and is becoming a must come, must do, must see event on the tourism calendar, engaging people from across Australia, connecting them through David Bowie’s music. The festival offers Carinda the chance to showcase the small rural township and surrounding properties with the hotel, a self-serve fuel station, a post office and a recently-opened coffee/craft shop. A community pool, a one teacher public school that caters for students K-6 and a recreation/camp site area which is the core location for the Let’s Dance festival. Carinda is a community wanting to survive, it is welcoming, friendly and proud of this unique event in its history, said a spokesman for the organising committee. “Elvis did not go to Parkes and ABBA has not been to Trundle BUT Carinda can say that the famous British pop icon David Bowie not only came but recorded in our town. Certainly, an event to be proud of and to celebrate!” Keep an eye on the website – www.letsdancecarinda.com – for updates on the rescheduled 2022 event. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2022 King of The Ranges this weekend The NSW Upper Hunter’s King of The Ranges Stockman’s Challenge & Bush Festival is on this weekend at Murrurundi, just south of the Country Music Capital, Tamworth.
Graham Doubleday and Brian Howard – aka Dubby & Howdy – will provide the musical entertainment on the Friday evening supported by Chloe & James and Mia & Tash while renowned bush poet Carol Heuchan will cover that side of the entertainment. Carol will also host the inaugural King of the Ranges Performed Poetry competition. And there will also be a Poet’s Breakfast on Sunday morning. Celebrity Bush Cook "Ranger Nick" – the “master of keeping it simple” – will feature regularly in the Poetry & Tucker Tent. Although the equine events are, of course, the main game, the comprehensive weekend program features a range of additional activities like the childrens goat races, whipcracking, heavy horses, bison training, cattle dog trials, billy boiling and old-time shearing as well as a grand parade. More information, including a full program of activities, can be found at www.kingoftheranges.com.au. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022 Music industry losses The Australian music world has been rocked in recent weeks with the passing of a number of notable individuals, three of whom played a significant role in Australian country music. It all happened so quickly, it’s been hard to keep up. So, for the record… Vale - Keith Jamieson Leading bush balladeer and Medal of the Order of Australia recipient Keith Jamieson died after battling several illnesses during the past year or so. He was 74.
A prolific recording artist in his own right, Keith also served as a director on the Country Music Association of Australia board. He released numerous albums throughout his 40 plus year career including A Picture Of Australia, Bush Ballads Forever, Looking Back Along The Track, Jammo: The Early Years 'til Now, Troy's Memory and The Year 2000 Australian Bushman. An EP, The Ballad Of Mulga Dan, also formed part of Keith’s catalogue. He recorded his first songs in 1979… Capella Rodeo and Country Music Man, both produced by Barry Thornton, and started touring three years later in 1982. Among Keith’s notable career achievements was the recording by Slim Dusty of one of his songs, The Blue Gumtree Ball, which was released on Slim’s Natural High album in 1994. Following his retirement from the mining industry, Keith began touring around Australia full-time with his partner Alisha Smith and their daughter Caitlyn, with both of whom he also released several collaborative albums, the trio often performing at various country music events. In 1998, he established a community radio station – 4BCB 92.7 – in Blackwater which he managed until his move to Bouldercombe in 2006. Keith’s numerous awards and honours have included a Queensland Award of Recognition in Country Music, induction into the Country Music Hands of Fame in 2005, the 2014 Golden Guitar for Bush Ballad of the Year for I Love Australia written for Jeff Brown and his Order of Australia Medal, presented in 2020 for services to country music and the community. Vale – Olivia Newton-John Olivia Newton-John, who died on August 8 in California, sold 100 million records globally.
Having started her career as a budding pop artist on shows like television’s Bandstand in Australia, Olivia moved to the United Kingdom where she established herself as a crossover country artist with hits including If Not For You and Banks Of The Ohio (1971), Let Me Be There (1973), If You Love Me Let Me Know and I Honestly Love You (1974), Have You Never Been Mellow (1975) and Sam (1977). Her success at this time included American chart hits, as well as in Australia and the UK, being voted Best Female British Vocalist two years running, and a number of US based awards including a Grammy for Best Country Female. Much more and greater success was achieved following her rise to stardom after starring in the mega hit movie Grease and the rest, as they say is history, in the end crossing pop, country and adult contemporary radio formats with ease, breaking and setting a number of records along the way. For services to charity, cancer research, environmental and animal protection, and entertainment, Olivia was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE). She was made a Companion of the Order of Australia and admitted to the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2002. Olivia’s struggle with cancer is well known, as is her involvement in setting up the ONJ Cancer Centre, an enduring legacy for a musical megastar. Vale – Archie Roach Archie Roach, who has died aged 66, was an Indigenous Australian singer/songwriter, guitarist and writer, whose most famous song, Took The Children Away, described his own painful life story and in the process helped to educate Australians about one of the darkest chapters in their history.
Archie was one of the stolen generations of Aboriginal children who were forcibly removed from their families by government agencies under protection era laws and policies. Aboriginal children were placed in homes and orphanages or brought up by white foster families. The aim was that they should be assimilated into the white community, reject their heritage and language, and adopt white culture instead. Through his songs and later his 2019 memoir Tell Me Why, Archie revealed the suffering these policies inflicted on Aboriginal families for generations. Archie wrote Took The Children Away after being encouraged by an uncle to write about his own experiences. He sang it on a community radio station, then in pubs and on TV, and came to the notice of one of Australia’s best-known singer-songwriters, Paul Kelly. He was offered a recording contract and released his first solo album, Charcoal Lane, in 1990. The album won ARIA awards for best new talent and best Indigenous album. Archie went on to record a series of solo albums, including Jamu Dreaming (1993) and Looking for Butter Boy (1997) and provided the soundtrack for the film The Tracker in 2002. He and his wife Ruby Hunter spent time teaching music and performing in remote Indigenous communities and offered an open house to homeless and disadvantaged young people. Ruby died in 2010 marking the start of a sad and difficult time for Archie. Later that year, he suffered a stroke, and the following year – after returning to live performance – he was diagnosed with lung cancer and had a lung removed. Announcing that he “wanted to write about coming through pain in a positive way,” he recorded his 2012 album Into The Bloodstream “with an oxygen bottle on standby”. In 2016 he released Let Love Rule, followed by Tell Me Why in 2019 becoming his most successful album and the first to be a top 10 bestseller in Australia. In 2015, Archie was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his “significant service to the performing arts as a singer, songwriter and guitarist, and to the community as a spokesman for social justice." In October 2020, he launched the Archie Roach Stolen Generation Educational Resources: a free package of educational support materials, developed by First Nations curriculum writers, to teach young Australians about Indigenous Australia, cultural identity and the stolen generations. The album of Charcoal Lane re-recordings was released in November 2020 and Archie was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame later that month. As he had lived with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for years, he was taken from Warrnambool Base Hospital in an ambulane to accept the award via a broadcast from the nearby Lighthouse Theatre, performing Took The Children Away while breathing through a nasal cannula with an ambulance waiting outside. FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2022 The Good Old Days Festival set to return this year The nation’s largest gathering of harnessed draught animals, The Good Old Days Festival, is set to go ahead at Barellan on October 1 and 2, thanks to NSW Government funding, after a two-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. A $56,835 grant under the Regional Events Acceleration fund will assist with live entertainment, grandstand seating and glamping accommodation at the 2022 Festival. Organisers, the Barellan Working Clydesdales Committee, also received a $5000 grant from Nutrien Agrimac for the purchase of a ride on mower for ground maintenance. The committee unanimously voted to proceed with the 2022 event and is planning a full program of authentic heritage events, a Furphy Festival, camp oven dinner under the stars with entertainment by The Bushwackers and a Clydie Art Trail.
A highlight for visitors will be the Barellan Working Clydesdale Committee horse master Bruce Bandy and Lake Cargelligo Australian draught horse breeder Steve Johnson driving a team of around 30 heavy horses pulling a Bennett wool wagon. The inaugural animal to compete for this prestigious trophy will be the Clydesdale in 2022. They will be joined by Rod Sansom with his donkey and bullock teams, Phil Thomson and his bullock team and David Irvin with his vintage tractor pulling a Furphy water cart train. New for this year will be the perpetual Teamsters Trophy, an initiative of master horseman Tim Peel recognising our pioneering draught teams and with a scale model of a Bennett wagon handcrafted by Allan Langfield of Wagga Wagga. The Good Old Days Festival set a single day attendance record of 7000 visitors when it was last held in 2019, with cooks churning out 1000 scones, and people of all ages left gobsmacked by the sight of 32 horses harnessed to a fully laden wool wagon. Barellan Working Clydesdales Committee secretary Fiona Kibble said Festival volunteers were excited to be planning for an event which will see the most experienced teamsters in the country assemble at Barellan to showcase horses, camels, donkeys, mules and goats hauling wagons, binders, headers, ploughs, carts, buggies, sleds, sulkies and a mallee roller. “The Regional Events Acceleration Fund grant will help ensure this event comes back bigger and better than ever,” Fiona said. “The funding is crucial to expanding the event to cater to a larger crowd and underpinning what is the Narrandera Shire’s biggest tourism event." MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2022 Muster announces talent search finalists The Gympie Music Muster has announced finalists for it's 2022 Talent Search. Sponsored by NAB, the Talent Search has been responsible for launching or boosting the careers of a number of now well-known acts like Ruby Gilbert, Drew McAlister, Brooke & Sam McClymont and Mark O'Shea.
Finalists in this year’s talent search will travel from across Queensland and as far away as Victoria to take part in the competition. In the Junior Category (for 12 to 17 year olds) the finalists are Envyy – Cora and Lochie (from the Sunshine Coast, Qld), Lily Grace (Gold Coast, Qld), Jake Murdoch (Gold Coast Qld), Emmagen Rain (Murwillumbah, NSW), Noah Robertson (Whitsundays, Qld) and Sarah Savannah (Brisbane, Qld).
While the biggest prize is the boost to their burgeoning music careers, the winner will be heading off to Nashville with mentoring and performance opportunities provided and industry networking sessions. “Although the talent search is based on a competition format, it’s about every artist showcasing themselves,” Co-ordinator Michael Turner said. “We’ve seen people come second or third in talent searches and go on to have awesome careers – sometimes even bigger than the winner," he said, "simply through their talent and dedication, so we’ve arranged for every finalist to receive mentoring and distribution of their music. There will be no losers in this. Weblink – www.muster.com.au. FRIDAY, JULY 22, 2022 Vale – Barrie Brennan Barrie Brennan, a Tamworth local long involved with the country music sector, has died at the age of 84.
That year, the Country Music Awards were launched and Barrie was asked to be the Awards Judging Auditor, a position he retained for the next 20 years almost. Barrie also spent almost three decades as a board member of the Australian country music Foundation instigators of the Australian Country Music Hall of Fame and national country music archive. An expert in distance and continuing education, he retired from the University in 1999. In 2016, Barrie published a book on adult and extension education called Continuing Professional Education in Australia, described as "a tale of missed opportunities". At the Australian Country Music Foundation, he undertook numerous roles including involvement in funding applications and organisation of the Australian Country Music Literary Award. Prior to come to Tamworth, Barrie taught English and history at Grenville and Gilgandra. THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2022 Hats Off kicks off today Country Music Capital’s mid year festival – Hats Off To Country – kicks off today.
“A chance to shine a light on local talent, outside of the hustle and bustle of the usual January festival,” a spokesman said. Tamworth Regional Council's Country Music Co-ordinator Cheryl Brown said the cooler, mid-year event had entertained visitors and locals for 22 years – even in the pandemic-struck 2020.” But she admitted it may be too soon to expect a flood of fans, with the postponed Tamworth Country Music Festival held just two months ago. "Artists have been hit hard over the past two years and we decided to shine a spotlight on our local artists this time, with a few visiting artists too," she said. "It's also a great opportunity to support our local entertainment venues who provide fantastic entertainment and service. They really come together each year to make this festival the success that it is."
"We've been running it for the past five months, it's usually the first Thursday of the month and it coincided with Hats Off this month, so it worked out really good timing," Lawrie said. The duo then takes to the stage at West Leagues on Friday night, before wrapping up the weekend on Saturday at The Oasis Hotel. Lawrie said Hats Off still meant a lot to the local artists who can sometimes be overlooked in January. Other artists on the program include Freddy Bailey, Anthony Baxter, Kirsty Bolton, The Crosby Sisters, Dale Hooper, Katie Jayne Band, Kerry Kennedy and Double Barrel, Rae Leigh, Ross McGregor, Brendan Nawrocki, Redneck Gentlemen, Piper Rodrigues, Peter Salata, Ryan Sampson, Jared Scott, Brendan Smoother, Mike Vee, Kerry Walsh and Trinity Woodhouse. Hats Off began in June 2000 with a major salute concert to the King of Australian Country Music Slim Dusty, and soon became a mid-year celebration of all thing's country music in Tamworth. Venues from all over town participate, with a variety of gigs, but a favourite is the annual Cowboy Crawl which returns on Friday night. Beginning at the Tamworth Services Club, the bus then moves to The Longyard, then back to Wests' Diggers before “a short crawl” to Peel Street's Tudor Hotel. Hats off to Country 2022 runs from Thursday July 7 to Sunday July 10 with more than 60 individual events or activities on the official and unofficial programs. Weblink – www.hatsofftocountry.com.au. TUESDAY, JULY 5, 2022 Lee on film A film celebrating the life and music of Aussie country star Lee Kernaghan will be released later this month.
The film was directed by Kriv Stenders, who has credits including “Red Dog” and the documentary “Slim & I” with production by Chris Brown (“Slim & I” and “The Proposition”) and Diana Le Dean (“Slim & I”). Described as a part-concert film and part-road movie, the film features live performances of some of Lee’s greatest hits, a new song and “stunning local landscapes, remarkable people and amazing stories that have inspired him throughout his incredible 30-year career,” according to a release announcing news of the film. The official trailer of “Lee Kernaghan: Boy From The Bush” can be viewed here. "Lee Kernaghan: Boy From The Bush" will only be available in cinemas for a short time and is expected to be available on DVD and digitally thereafter. The winner of 37 coveted Golden Guitar Awards, with millions of albums sold and 38 number one hit songs to date, Lee has shaped a generation and made a huge impact on the country music scene in Australia. Weblink – www.leekernaghan.com.au. TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022 Muster returns after two years After two years in abeyance as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the renowned Gympie Muster returns in August this year with a massive line-up of entertainment. The 2022 Muster will be headlined by Adam Brand, Troy Cassar-Daley, Kasey Chambers, Beccy Cole, Graeme Connors, Brad Cox, Adam Harvey, Lee Kernaghan, Chad Morgan, John Williamson and The Wolfe Brothers.
Also on the bill is a long list of well-known and rising star acts like 8 Ball Aitken, Fiona Boyes, The Buckleys, Brook Chivell, Cornell & Carr, Darlinghurst, Steve Forde, Ruby Gilbert, Good Will Remedy, Briannah Grace, Bec Hance, Haystack Mountain Hermits, The Hillbilly Goats, Mason Hope, Hurricane Fall, Pixie Jenkins, James Johnston, Minnie Marks, The Mason Rack Band, Jason McDaniel, Taylor Moss, Open Season Band, Natalie Pearson, Tex Perkins & The Fat Rubber Band, Amber Joy Poulton, the Tony Q Band, Andrew Swift, Uncle Bob’s Jug Band, Vixens Of Fall, Michael Waugh, Raechel Whitchurch and Sammy White. More than 100 individual acts will appear during the Muster’s four days, The Muster is staged at the dedicated site in the Amamoor State Forest south west of Gympie in Queensland. The first Gympie Muster was held in 1982 as a celebration of the Golden Guitar win by the Webb Brothers’, on whose property the event was originally held. Since then, the event has grown to become one of Australia’s most recognised country music festivals. It is also well known as one of the nation’s iconic fundraising events having returned more than $20 million to community groups and charities since inception. Owned by the Apex Club of Gympie, the fundamental purpose of the Muster has always remained the same – “to raise funds for those in need in our communities”. Over the years there have been more than 2500 performances at the event including by Australian country royalty Slim Dusty who has a camping area named in his honor. The return of the Muster in 2022 after missing two years will see more than 240 separate performances across six stages and a variety of interactive experiences for audience education and participation. Weblink – www.muster.com.au. THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2022 WA Award Winners
Code-Lee won Single of the Year and EP of the Year in her own right for Who I Am (produced by Shane Woodhouse), shared the songwriting award with Katrina Burgoyne (also for Who I Am) and also took home the Awards people’s choice gong. Kate Hindle was a dual winner taking out the Emerging Artist award and Female Artist of the Year. And The Little Lord Street Band also scored a double for Group of the Year and Album of the Year with the self-produced A Minute Of Another Day. Chris Matthews was named Male Artist of the Year and Mike Goodwin won Video Clip of the Year for Sugarcane, produced by Mike and Angela D'Arcy Evans. West Australian Country Music Junior Vocalist of the Year winner was Charlee Jones. This year’s Awards, presented again by Livelighter, were staged as a virtual, online, event earlier this month. MONDAY, JUNE 13, 2022 Country music honours A number of country music identities have been honoured in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours, all to receive Order of Australia Medals (OAMs).
Graham Bell, Coffs Harbour based broadcaster, is being recognised for his service to community radio and to country music. Leading singer/songwriter and "Coodabeen Champion" Greg Champion is being recognised for his service to the performing arts and to radio. Beccy Cole, who was inducted into the Australasian Country Music Roll of Renown this January, is being recognised for her service to country music. And Bendigo based performer and broadcaster Florence (Floreena) Forbes is being recognised for her service to country music and to radio presentation. Both Graham and Floreena are also inductees to the Australian Country Music Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Vika & Linda Bull – blues and soul artists who align sometimes with the country sector – are also to receive OAMs. Pictured (from left): Graham, Greg, Beccy and Floreena. THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 2022 Dusty Boots this weekend The 2022 Dusty Boots Festival & Awards are being staged this weekend at Narromine in the NSW Central West.
The action kicks off at the Narromine USMC tomorrow, Friday 10th with the Awards event to run through Saturday and a huge wrap-up day running all day Sunday. A total of 15 awards will be announced and presented for services to country music. Weblink here. WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 2022 Bungendore Muster to fold In an announcement on facebook today, organisers of the Bungendore Country Music Muster said at a special committee meeting yesterday (May 24) the dedicision was taken to wind up the association effectively spelling the end of the previously annual event.
"The health and age of committee members and the failure of the committee to attract suitable people for managing and organising the festival was a major factor to reluctantly fold the association." the committee said. The Muster has not been held during Covid although the associated Australian Bush Ballad Awards have been staged "virtually". "There has been much discussion with community groups, including other interested individuals regarding management assistance," the committee said, "but no suitable offers for assistance have been forthcoming. The Muster had been staged continuously for 36 years, raising funds for the Bungendore community and encouraging and promoting Australian country music. No statement was made as to the future of the Bush Ballad Awards although it is understood discussions are underway with a view to maintaining these as a major national event. FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2022 Finalists announced for 2022 West Australian Awards Finalists have been announced for the 2022 West Australian Country Music Awards, presented by Livelighter, winners to be announced from Boyup Brook on Saturday June 11.
For Male Artist of the Year – Mike Goodwin, Chris Matthews and Jonny Reid. For Group/Duo of the Year – The Little Lord Street Band, Scarlett’s Way and Helen Townsend & The Wayward Hearts. For Album of the Year – A Minute of Another Day by The Little Lord Street Band (produced by The Little Lord Street Band), Little Bit Long Way by Chris Matthews (produced by Chris Matthews and Benjy Pocock) and Sleeping Rough by Ray Jones (produced by Bill Chambers). For Single of the Year – Just The Way It Is by Siobhan Cotchin, Run To Me by Codee-Lee and Who I Am also by Codee-Lee. For EP of the Year – Clem by Kathy Carver (produced by Mark Donohoe), Love, Lies “n” Leaving by Helen Townsend with Shannon Smith (produced by Helen Townsend, Shannon Smith and Elliott Smith) and Who I Am by Codee-Lee (produced by James Newhouse). For Video Clip of the Year – I Won’t Lie by Lincoln MacKinnon (produced by Lincoln MacKinnon), Once You’re Wrapped Around Me by Lincoln MacKinnon (produced by Lincoln MacKinnon) and Sugarcane by Mike Goodwin (produced by Mike Goodwin & Angela D’Arcy-Evans). For Songwriter of the Year – Codee-Lee with Boy From Idaho, Codee-Lee & Katrina Burgoyne with Who I Am and Kate Hindle with Broken Mind. For Emerging Artist of the Year – Siobhan Cotchin, Kate Hindle and Simon & Tammy London. For Junior Vocalist of the Year – Shae Digney, Charlee Jones and Maddison Sheppard. Weblink – www.countrymusicwa.com.au. FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2022 Roger inducted into Galaxy of Stars Ausralian indigenous country star Roger Knox has been inducted into Tamworth’s Galaxy of Stars. The Galaxy of Stars is one of a number of key recognition schemes in the Country Music Capital. Roger joins the likes of Slim Dusty, who was the first inductee in the year 2000, and 30 others including Troy Cassar-Daley, Kasey Chambers, Lee Kernaghan and John Williamson. Roger, a Kamilaroi/Gomeroi man, is an accomplished country singer who moved to Tamworth at age 17.
Through his long and illustrious career, Roger has released five albums, toured nationally and internationally and received a number of accolades including induction into the Hands of Fame in 2004. Toyota Country Music Festival Manager Barry Harley said: “The Galaxy of Stars was launched more than 20 years ago by Tamworth Regional Council to recognise artists who’ve made a significant contribution to Australia’s music industry and congratulated Roger on being named the 2022 Galaxy of Stars inductee. “He continues to have a fantastic career and he’s made a huge impact on Australia’s country music scene,” Barry said. In 1993, Roger was awarded two NAIDOC awards – National and NSW Indigenous Artist of the Year and in 2002 also contributed to the album Gamilaraay & Yuwaalaraay Songs, a compilation of language songs. In 2006, he was the recipient of the Jimmy Little Award for Lifetime Achievement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait music at the Deadly Awards. Roger was also inducted into the Hall of Fame at the National Indigenous Music Awards in Darwin in 2018. Through his music, Roger regularly supports his community through NAIDOC, fundraising efforts and promoting educational activities to support his community, Barry said. “He is a fantastic artist and ambassador for country music who has used music and singing as part of his culture to bring people together.” Roger’s plaque (seen here with the star himself and Tamworth Mayor Russell Webb, will be installed at the Galaxy of Stars display in the forecourt of the Tamworth Regional Entertainment & Conference Centre. THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2022 Troy and Shane win big at the Golden Guitars Troy Cassar-Daley (pictured top)and Shane Nicholson (pictured) have come out of last night’s Golden Guitar Awards as the two biggest winners.
Troy now has 40 Golden Guitars to his name, two ahead of Slim and Lee both on 38. Shane won Single of the Year and Song of the Year with And You Will have Your Way and Album of the Year and Alt Country Album of the Year with Living In Colour. Troy won Vocal Collaboration of the Year for South with Ian Moss, Top Selling Album of the Year with The World Today and Male Artist of the Year.
And Weeping Willows was the remaining act to win multiple awards… Instrumental of the Year with Southern Gothic and Bluegrass Recording of the Year with Black Crow. Video of the Year went to Ashleigh Dallas and Luke O’Shea for Long Way Round and Michael Waugh took out Heritage Song of the Year with Dirty River. Angus Gill won the Bush Ballad Golden Guitar with The Easy Way, co-written with Manfred Vijars. Adam Harvey won the Traditional Album gong with Songs From Highway One while New Talent of the Year was taken out by Darlinghurst. Ashleigh Dallas was named Female Artist of the Year. Beccy Cole was announced as the 2022 inductee to the Australasian Country Music Roll of Renown and Brendan Radford as the CMAA’s Musician of the Year. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2022 Max crowned Star Maker 2022 Max Jackson has been crowned Toyota Star Maker 2022. Max won the title from nine fellow finalists, Jake Davey, Brittany Elise, Charlie Fittler, Jade Gibson, Katie Jayne, Heath Lancaster, Billie-Jo Porter, Clancy Pye and Loren Ryan. It was the 42nd Star Maker quest following the 2020 event, last yeae’s talent search having been cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions.
Star Maker has been a “launching pad” for some of Australia's best known country stars including Kirsty Lee Akers, James Blundell, Lyn Bowtell, Darren Coggan, Beccy Cole, Travis Collins, Brad Cox, Gina Jeffreys, Lee Kernaghan and Keith Urban. It was a tough job for judges according to Star Maker coordinator Cheryl Brown who said: "it was a particularly difficult year with all 10 finalists worthy of being here." Max takes the crown from singer/songwriter Sammy White who held the title for two years as there was no event In 2021. At Tuesday night’s Star Maker final, Lee Kernaghan surprised fans with a performance of his classic Outback Club and Boys From The Bush hits, marking 40 years since he won Star Maker in 1982. Judges took into account each finalist’s entry, their individual interviews and preparation before Max was chosen as the ultimate winner. Toyota Australia Marketing Integration Senior Manager Tim Stuckey (pictured above with Max following the winner's announcement) said the performances were a testament to the extraordinary up and coming talent in Australian country music. "On behalf of Toyota Australia, I would like to congratulate Max on taking out the 2022 Toyota Star Maker title," he said. "For over two decades, Toyota Australia has proudly helped rising country music stars achieve their dreams and Max was truly a deserving winner of the 42nd Star Maker competition. “We hope the prizes Max takes home will help enhance what is set to be an incredible career in music, and we wish her all the best for their career." In addition to the title of Toyota Star Maker winner, Max will be handed 12-months of use of a new car and fuel card, a photo portfolio, a recording session and production of two professional clips and the opportunity to perform at major events and festivals across the country. Weblink – www.starmaker.com.au.
TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022 2022 People’s Choice Winners announced Winners in the 2022 Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards were announced in Tamworth today. A cross section of the Australian country music industry gained recognition from fans who voted in their thousands to determine the winners. Best Female Vocal went to newcomer Cassidy-Rae (pictured) while rising star Brendan McMahon (pictured) took home Best Male Vocal.
Best Album went to Free Time And Money by Justin Landers. Best Song went to When Only Real Country Will Do, written by Virginia Hermel, recorded by Runaway Dixie. Best Bush Ballad was awarded to Born To The Saddle, written and recorded by Graham Rodger. Lily Grace and James Blundell took home the Best Video award with the video of their song Annie June.
In the broadcast categories, Alan Gilmour was named Most Popular Country Music DJ and Brisbane’s Triple A Murri Country Brekky Show with Tariana Olive & Jharal Yow Yeh won Most Popular Country Music Program. This year’s People’s Choice Awards also saw inductions into the Australian Country Music Broadcasters Hall of Fame for the first time. Three inductees were announced, the first, Alan Gilmour of todayscountry94one and, specifically, the Australian Country Songwriters Show. Two special inductions in this 50th year of the Tamworth Country Music Council were broadcasters Bob Corbett and Phil Corbett. The two, who are not related, each played a significant part in Tamworth Radio Station 2TM’s role in developing the Golden Guitar Awards and annual country music festival. Phil was a long term employee of the station who had involvement with activities as varied as the early specialist radio programs Big T Jubilee and National Country Music Jamboree. Bob worked on the now famous radio program Hoedown with John Minson helping to build the program’s success in its developmental years. Weblink – www.peopleschoiceawards.com.au. SUNDAY, APRIL 17, 2022 Vale – Nev Nicholls Australian country music pioneer Nev Nicholls has died at the age of 91. Growing up in the NSW Central West, Nev travelled to Sydney in 1952 to put down some custom recordings.
Nev cut 22 sides of mostly his own material for Regal. He then appeared on “Australia’s Amateur Hour” and the Tim McNamara talent quest. In 1957, Nev did his first country tour with The Reg Lindsay Show with Reg, Heather McKean, Rick & Thel Carey, Chad Morgan, Judy Stone and comedian Freddy Merideth. In 1968, he got a call to audition for a night club job in Kings Cross and that led to a 10 year stint at the famous Texas Tavern where he and his band The Country Playboys played to audiences including American servicemen on R&R (rest & recreation) from the Vietnam War. In 1970, Nev released his album – Cross Country Music – on the Du Monde label, the first of more than 20 to follow. In 1975, he won the Golden Guitar for Instrumental of the Year with Nashville Express as Nev Nicholl’s Country Playboys. In 1977, Nev was inducted into the Hands of Fame in Tamworth. From the late ‘70s through to 1988, The syndicated “Nev Nicholls National Roadshow” went to air throughout Australia on more than 90 radio stations - a weekly two hour program. He also launched a travelling show under the same name and toured that all round Australia, starring at various times, Gary Brown, Phil Emmanuel, Cowboy Bob Purtell, Debbie Lee Rae and Lisa White. As a further string to his bow, Nev launched his own record label Nicholls 'N’ Dimes. In 1992 he was inducted into the Australasian Country Music Roll Of Renown at Tamworth. Nev had always been a prolific writer and besides recording vast numbers of his own songs he also covered songs and was known significantly for his connection to trucking music. In 2002, he was inducted into the newly established Australian Country Music Broadcasters’ Hall of Fame. FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2022 Six for Hands of Fame
They are, in alphabetical order… Kirsty Lee Akers, Roo Arcus, Lyn Bowtell, John Elliott, Luke O’Shea and Dennis “Fibber” Parker. Kirsty Lee, Roo, Lyn and Luke are all well-known and award winning recording artists while Queensland based Dennis is a long-time country music entertainer who has performed during the past 50 years at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, Birdsville, Gympie Muster, local pubs and clubs and more. John Elliott is one of Australia’s leading photographers and media men, especially in country music. He is well known for his involvement in radio, for his writing in numerous publications, festival organisation and promotion and has a number of dedicated photo-journalistic publications to his credit. The hand imprinting will take place on Wednesday morning April 20 at 9:30 during the rescheduled Tamworth Country Music Festival. These six will join the already 400 famous names recognised in the Hands of Fame cornerstone. Pictured (clockwise from top left): Kirsty, Luke, Lyn, John, Roo and Dennis. THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2022 APRA finalists announced Finalists for the 2022 APRA Music Awards have been announced.
Casey Barnes with Come Turn Me On, written by Casey with Kaci Brown and Samuel Gray; Brad Cox with his self-penned Short Lived Love; Fanny Lumsden with Dig, written by Fanny with Benjamin Corbett and Dan Freeman; Seaforth with Breakup, written by Cameron Bedell, Thomas Jordan, Liz Rose and Mitchell Thompson; and Amy Shark & Keith Urban with Love Songs Ain’t For Us, written by Amy and Ed Sheeran. Award winners will be announced on Tuesday May 3 at the Melbourne Town Hall. Weblink – www.apraamcos.com.au. TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2022 People's Choice announce special guest comperes Organisers of the upcoming Australian Country Music People's Choice Awards have announced special guest comperes for the upcoming 2022 event.
One of Australia's most admired and sought-after country rock performers, Jayne's impressive and energetic live shows have earned her countless opportunities performing for VIP crowds. She performed at Keith Urban's Sydney shows and has appeared as a featured artist at all of the major Australian country music festivals including Tamworth, CMC Rocks, Deni Ute Muster and Gympie Music Muster. Also known for her trucking songs, her deep connection with the trucker community led to Jayne becoming Ambassador for the Women In Trucking Association in the US. In 2017, her high-octane reputation caught the attention of US promoters, who invited her to perform at the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas, Texas, leading to a demand for her to be constantly touring America.
Ray McCoy is a modern day legend in country music broadcasting, particularly through his high profile on air duties at Country Music Capital's 88.9 FM which broadcasts to a wide audience, including globally via the Internet. Over many years, Ray has worked at numerous radio outlets including Tamworth's own iconic Radio 2TM The 2022 Australian Country Music People's Choice Awards will be staged in the Grand Ballroom at Wests Diggers in Country Music Capital at 10am on Tuesday April 19. Tickets are available from Wests in Tamworth or online at wtlc.com.au. Eleven of the finalists in the 2022 Awards will feature as guest artists during the gala presentation event. Weblink – www.peopleschoiceawards.com.au. THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022 Festivals update In addition to the postponed Tamworth Country Music Festival, a number of major events are scheduled for April.
On the Bulletin Festival & Events page, there are 27 events listed, an average of almost one a day for the month. Key among these, chronologically, are The Man From Snowy River Bush Festival at Corryong, the Goulburn Valley Country Music Festival at Shepparton, the National Folk Festival in Canberra, Roma Easter in the Country, Hartwood Campfires & Festival at Coolah, Stone The Crows Festival at Wagga Wagga, the Parkes Elvis Festival, the Mundi Mundi Bush Bash, the Gippsland Country Music Festival, Australian Celtic Festival at Glen Innes, the Mayworth Dance Festival in Tamworth and the Charters Towers Country Music Festival. THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022 New from 8 Ball
The self-produced work was mostly completed in Nashville by the singer/songwriter/musician in Nashville before re-locating back to Australia 12 months ago. 8 Ball toured the world for more than a decade performing his “swampy-blues-rock” across 20 countries to date, gaining a loyal fan base from his live shows and internet videos. 8 Ball relocated to Nashville in 2012, working from America’s “music city” for nine years. In 2021, he won second place in the International New Orleans Cigar Box Guitar Festival. His previous album, Ice Cream Man, hit number one on the Australian Blues & Roots Charts in March 2021. The new album is available on CD and vinyl and can be obtained via 8 Ball’s website www.8ballaitken.com. FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2022 Artists announced for People’s Choice Awards An impressive list of guest artists has been announced for the 2022 Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards to be held in Tamworth on Tuesday morning, April 19. The Awards, rescheduled from January together with the 50th Tamworth Country Music Festival, will be staged in the Grand Ballroom at Wests Diggers in Country Music Capital’s Kable Avenue.
Discussions are underway for new hosts for the Awards and it is expected a surprise guest or two will also appear. Awards will be presented in 10 categories… Best Female Vocal, Best Male, Best Group or Duo, Best Album, Best Song, Best Bush Ballad, Best Video and Most Promising Future Star, together with the dedicated broadcast awards… Most Popular Country Music DJ and Most Popular Country Music Radio Station or Program. For the first time this year, announcement of the inductee/s into the Australian Country Music Broadcasters Hall of Fame will be announced at the People’s Choice Awards. The show gets underway from 10am on Tuesday April 19 with tickets set at a low $10, as a special thank you to members of the public who vote each year to determine winners. Tickets are available from Wests in Tamworth, or via the website wtlc.com.au. The People's Choice Awards are in their 22nd this year following their launch in the Year 2000. A full list of finalists, past winners and more can be found at peopleschoiceaards.com.au. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022 Gippsland Country Music Festival The second annual Gippsland Country Music Festival will be held on Saturday April 23.
After a sell-out inaugural event, the second year is on its way to selling out in advance. Organisers have just announced final release tickets as well as playing times for the all-day event. Gates open at 11am with the entertainment continuing all day until Kasey Chambers takes the stage at 8pm to close out the evening. Other activities taking place at the event include line dancing classes, wood-chopping demonstrations, rides and market stalls.
“To sell-out the inaugural event so quickly was such an exciting moment,” he says. “Now, to have the second edition on track to sell out as well is incredible. For a long-time we’ve felt like the Gippsland region deserved to have its own country music festival, and now that it’s here, and people are loving it, we truly hope it is something that can continue for many years to come. “To be able to welcome world-class country acts to the local region, while also providing opportunities to local acts is something we’re really proud of.” The event is not just about bringing the music to Gippsland, but also about showcasing everything that Gippsland has to offer, Aidan said. “We hope the festival is huge for our Gippsland region, both economically and socially. Our ticketing data shows that a lot of people are travelling from outside of Gippsland to attend. “The knock-on effects of this to local business are immense, as many of these people will be staying overnight in Gippsland and most likely exploring some of the other amazing places the region has to offer. Weblink – www.gippslandcountrymusicfestival.com. MONDAY, MARCH 7, 2022 Wanita on air this week The ABC documentary based on Australian country recording artist Wanita goes to air for the final scheduled time this week.
“Wanita embarks on a quest to record an album in the country music Mecca of Nashville, but her inability to toe the line threatens to derail her plans,” said a spokesman for the documentary produc
Check our previous story here for more. Final scheduled air time is 9.30pm Tuesday March 8 on ABC TV in conjunction with International Women’s Day. THURSDAY, MARCH 3. 2022 Vale – Marge Graham Well-known NSW North Coast country music identity Marge Graham has become a victim of the week's unprecedented floods in the Northern Rivers.
"Marge was a huge country music supporter and organiser of events in and for her community as well as at the annual Tamworth Country Music Festival. She volunteered at festivals, concerts, nursing homes and fundraising events for worthy local projects." Marge was a presenter on her local radio station River FM92.9 hosting her own program Country Breakfast and was involved in radio for more than 40 years. In 2007, she undertook a 24 hour broadcast on Saturday April 21 to raise money for charity completely solo. She was celebrating her 30th year on the air. In 2018, she was inducted into the Australian Country Music Broadcasters Hall of Fame. In 2019, Marge received the Tamworth Peel Valley Lions Club Country Music Community Service Award "for her exemplary service to the community through her association with country music". She donated the $500 that she received to her local Riding for the Disabled branch. Marge was a voluntary co-ordinator of the Cedars Guitar Country Music Festival in Lismore for 40 years. Photo (by Robyn McIntosh): Marge with her certificate of induction to the Broadcasters Hall of Fame. TUESDAY, MARCH 1. 2022 Bush Ballad winners Winners in the 2022 Stan Coster Memorial Bush Ballad Awards have been announced.
Terry Bennetts (pictured) won Male Vocal with the song he co-wrote with Keith Lethbridge, Not Without You Old Mate which also took out the Songwriter award for the songwriting team. The Coad Sisters won the Group/Duo award with Virginia's song Land Of Acacia. The Album award went to Ken "Chainsaw" Lindsay for My Favourite Place. Anthony Baxter won the Instrumental award with Wattle In Springtime. Tracy Coster was named winner of the Comedy Award with her self-penned Beer I Bought For Dave. The New Talent Award went to the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame's "Outback Stockman" Lachie Cosser with Southern Cross. Award winners were announced on-line from Bungendore on Sunday night. There was no Bungendore Muster, where the Awards are usually announced, this year, due to Covid 19. Weblink – bcmm.com.au. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2022 Star Maker pop ups Organisers of Toyota Star Maker have announced a series of “pop up” concerts featuring the 2022 finalists in the lead up to the grand final event which will now be held in Tamworth on Tuesday April 19. Set to perform in each of their home towns, the top 10 will take to the stage at their local Toyota dealership over the coming weeks. Star Maker Coordinator Cheryl Brown said it would be a great opportunity for finalists to perfect their craft in the lead up to the Grand Final.
“These pop up concerts will be a great chance for the top 10 to practice and show off their skills as they prepare for their main performance.” Kicking off this Friday (February 11) at 4pm, one finalist will perform each week, in the lead up to the 50th Tamworth Country Music Festival. They will perform five songs live at their local Toyota dealership with an opportunity to meet and greet fans afterwards. Cheryl said: “This year’s top 10 are a truly talented and inspiring bunch, and these free concerts will give fans a taste of what’s to come in this year’s Grand Final event, so I encourage everyone to go along and show their support.” Toyota Australia Chief Marketing Officer Vin Naidoo said the pop up concerts were a great opportunity for the artists to perfect their performances and bring the excitement of the Toyota Star Maker to their own local community. “Toyota and its dealer network are proud to support this initiative and give country music fans an exciting taste of what they can expect when the top 10 artists take to the stage for the finals of the 2022 Toyota Star Maker in Tamworth in April.” Fans who attend the free pop up concerts will also have a chance to win a Tamworth Country Music Festival experience prize. “There will be special QR codes at each pop-up concert and anyone who enters will go into the draw to win two tickets to The Country Club at the Toyota Star Maker Grand Final, as well as two tickets to the Golden Guitar Awards, Lee Kernaghan’s show plus accommodation,” Cheryl said. In order of appearance, following are the 2022 Toyota Star Maker “pop up” concerts… Max Jackson – 4pm, Feb 11 – Newcastle Toyota Weblink – starmaker.com.au. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2022 New Smoky Dawson bookAmong a number of publications set for release in conjunction with the 50th Tamworth Country Music Festival was a book celebrating the amazing story of the great Smoky Dawson. Author of the new chapter is Glenn T, a playwright, actor and award-winning production designer who was Smoky and Dot's confidant and loyal companion in their later years. The extensive biography covers the period 1985 almost to the present day and the book has more than 200 historical and contemporary photographs and illustrations. "I got to meet Smoky at a function in the early '90s," Glenn said. "I was introduced by a mutual friend of ours and we just got along well. "We became good friends, I lived nearby and as Smoky and his wife Dot started driving less and less I'd take them to various events. I became their local driver and we'd spend a lot of time at the house chatting away and listening to stories." Glenn said Smoky was his "hero as a child" and to become a part of his life was a dream come true. "I grew up in the era of watching him on television. So to get to meet him and work with him became quite a thrill for this young cowboy," he said. Smoky, who is often referred to as Australia's most versatile showman, died in 2008 at the age of 94. He was a singer, recording artist, songwriter, poet, scriptwriter, actor, television performer, horseman, stuntman, knife-thrower, double-headed axe hurler, whip cracker, raconteur, rancher and revered mentor. Featuring memories and photographs from the Tamworth Country Music Festival over the years, the new work was released in January. "I was able to go through the private photo albums and pulled out a lot of never before seen images, personal images and some great publicity photos from many, many decades," Glenn said. "He loved the festival so much and what it brought to young people as well as recognising the older ones, but I think that Smoky just loved seeing the different types of music. "He was a mentor for Keith Urban when Keith was 14 and there's a great photo in the book of Smoky with a young mullet-headed Keith Urban that I think came from The Leader back in the day. "Tamworth was such a big thing in his heart." Proceeds from the book will go towards the Smoky Dawson Foundation and Bear Cottage. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 Country Superstars return Country Superstars – a "tribute show to American country superstars" – is back on the road following the long absence of performance opportunities due to the coronavirus. The show is described as an event of "timeless country classics from Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Glen Campbell, Linda Ronstadt, Alan Jackson and Shania Twain".
Events then follow at Queanbeyan (March 17), Wagga Wagga (March 18), Wodonga (March 19), Orange (April 21), Gosford (April 22), Maryborough (June 3), Bundaberg (June 4), Bathurst (June 16) and Mudgee (June 17). Tickets for all shows can be obtained from the Country Superstars facebook page here. "We aim to have a real fun night... as well as all the songs everyone knows, getting our audience involved and being part of a great country music night out," said a spokesman for the show. The first half of the show is described as "retro" with songs of Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton while the second half is aimed at "a little more rockin’ country with covers of the likes of Alan Jackson, Linda Ronstadt and Shania Twain." MONDAY, JANUARY 31, 2022
Respected Australian music industry identity Stephen White, who has been involved in the Australian music scene for almost five decades, is fed up with government disdain for the industry and has spelt out his case in an open letter to the Prime Minister and Federal Members of Parliament. The letter, also addressed to State and Territory Premiers, Chief Ministers and Opposition Leaders, Deputy Premiers, all State Government Ministers and Shadow Ministers, is reproduced below in full. Stephen currently manages Andrew Farriss, Lee Kernaghan and The Wolfe Brothers. In his 20s he was touring the world with the Little River Band.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 2022 Boyup Brook cancelled The 2022 Boyup Brook Country Music Festival in Western Australia, which was to be held next month, has been cancelled due to on-going risks posed by Covid 19. The decision to cancel was made by the organisers, the Country Music Club of Boyup Brook, in consultation with the local Shire of Boyup Brook.
Country Music Club of Boyup Brook President Jason Forsyth said the decision, while difficult, was the right one. “Despite thorough planning and strict health and safety protocols, the emergence of the Omicron variant and the uncertainty surrounding its spread, have meant holding this event simply contains too many risks,” he said. “We understand the cancellation of the festival will be incredibly disappointing for our local community, our line-up of all Western Australian artists, staff, passionate volunteers and funding partners who have worked tirelessly over the past year on the event. “However, we have the responsibility to ensure to the best of our ability the health and safety of not only our attendees, but also the greater Boyup Brook community which play host each year to our festival,” he said. “We have made this decision out of an abundance of caution and it will allow our team to focus on bringing our much-loved event back in due course when guests, volunteers, staff, and artists can all feel confident about the holding of the event.” Shire of Boyup Brook President Councillor Richard Walker said he was saddened the event would not go ahead, butb he was pleased Festival organisers had put the health and safety of the local community first. “The country music festival is the largest event held each year in Boyup Brook and, whilst it is disappointing to see it cancelled two-years in a row, the risk to our community posed by proceeding with such a large-scale event is just too high. “This decision is the right one, and the Boyup Brook Council will continue to work with the Country Music Club of Boyup Brook to find ways to support them during these challenging times.” The Club will reach out to ticket holders in the coming days to organise refund of tickets. Weblink – www.countrymusicwa.com.au. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2022 Evelyn and John recognised in Australia Day honours Evelyn Bury and John Schumann have been recognised in the 2022 Australia Day Order of Australia honours.
A long-time entertainer and award-winning singer/songwriter and recording artist, Evelyn was recognised for services to country music. Among her achievements was the Golden Guitar for Female Vocalist of the Year in 1988 for her recording of I'm Stronger Than I Look. She was inducted into the Country Music Hands of Fame in 1991. Best known for co-writing and recording I Was Only 19 as leader of the band Redgum, John was recognised for significant service to the veteran community, to music and to the community. TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2022 Lee tops Aussie Album Chart Lee Kernaghan has debuted at number one on the ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) Australian Country Albums Chart this week with his new compilation, The Very Best Of Lee Kernaghan.
The chart makeup also varies this week with the re-entry of Adam Harvey’s latest studio album Songs From Highway One, back in at number 17. Out of the chart this week are Kasey Chambers’ The Captain (from 16), Lee Kernaghan’s Ultimate Hits (20) and the debut self titled album from Darlinghurst (18). Following Lee at number two is Morgan Evans’ Things That We Drink To (down one from number one last week).
Slim Dusty holds two positions in this week’s chart – number six with The Very Best Of Slim Dusty and 10 with Gone Fishin’. His Favourite Collection by John Williamson at number seven, Shannon Noll’s Raw is at eight and Keith’s The Story So Far is at nine rounding out the top 10. Two significant chart milestones have been reached this week… Morgan Evans ticks over 170 weeks in for Things That We Drink To and Keith Urban’s The Speed Of Now Part 1 hits 70 weeks in. A countdown of the Top 20 can be heard from 7 o’clock this evening on Capital Country Radio (digital via the internet) with repeats at 9am Thursday at 12noon Saturday. Weblink – www.capitalcountryradio.com. MONDAY, JANUARY 24 Country stars on Australia Day A number of country stars will perform during the 2022 Australia Day Live Outdoor Concert at the Sydney Opera House on Wednesday.
Andrew Farriss (pictured), a new country star and former key member of global supergroup INXS, will be among the line-up. Kirsty Lee Akers, Hayley Jensen, Amber Lawrence and Aleyce Simmonds (pictured second from left to right) will perform their reimagined version of the John Williamson classic True Blue. FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022 TSA 2022 winners Winners in the 2022 Tamworth Songwriters Association (TSA) Songrwriter Salute Awards were announced from Enrec Studios in Tamworth, Australia’s Country Music Capital, via youtube tonight. Winner of the Novice Songwriting Award was Andrew Ryan with Our Land while Felicity Dowd took the honours for Youth Songwriting with Miss You. In Lyrics Only, Susan Muranty won with The Heart You Break The Hardest and Tony Smith won in Gospel/Spiritual with Lean On Me. The Bluegrass Song Award went to Justin Landers with Always Kiss Her Goodnight while the Country Blues Song Award was won by Geoff Williams with Ocean Fever.
Susan Dorahy won Alt Country Song with Redemption Is Real while Wendy Wood won Country Ballad with Fairytale. Peter Simpson took out Bush Ballad of the Year with The Things I Left Behind and Kevin Sullivan won Traditional Song of the Year with Pilgrimage. The TSA’s New Songwriter award was presented to Emily Hatton with Make It Slow and Lindsay Waddington and Allan Caswell won Local Heroes Song of the Year with Youngie.
Peter Denahy (pictured) was named winner of the prestigious Songmaker honour (Australian country music songwriting’s roll of renown). The 2022 Awards Show, which was to be staged live during the January Country Music Festival in Tamworth but couldn’t because of the postponement, persevered in the online environment as it did last year when the festival was cancelled altogether. Link to the awards show here. Association weblink – www.tsaonline.com.au. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2022 Lee celebrates 30 years Lee Kernaghan has released a milestone album, The Very Best of Lee Kernaghan – Three Decades of Hits, curated by Lee himself, to mark the 30th anniversary of his 1992 classic debut album, The Outback Club. The three CD 62 song collection documents three decades of dedication to his craft – a decade per CD – a journey which has ensured Lee remains one of the biggest names in Australian country music.
The special three disc set has been specially compiled to take fans on a musical journey through the hits and musical highlights of Lee’s career. Disc one features the very best of the ‘90s – from The Outback Club all the way through to the Hat Town album. “Everything we recorded back then was on two-inch multitrack tape that gave the songs a special warmth and fidelity that you only ever hear on analogue recordings,” Lee said. The second disc includes the Electric Rodeo years and some of his best recordings from that era while the third disc covers from Planet Country to the best of Lee’s latest studio album, Backroad Nation, together with “some special duets with my damn good mates and touring partners The Wolfe Brothers,” Lee said. With 14 studio albums under his belt, Lee has sold more than two million albums in Australia and had 40 number one hits on the Australian country charts. In 2004 he received an Order of Australia Medal and in 2008 he was named Australian of the Year. In Tamworth on Thursday, April 21, Lee will stage a special 30th anniversary concert as part of the rescheduled 2022 Tamworth Country Music Festival. Weblink – https://www.leekernaghan.com. MONDAY, JANUARY 17, 2022 Full steam ahead for Tamworth country music in April Details of events and activities rescheduled for the postponed Tamworth Country Music Festival have been announced, with more to come. In varying reports, as many as 90 to 95 percent of acts who were coming in January are expected to return for the new April event with many already confirmed. Tickets for many of the rescheduled events went on sale on Friday. Toyota Country Music Festival Manager Barry Harley said: “While some may have been disappointed in our decision to postpone the festival, many artists have confirmed they will be back and ready to roll in April to celebrate the festival’s 50th anniversary.
“All the big names will return including Kasey Chambers, Troy Cassar-Daley, Lee Kernaghan and John Williamson, as well as Adam Harvey, Beccy Cole, Sara Storer, James Blundell, Graeme Connors, Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham and fan favourite Fanny Lumsden.” There will be seven nights of free entertainment in Toyota Park kicking off with the traditional opening concert on Monday, April 18, as well as the Toyota Star Maker Grand Final, Back to the Bush spectacular and Americana in the Park, plus a host of surprise guests across the week, Barry said. We already reported that the 2022 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards will be on Wednesday April 20 with the giant 50th Anniversary Concert set for the following day, Thursday the 21st. Others joining the rescheduled ticketed line-up include Ashleigh Dallas, Brad Butcher & The Weeping Willows, Darren Coggan, Amber Lawrence with her Kids Gone Country show, Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley and Melinda Schneider. The Toyota Zone, with the Tailgate Sessions, featuring buskers, Star Maker finalists and special feature artists performing from the back of a Toyota LandCruiser 70, is another key feature rescheduled for the April Festival program, along with Toyota's famous Tamworth hats. These will be available for a $2 donation, as well as limited edition pins for a $5 donation, with 100 percent of the proceeds going directly to support local community organisation, Tamworth Aboriginal Medical Services. The Golden Gig, sponsored by Maccas, will make its debut in April giving those 17 and under “their moment in the spotlight” on the Maccas Stage and the opportunity to win a range of prizes. Barry also confirmed that the Festival Precinct and Family Zone will be back operating for the full seven days, with street performers, rides and market stalls, while Riverside camping will return along with pre-pitched camping tents, Wallaroo. Toyota Australia Vice President of Sales and Marketing Sean Hanley said it was great to see the commitment from the artists and all involved in the Toyota Country Music Festival to making sure the Festival remained a huge success following the postponement. “The Toyota Country Music Festival is an iconic event on the music calendar and especially in this 50th anniversary year, it’s such an important celebration of country music and rural life,” he said. “We are proud to be able to help support the festival and ensure country music fans and artists can celebrate the resilient community spirit that is at the heart of regional Australia.” While putting plans in place for the April event, Festival organisers are also working with Support Act, the music industry benevolent association delivering crisis relief services to artists, artist managers, crew and music workers across all genres, to support those who have been impacted, not only by the postponement, but by the situation over the past few years.
“There has been significant impact to the live music industry over the past two years," Barry said, "and we understand postponing the Festival just a week out from its scheduled start date was another hit to the industry, so we want to support those affected as much as we can during these difficult times.”. A donation page has now been set up and those who are able to, are encouraged to join festival organisers by showing their support. Weblink – www.tcmf.com.au. SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, 2022 The music still plays in Country Music Capital The official 50th Tamworth Country Music Festival may well have been moved to April but there is still a host of activities in the Country Music Capital during the next week or so. Key among these is a substantial program of shows at the city's Austin Tourist Park which went to great pains during the 2021 cancellation as well to provide entertainment for the hundreds of fans who stayed.
Tracy Coster, who is a finalist with Ian Quinn for the Bush Ballad Golden Guitar this year, will conduct a launch of her latest album – Southerly Change – on Thursday January 20. The Austin Tourist Park shows run up to and including Saturday January 22. Details can be found here. Darren Coggan will also continue with his John Denver tribute concert in the city's Capitol Theatre tonight (Saturday January 15) and the ABCRA Rodeo will still run on Friday and Saturday, January 21 and 22. A number of pubs and clubs have a limited program of entertainment, including West Tamworth League Club and its sister club Wests Diggers (including Darren & Mike Carr and The Two Vees), The Tamworth Hotel (The Little Quirks) and The Tudor (Jimmy Craz Band and Rick Cuthel). Dedicated year round attractions are also open, like the Australian Country Music Hall of Fame and the National Guitar Museum. And the comprehensive festival exhibition – Take Me Home To Tamworth – will continue at the Tamworth Regional Gallery. FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2022 Wolfe Brothers to open historic cricket match Tasmania’s multi-award winning country rock duo The Wolfe Brothers have been given the honour of performing live to open Day Two of the first ever Ashes Test held in Tasmania tomorrow (Saturday) at Hobart’s Blundstone Arena.
Lead singer and guitarist Nick Wolfe describes himself as a massive cricket fan. “After the disappointment of the Tamworth Country Music Festival and Golden Guitar Awards being postponed until April, to get the news that we will be playing at this historic event for Tassie has certainly lifted our spirits,” he said. “We may never get another Ashes Test down here again, so to be actually involved on Day Two is a real honour. I have a guitar that is actually made from a cricket bat (pictured) that was a gift from my wife Tani in recognition of my love of cricket and music. I think it will have to make its first public performance on Saturday as there will never be a more fitting occasion to do so.”
Under normal circumstances The Wolfe Brothers would be attending the Golden Guitar Awards in Tamworth on Saturday where they are finalists for an incredible seven awards – their highest tally to date. The duo has released five studio albums and have achieved 16 consecutive number one singles since they came in as runners-up on the 2012 series of Australia’s Got Talent from where they were invited to audition for Lee Kernaghan who was looking for a new backing band at the time. A strong connection was made, and The Wolfe Brothers have been touring with Lee and opening all of his concerts for the last nine years. The brothers have also been headlining their own sold-out tours and festivals around Australia and have performed at festivals in the USA and Canada. The Wolfe Brothers current album, Kids On Cassette, was released last year and entered the ARIA charts at number one. Today it was confirmed by ARIA as the third highest selling Australian country music album for 2021. No Brakes was the first single released from the album on April 17 2021, and from then to now, The Wolfe Brothers can claim the title of the most played artist on Australian Country Radio. For bass guitarist Tom Wolfe, the performance at the Ashes Test is a great restart for 2022. “We started the year being informed all of our January and early February shows have been postponed due to Covid-19,” he said. “The news that we are playing at the Ashes Test is just what we needed as a boost before we start recording our next album on Monday next week. To go into the studio on a high is the perfect scenario and we are grateful to Cricket Australia for the opportunity.” Weblink – www.thewolfebrothers.com. Keith tops 2021 chart ARIA – the Australian Recording Industry Association – has released it’s top selling charts for calendar year 2021, and Keith Urban has taken top spot for the second year running with his 2020 release The Speed Of Now Part 1. Troy Cassar-Daley is in second place with The World Today, Morgan Evans’ Things That We Drink To is in third place while The Very Best Of Slim Dusty is at number four.
Adam Harvey’s Songs From Highway One is at number five, Keith Urban also has sixth place with Ripcord and the latest release for Slim Dusty – Gone Fishin’ – is at seven. Rounding out the top 10 are John Williamson with His Favourite Collection at eight, The Wolfe Brothers’ Kids On Cassette at nine and Shannon Noll’s Raw at 10. Troy's album, as the highest selling "new release" for 2021, autiomatically wins the Golden Guitar for Top Selling Album of the Year in the Country Music Awards of Australia. FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2022 Tamworth 50th festival postponed Due to increased safety concerns amid the current coronavirus surge, it has been decided to postpone the 50th Tamworth Country Music Festival to April.
Neither the option to continue with the festival as is, or to cancel altogether, was favoured, especially given safety concerns for staff, the broader community and visitors, and the increasing number of cancellations by visiting artists. Although it was not considered that a postponed event would be anywhere near the size of the traditional January festival it is expected that most, if not all, major activity that was to be held this January would transfer to the new time. These would include the key anchor event, the Golden Guitar Awards. The new dates for Tamworth’s 50th Country Music Festival are Monday January 18 to Sunday January 24. “The decision to postpone the Festival, just a week out from the event, was a difficult, yet necessary, decision to make," said Festival Manager Barry Harley. "Given the current state of COVID transmission in our communities, and the impact the changed Covid safety measures have on our venues, it is the best decision for the health and safety of everyone involved particularly the Tamworth and country music communities. “We will continue to work diligently with government authorities, festival stakeholders, and the country music industry as we prepare to welcome artists, fans, employees, vendors, and sponsorship partners back to Tamworth in April this year.” An update on the rescheduled event will be made next week. Weblink – www.tcmf.com.au. Link directly to the announcement video here with Tamworth Mayor Russell Webb. THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022 Artist line-up announced for People’s Choice Awards The line-up of special guest artists to perform during the 2022 Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards gala presentation has been announced. They are, in alphabetical order (pictured from left top to bottom), Benny Allen, Tracy Coster, Lily Grace, The Long & Short Of It, Brendan McMahon, The Silverline and Peter Simpson & Dianne Lindsay.
All are finalists in this year’s Awards which will be announced from 12noon Thursday January 20 from the Grand Ballroom at Wests Diggers in Kable Avenue, Tamworth, during the January country music festival. Winners will be announced in eight performance categories… Best Female, Best Male, Best Group or Duo, Best Album, Best Song, Best Bush Ballad, Best Video and Most Promising Future Star, and two broadcast categories – Most Popular Country Music DJ and Most Popular Country Music Program or Radio Station. In addition, from this year, the People’s Choice Awards will be hosting the announcement of inductees to the Australian Country Music Broadcasters Hall of Fame. The People’s Choice Awards has also been asked to host the announcement and presentation of the Australian Country Music Literary Award which was co-ordinated by the Australian Country Music Foundation until this year when most ACMF assets were transferred to Tamworth Regional Council. Pricing of admission to the People's Choice Awards this year has been set at a nominal $10 as a gesture of gratitude to fans who determine the awards by voting. A link to the ticket selling point can be found on the People's Choice website www.peopleschoiceawards.com.au. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2022 Bunyip in Tamworth Brisbane based Bunyip Guitars will be in Tamworth for the 2022 January country music festival. Bunyip Guitars grew out of a desire for a lightweight, solid guitar that was resonant and clear, according to a company spokesman. Other requirements included “pickups that did not hum, a 22 fret neck that was easy to play and a diversity of sounds and tones with simple controls”.
Scoey, the main designer, previously worked at Fender, Gibson and MCD guitars… experience that led to him using a unique body shape reminiscent of a Telecaster. Having found Australian wood that met the requirements, the first Bunyip was started. The initial design included locking tuners, string independent intonation, humbucking and single coil pickups in the same guitar together with a simple control system. Requests for some specialist instruments were received, and the Stetsbar was added to provide a tremolo system that was removable and always returned to tune. When it became available the Apollo Music Parts G/B bender was also included in the Bunyip offerings. “Along the way it was discovered that a “reverse” headstock gave better tone and reduced string tension and neodymium magnets could be used to make great 'silent single' vintage sound pickups,” the Bunyip spokesman said, “A finish for the neck was developed which made it feel like it was 20 years old right out of the case.” Bunyip researched for high quality American steel guitar strings and added these to their brand as well as quality plectrums in various grades. The company logo – “Bill the Bunyip” – was drawn by Tomyo in Japan after seeing a Bunyip guitar and Les Crighton updated the original sketchings. Sim Anderson, a customer, came up with the company slogan – “the new guitar that you have owned for 20 years – after his daughter, playing a Bunyip, won the Homestead Country Music Award. Research and development of improvements to existing designs, as well as new models, is Bunyips are played by Glen Albrecht, Jessey Jackson, Josiah McAllen (USA), David Thompson and Yasuhiro Tsutsumi (Japan) as well as a host of local players from Cairns to Hobart. Oxley Bowling Club in Piper Street will be home for Bunyip Guitars during the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 2022 Tamworth festival smartphone app now available The Toyota Country Music Festival Tamworth Official Guide smartphone app is now available for download.
Tamworth Regional Council – overall co-ordinators of the January country music festival in the city – have confirmed the 2022 Festival is going ahead, subject of course to prevailing health orders but these are not expected to change before the event kicks off on Friday January 14. Most activities are expected to proceed as or near-as planned but there have been some changes already and potentially more will occur before the festival begins. Information on the app, including any changes, is provided by artists and venues. The Official Guide itself, and the app, have the only A-Z Artist listing available for the festival as well as the daily program and special features including historical facts and information about the Golden Guitar Awards finalists, Toyota Star Maker talent search, Hands of Fame, Roll of Renown and more. It is available from newsagents in and around Tamworth and selected newsagents throughout NSW, Queensland and Victoria. The Official Guide App includes additional features such as live program information, venue and genre listings, what’s “on now” and “near me” functions as well as transport information and maps. It also allows users to search for artists, events and/or venues. The App is available for download from the Apple App Store and Googleplay for android devices at a cost of $4.49. Weblink – www.tcmf.com.au. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2021 And now… TSA finalists Following the recent release of semi-finalists, the Tamworth Songwriters Association (TSA) has now released finalists for its 2022 Songwriter Salute Awards. For Song of the Year in Alt Country, they are… Susan Dorahy with Redemption Is Real and Tell You, Damien Hosken with With Love And Surrender, Susan Muranty & Sven Tydeman with Stop Time With A Kiss and Billie-Jo Porter & Kylie Nebauer with Upside. In Bluegrass… Kylie Adams-Collier with Light As A Feather, Virginia Hermel with Coming Home, David Javier with Precious Gem, Shelly Jones & Lester Truer with If Uou Knew What You Know and Justin Landers with Always Kiss Her Goodnight.
In Comedy/Novelty… Lloyd Back with Are They Ever Leaving Home, Terry Bennetts with Welcome To Australia, Virginia Hermel & Jim Hermel with I’m Getting Off The World (At The Next Stop), Stan Lenz & Glenny Palmer with She’ll Be Right and Russell Neal & Stafford Watts with Christmas Cheer. In Country Ballad… Norman Crew & Greg Piggot with Sometimes The Juice Just Ain’t Worth The Squeeze, Emily Hatton with Make It Slow, Damien Hosken with There Is A Part Of Me, Ross Webb & Christine Eccleston with Cowgirl Angel and Wendy Wood with Fairytale. In Country Blues… Andy Penkow, Kathleen Stewart, Kalesti Butler & David Carter with How Many Times, Lucie Tiger O’Connor with Found My Home and Midnight Goodbye, Alex Varlow with Nigel and Geoff Williams with Ocean Fever. In Country Rock… Lily Grace & Bella Mackenzie with Sixteen Wishes, Emily Hatton with Mess Around, Aaron Jurd with Midnight Train, Ben Ransom with Come Back For More and Noeleen Smith. In Gospel/Spiritual… Jacques Gentil with Worst Of Sinners, Virginia Hermel with Thank You For Being My Friend, Steven Sherrah & Andrew Bertram with Flowers Still Blooming In Spring, Tony Smith with Lean On Me and Pat Thompson with Until I Reach My Goal. In Local Heroes… Blaise Beach with Fire And Flood, Bindi Blacher with Tooth In The Cog, Lily Grace with What A Mother Taught Me, Graeme Howie with Only One Came Home and Lindsay Waddington & Allan Caswell with Youngie. In Traditional… Virginia Hermal with Land Of Acacia, Justin Landers with The Corner Store, Tony Smith with The Ghost Of This Guitar, Kevin Sullivan with Pilgrimage and Lindsay Waddington & Allan Caswell with Just Get Better. In Youth… Felicity Dowd with Miss You, Grace Mae Gladwin with Skipped A Beat, Lily Grace & Bella Mackenzie with Sixteen Wishes, Mackenzie Lee Hall with Loves In Drought and Shyanne Irwin with Out Of This Town. In Lyrics Only… Christine Eccleston with Save A Saddle There For Me, Helen Harvey with The Wave Hill Spur, Susan Muranty with The Heart You Break The Hardest, Kevin Pye with The Private’s Mate, Julie Richards with Black Dog and Graham Scobie with Yarri Of Gundagai. For the TSA’s New Songwriter Award, finalists are Felicity Dowd with Miss You, Lily Grace & Bella Mackenzie with Sixteen Wishes, Emily Hatton with Make It Slow, Billie Jo Porter & Andrew Blyth with Feels Like Us and Steve Roberts with FiFo Man. In the Novice section, finalists are Gary Bewley with Mates, Daria Koutsoukos with Song for Beth, Sarah Nicholls with You Didn’t Have To Be, Sue Oppy with It’s A Long Way There and Andrew Ryan with Our Land. Winners of 2022 TSA Awards will be announced at The Longyard Hotel, Tuesday evening January. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2021 Academy postpones 2022 course Due to current NSW Government restrictions, the Australian Academy of Country Music has made the decision not to proceed with the 2022 senior course which was due to start in a matter of days.
“We feel this is the best decision for the health and safety of our students and staffmembers, and to ensure we comply with all NSW Government COVID-19 restrictions,” Director Lyn Bowtell said. “We did not make this decision lightly, and thank our students and staff members for their understanding in these ever-changing times.” The January course would have been the first senior course to run since January 2020. The Academy administration team has informed all students, mentors and staff members of the decision. Weblink – www.academycountrymusic.com.au. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2021 Finalists announced for 2022 People’s Choice Awards Finalists have been announced for the 2022 Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards to be staged in Tamworth during the upcoming January country music festival. “Once again, we recorded thousands of votes from country music fans Australia wide, as well as a few from overseas,” said Awards organiser Bob Kirchner.
“So much so that in some key categories, we have had to announce 10 finalists rather than the usual five because of the support for a number of artists in particular.” Overall, there were nominations for hundreds of individual artists and broadcasters in the 10 Awards categories. Missing from the 2022 listing is Brothers3, one of the most prolific award-winning acts since the band won their first two PCAs in 2011 for Best Group and Most Promising Future Star. The group disbanded earlier this year when Makirum and Shardyn Fahey-Leigh established a duo act known as Mak & Shar with Tayzin deciding to “take a break”. “Which means, for the first time in a long time, we will have a different winner in the group category,” Bob said, “a category we were almost going to rename in honour of Brothers3 and not let them win!” Tickets for the gala Awards presentation, to be held at Wests Diggers in Kable Avenue, Tamworth, Thursday January 20, will be on sale soon via wtlc.com.au. The ticket price has been set at a nominal $10 in recognition of input fans have made to the People’s Choice Awards over the years. An additional feature of the Awards, from this January, will be the announcement of inductees to the Australian Country Music Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Weblink – www.peopleschoiceawards.com.au. The full listing of 2022 finalists follows. Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards – 2022 Finalists
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021 Kasey on a roll Kasey Chambers is bubbling with enthusiasm. She's "keen as", as she likes to say, according to a report in The Newcastle Herald by Josh Leeson. After what's been a fairly torrid and frustrating two years due to COVID-19, there are blue skies ahead for Australia's queen of alt-country. A massive 2022 is on the horizon. Firstly, there's a headline show at the Tamworth Country Music Festival in January, followed by a hectic April with appearances at Wildflower (April 2) and Sunset Sounds (April 23) music festivals at Roche Estate in Pokolbin and sandwiched in between is Bluesfest at Byron Bay (April 15-18). Then, Kasey hits the road with "two of her favourite people in the industry", Queensland folk-pop duo Busby Marou. "It's a really nice position to be in, certainly after the last two years of it generally being pretty tough for all of us, particularly in the gig world," Kasey said. "We had a few gigs go through earlier this year and then others got cancelled. So even if we had a few gigs come through at different times it was a pretty nerve-racking time to know if anything was actually gonna end up happening." Kasey has hardly lay idle in lockdown. She's spent much of this year building her Rabbit Hole Studio and Music Retreat on her bushland property on the Central Coast.
A competition was recently held to give young unsigned artists an opportunity to have an EP recorded at Rabbit Hole and produced by Kasey and collaborator Brandon Dodd. "Why I started that competition is it's a really tough time to be launching a career and to get music out there when you can't tour and you can't showcase new songs and have life experience so you can write songs," Kasey said. In November, the music retreat component of Rabbit Hole opened for the first songwriting day camp hosted by Kasey. Several camps were sold out before Christmas and more are planned for 2022. The day camps allow budding musicians to receive intimate knowledge from Kasey about navigating the music industry. They also get an insight into how the ARIA Hall of Fame and Country Music Rollof Renown inductee wrote songs like The Captain, Not Pretty Enoug, Ponyand Barricades And Brickwalls. "This way I get to create a whole special day that's based around general music and creative advice, but then we'll specifically spend time on songwriting," Kasey said. "We'll sit around the campfire and jam and everyone joins in. We'll do a walk-through of the studio to show people how to record a song, so there's a little bit of everything. "My other favourite hobby outside of music is cooking, so I get to do all the cooking and catering for the day, which I love." Kasey says opportunities like the day camps are needed now more than ever due to the pandemic. The 45-year-old mother-of-three has seen first-hand how difficult the past two years have been for teenagers and young adults through her son Talon, 19. "My eldest son finished year 12 last year and was all ready to go out and start discovering who he is outside of school and outside of his parents and a lot of it has been stuck at home for this last year," she says. "It's tough, in general, for that age group, but particularly in music. Another important lesson Kasey wants to teach through her camps is the importance of authenticity. It's something she has possessed in spades since the release of her iconic debut The Captain in 1999 which won an ARIA for Best Country Album in that year and two Golden Guitars in January 2000. At the time, the alternative-looking artist stood out in the conservative Australian country scene, traditionally dominated by male artists like Slim Dusty, John Williamson and Lee Kernaghan. Two years later, Kasey’s second album, Barricades And Brickwalls, led by the number one single Not Pretty Enough, crossed over into the mainstream and won three ARIAs and became the highest-selling Australian album of 2002. More number one albums followed with Wayward Angel (2004), Carnival (2006) and Rattlin’ Bones with then husband Shane Nicholson (2008). Throughout the success, Kasey refused to be molded by the male-dominated music industry into a typical country-pop artist. "I didn't set out to do that," she says. "I'd love to say I had this really clear plan of what I wanted to do and I smashed it, but it wasn't anything like that. I was just doing my thing. "It wasn't only that I was a woman, it was also I was a female playing country music, which was a kind of like a double whammy. "It was a little unexpected at the time, but I also didn't know a lot of that at the time, I just played music and did my thing and tried to be as true to myself as I could be. "I tried not to bend what I was doing or change what I was doing to please anyone. I just did my thing and I stayed strong to what meant something to me.” Weblink – www.kaseychambers.com. MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2021 People's Choice to announce Broadcasters Hall of Fame Inductees into the Australian Country Music Broadcasters Hall of Fame will be announced as part of the annual Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards from January 2022. The Broadcasters Hall of Fame was inaugurated in 1997 by the Australian Country Music Foundation, operators of the Australian Country Music Hall of Fame in Tamworth.
Although the Broadcasters Hall of Fame is considered important, it was not deemed to be a core aspect of the overall Country Music Hall of Fame operation. The People’s Choice Awards were considered an ideal organisation to take over operation of the Broadcasters Hall of Fame as it had been recognising country music broadcasters, radio stations and programs for almost 20 years. Announcing the change, People’s Choice Awards organiser Bob Kirchner said he was delighted to be able to take the Broadcasters Hall of Fame on board. “Broadcasters, radio stations and other media outlets are, of course, an integral part of the country music industry so it has been important to be able to recognise their contribution,” he said. “With the Broadcasters Hall of Fame now part of our presentation, that will greatly expand the recognition and also provide a much stronger prominence and focus for the Hall of Fame itself.” Nominations for the Broadcasters Hall of Fame can be made simply by making written submission to Broadcasters Hall of Fame, PO Box 933 Tamworth 2340. The 2022 Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards will be staged at Wests Diggers in Tamworth at 2pm on Thursday January 20. A full listing of inductees can be found at www.peopleschoiceawards.com.au. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2021 New release co-incides with re-opening of Reg Lindsay Memory Barn A special version of the Reg Lindsay classic Silence On The Line has been released to co-incide with the re-opening of the Reg Lindsay Memory Barn near Tamworth. The release comprises Reg's original recording with a new part of the rodeo cowboy's partner sung by Jodie Crosby of The Crosby Sisters. The recording is the first recording off a new album to be released in March titled From The Hand Of Reg Lindsay.
This year would have been celebrated as Reg’s 70th anniversary in the entertainment industry but due to hold ups caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the had to be delayed until 2022. Now back in full swing with fans booking in to visit, the Reg Lindsay Memory Barn gives visitors a walk down memory lane among the display of all Reg Lindsay memories, including his guitars , hats, boots, mouth organ collection of nearly 50 harps, many of which he played while recording some of his 70 albums. There are many photos in the museum with Reg and special guests who performed on his television shows, the "National Country & Western Hour" from Adelaide and "Reg Lindsay’s Country Homestead" which was aired from channel 9 Brisbane. The Barn was officially opened on January 21 this year by MP Barnaby Joyce MP with local media and special guests in attendance. Reg's wife Ros said The Barn took four years to get to the stage where she could now show fans the enormous collection of Reg Lindsay memorabilia along with special items from other country music entertainers. Located at 89 Howes Hill Road, Yannargee, off the Wandobah Road just up from the junction with the Purlewaugh Road between Spring Ridge and Premer, The Barn is described as a must see for any music fan and will be in full swing during the upcoming Tamworth Country Music Festival. More information, including available merchandise, can be found at www.reglindsay.com.au. Fans can also connect via the Remembering Reg Lindsay Group facebook page. Two special items of merchandise recently added at The Barn are The Reg Lindsay Pictorial Book with photos and stories from many of the artists who performed on both of Reg’s television shows and the first release of Reg Lindsay’s Country Homestead Show on DVD which includes a number of interviews from the likes of Adam Harvey, Jade Hurley and Bert Newton. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021 Cavalcade 2022 cancelled The Country Music Cavalcade – the iconic street parade that has been a key feature of the annual Tamworth Country Music Festival for 41 years –will not run in 2022.
“A safety audit of the Cavalcade, which included discussions with local police, was conducted in 2020, which revealed a significant number of risks that can’t be adequately managed,” Festival Manager Barry Harley said. Although the media statement announcing the Cavalcade decision clearly seemed to indicate it was the end of the activity, in a subsequent news report, Barry referred to the Cavalcade “as we know it” and was quoted as saying: “…that’s not to say a cavalcade in a different form or location couldn’t be considered. “But for 2022 it’s impossible for us to manage a safe event.” The Cavalcade started in 1980 by the Tamworth Chamber of Commerce & Industry and ran every year until 2020 having been cancelled in 2021 along with “the official festival” due to the coronavirus pandemic. Council has put together what they term a “Community Celebration” in the city’s major Bicentennial Park to run in a similar timeframe as the Cavalcade would have on the main Saturday morning of the festival. It will comprise market stalls and entertainment. Photo: the lead float in an early 1980s Cavalcade. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2021 Troy in new TV doco Country star Troy Cassar-Daley heads a new television documentary – "Sing About This Country" – premiering on NITV (National Indigenous Television) on Saturday night. Troy joins friends The Black Image Band, brothers Cliff Harrigan, Pando Harrigan, Dylan Harrigan and Porky Harrigan, taking their music to Queensland’s Cape York Peninsula (all pictured).
"Sing About This Country" is described as a story of friendship, family and brotherhood, “set amidst the backdrop of stunning remote landscapes and showcasing musical performances like no other”. NITV says it is proud to give Australian audiences exclusive access to a unique tour from Troy. “Follow the group as they bring their music to isolated communities, culminating in a hometown performance in Cooktown in front of their family and friends, as well as a lively audience enjoying some good old-fashioned country music.” "Every now and then you get to do something that fills your heart and soul to the brim,” said Troy, “rekindling old friendships and reminiscing about the past on a very sacred part of our country. “We got to feel the old people’s spirts around is as we travelled, heal together, play music together and sing about this amazing country of ours. Director of Indigenous Content at SBS Tanya Denning-Orman said: “What a combination – country music and the beautiful Cape York Peninsula. It’s a joy to have Troy and The Black Image Band take us all on this adventure. “Music is at the heart and soul of First Nations culture, and we cannot wait to launch our new music documentary programming slate with the brilliant 'Sing About This Country'." Weblink here. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2022 Bush Ballad Awards finalists Finalists have been announced for the 2022 Stan Coster Memorial Bush Ballad Awards. The Awards, usually announced as part of the Bungendore Country Music Muster, will be announced on line again next year as it has been decided not to stage the actual Muster due to unknown variables resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. Winners will be announced via youtube on Saturday February 27 at 7:30pm. And the finalists are...
For Male Vocal... Terry Bennetts with Not Without You Old Mate, Graham Rodger (pictured) with Born To The Saddle and John Smith with For those Who Understand. For Duo or Group... the Coad Sisters with Land Of Acacia, Dianne Lindsay & Peter Simpson with Sounds Like Country To Me and the McKay Brothers with You're Still Just 22. For Songwriter... Lloyd Back with Old Boots, Terry Bennetts & Keith Lethbridge with Not Without You Old Mate and the Coad Sisters with Land Of Acacia. For Instrumental... Anthony Baxter with Wattle In Springtime, Lindsay Butler with Where The Roper Flows Tonight and Lindsay Hammond with Lawson’s Ghost. For Album... Tracy Coster with Southerly Change, Ken “Chainsaw” Lindsay with My Favourite Place and John Smith with For Those Who Understand. For New Talent... Lachie Cossor with Southern Cross, the McKay Brothers with Good Times Will Come Again and Ian Wilkinson with Women Of The Outback. For Comedy... Terry Bennetts with Welcome To Australia, Tracy Coster with Beer I Bought For Dave and Ken “Chainsaw” Lindsay with The Day I Rode Chainsaw. Weblink – bcmm.com.au. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2021
Details have been announced for an extensive program of free night-time entertainment during the 2022 Tamworth Country Music Festival. The program is for the city’s Bicentennial Park, known as Toyota Park for the 10 days of the festival in recognition of major sponsor Toyota. A major event is scheduled for every night in the park “Toyota stars under the stars” for the entire duration of the event. The park has a capacity for thousands of fans and is set up with major stage facilities and public amenities including food vendors. On the first night, the traditional Official Opening Concert will be staged with guest artists including Kirsty Lee Akers, Melanie Dyer, Abby Ferris, Blake O’Connor, Loren Ryan, Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham, The Vixens Of Fall and Sammy White (pictured). The host will be Brisbane radio personality Laurel Edwards and graduates of the Country Music Association of Australia’s Academy of Country Music will also perform. Saturday night will see KIK Live In The Park with artists including Casey Barnes (pictured), The Buckleys, Darlinghust, Hurricane Fall, Hayley Jensen and Bella Mackenzie. Sunday night sees the 42nd staging of the Star Maker Quest also sponsored by Toyota. The launching pad for many of today’s stars, like James Blundell, Beccy Cole, Gina Jeffreys and Keith Urban, this year will feature the Top 10 Star Maker finalists battle it out for the 2022 crown. Sammy White, the most recent Star Maker winner, will be a special guest together with one of our best known Star Maker winners Lee Kernaghan (pictured) who will be celebrating 40 years since he won in 1982. Monday night will feature a number of artists who play in the “Americana” sub-genre of country music… Kelly Brouhaha, Lachlan Bryan & The Wildes, Henry Wagons & The Only Children, The Weeping Willows and Gretta Ziller (pictured). Tuesday night brings together a number of country rock exponents in an Aussie Country Rock Showcase… Stewart Barton, Brewn, Copperline, Paul Costa, Rachael Fahim, Charlie Fittler, Melody Moko, Ian Moss and Ben Ransom (pictured). Wednesday night will be the ever popular Back To The Bush Spectacular which always draws a huge crowd. The 2022 line-up will feature more than 40 bush balladeers headlined by country pioneer Chad Morgan. Included on the show will be the likes of Terry Bennetts, Owen Blundell, Charley Boyter, Jeff Brown, Lindsay Butler, Peter Coad, the Coad Sisters with Jim Hermel, Keith Jamieson, Anne Kirkpatrick (pictured), David Kirkpatrick, Shaza Leigh, Dianne Lindsay & Peter Simpson, Tom Maxwell, Alisha Smith and John Smith. Thursday evening will see Adam Brand’s (pictured) Big Country Jam with guest artists James Blundell, Cornell & Carr, Tori Darke and Cass Hopetoun. Friday evening will feature Travis Collins (pictured) & Friends… Taylor Moss, Emmagen Rain, Southbound, Andrew Swift and the newly crowned Toyota Star Maker 2022. Saturday night’s show will be a Blast Of Blues with acts including the Buddy Knox Blues Band, Fiona Boyes (pictured), The Rumour Mill (with Alwyn Aurisch, Guy Kachel and Sally-Anne Whitten) and one-man band Mitch King. The final night of the festival, Sunday January 23, will be The Best Of The Buskers where the top 10 buskers selected by the judges through the festival compete for the 2022 Tamworth Best of the Buskers Crown. More than 100 artists will feature at Toyota Park during the 2022 Tamworth Country Music Festival. The park entertainment is supported by the NSW State Government’s Regional Events Acceleration Fund to the tune of $150,000 “to enable a bigger Stars Under the Stars series”. “There is no other festival in Australia that can provide this quality line up of musicians for free,” said Toyota Country Music Festival Manager Barry Harley. Weblink – www.tcmf.com.au. MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2021 New People's Choice venue for 2022
It will also be a return to a previous home, Wests Diggers Club in Country Music Capital's Kable Avenue, previously the Tamworth RSL Club. The Awards will be held on their traditional day, Thursday of the Tamworth Country Music Festival but in the afternoon rather than the evening. Commencing at 2 o'clock, the 2022 Australian Country Music People's Choice Awards will feature a number of Awards finalists in addition to the gala Awards presentation. Ticket price for the coming year has been set at a nominal $10 as a special "pandemic recovery" incentive gesture to "the fans" who determine award winners. And tickets will be available shortly via www.wtlc.com.au. In line with previous years, more than 20,000 votes were cast for the upcoming Awards. Awards finalists will be announced later this week. Weblink – www.peopleschoiceawards.com.au. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2021 TSA Semi Finalists Almost 350 semi finalist placings have been announced for the 2022 Tamworth Songwriters Association (TSA) Songwriter Salute Awards to be staged in January. This is one of the longest lists of finalists in the TSA's history since it first started recognising excellence in Australian country music songwriting in 1984.
The strongest category is Country Ballad with 49 semi finalists announced followed by Alt Country and Country Rock with 36 and 35 semi finalist placings respectively. The Lyrics Only category is next strongest with 29 semi finalists announced, followed closely by Traditional with 28, Novice with 26, Local Heroes with 22, Country Blues with 21 and Bush Ballad with 22 and Comedy/Novelty with 20. Bluegrass, Gospel/Spiritual and Youth categories all feature 15 semi finalists. Seventeen semi finalists have been announced for the presigious New Songwriter Award... Benny Allen, Briana Dinsdale & Ken Dinsdale, Felicity Dowd, Kylie Gale, Kylie Gale & Billie-Jo Porter, Kerrie Gambley, Lily Grace, Emily Hatton, Dave Hughes & Cheree Martin, Shyanne Irwin, Callan Kennedy, Patrick Kenny, Billie Jo Porter & Andrew Blyth, Sally Pottinger, Steve Roberts, Anita Spring and Willow. A full listing of semi finalists, together with respective song titles, can be viewed on the TSA website www.tsaonline.com.au. Final judging is now in process with finalists expected to be announced just before Christmas. In addition to the annual Awards presentation, which will be held in 2022 on Tuesday evening January 18 at The Longyard Hotel, TSA showcases will be held at the Tamworth City Bowling Club, Oasis Hotel and the Post Office Hotel. A total of 55 performers will play multiple spots under the TSA banner throughout the festival from Saturday January 15 January until Sunday January 23. MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2021 Gidgee winners The 2020/2021 Gidgee Coal Bush Ballad Awards have been run and won at Pittsworth in Queensland. And the winners are...
Male Vocal – John Smith (pictured) with The Photograph. John won the award from fellow finalists Terry Bennetts with A Fortunate Life and Peter Simpson with The Things I Left Behind. Album – For Those Who Understand by John Smith (fellow finaists, A Fortunate Life by Terry Bennetts and Bush Country by Lindsay Hammond. Instrumental – Lawson's Ghost by Lindsay Hammond (fellow finalists Calling Of The Heart by Terry Bennetts and El Gringo by Peter Salata & Lindsay Waddington. The Songwriter award went to Peter Simpson for The Things I Left Behind (fellow finalists, Ashely Cook & Terry Bennetts for Ballad Of The Coal Pit Ponies and Ray Essery & Terry Bennetts for The Old Man At The Bar. And the Comedy/Novelty award was won by Terry Bennetts with Welcome To Australia (fellow finalists Lloyd Back with G String and John Smith with The Loaded Dog. Bush poets Ray Essery and Gary Fogarty were recognised with Gidgee Coal Legend awards together with long-time singer/songwriter Johnny Greenwood. Impacts of the coronavirus caused a lack of entries this year in new talent and group/duo award sections which will be reinstated next year, organisers said. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2021 Tamworth 50th recognised with official coinage The Royal Australian Mint has paid tribute to the famous Tamworth Country Music Festival by releasing a sommemorative coin to mark the festival's 50th year.
First in the series is a 2022 50 cent "Selectively Gold-Plated Silver Proof Coin" while the second is a 2022 50 cent "Uncirculated Coin". The gold plated version sells for $90; the uncirculated version for $10. Both are legal tender and available via the festival website tcmf.com.au/shop or through the Call Centre on 1300 652 020. Chief Executive of the Mint Leigh Gordon said the coin recognised the significant social and cultural impact the Tamworth Country Music Festival had had over the last 50 years. “The Mint is excited to have collaborated with the Tamworth Country Music Festival to release a coin that tells the story of a much loved part of Australian culture and history... country music fans and coin collectors will treasure this unique coin for years to come.” Backdrop of the coin design was inspired by the festival stage, illuminated with beaming light. A winding road leads to the stage, highlighting the distance festival goers and artists alike travel to get to the festival. Tamworth Country Music Festival Manager Barry Harley said: “For five decades this Festival has celebrated and supported Australia’s country music artists and the industry. Fifty years is a truly remarkable milestone to reach and it’s fitting that this moment is celebrated and now immortalised on a 50 cent coin. “With a limited stock of coins available, I urge all country music fans and coin collectors... to get in quick before these pieces of musical history are sold out.” WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2021 A bigger week for Troy
Troy beat out The Wolfe Brothers' Kids On Cassette, Shane Nicholson's Living In Colour, Brad Cox's My Mind’s Projectionand Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham's The Song Club to win the presigious honour. Archie Roach won Best Blues & Roots Album with The Songs Of Charcoal Lane from fellow contenders Ziggy Alberts with Searching For Freedom, Emma Donovan & The Putbacks with Crossover, Martha Marlow with Medicine Man and Josh Teskey & Ash Grunwald with Push The Blues Away. Award winners were announced from Sydney's Taronga Park Zoo and livestreamed via YouTube. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2021 Troy dominates 50th Golden Guitar Awards finalist nominees Final nominees have been announced for the 2022 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards, the 50th to be staged since the Awards were first held in January 1973, with Troy Cassar-Daley dominating the list.
The Wolfe Brothers have seven finalist placings from their latest studio release Kids On Cassette… Contemporary Country Album and Album of the Year, Song and Video of the Year for the album’s title track, Heritage Song of the Year for Small Town Song, Vocal Collaboration for Startin’ Something with Locash and Group or Duo of the Year. Shane Nicholson is up for five Golden Guitar awards in 2022 from his ninth studio album Living In Colour… Alt Country Album of the Year and Album of the Year, Song and Single of the Year with And You Will Have Your Way and Male Artist of the Year. The duo of Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham feature in four categories… Group or Duo of the Year, Alt Country Album and Album of the Year for The Song Club and Video of the Year with their song Spare Parts. Rising star Angus Gill also features in four categories… Traditional Country Album of the Year with The Scrapbook, Bluegrass Recording of the Year for Always On The Run, Bush Ballad of the Year for The Easy Way and Instrumental of the Year for Musterin’ Season with Linsday Waddington. Catherine Britt, Darlinghurst and Adam Harvey all feature in three categories, while dual nominations went to Casey Barnes, Brad Cox, Kristy Cox, Ashleigh Dallas, Jayne Denham, Montgomery Church, Matt Scullion, Amy Shark with Keith Urban, Andrew Swift, Michael Waugh, The Weeping Willows and Raechel Whitchurch. A further 32 acts feature as single finalist nominees… Kaylee Bell, Lachlan Bryan & The Wildes, Katrina Burgoyne, Camille and Stuie, Michael Carpenter and The Banks Brothers, Allan Caswell, Kim Cheshire, Cornell & Carr, Tracy Coster, Davidson Brothers, Pete Denahy, Morgan Evans, Andrew Farriss, Sam Hawksley, Cass Hopetoun, Jedd Hughes, Hayley Jensen, Troy Kemp, Lee Kernaghan, Amber Lawrence, Dianne Lindsay, Travis List, Fanny Lumsden, The McClymonts, Ian Moss, O’Shea, Luke O’Shea, Dean Perrett, Camille Trail, Lindsay Waddington, Michael waugh and Sammy White. The announcement of finalist nominees was made today jointly by the Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) and Tamworth Regional Council from Tamworth, Australia’s Country Music Capital. CMAA Chairman Dan Biddle said: “The list of talented nominees shows just how diverse, creative and inspiring Australia’s country music industry is right now. “The record number of entries is a true testament to the resilience and passion of our artists and industry professionals.” In a record-breaking year, more than 760 entries were received for the 50th Golden Guitar Awards – the biggest number ever. Toyota Australia Chief Marketing Officer John Pappas said the company was proud to support the Golden Guitar Awards and congratulated all the nominees in their 50th year. “Toyota has been a longstanding supporter of Australia’s premier country music awards and it’s fantastic to see the depth of talented artists that we have in this country,” he said. “We want to offer our congratulations to all the artists nominated for awards who continue to produce some of the best country music in the world.” Today’s announcement was livestreamed to audiences across the country and overseas, with performances by multiple Golden Guitar winners Troy Cassar-Daley, Luke O’Shea and Ashleigh Dallas and rising star Cass Hopetoun. The Toyota 50th Golden Guitar Awards will be staged on Saturday, January 22 from the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre and livestreamed via tcmf.com.au. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2021 New Aussie country TV doco “Going Country” – the new ABC TV documentary – is described as "a road trip into the heart of Australian country music".
“'Going Country' brings together the people, places and stories that have been integral to the story of this genre of music, viewing the broad genre through six key songs that have been integral to its progression," they say. Host Justine Clarke travels to places that inspired or feature in the songs, learning more about how country music has done so much in telling stories about our nation. She visits places like Blackheath, Broken Hill, Capertee Valley, the Colo River, Kempsey, Little River, Silverton, Tooma and, of course, Tamworth, as she learns about the unique Australian take on what has been – and remains – a cultural behemoth over the past 100 years. New performances filmed for the show will feature throughout, as artists like Troy Cassar-Daley, Kaey Chambers, Paul Kelly and Fanny Lumsden take viewers through some of the most enduring songs in the genre's history. Director Kriv Stenders – who was behind the lens for the recent Joy McKean documentary "Slim & I", as well as the 2017 film “The Go-Betweens: Right Here” – helms the production. On top of the new footage and interviews, the show will feature archival images and video of some of the most iconic moments in Australian country music, “resulting in a glorious tribute to this most resilient genre”. "Going Country" premieres on ABC TV and iview tomorrow night (Tuesday November 2) at 8:30pm. Weblink – iview.abc.net.au/show/going-country. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2021 Vale – Dave "Prousty" Proust Widely respected comedian and bush poet Dave "Prousty" Proust lost his battle with brain cancer on Wednesday.
Described as "an Australian bush hero", Dave also worked as a firefighter, presenter and actor through a career that took him to national notoriety and international performances. “Yesterday when he passed away we were all at home,” Dave's wife Therese said. “It was really peaceful and beautiful … horrendously sad and also really loving. “We’ve had so many beautiful messages and such an outpouring of love. It was a real compliment to who he was.” Dave spent more than 20 years entertaining audiences across the globe, and featured in the 2011 "Underbelly" television series, among others. and a movie, "1500 Steps". In 2015, he won the Australian Bush Laureate Award for Single Recorded Performance of the Year for "The Auction". He spoke openly about his cancer, calling it "a death sentence" however remained jovial and brought laughter even in the most challenging times. Sadly, Dave is the second bush poet to have succumbed to brain cancer this year, following the death of fellow Bush Laureate Award winner Dean Trevaskis in August. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2021 ARIA finalists announced Finalists have been announced for the 2021 ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) Awards. In the Best Country Album category, they are Kids On Cassette by The Wolfe Brothers, Living In Colour by Shane Nicholson, My Mind’s Projection by Brad Cox, The Song Club by Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham and The World Today by Troy Cassar-Daley.
Amber Lawrence is a finalist for Best Children’s Album with The Kid’s Gone Country 2, Archie Roach is a finalist for Best Independent Release and Best Blues & Roots Album, with The Songs Of Charcoal Lane. Keith Urban is a finalist in three categories… for Song of the Year and Best Video with Amy Shark for Love Songs Ain’t For Us, and Best Artist with The Speed Of Now Part 1. The 2021 ARIA Awards will be staged on Wednesday November 24. Weblink – www.aria.com.au/awards. MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2021 Academy announces January intake The Australian Academy of Country Music has announced students participating in the January 2022 senior Academy course. “New talent in the Australian country music scene is increasing and the January 2022… course in Tamworth continues to grow,” said an Academy spokesman.
From January 4, 28 students will spend 10 days in Country Music Capital with the some of the Australian country music artists and industry representatives. Tutors for 2022 are Golden Guitar winners Kevin Bennett, Lachlan Bryan and Ashleigh Dallas, led by Academy Director Lyn Bowtell and General Manager Roger Corbett. During the course, students are immersed in all aspects of the music business, musical performance, songwriting, promotion and recording, among other aspects of making a career in music. Industry “insiders” like The Buckleys, Troy and Jem Cassar-Daley, Kasey Chambers and Andrew Farriss will help deliver the curriculum.
“This is the premier music business educational opportunity in Australia,” said Lyn Bowtell (pictured). “It has been a challenging two years in the music business, and we sadly had to cancel junior and senior courses during that time but we cannot wait to get back to doing what we love the most. “My highlight of The Academy is seeing the growth the students experience during their time in the course.” The intensive and residential nature of the course means students and staff members bond quickly and students discover like-minded friends, with many of these friendships lasting for life. “The relationships that students and staff members form are priceless for everyone and assist in the development of the students as artists,” said Roger Corbett. And the students are… Sarah Catania (from Greensborough, Vic), Alison Clapson (Bodalla, NSW), Phoebe Dawson (Bathurst, NSW), Briana Dinsdale (Loganholme, Qld, winner of the Keith Urban Scholarship), Felicity Dowd (Bega, NSW), Wade Forster (Winton, Qld), Olivia Foy (Fitzroy, Vic), Tiffany Grace (Walkerston, Qld), Mia Haggarty(Seahampton, NSW), Harry J Hart (Ashmore, Qld), Emily Hatton (Macleod, Vic, winner of the Melbourne North-Eastern Suburbs Scholarship), Shyanne Irwin (Muswellbrook, NSW), Cassidy Joan (Winmalee, NSW), Felicity Kircher (Tingalpa, Qld, winner of the Homestead Youth Expo Scholarship), Mark Lavender (Bundaberg, Qld), Beth Lucas (Clontarf, Qld), Zara Lindeman (Deniliquin, NSW), Ky Lowrey (Fletcher, NSW), Steve Martin (Kalaru, NSW), Brendan McMahon (Batemans Bay, NSW), Charlotte Miller (Tamworth, NSW, winner of the John Minson Scholarship), Curly Mills (East Wagga Wagga, NSW), Laura Moore (Cunnamulla, Qld), Ashie Noey (Kentlyn, NSW), Bayley Pearl (Tugun, Qld), Mitch Rolfe (Emerald, Qld), Charlotte Rose (Seaforth, NSW) and Jimbo Stokes (Scone, NSW). Weblink – academycountrymusic.com.au. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021 Ausmusic T-Shirt Day Friday November 19 is Ausmusic T-Shirt Day in 2021.
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Every episode of the program has been compiled and presented by TSA executive member Athol Latham and, going on the number of writers featured on the program this week, Athol would have put to air somewhere in the order of 4,500 songs all written by Australian country songwriters since program number one almost six years ago.
The workshop will be designed to offer attendees tips in the area of music marketing, especially as they relate to media and promotion and will also include a “state of the industry” discussion and aspects of modern recording philosophies and processes.
Australian country music pioneer Kevin King has died. He was 92.
The city has been running the successful mid year festival since the year 2000, regularly hosting major acts and numerous support gigs at venues throughout the region.
Hats Off complements the annual Tamworth Country Music Festival in January on a smaller scale offering “cooler temperatures and a hub for singer/songwriters,” according to organisers.
Australian country music's Jean Stafford has been awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in the 2023 King’s Birthday honours list.
Multi-award-winning Australian songwriter and musician Joy McKean has died, at the age of 93.
This will bethe first time the junior course has run in its full capacity since 2019 and excitement levels are high, according to a spokesman for the Academy, an initiation of the Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA).
The Show, set to be “the biggest and best” in the event’s 55-year history, runs for four days, up to and including this Sunday, May 21.
“What’s more, the biggest showcase of battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles ever assembled in Australia will also be on display, including multiple models from established truck brands such as Volvo, Kenworth, Daimler, Isuzu, and Hyundai as well as new offerings from new brands including SEA Electric, Hyzon and HDrive.
Centrepiece of the South Bank Truck Festival will be a full scale Mack Anthem built entirely from LEGO bricks – almost a million bricks facilitating a build that has taken seven months in the lead up to the show. Finishing touches will be added live in front of the public at what’s sure to be among the most popular displays at the show.
Superstar country pioneer Chad Morgan will headline this year's event with a huge line-up including, in alphabetical order, Jeff Brown, Sam Burgess, The Gottani Sisters, The Gunbarrel Highwaymen
Casey wins 2023 Country APRA 
The four-day program will include dog events, bush poetry, a whip crack competition, ute muster, markets, art and photography shows, a street parade, a rode, and entertainment from leading country music acts.
Chief Executive Anestis Mantzouranis made a pointed effort of visiting the National Guitar Museum during his visit and presented the award for People's Choice Best Male Vocal to Graham Rodger.
The program runs from 9:30 in the morning at Denman’s Old Football Grounds in Turner Street running until 4 in the afternoon with a substantial program throughout, including a main street vehicle parade at 8:30 for the interest of those wanting to nominate.
It's 21 years for Cole Clark Guitars since they released their Mistress, Guardian and Culprit electric guitar models in 2002 following the company’s founding the year before and it was a major celebration in January.
Running from Friday 17th to Sunday 19th of February, the festival includes a street carnival on the Saturday and markets on Friday and Saturday which will also feature a new market stage with live performances.
Archie Roach, Dianne Lindsay and Peter Simpson have been recocognised in this year's Order of Australia honours announced today.
In addition to their respective substantial careers as singers, songwriters and recording artists, their long list of achievements includes organisation and hosting of the Back To The Bush Spectacular, one of the most popular events during the annual Tamworth Country Music Festival.
Born in Mosman (a suburb of Sydney), Michael moved to Boggabri, NSW, in the early 1950s to work on rural properties in the area as a jackaroo.
Festival Manager Barry Harley said: “Lane put on a stellar performance tonight and is a very deserving winner of the busking champion title. With hundreds of buskers at this year’s event it was certainly a difficult choice for the judges!”
Golden Guitar winners
Brooke & Adam's wins were for Group or Duo of the Year, Single of the Year for Memory Lane and Song of the Year for Star Of The Show, written with Dan Biederman and the couple's daughter Tiggy Heart Eckersley.
Dead Perrett was succesful in the Bush Ballad category with his song Out On Killarney.
Slim was laid to rest on the Central Coast yesterday with the idea of staging a tribute formulating earlier this week.
Country Song of the Year went to Fly To You by Patrick Kenny and Kelsey Berrington which also won the Alt Country Song Award.
Winner of the Lyrics Only section was Kevin Pye with Ten Acres Out Of Town.
Loren Ryan has taken out the 2023 Toyota Star Maker talent search.
Starting from Friday January 7 and building up closer to the day before the official start of the Festival, a range of performances and shows have been taking place.
The Courthouse Hotel with The Whiskey Mountain Boys; Family Hotel Moonshiners Bar with the Academy of Country Music Graduation Concert; Paradise Tourist Park with Cassidy-Rae (pictured) and Kate Hindle...
The song became an instant hit peaking at number three on the Go-Set National Top 40 Singles Chart (the pop music chart of the day), selling more than 100,000 copies and remaining on that chart for 15 weeks.
Finalists for the award, in order of sales results, were Adam Brand's All Or Nothing, Amber Lawrence's Living For The Highlights, Kirsty Lee Akers Wild and Christie Lamb's Truth.
The Balladeers Homestead will for the main week of the festival, Saturday January 14 to Friday January 20 inclusive.
For Country Ballad
The Gulgong Folk Festival – billed as "the best traditional country town folk festival" and a "grass roots family friendly music festival" – returns in 2023.
The artist line-up for the 2023 Boyup Brook Country Music Festival in Western Australia has been announced.
Awards in 10 categories will be announced, together with the Australian Country Music Broadcasters Hall of Fame induction and the re-introducted Country Music Entertainer of the Year accolade.
“It’s high time this special award returned,” said the Bulletin’s Bob Kirchner. “It’s been an on-again off-again process over the years and we’re delighted that we are able to facilitate its re-introduction on a permanent basis.
Topping the finalist list from his first time entry in the Golden Guitars with six placings is newcomer James Johnston. James came to prominence last year as a finalist in the Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards following the release of his first two singles, both of which gained widespread airplay and big numbers on streaming platforms.
Casey Barnes has won the Best Country Album award at the 2022 ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) Awards announced in Sydney tonight.
After years of setbacks due to bushfires and Covid, this year’s event – the 25th to be staged – will feature more than 30 “of the finest local and interstate acts” including well-know stars of the blues circuit like Owen Campbell & The Cosmic People, Sultana Southwell Roulette & The SunBears, Minnie Marks, The Marvellous Hearts (pictured) and “the amazing new talent of Chloe Kay & The Crusade".
Organised entirely by volunteers and members of ABOTMA, Mountaingrass was held at Harrietville from 2013 to 2017 after which it moved to Beechworth.
The riders and the bucking stock come together to try and prove the old saying wrong – “never the horse that couldn’t be rode, never the rider that couldn’t be throwed”.
“The event has pushed through a few tough years with drought and the issues it posed with water security with thanks to not only the recent rain but the Society investing in measures to ensure the grounds have a reduced impact on the urban utilities.”
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2022
Now to the story of the Let’s Dance Carinda Tribute Festival… which is actually… Bowie with a twist 
The three-day event – Friday September 23 to Sunday 25th – includes elements of music and bush poetry in addition to the extensive program that makes up the Stockman’s Challenge.
Originally from Goondiwindi, Keith called the Queensland town of Bouldercombe home in recent years from where he was heavily involved in a number of country music activities, including the Bouldy Bush Bash, Gidgee Coal Bush Ballad Awards and the Widgee Balladeers & Country Music festival.
That puts her in the upper echelon of acts who began their careers in Australia – the Bee Gees (220 million), AC/DC (200 million) and Air Supply (100 million).
Three-day glamping packages will be available and visitors will be able to see horse, bullock, camel, donkey, mules and goats in harness, an Australian Light Horse display, camel races, blade shearing, butter churning, dog jump, working dogs, blacksmith, rope turning, sheaf tossing, old fashioned children’s games, bush poetry, scone making, market stalls and the grand parade.
A few former winners are even returning this year as performers in their own right, said a spokesman for the event organisers, including Rudy Gilbert, Felicity Kircher, Drew in McAlister Kemp and Brooke Schubert.
In the Open Category... Sari Abbott (Sunrise Beach, Qld), Ally & Sarah (Ipswich Qld), Brittany Elise (Boyne Island, Qls), Emily Hatton (Melbourne, Vic), Mandy Hawkes (Alstonville, NSW), Phoebe Jay (Bundaberg, Qld), Brad Millers (River Ranch Qld), Leyon Milner (Mackay, Qld), Mitch (Gold Coast, Qld), Ali Shield (Sunshine Coast, Qld) and Valley 109 (Brisbane Qld).
Barrie first became involved in country music while working at the University of New England Centre for Continuing Education in Tamworth in 1973.
This year’s event, coming just a few months after the postponed January festival in April, is being billed as a festival featuring the city and surround’s raft of local talent.
For Lawrie and Shelley Minson (pictured), festivities will kick off early with a songwriters event at The Press on Thursday at 7pm.
“Lee Kernaghan: Boy From The Bush” will be out in cinemas on Thursday July 28.
Headliners will be supported by a raft of stars including Casey Barnes, The Black Sorrows, James Blundell, Lachlan Bryan & The Wildes, The Bushwackers, Travis Collins, Ash Grunwald, Tania Kernaghan, Amber Lawrence, Fanny Lumsden, McxAlister Kemp, Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley, Shane Nicholson, The Pigs, Jasmine Rae, Caitlyn Shadbolt, Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham and Warren H Williams.
Local artist Codee-Lee (pictured) has come away from this year’s West Australian Country Music Awards with four wins.
A long list of artists will feature during the three day program... Cheryls Anderson, Anthony Baxter, Lance Birrell, Rob Breese, Cactus Flat/Westerneers, Peter "Smokey" Dawson, Roydon Donohue, Greg Franks, Grazy's Country, Hell & Heels, Justin Landers, Wayne "Hoss" Metcalf, Kirsten Minnick, Greg Bolan & Cal Brinsmead, Andy Penkow, Ben Ransom, Reflections, Kevin Sullivan, Sunset Duo and Mark Swain.
"In organising and holding an event such as the Muster, it requires much financial input and many hours of volunteer labour," the statement said, "and the association falls short on both these issues.
For Female Artist of the Year, finalists are Codee-Lee, Siobhan Cotchin and Kate Jindle.
He started his music career as a gospel singer, quickly picking up the nickname “The Black Elvis” for his hairstyle and snappy dressing. 
Although Shane won one more than Troy with four, it was definitely Troy’s night as he overtook Slim Dusty and Lee Kernaghan in “the Golden Guitar Stakes”.
The Wolfe Brothers also scored well with Contemporary Album of the Year for Kids On Cassette and Group or Duo of the Year.
Organisers say Max caught the eye of judges “with a captivating performance of her songs Life Of The Party and Runnin'.”
The Silverline (pictured below) won Best Group or Duo, the first time this award has “changed hands” in more than a decade following the disbanding of perennial winners Brothers3.
Andy Penkow was named Most Promising Future Star.
This led to an audition, and eventual signing, with the now classic early pioneering record label Regal Zonophone. 
This year’s inductees into the Country Music Hands of Fame cornerstone in Tamworth have been announced.
In the Most Performed Country Work category, they are...
Three-time Golden Guitar nominee (including for this year) Jayne Denham will be joined by last year's People's Choice Country Music DJ of the Year Ray McCoy to handle compereing duties for the 2022 event.
Most recent successes have included the song Black Coffee And White Lines which garnered more than a million streams across all platforms in just four weeks.
There have been some casualties – like the Winton, Dolly and Yarabah events (and there may be more that we have not received advice on) – but it's looking a lot like the start of a return to normal.
In alphabetical order, guest artists, who are all Awards finalists, will be Benny Allen, Ian Burns, Cassidy-Rae, Tracy Coster, Justin Landers, Dianne Lindsay & Peter Simpson, The Long & Short Of It, Brendan McMahon, Andy Penkow, The Silverline and Willow.
The event will be headlined by Kasey Chambers, Travis Collins, Adam Harvey and The Wolfe Brothers with support from acts including Darlinghurst, Mick Harrington, Taylor Moss, The Strzelecki Stringbusters, Bob Wilson Barkindji Man and MC Ben Mastwyk.
For organiser and long-time Gippsland local Aidan McLaren, to see such support thrown behind the event for a second year in a row means something very special to everyone involved on working on the festival.
“I’m Wanita” – billed as “the story of ‘Australia’s Queen of Honky Tonk” – follows the “renegade” country music singer from Tamworth on a mission to record an album in Nashville and realise her lifelong dream of stardom before it’s too late.
"We are heartbroken at the news that singer/songwriter, Lismore resident Marge Graham is one of two women who lost their lives in the Lismore floods," said Country Music Co-ordinator with Tamworth Regional Council Cheryl Brown.
Sharon Heaslip (pictured) was named winner of the Female Vocal award with It’s Always The Son That Gets The Farm.
Country Music Capital's Northern Daily Leader reported... "Smoky Dawson – A Life" is a substantial update of Smoky's original autobiography released 36 years ago. The new publication is a fully illustrated, 368-page coffee table book that combines the original work with a new chapter: The Final Round-Up.
Tamworth will be the first show back on Friday March 4 in the Capitol Theatre with Armidale the following evening at the Armidale Bowling Club.
Stephen White appeal to government
Boyup Brook – known as the centre of country music in WA –is also a small regional town and with recent community spread of the coronavirus in Perth and neighbouring regional areas, it was considered the elevated risk posed by holding a large-scale event in the region was unacceptable.
Evelyn has been named a recipient of an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) while John will become a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).
Another new entry this week is the latest release from Brad Butcher, Storyteller – The Journey So Far (at number 3).
Keith Urban is at four and five, respectively, with The Speed Of Now Part 1 (down one from number three last week) and Ripcord (down from number two).
Comedy/Novelty Song was taken out by Terry Bennetts with Welcome To Australia and the Country Rock Song award went to Lily Grace (pictured at left) and Bella Mackenzie (right) for Sixteen Wishes which was also named Country Song of the Year.
Bob Kirchner, owner/operator of the Country Music Bulletin and Capital Country Radio, was presented with the TSA’s Tex Morton Award.
“We’re also pleased to announce the Toyota Busking Championships will be back in April," Barry said, "along with Toyota Fanzone stage which will kick off at 9am every day giving festival goers a chance to experience up close and personal performances from their favourite artists."
The program, which started on Thursday, the day before what would have been the official start to the major event, features artists including Catherine Britt (pictured), Darren Coggan (pictured), The Crosby Sisters, Collyn Crowhurst, Shyanne Irwin, Kathryn Jones, Guy Kachel, John Krsulja, Jamie Lindsay, Rae Moody, The Redneck Gentlemen, Loren Ryan, Mat Scullion, Andrew Swift, Sally-Anne Whitten & Alwyn Aurisch and Craig Woodward.
Their pre-game performance at 2.30pm (AEDT) will be followed by a second innings where the band will perform two of their biggest hits during the Tea Break at 7.40pm. The Test is a day/night game and will be telecast live around the world.
The decision, by key organiser Tamworth Regional Council, was made following a meeting of festival stakeholders which overwhelmingly endorsed the proposal.
“The instrument needed to be easily identified as Australian,” the spokesman said. “Several ideas were explored but in the end, the name Bunyip was chosen.
A companion to the Official Guide to the 2022 festival, the app allows users to stay up to date with any changes to listings made because of the impact of coronavirus restrictions.
Earlier this year, assets of the Foundation were passed to Tamworth Regional Council as a means of guaranteeing the Foundation’s significant archival collection.
With 14 tracks written or co-written with wife Ros, the album has bonus tracks Silence On The Line, Armstrong (Reg’s biggest hit) and a track Reg recorded in Nashville back in 1985 titled Bonham’s Last Ride which has never been released in Australia.
In making the announcement, Tamworth Regional Council said ever-increasing safety mitigation requirements and significant security risks associated with vehicle movements were the catalyst for the decision.
For Female Vocal... Tracy Coster (pictured) with The Man In The Colourful Suit, Sharon Heaslip with It’s Always the Son That Gets The Farm and Dianne Lindsay with Just Let Him Be.
Tamworth's Toyota Park program announced
Many well known names join a host of new and emerging writers among the semi finaists, including Terry Bennetts, Billy Bridge, Jim Brown, Lachlan Bryan, Ian Burns, Michael Carpenter, David Carter, Allan Caswell (pictured), Bill Chambers, Roger Corbett, Tracy Coster, Peter Denahy, Sam Hawksley, Jim Hermel, Virginia Hermel (pictured), Graeme Howie, Gina Jeffreys, Shelly Jones, Justin Landers, Michael Lehnen, Shaza Leigh, Stan Lenz, Keith Lethbridge, Thomas and Tessa Libreri, Ken Lindsay, Rod McCormack, Steve Newton, Andy Penkow, Kevin Pye, Ben Ransom, Graham Rodger, Peter Simpson, Kevin Sullivan, Lucie Tiger, Lindsay Waddington and Wendy Wood. 
Female Vocal – Sharon Heaslip (pictured) with A Country School (fellow finalists Dianne Lindsay with Graveyard Hill and Kylie Adams Collier with Camel Up Earlston Said.
The collectible 50 cent coin – which comes in two versions – features a gold-plated version of the Festival’s signature Golden Guitar.
It's been a big week for Troy Cassar-Daley following his domination yesterday of Golden Guitar Awards 2022 finalist nominees, quickly followed this evening with his naming as winner of the 2021 ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) Award for Best Country Album with The World Today.
Australia has a rich history when it comes to country music and our country scene continues to punch well above its weight when it comes to the quality and quantity of our great artists, producers of the two part series say.
He passed away surrounded by his family following a three-year tussle with the disease.
The Academy remains the only course of its kind in the world and provides students with opportunities they may not otherwise have, and numbers of students have increased for next year.
Students are travelling from as far away as Queensland and Victoria as well as from throughout NSW for the January 2022 course.
Established in 1997, the aim of the day is to provide breathing space to help members of the music industry get back on track when they have hit a tough patch or just need breathing space, according to organisers, Support Act.
The nationally recognised tourist attraction is closed to the public from today until this Saturday (October 9) in order for Tamworth Regional Council to undertake required maintenance work.
The first official celebration of World Guitar Day takes place this month, on Monday October 18.
Founder and Chief Executive Yorgos Foudoulis said: "
"We are especially looking forward to giving recognition to as many as possible as we lead up to the Awards presentation in January," said the Country Music Bulletin's Bob Kirchner, organiser of the event.
The Savannah in the Round festival, which will take place in Mareeba in the Cairns hinterland, will be headlined by James Blundell, Adam Brand, Busby Marou, John Butler, Casey Barnes, Troy Cassar-Daley, Beccy Cole, Graham Connors, Brad Cox, Lee Kernaghan, Sara Storer, John Williamson and The Wolfe Brothers.
ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd said while she would have preferred to have put on an in-person event this year, ARIA wasn’t willing to do things by halves, so taking it online was the right call.
The Awards will be staged at a COVID-safe outdoor format in the grounds of the former Adelaide Gaol now tourist attraction on Thursday November 18.
Instead, this year’s awardswill recognise the industry’s Best Artist.
Despite the challenges presented by the ongoing COVID pandemic, Matt is currently on his Challenge 21 tour in South Australia before heading to Groundwater Country Music Festival in November and Tamworth Country Music Festival in January.
Golden Guitar and ARIA Award and APRA Award winners Busby Marou will team up with Star Maker winner and four time Golden Guitar nominee Brad Cox for a double header at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre (TRECC) on January 19.
On his latest release, Michael introduces a new roll-call of characters and "new territory covered – musically and lyrically," according to a spokesman.
Person Of The Year will appear on Kristy’s seventh album (her first on Billy Blue Records), Shades of Blue.
Along with such contemporaries as John Hartford, Kris Kristofferson and Mickey Newbury, Tom helped usher in a literary era of country music in the early 1970s, with songs that were political, like Watergate Blues and The Monkey That Became President, deeply personal like The Year Clayton Delaney Died, and philosophical like (Old Dogs, Children and) Watermelon Wine.
At the time, Madden said he would regret the decision and added “mark my words, you are going to make it”.
Available on November 12, the music releases will include a limited edition "deluxe" four album set in two volumes, each volume also available for sale separately both as CD and via digital partners.
“Making music takes dedication, commitment, hard work and, a lot of time and money," Justin said. "That’s why I named this album Free Time And Money. These two major ingredients I needed to find to make this project a reality."
ABC Music & Events' Natalie Waller (pictured) is a finalist for the prestigious Jo Walker Meador International Award which recognises "outstanding achievement by an individual in advocating and supporting country music’s marketing development... outside the United States".
Other finalists are Jill Johnson (from Sweden), Brett Kissel (Canada) and The Shires (United Kingdom).
This is the first year for the Rob Potts (pictured) award which is named after the late Australian promoter recognised as a leading artist manager, promoter, CMA and CMAA (Country Music Association of Australia) Board member and advocate for country music.
Journalist and bush poet Dean Trevaskis has died, aged 53, from brain cancer which was diagnosed in November last year.
Tom’s twin brother Ted predeceased him in 2018. Co-incidentally, the brothers died on almost the same date – Tom on July 30, Ted on August 1.
In 1972, they signed with American Heritage Records, and in 1980 with Festival Records in Australia.
The Mildura Country Music Festival – renamed slightly as the Mildura-Wentworth Country Music Festival – returns in 2021 (Covid19 allowing) after a year or so in the wilderness.
David Storer said he was "thrilled" to be selected by Mildura Council to run the festival which he will do for the next three years.
