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NEWS ARCHIVES JULY 2007 TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2007 A big weekend coming up for Darwin A big weekend is coming up in Darwin in September with the announcement of a star-studded line-up for the 2007 Darwin City Muster and the first major event for the Jimmy Little Foundation raising funds for indigenous Territorians with kidney disease.
Troy Cassar-Daley, Beccy Cole (pictured), Sara Storer and John Williamson will headline the Muster with introductions by His Honour, The Administrator of the Northern Territory, Ted Egan. Billed as the premier family event on the Terrirtory country music calendar, fans will be able to meet all the stars direct from the stage throughout the evening in the merchandise tent. The Darwin City Muster is supported by Top Country 92.3FM, Channel 9, NT News, Darwin Airport Resort, Bridge Toyota and Lion Nathan. Weblink – www.citymuster.com.au. Rock The Foundation, in association with the Fred Hollows Foundation, will star The Angels, Ganggajang, Shellie Morris, the Party Boys, Screaming Jets and Jimmy Little himself. Jimmy (pictured) is proof that people can be productive when living with renal failure. He self-administered dialysis four times a day for two years before undergoing a kidney transplant and establishing The Jimmy Little Foundation, a not for profit charitable institution, to improve health care for kidney patients from regional and remote communities. Rock The Foundation is supported by Baxter, Channel 9, NT News, Darwin Airport Resort, The Fred Hollows Foundation & 105.7 ABC Darwin. Weblinks – www.jlf.org.au, www.hollows.org.au. Tamworth blitzes tourism awards scene Tamworth has had a number of wins in the 2007 Inland NSW Tourism Awards announced on Sunday night, including for the annual Tamworth Country Music Festival in the Festivals & Events category. Weblinks – www.inlandtourismawards.com.au, www.visittamworth.com.au. Tiffney is SA Champion of Champions Seventeen-year-old Tiffney Stroh of Mt Barker SA was awarded the South Australian Council for Country Music’s Senior Champion Award at the Champion of Champions at the Adelaide Country Music Club on Saturday (July 28). Tiffney won the title from a tough field of competitors – Wilbur Klein, Tracey Rains, Jodie Thomas, John Turner and Darin Warner. Tiffney also won the Senior Female title while Darin Warner took our the Senior Male title. Performing since 2004 has seen Tiffney travel thousands of kilometres throughout the eastern states in her quest to become a recognised performer in the country music genre gathering a swag of awardsalong the way including the 2005 S A and Victorian Junior Champion titles as well as wins at the Blue Lake, Dubbo, Parkes, Port Pirie and Tamworth festivals, She is also the current holder of NSW/ACT National Junior Champion. "Winning this award is the ultimate achievement in my home state," Tiffney said. "Thank you South Australia, thank you SACCM for giving me the acknowledgement and the opportunity to proudly represent you as your Champion." Tiffney said 2007 has been an amazing year for her with the formation of her own band (No Worries) and her return home after graduating from the Tamworth Camerata for the third consecutive year. In other results from the weekend, Natahsa Weatherill was named Junior Champion of Champions, also from a tough field – Mahalia Fox, Candy Latham, Molly Kneebone, Nathaniel O'Brien and Emily Zanker. Candy was named Junior 17 and Under winner while Nathaniel was named Junior 13 and Under winner. The Len Wakefiled Memorial Award was presented to Emily Zanker by Di Smith, President of the Adelaide Country Music Club. Photo (by Ian Fisk): Tiffney and Natasha with their Championship awards. Weblinks – www.saccm.com, www.tiffney.com.au. MONDAY, JULY 30, 2007 Celebrating seven successful years, the national Musicoz Awards have been launched for 2007 and a call has been made for entries.
“The Musicoz Awards give vital recognition, exposure and development opportunities to Australian artists who are finalists and winners at this event,” said a spokesman for the organisers. Artists are selected and judged by music industry representatives from major labels, independent labels, booking agents, artist managers and record producers. “Artists successfully entered into these Awards have the opportunity to win a selection of prizes valued at over $100,000 including recording deals, advertising packages, national TV performances, publishing and production deals and more,” the spokesman said. Artists wishing to enter one or more of 17 categories such as Country, Pop, Rock, Alternative and Acoustic Singer-Songwriter can enter online at www.musicoz.org. Entries close August 31. CMC Top 50 – Melinda at number one Melinda Schneider (pictured) has taken over the top spot on the CMC (Country Music Channel) Top 50 playlist this week with her current hit, the title track to her album Stronger.
American stars Sugarland, Taylor Swift and The Wreckers are at five, six and seven respectively, with Everyday America, Teardrops On My Guitar and My Oh My. The Sunny Cowgirls' number one from last week – Cuttin' Up B&S Style – is at number eight, James Blundell's Ring Around The Moon is down to nine while Big & Rich enter the top 10 at 10 with Lost In This Moment. Bullet performers this week include Troy Cassar-Daley with Everything's Going To Be Alright (15 to 11), Kasey Chambers' Sign On The Door (17 to 14), Travis Collins' Yeah She Does (new at 15), Jetty Road with Real Smooth Cowboy (27 to 24), Jayne Denham with Chick Ute (30 to 26), Aaron Bolton with Rockin' Up (48 to 41), Felicity Urquhart with No Mistakes (new at 42), Gemma Doyle with All I Want Tonight (new at 43), The Bobkatz with Sweet Water (new at 44) and Harmony James with Tailwind (new at 46). CMC's Country Pick for this week is the clip of That Changes Everything by Adam Brand (directed by Ross Wood), the fourth single from his album What A Life. The full playlist can be viewed at www.countrymusicchannel.com.au.
Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees announced
Cameron (pictured), who died last year, was known as "the grandfather of Celtic music in Canada". All of the inductions, and additional presentations of awards of achievement, will take place during Canadian Country Music Week which runs from September 7 to 10 in Regina, Saskatchewan.
Acts like Paul Brady, Glen Campbell, Kris Kristofferson (pictured), Christy Moore and the Waterboys topped the bill at the two-day event in the 160-acre Belvedere House estate in Mullingar. Mundy, Kila and the Blind Boys of Alabama also featured at the outdoor concert promoted as a family-focused event that included yoga, face-painting and storytelling activities for children. Ireland's only country music festival switched to Co Offaly this year after being held in the grounds of Ballinlough Castle Co Meath in 2006. – ireland.com
LeAnn Rimes will be honoured with a Humanitarian Award by the International Entertainment Buyers Association in October in Nashville. She is actively involved with the Children's Miracle Network, the Coalition to Salute American Heroes and numerous animal rights organisations. In related news, LeAnn's next album, Family, has been bumped to an October release date. The project was originally scheduled for August. – CMT.com SATURDAY, JULY 28, 2007 ABC Music has announced the signing of leading local artist Steve Forde. The announcement follows Steve's success with the single Spirit Of The Bush with Lee Kernaghan and Adam Brand which topped the ARIA Australian Singles Chart earlier this month. "When Steve started out, everyone in the business shut the door on him," said Robert Patterson, Head of ABC Music, "so he went out and created a career on his own. He financed his own albums, wrote his songs and even started building his own stages to perform on – stages which other leading acts now also use. "He's gone on to become one of Australia's leading live acts and is the most recognised personality on the Country Music Channel. He's also helped establish a number of festivals and has been acknowledged for introducing a younger demographic of fans to country music. "Most importantly though, the new music on this new self-titled release is of the highest quality and we look forward to working with Steve as he takes the next step in his recording career," Robert said. Steve teamed up with leading US producer Richard Landis for his latest album project. The producer's track record is impressive having produced high selling albums with the likes of American superstars Vince Gill, Neil Diamond, Kenny Rogers, Eddie Rabbit and Ronnie Milsap. ABC Music's distributor Warner Music Australia is also very excited about the upcoming project. "Steve Forde is a unique artist," said Ed St John, President & CEO the company, "one we believe has a huge future in this business. He has built a fan-base and touring business rarely seen in any genre of music in this country. Warner Music is committed to working with our partners at ABC Music to launch Steve in a major way this September." Originally from, and still based in, Grenfell in the central west of NSW, Steve is a farmer, musician, songwriter, entrepreneur, husband and father. "I'm really looking forward to working with ABC and Warner Music," Steve said. "They're a very professional team of people and I'm very excited about what the future holds." The first single from the new album, titled Metropolis, hits radio stations on August 11. His new self-titled album will be released on September 22. Weblink – www.steveforde.com.au. Queensland country music identity, singer/songwriter Keri McInerney (pictured) is organising a Jamm 4 Genes fundraising concert in Hervey Bay.
Keri has garnered the support of numerous business houses to run the concert which will star multi Golden Guitar finalist Michael O’Rourke (right) supported by artists including Keri and her band Tease, Jim Daniels, The George Davidson Band, The Grasscutters, Mark Nuske, Stevie T and more to be announced.
"Jamm 4 Genes Day is a fantastic concept," Keri said. "It allows musicians around the country to contribute to a really worthy cause sharing their musical talents with work for children research. "Hervey Bay is more than pleased to be involved in this very clever initiative. The concert is open to the public and people are encouraged to come along and have a great afternoon." Further information on bookings, sponsorship, donations and interviews can be directed to Keri by email – kerimcinerney@gmail.com – or by phoning 0407 155 993. From this week, we will be making available to the broader public, an entertainment guide compiled by Sydney broadcaster Barbara Morison. The guide is predominantly Sydney focused (Barbara's home market) but does extend to wider areas. Barbara, a member of the Australian Country Music Broadcasters' Hall of Fame, is the long-time host of "All Kinds Of Country" heard on Sydney’s 2SER-FM (107.3) every Saturday from 6am. Information in the guide is as supplied by artists, promoters and/or venues. Click here to download (pdf file). Reigning Toyota Star Maker Kirsty Lee Akers has released the video clip that accompanies Little Things, the first single from her 2007 Star Maker winning album. The single has been with radio for some weeks now, but the video clip, which is now with the Country Music Channel – www.countrymusicchannel.com.au – has only just been released. The single can also be purchased via iTunes. Little Things is also the title of Kirsty's forthcoming album which is due to be released next Saturday (August 4). This is the first time in the long and successful history of Toyota Star Maker that an album recording has been offered as a prize. Kirsty's record company – Compass Bros – believes Kirsty is a great talent and are excited about working with her on this album and into the future. The album was produced by Graham Thompson, Compass Bros Records' Managing Director, who also produced the hit single-producing album Ring Around The Moon for James Blundell, among many others. Weblink – www.kirstyleeakers.com.au. Lightning strikes Ragepage
"The last time I had a lightning strike, it took six weeks to get back online," she said. "Hopefully I will halve that downtime and the site could be operational again by this weekend, or at least in the next week." Luckily, insurance covered Helen’s costs in securing another computer, but she has had to purchase lots of "extras" that weren’t covered. Creating Tamworth Ragepage started out as a hobby for Helen who did a TAFE course on web design several years ago. The "hobby" has now become not only "a great read" for the average punter, but a promotional tool for artists and event organisers wanting to "get the word out". "I just would like those people visiting Ragepage to keep checking back as I hope to be on the air again really soon," Helen said. "And I want to thank everyone for their patience." Weblink – www.tamworthragepage.com. FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2007 Finalists announced in ASA Contest The Australian Songwriting Association (ASA) has announced the top 10 finalists in their 2007 Australian Songwriting Contest.
At least three other entries in other categories have country connections... Australian Spirit by Steve Passfield in the Australian category, Calling Your Name by Caitlin Harnett & Roger Corbett in the Ballad section and I Know I (Can Win) by Natalie Howard, Chris Pelcer & Brian Nash in the International category. Winners will be announced at the gala national awards night in Sydney on Thursday August 30. The Australian Songwriting Contest is highly respected within the music industry offering more than $25,000 in prizes. APRA (the Australasian Performing Right Association) and AMCOS (Australian Mechanical Copyright Owners' Society), have combined as major sponsor for 2007. The top 10 finalists in each category are recognised at the awards night. Tickets are in high demand as numbers are strictly limited. Bookings can be made by emailing name and required number of tiickets to asanationaloffice@bigpond.com. Tickets are $110 or $95 for members – meal and drinks included. Last year's winners of the Country category were Felicity Urquhart & Glen Hannah with The Flood, while runners-up were Michael O'Rourke & Glenda Hunt with The Hat. Weblink – www.asai.org.au. Debut album from Markus
Following the launch, Markus will be joining The Sunny Cowgirls for a three day country tour to Orange, Condoblin and Griffith in NSW. Raindance was produced by Garth Porter and is described as having "all the essentials to bring a new sound to country music". Weblink – www.markusmeiermusic.com. Australian country singer/songwriter Kerrigan La-Brooy has added another string to his bow by becoming published internationally. The book, a children's educational work titled "Caro The Talking Carrot Meets Wilma The Worm" is available at bookstores in soft or hard cover. The work is based on Caro a talking carrot, described as "an endearing character", an informative and educational storyline with a conscious emphasis on children’s health and well-being while simultaneously capturing the imagination of the child and bringing light-hearted entertainment to even the adult reader Weblink – www.kerriganlabrooy.com. Chart update – Tania tightens grip on number one Tania Kernaghan is at number one for the third week on the coming week of the Country Tracks National Top 30 Singles Chart with her hit Life Don't Get Much Better Than This.
Adam Brand's Can't Live Without Your Love is steady at five, Dianna Corcoran's Stepping Stone jumps two places to six while the Alison Krauss/John Waite duet Missing You hovers at seven. Casey Watt & Brendan Radford edge up one place to eight with If I Needed You while Harmony James' Tailwind enters the top 10 at nine and Paul Costa's A Lover's Question falls to number 10. Bullet performers this week include Amber Lawrence with Things That Bring Me Down (16 to 12), The Sunny Cowgirls with Cuttin' Up B&S Style (17 to 13), Lee Kernaghan, Adam Brand & Steve Forde with Spirit Of The Bush (22 to 16), Shea Fisher with Just The Excuse (29 to 25) and Donna Boyd with Angels Fly Close To The Ground (30 to 27). Two new entries this week... Woman On The Land by Graham Rodger (in at 29) and Nicki Gillis (pictured) with Remember Me (at 30). The Top 30 Countdown goes to air Sunday night on CMR (Country Music Radio) on the Super Radio Network. The full chart can be viewed at www.nfspublicity.com.au. THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2007 Tom signs with ABC Music Publishing Highly acclaimed country music artist and songwriter Tom Curtain has signed to the ABC Music Publishing roster.
Tom’s skill and potential as a gifted songwriter was recognised by his peers when he was awarded the prestigious APRA Professional Development Grant for Country Music in 2006. Heatwave, the second album from Tom in partnership with acclaimed producer and songwriter Garth Porter, has given country music audiences the single Born Out Here – a top 10 chart song which featured for many weeks in the CMC Top 30 Most Requested – and the latest single Chew Like Hell which, again, has proved to be a hit with audiences, radio and television alike, charting both on the Country Tracks Top 30 and as a music video on CMC. "Tom tells such great stories in his songs," says head of ABC Music Publishing Eloise Nolan. "Because he’s really out there and doing it, he has a genuine perspective on what life in regional Australia, on the land, is really like. Whether it’s songs about naming dogs or songs about surviving the great challenges those in rural regions face, Tom does it with humour, with insight and with understanding." "We’re really happy to have him on the roster alongside writers like Sara Storer, Beccy Cole, Travis Collins and Jonah’s Road." Having just completed the "New Stars of Country" tour and looking forward to appearing at the Toyota National Country Music Muster at Gympie this year, Tom Curtain continues to write and perform songs that go straight to the heartland of Australia. Weblink – www.tomcurtain.com.au. Clelia charts in Poland
Clel took a breather from that hectic schedule which saw her working two to four nights weekly and travelling for festival appearances. Earlier this year, she ventured overseas for a holiday, returning to her native Italy for the first time in years. "It was so good to get away but there is no place like home," Clelia said. "And I was only just recovering from jetlag when I started getting some amazing emails from overseas from radio stations playing my songs. Then this station in Poland puts four songs in their top 20 all at once. I was stoked." Poland’s Catholic Radio FIAT 94.7FM has posted Back In Baby’s Arms at number three; Settin’ The Woods On Fire at five; Cowboy’s Sweetheart at seven; and Half As Much at 10. Clelia is no stranger to the European market, having songs from Bring It On and Heartbeat Highway both receiving global chart interest and widespread airplay. Later this year, Clelia will revisit Stuie French’s Swinging Door studio in Sydney to record her next album and it’s going to be something quite special – a reflective look and celebration of the music that has shaped her career to date, as well as more Clelia originals. Weblink – www.cleliaadams.com. – Anna Rose WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 2007 Another week passes and the Wolverines report another $10,000 in the kitty from their Sail For Kids fund-raising tour.
Luck has also followed the band as they sail up the coast with the Wolves being named finalists in the 2007 "MO" Awards for Slim Dusty Country Performer/s of the Year. They are the only group among an impressive field including Adam Brand, Adam Harvey, Lee Kernaghan, Melinda Schneider and Felicity Urquhart. On fund-raising since the last report, money raised went to the Children's Ward at Nambour Hospital from the Caloundra Power Boat Club auction, the Hervey Bay Hospital Children's Ward from the Hervey Bay Boat Club stop, Jessie Olah from Joe's Waterhole, Eumundi, and Bundaberg Hospital's Children's Ward from Brothers Sports Club, Bundaberg. The Wolves still have gigs to run at Rockhampton's Great Western Hotel on Thursday night (July 26), Magpies Mackay on Friday (27th), Yaralla Sports Club, Gladstone (28th), Biloela Hotel (on the 29th), Bombay Rock, Townsville, next Thursday (August 2), Brothers Leagues, Cairns (3rd), Mareeba RSL (on the 4th) and Silkwood Hotel (on the 5th). Weblink – www.wolverines.com.au.
"If it seems like I'm shouting it out a lot... well, Karl said, "I'll take the liberty of excusing myself on that one." Why? "I intend to have a cracker of a night, I also intend to have special guests," he said. "Opening the night is my good pal Amali Ward. Besides having her grace my album with backing vocals, I don't feel right telling you where else you might've heard her name. I'll let it suffice that she's an incredible talent and a great gal. Perhaps have a wee google and read all about 'er. Weblink – www.karlbroadie.com. Good things happen in threes for Simply Bushed Sydney band Simply Bushed has had a busy and productive six months since the release of their current CD Beat’n Around The Bush.
Now, July has arrived with a bang, the band says, "and we are facing even bigger months ahead". First, Simply Bushed will be opening the Main Stage at the Toyota National Country Music Muster at Gympie in August, "a great opportunity for the band which has been plugging away for more than 15 years," said a spokesman. "Needless to say the lads can be found doing cartwheels down their respective main streets!!" Secondly, the new CD has been taken on by award winning country music distributors One Stop Country. "That means your local CD retailer can have it for you in a couple of days. Order up folks!" And to coincide with all of this, Simply Bushed has released their first film video clip for the single Cangi Bridge, produced by Duncan Toombs at Nacnud Media. The Clip has already received some play on CMC and has been hit hard on YouTube. The band has pinned Duncan down to shoot a follow-up clip for the next single – Dads Cruiser – in October. The current clip can be found on YouTube by entering "Cangi Bridge" or can be seen on the website www.simplybushed.com.au. "With a 2008 CD in the pipeline featuring the latest member of the band Chris Rieger and the increasing interest and exposure, it looks like Simply Bushed is having a good go at putting the bush back into Country," the band spokesman said. Major sponsor for Garden City Festival Paul Wilson, Director of the Garden City (Toowoomba, Qld) Junior Festival, has announced that a major sponsor has been secured for this year's event.
"I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge our major media sponsor - Toowoomba Country FM," Paul said. "This station has supported this event (and other CM events) in this region for many years and we are forever grateful." "We have secured the Oakey Showgrounds this year for camping," Paul said, "and on the Saturday night, we are holding a bush dance starring the Ridgy Didge Bush Band as well as trivia competitions. "Sunday sees our first ever 'judges breakfast' where judges will be available to answer questions from contestants and parent in a panel type situation. Then, the 2006 Overall Winner Lance Coassin will perform followed by the grand final concert which is always a showcase of amazing talent." The event is raising money for the Toowoomba Hospice. Further information can be obtained by contacting Paul on 0407 572 786. Peer Music Award for Jean Stafford
Organised by Peer Music South Pacific Managing Director Matthew Dunlevy and presented by one of Australia’s leading steel guitarists – Michel Rose – the plaque recognises the success of the much acclaimed single from Jean's latest album Let The Dance Begin’. Weblink – www.jeanstafford.com.au.
The line-up includes Donna Boyd, Stuie French & Camille Te Nahu, Nicki Gillis, Adam Harvey (pictured), Jim Haynes, Gina Jeffreys, Amber Lawrence and John Stephan plus "a special surprise guest". It will be held at the Campbelltown RSL from 2pm. Tickets, at $33 for adults and $11 for concession and children under 12, can be obtained by telephoning 02 4625 1408. Kel-Anne sings for the troops
It's also just been announced that Kel-Anne has been nominated in the 31st annual "Mo" Awards for the Female Vocal gong. She has been nominated in these, and numerous other awards, many times. Since 1997, Kel-Anne has recorded a promotional album, two EPs and a commercial album which featured a duet with new ARIA Hall of Famer Brian Cadd. In 2001, the single Somewhere Between Love And Leavin’ became a top 30 hit. In 2002, the video clip for the hit song launched Kel-Anne’s many performances on "Good Morning Australia" with Bert Newton. In 2003, another of Kel-Anne's recordings – Rodeo Eyes – became a top 10 hit on Australian national country charts and a top 30 hit on the Worldwide Mainstream Chart. In 2005, Kel-Anne signed a distribution deal with Statue Records in Los Angeles for the album I’m Into Something Good and a retail distribution deal throughout the USA. Photo: Kel-Anne performs with Army Band players in the Solomons. Internationally acclaimed singer/songwriter Mike Brady joins a celebrity cast when he hosts Nu Country TV this Saturday (July 28) at 8pm on C 31 in Victoria.
His episode also features an exclusive interview about recording his third album Country To Country in Nashville with expatriate Australian producer Mark Moffatt. Mark, former pedal steel guitarist for pioneer progressive Victorian country band Saltbush and member of pop chart toppers The Monitors, hired a Music City "a-team" cast to play on the Brady sessions. Expatriate Australasian publisher Barry Coburn – former manager of Saltbush – lured Mark to Nashville more than a decade ago as in-house producer for artists as diverse as fellow expat songwriter and latter day superstar Keith Urban and seven-times-wed country rocker Steve Earle’s sister Stacey. Mike revealed all about the making of the album in an interview with Nu Country TV producer David Dawson after his celebrity launch at a swish retreat on the 89th floor of the Eureka Tower on Southbank in Melbourne. The singer also performed cameos of live tunes to preview video clips of new singles Friendly Fire and Two Or Three For Me. Adam Brand, Steve Forde, Lee Kernaghan, Keith Urban and chart-topping US duo The Wreckers feature in Mike's hosted episode. He follows stars including Troy Cassar-Daley, Lee and Felicity Urquhart as hosts of Nu Country TV. The show, created in 2003, is also aired on C 31 in South Australia and the Family Television Network in New Zealand. Weblink – www.nucountry.com.au. Wayne performs at 30th annual Hodag Festival "It's one of the biggest festivals in the US and I was proud to appear there for my ninth time since 1989," said Wayne Horsburgh, award-wining Australian country music entertainer, of the massive Hodag Music Festival in America.
And these days, each yearly event draws nearly 45,000 visitors to the small, northern Wisconsin town of Rhinelander, Wayne said. "It really is an incredible experience to sing to such a huge crowd and be on the bill with so many of the new country acts and legends." The Festival runs for four hot July days. This year, Wayne performed on the Saturday, sharing the bill with Rodney Atkins, Neal McCoy, Gary Nichols, Kellie Pickler and Chris Young. Other 2007 performers at this year's Festival included Trace Adkins, Montgomery Gentry and Mickey Gilley. "A lot of young people were intrigued and enjoyed the yodeling songs I did," Wayne said. "It's something they just don't get to hear anymore these days and the reaction was really wonderful. They thought it was great." Continuing a winning pattern, Wayne will again visit America's Great Lakes region this month, this time to film a segment on MidWestCountry Theater in Sandstone, Minnesota. The performance will then be broadcast to the 35 million North American viewers of RFD-TV. TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2007
This follows last week's number one for the single of the same name – a collaboration with Adam Brand and Steve Forde – on the all Australian singles chart. Spirit Of The Bush – a testament to Lee's passion and dedication to the Australian bush with seven new recordings including his take on John Schumann's I Was Only 19 (A Day In The Green) and Peter Allen's iconic Tenterfield Saddler – is concurrently number one on ARIA's all Australian and Australian international country albums charts. All recording and publishing profits from the title track go to drought relief organisation Aussie Helpers. Weblink – www.leekernaghan.com.au.
The album is being officially launched in Sydney tomorrow night (Wednesday) and in Brisbane on Monday night. Described as "a luminous collection of 20 songs tracing Troy’s career" – Born To Survive features 20 tracks, 13 of which reached number one on the Country Tracks Top 30, many of them also securing accolades from ARIA Awards to Golden Guitars. Fresh out of the Seven & Prime Networks' series "It Takes Two" (Troy's second year on the show), the country star has included a track – Everything Is Going To Be Alright – co-written with Don Walker and recorded with his television co-stars David Campbell, Dave Gleeson, Wendy Matthews and Paulini. Weblink – www.troycassardaley.com.au. Hot newcomer to the Australian country music scene Kimber Sparks’ career continues to go from strength to strength.
The Awards recognise excellence in Queensland country music with winners determined by the World Alliance of Radio Presenters (WARP) and announced on August 3. Kimber also has chins wagging in US country music circles following her recent recording of two duets with America's Vern Gosdin. Prestigious country music magazine "Country Weekly" has just done a feature article about Kimber and her dream recording experience with the man they affectionately call "The Voice". Within the article, Vern is quoted as saying about their new version of his classic Chiseled In Stone: "If the good Lord has heard anything better than us singing that song, he’s keeping it to himself!" Kimber will also hit the studio soon with Bill Chambers to record her long awaited debut album which will include both Vern Gosdin duets, her current hit and previous singles Taking The You Out of Us and Go Get Em Girl. Weblink – www.kimbersparks.net. Compass Bros sign Rob Black Weblink – www.compassbrosrecords.com.au. Entries open for WA Country Music Awards Musicians, singers and songwriters are invited to enter in the 2008 West Australian Country Music Awards for the chance to share in $10,000 in cash and prizes.
A new category being introduced for the next Awards is Independent Album of the Year. Finalists will have the chance to perform in front of thousands of country music fans at the annual Boyup Brook Country Music Festival to be held in February. Entry forms are now available from the Boyup Brook Country Music Club, PO Box 103, Boyup Brook WA 6244, or telephone (08) 9765 1657 or download at www.countrymusicwa.com.au. Entries close on November 1. Photo: this year's Female and Male award winners Debbie Beckett and Michael Craig.
Nicki Gillis will perform on "Mornings with Kerrie-Anne" on the Nine Network today. The television performance is scheduled for 10.10am. Nicki's latest single – Leavin' You For Myself – spent eight weeks in the national top 30 singles chart reaching number seven. Weblink – www.nickigillis.com.au. MONDAY, JULY 23, 2007 Australian country star Travis Collins has returned to the airwaves with the first single from his highly anticipated new album No Boundaries.
Reaction to the track, which was serviced to country radio a little over a week ago, has been very encouraging, according to a spokesman for the artist. In addition to this, the video clip of the song debuted on CMC as its "Country Pick" at the weekend. "The very fun and quirky clip, directed by Golden Guitar winning producer Glenn Wilson, also features Sydney social pages regular Jamie Wright who was crowned "Miss Bondi Blonde" by Paris Hilton on New Years Day. Travis will return to Australia following his current UK tour and launch No Boundaries at the 2007 Toyota National Country Music Muster at Gynpie. He will then begin touring with James Blundell across Australia. No Boundaries, which will be released on August 18 through ABC Music/Warner Music Australia, features 12 new recordings – most written or co-written by Travis himself. Weblink – www.traviscollins.com.au. The Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) and AMCOS (Australian Mechanical Copyright Owners' Association) have joined with the NSW Government to jointly launch the 2008 Song Summit Sydney – a special conference, exhibition and showcase event designed to meet the creative, business development and networking needs of original music creators.
Singer/Songwriter and APRA Board Member Jenny Morris said the NSW Government’s generous financial support of Song Summit Sydney was "an appropriate investment in securing the future growth of this valuable sector". "Today, the value of the Australian music sector is estimated at around $7 billion," she said. "It is a significant contributor to Australia’s GDP (gross domestic product). "It is time for our music creators to have an event that will nurture and give momentum to their growth; that will recognise the value of their work and invest in it for the future." The Summit (or S3 as it is being referred to) will be held from April 3 to 5 next year at the Hordern Pavilion and Royal Hall of Industries in the former Sydney Showgrounds. It is aimed at gathering together "the full spectrum of the music industry – creators, managers, publishers, technicians, marketers, lawyers and deal makers – for three dynamic days of learning, networking, workshops and, of course, performances. "It will span all genres of music and each facet of the music life-cycle; from creation, through promotion to distribution. "So whether you’re just starting out or trying to get your music to the next level, S3 will provide you with crucial networking, educational, retail and cultural opportunities." Registration will open in September/October. Photo: Jenny Morris and Morris Iemma at Friday's launch of S3. Weblink – www.songsummit.com.au. Alison and Mark host Jamm 4 Genes in SA
Alison and Mark say have a huge roster of vocal and guitar students in Whyalla and some of these students will be making their stage debut at the Westland Shopping Centre Food Court Stage on Thursday night August 2 at 6pm. Weblinks – www.alisonhams.com, www.marktempany.com, www.jamm4genes.com.au. CMC Top 50 – The Sunny Cowgirls hit the top The Sunny Cowgirls (pictured) have hit the top of the CMC (Country Music Channel) Top 50 playlist this week with the clip of their hit Cuttin' Up B&S Style.
Melinda Schneider's Stronger jumps another two places to nunber five, Amber Lawrence is up three places to six with The Things That Bring Me Down while the Lee Kernaghan, Adam Brand and Steve Forde collaboration Spirit Of The Bush bounds into the top 10 at seven. Keith Urban moves back up two places to eight with I Told You So while Sugarland enters the top 10 at nine with Everyday America and Little Big Town drops to 10 with Bring It On Home To Me. Bullet performers this week include Troy Cassar-Daley with Everything's Going To Be Alright (22 to 15), Karl Broadie debuting at 29 with Sleepy Head and Casey Watt & Brendan Radford with I Needed You (new at 39). CMC's Country Pick for this week is Yeah She Does by Travis Collins. The full playlist can be viewed at www.countrymusicchannel.com.au.
Brad plans Australian invasion
The Celebrity singer has struggled to make his mark on audiences outside America but thinks more country stars should be heading to pal Keith Urban's native Australia – because that's the genre's next big stronghold. Brad says: "There are pockets of interest (outside America) and country doesn't really translate anywhere they don't speak English. Australia, I think, has the best potential: it's really like a floating Texas out in the ocean." – www.contactmusic.com
Garth Brooks has joined the lineup for a benefit concert to raise money for a Martin Luther King Jr memorial in Washington, DC. The September 18 show at New York's Radio City Music Hall will also feature Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds, Aretha Franklin, Queen Latifah, Carlos Santana and Stevie Wonder. Approximately $81 million has already been raised, but a total of $100 million is needed to complete the memorial. Set to be completed next year, it will be located on the National Mall between the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials. – CMT.com
Kasey's new bub arrives safely Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson have announced the birth of their son Arlo Ray – a brother for Talon. Arlo was born at 10.30am on Monday (July 16) weighing in at "a whopping" nine pounds 10 ounces (he was 10 days overdue). "All is good with the whole family," said Shane in a message on his website. Kasey has a bigger photo and message to fans on her website www.kaseychambers.com. First round of "MO" Award nominees announced
Nominees for the Slim Dusty Country Performer Award are Adam Brand, Adam Harvey (pictured), Lee Kernaghan, Melinda Schneider, Felicity Urquhart (pictured) and the Wolverines. "Country" people nominated in other categories include Joy McKean, Mary Schneider and Warren Williams for the Hall of Fame award, Kel-Anne Brandt for the Female Vocal Award, Bob Howe for the Instrumental or Vocal Instrumental Award, "From Tamworth To Tennessee" for the Production Show Award and lerading country venue Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Club (Sydney) for the Best Venue Award. Winners will be announced August 28 at the Bankstown Sports Club, also in Sydney. Weblink – www.moawards.org.au.
Nicole, who holds the honour of being Hollywood's current best-paid actress, moved from third into second place in the list after her earnings increased from $22.3 million in 2005 to $35 million. Keith's bumper year increased his earnings from $20 million to $26 million, putting him at number five. The Wiggles top the list again this year with earnings of $50 million while Hugh Jackman ($30 million) is in third place and Kylie Minogue ($27 million) is in fourth position. Weblink – www. brw.com.au, www.keithurban.net. Daryl's "Australian Showcase" a winner in Nashville Daryl Kirkup's "Australian Showcase" – an on-line radio program service emanating from Nashville – has come in at number one in the latest program ratings.
"I am absolutely humbled and very proud," Daryl (pictured) said when he received the news. "I was extremely honoured when I was chosen to host and produce a new radio program that promotes our country music industry to the world and to have it accepted and respected as much as it has been is an absolute thrill." "Australian Showcase" is a weekly two-hour program broadcast around the world every Thursday afternoon from 12noon (UK time) and repeated every Sunday morning from 6am (UK time). The show, which promotes solely the Australian country music industry,features special segments such as "Around the Campfire" (weekly artist interview), "Hot Hit of the Week", the latest industry news, a special profile segment, "Artist Double Play" and a look at the Country Tracks Top 30 Chart as well as showcasing the best in Australian country music. Daryl produces the show each week in his own studio facility in Brisbane and sends the finished program across to the CMR Nashville London studios for global broadcast. A big supporter of country music in Australia, he continues to host his local country music program "Urban Country" from 8pm every Wednesday on 101.5FM in Caboolture and is busy managing his voiceover and production business, VoicePro as well as MCing an increasing number of concerts and events. Weblink – www.cmrnashville.net/schedule.php. Chart update – Tania still at the top Tania Kernaghan (pictured) is at number one for the second week on the coming week's Country Tracks National Top 30 Singles Chart with her hit Life Don't Get Much Better Than This.
Adam Brand's Can't Live Without Your Love edges up one more place to five, Paul Costa's A Lover's Question slips to number six and Alison Krauss & John Waite are up one place to seven with Missing You. Dianna Corcoran bounds into the top 10 at number eight with Stepping Stones, as do Casey Watt & Brendan Radford with If I Needed You at nine while Keith Urban's I Told You So drops to number 10. Bullet performers this week include Harmony James' Tailwind (14 to 11), Amber Lawrence with Things That Bring Me Down (20 to 16), The Sunny Cowgirls with Cuttin' Up B&S Style (22 to 17) andLee Kernaghan, Adam Brand & Steve Forde with Spirit Of The Bush (debuting at 22). The only other new entry to the chart this week is Donna Boyd with Angels Fly Close To The Ground (in at 30). The Top 30 Countdown goes to air Sunday night on CMR (Country Music Radio) on the Super Radio Network. The full chart can be viewed at www.nfspublicity.com.au. THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2007 Frank inducted into Hall of Fame
Host of the iconic Australian music television program "Bandstand" Brian Henderson came out of retirement to perform the induction of the Australian and international country star. Also inducted on the night were Brian Cadd, Marcia Hines, the Hoodoo Gurus, Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons and Radio Birdman. Music industry legend John Woodruff was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Brian Henderson (left) pictured with Frank following the induction. Melinda's "Stronger" tour hits NSW In recent months, Melinda has been back overseas, taking 35 Australian country music fans to the CMA Music Festival plus writing songs and even sneaking in the odd special live performance. Jacqui releases debut recording
The Toyota Star Maker grand finalist and 2007 TIARAs finalist says she is ready for her "moment in time". Produced by Randal Terrens and Duncan Wood, the collaboration "has captured the vocal quality that is the essence of Jacqui Ryan". "Recording my EP was a wonderful experience," Jacqui said. "It allowed me the opportunity to grow as an artist and opened my eyes to the whole recording process." Jacqui’s debut single (due for release in August) from the EP is Unlucky in Love, co-written with Merelyn and David Carter. Weblink – www.myspace.com/jacquiryanmusic.
All ticket purchasers during the tour, which ends at Wagga Wagga on Sunday August 5, get an entry in the competition which will provide a place for two people on the 2008 Tamworth Country Music Express with tickets to the Golden Guitar Awards and Toyota Star Maker grand final. Value of the prize is $5,500. WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, 2007 Organisers are hoping for a large crowd to support the Big Country Jamm – the special country music concert being staged in Sydney on August 2 as part of the Jamm 4 Genes Day fund-raising campaign.
Special appearances will also be made by country music legends Smoky Dawson and Frank Ifield. Tickets available from the venue, Canterbuty-Hurlstone Park RSL Club. Country acts are also featuring in shows at The Gaelic Theatre in Surry Hills (Sydney), NSW, on Saturday August 4 (Glenn Shorrock & friends, including Adam Harvey)... a Country Spectacular at the Wesley Hall, Gympie, Qld, also on Saturday, August 4... Cletis Carr & Friends at the Bald Rock Hotel, Rozelle (Sydney), NSW, on Sunday, August 5... Merchants of Menace and Wendy Lloyd Curley at the Welcome Hotel, Rozelle (Sydney), NSW, on Saturday August 4... and Bec Lavelle & Friends at First Floor, Kingston, ACT on Sunday August 5. More information can be found here. New release for Leaping Lizards The Leaping Lizard Bush Band has a new album out titled There To Here – 23 years!
"The album says much about the Band’s endurance and commitment to a single cause – Australia’s 'historical roots' music," said a spokesman. "Truly one of this country's leading ambassador bands and multiple National Bushband title holders, the music of the Leaping Lizards has been one of the first stops on the road to Australian cultural experience to greet tens of thousands of business and overseas visitors to Queensland over the past 20 plus years. "The 14 album tracks were recorded live and stand testament to the experienced and very talented musos – Ron Dimmick, Pete Lawson, Donna Reynolds and 'Rabbit' Robinson." Weblink – www.leapinglizardsbushband.com. Program announced for Mittagong Country Stampede Mittagong RSL in the NSW Southern Highlands has announced the program for the inaugural Mittagong Country Music Stampede to be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 7, 8 and 9. The event will feature a country music talent quest with more than $4,000 in prizes, with Felicity Urquhart (pictured) lined up to to adjudicate and perform at the final.
Darren Coggan will star on the Friday night with the talent quest to kick off on Saturday morning at 10 with the final (featuring Felicity) scheduled for 4pm. The club will be utilising several performance areas with Dianna Corcoran scheduled toappear at 12noon, Shane Flew at 4, Cowpoke at 7.30 and Mark Lucas & The Dead Setters at 8. Cowpoke will launch their new CD – Big Red Ute – during their performance. Weblink – www.mittagongrsl.com.au. A new international release for Casey
The song has been getting airplay in countries such as Denmark, Norway, Germany, Japan, France, Poland, New Zealand and Belgium as well as Australia. And the latest news from Casey is that the track made it into the Joyce Ramgatie Top 40 International Country Music Chart – a chart compiled and launched from the Netherlands – at number 19. "Thank you to all of the presenters around the world who are playing my song," Casey said. Weblink – www.caseywatt.com. Sail For Kids update – more than $10,000 raised Ten days into the Sail for Kids Tour and the Wolverines auctions have already raised more than $10,000 for children’s’ charities.
Port Macquarie Panthers auction proceeds went to the oncology section of the children's ward at the base hospital. Coffs Harbour supported the children’s ward at the campus hospital while at Pine Rivers, funds went to Smile For A Child. Southport RSL benefited Little Souls–Children with Autism while the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia raised money for the Youth Sailing Academy. Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club in Newport benefitted Stewart House and Gosford RSL the children’s Wward at Gosford Hospital. "We'd like to send a big thankyou," the boys said, "to our major sponsor Southern Cross Ten, also Ocean & Earth for the travel packs for each of the auctions, the venues and the audiences who have been so generous and supportive." Weblink – www.wolverines.com.au. Ten new speakers announced for music conference
They are... George Ash – CEO of Universal Music... Vivian Lees – Partner, Big Day Out/Creative Festival Entertainment... Jason Nealon – VP Business Development Warner Music... Katie Noonan – musician (George and solo)... Nikki Murrell – Telstra Bigpond Music General Manager... Ben Liebmann – VP Licensing for Fremantle Media (former Warner Music & Vodafone)... Scott Hochgesang – Director of Digital Media XYZ Network (Max, Channel V V2, CMC)... Paul Cashmere – Undercover Music & Rirrakay... Craig New – Director of Out With The New merchandising ... and Hayley Wilson – Director of Marketing Roadrunner Records. Organisers have announced that the Friday and Saturday lunch periods at the Conference will have a special one hour "Music 101" session chaired by Billboard Magazine AustralAsian Bureau Chief Christie Eliezer and a record company A&R exec, publisher, booking agent and manager informally answering music business strategy questions from the audience. Weblink – www.immedia.com.au/ambc.
Willie Nelson will be honoured by the American royalty company BMI in Nashville in November.
Willie certainly fits the bill. Before he became a star in the '70s, his songs were hits for Patsy Cline (Crazy), Ray Price (Night Life), Billy Walker (Funny How Time Slips Away) and Faron Young (Hello Walls). With pal Waylon Jennings, he was part of country music's "outlaw" movement that opposed the conventions of Nashville's Music Row. He incorporated rock, pop, jazz, folk and blues into his music, used unconventional phrasing as a singer and developed a distinct, Latin-flavored guitar style. He's widely credited with helping influence the new traditionalist and alternative country movements of the '80s and '90s. At 74, Willie remains a prolific performer and recording artist. Earlier this year, he released Last of the Breed with Merle Haggard and Ray Price. He put out two albums in 2006: You Don't Know Me: The Songs of Cindy Walker and the Ryan Adams-produced Songbird, which had him covering songs by the Grateful Dead, Leonard Cohen and Fleetwood Mac. Previous winners of BMI's icon award include Haggard, Dolly Parton, Whisperin' Bill Anderson, Charlie Daniels, Loretta Lynn, the Bee Gees, Isaac Hayes, Ray Davies, James Brown and Crosby, Stills & Nash. BMI represents more than 300,000 songwriters, composers and publishers in all genres of music. – Washington Post October release for Carrie's new album Carrie Underwood's new album is officially set for release on October 23, it was announced on Monday. The title is still to be determined for the project and recording sessions are still underway with producer Mark Bright who produced seven tracks on Carrie's 2005 debut album, Some Hearts. Having co-written one song that album, the new release is expected to showcase more of Carrie's songwriting. Released after she won the American Idol competition, Some Hearts has sold almost six million copies. It has sold more than a million copies since January to remain the best-selling country album so far in 2007. – CMT.com TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2007 Qld Gold Medallion finalists announced Finalists have been announced for the 2007 Queensland Gold Medallion Awards to be staged at Toowoomba in August.
For Male Vocalist of the Year... Arthur Blanch, Troy Cassar-Daley, Graeme Connors, Tom Curtain and Lee Kernaghan. For Female Vocalist of the Year... Nellie Donovan, Laura Downing, Tania Kernaghan, Shaza Leigh and Casey Watt. For New Talent of the Year... The Bobkatz, Rose Carleo, Sarah McMonagle and Kimber Sparks. For Musician of the Year... Michael Fix and Lindsay Waddington. For Bush Balladeer of the Year... Jeff Brown, Ashley Cook, Dean Perrett Anita Ree and Graham Rodger. For Touring Artist of the Year... Terry Gordon, Lee Kernaghan, Tania Kernaghan, Shaza Leigh and Graham Rodger. For Songwriter of the Year... Keith Jamieson, Shaza Leigh, Anita Ree, Graham Rodger and Ray Rose. The Awards, presented the World Alliance for Radio Presenters (WARP) will be held at the Toowoomba City Golf Club Toowoomba on Friday, August 3. Photo: last year's winners at these Awards (from left): Lindsay Waddington, Nellie Donovan, Shaza Leigh and Noel Parlane. Weblink – www.digitalmusiccentre.com.au. Caitlin wins Telstra Road to Tamworth Penrith heat Tamworth Camerata graduate Caitlin Harnett has taken out the Penrith, NSW, heat of the Telstra Road to Tamworth talent search.
Industry professionals Tim Holland, Manager Country Music Label ABC Music, Noel McDonald, presenter Cool Country Radio, Rob Potts, CEO Entertainment Edge and Cherie Baldock, Sponsorship Manager Telstra, were present at the Penrith heat to judge the 12 contestants. Seventeen-year-old Caitlin began her musical career at age three when she would sing to anyone passing by the front yard. Currently completing Year 12 at Bede Polding College in South Windsor NSW, she enjoys singing in the school choir and performing in musical theatre. A self taught guitarist and avid songwriter, Caitlin impressed the 300-strong crowd with her unique rendition of Turn Out The Light by Felicity Urquhart and a self-penned track Into The Blue which she co-wrote with Roger Corbett. "Thanks so much to the organisers for giving young people this opportunity," Caitlin said after bounding on to stage to collect her heat winning prize. "It is an awesome competition and I am so excited to have won." "The Telstra Road to Tamworth offers an unbelievable career start for aspiring artists and provides a fantastic pool of prizes," said competition Ambassador Adam Harvey. "Opportunities like this don’t present themselves every day. It's every aspiring artist's dream to record an album and perform at Nashville and thanks to Telstra, we are travelling the country to find the next Australian country music star." Entries are now open for heats to be held at Shepparton, Vic, on Sunday August 5, Darwin, NT, Saturday August 11, Bairnsdale, Vic, Saturday August 18 and Shellharbour, NSW, on Saturday September 1. Weblink – www.beinvolved.telstra.com/countrymusic. Organisers of the Undara Country Rock & Blues Festival in Far North Queensland are inviting applications from performers who would like to appear at the event in 2008. Performers should contact Festival Co-ordinator Keri McInerney to obtain festival application forms on 0407 155 993, by emailing kerimcinerney@gmail.com or by normal post to KMM Music Australia, Undara Festival Applications, 1 Royal Drive, Scarness, Qld 4655.
Organisers were pleased with the 2007 inaugral event held in May when more than 250 people witnessed the birth of Far North Queensland’s newest festival at the Undara Experience in the State's Gulf Savannah. The line up of Australian and internationally acclaimed artists from all over the country played virtually non-stop under the sails of the Fettler’s Iron Pot Bistro including multi-award winning country/blues guitarists Ross Williams, Michael O’Rourke and Michael Fix, bands the Hipshooters and Tease and the Wolverines. Undara Experience is developing a reputation as "the Outback Event Specialists" with such activities as the annual Opera in the Outback held in October and now the new Country Rock & Blues Festival. "We want to use high quality events as an early springboard into the tourist season" said a spokesman for The Undara Experience, "and to create amazing events in an incredible outback location. With the number of people attending and positive feedback of everyone spoken to, (the new festival) can now be considered for next year and as a second annual event for Undara Experience and the Gulf Savannah." Photo (from left): Michael O'Rourke (left) with the Undara Experience's Marketing Manager Marcus Brady during this year's inaugural Country Rock & Blues Festival. Weblink – www.undara.com.au. MONDAY, JULY 16, 2007 Nominations open for the Deadly Awards Nominations for the Deadly Awards, which celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievement in music, sport, entertainment and the arts, health, education and community leadership, are now open.
The eligibility period is July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007. "The past 12 months have seen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people accomplishing some truly amazing things," said a spokesman for the Awards. "Now’s your chance to show them how proud you are by nominating your favourite achievers for indigenous Australia’s greatest accolade – a Deadly Award." In music, Awards categories are Most Promising New Talent, Single Release of the Year, Album Release of the Year, Band of the Year, Artist of the Year and the Jimmy Little Lifetime Achievement Award for Contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Music. In associated categories, awards are also presented for Outstanding Achievement in Entertainment and Broadcaster of the Year. Award winners will be announced on Thursday, September 27. Bryen signs to Planet
Known for their diverse and eclectic catalogue, Planet, as soon as they heard Bryen’s debut album Too Cold At Home, immediately knew they had to add him to their distribution arm, Graeme said. "Bryen’s album is under the Leap Records banner and The Planet Company looks forward to working alongside this small but determined label." Bryen’s musical interest was sparked only after settling down in Australia, having moved from his Louisiana home with wife Karen some time ago. An Australian citizen for a number of years now, his musical influences are of "bayou" heritage with an Australian flavour. Too Cold At Home, produced by Gary Brown and Les Scott, is described as "a brilliant collection of self-penned tunes and a treasure trove of country covers". The latest single from the album, a follow-up to Honky-Tonk Song, is Deep Down I’m Shallow. Evidence of Bryen’s potential has been his recent top 20 finalist nomination in the UniSong International Songwriting Competition with co-writer Tim Costello with the song Deep Down I’m Shallow. Too Cold At Home will be available through The Planet Company in early August. Weblink – www.bryenwillems.com. Lynette stars at the Hall of Fame Lynette Guest, the latest addition to LBS Studios' Wall of Honour, will be special guest at the Australian Country Music Hall of Fame's "Country In The Courtyard" tonight. The evening's entertainment kicks off at 6.30pm, and although the name says "Courtyard" during the cooler winter months, the special night moves indoor. As well as Lynette, a number of walk up guest artists will also be featured and visitors get the opportunity to support fund-raising for the new Hall of Fame building. Weblink – www.countrymusichalloffame.com.au. Ex-patriate Aussie Matt Ellis, originally from Sydney and now based in California, returns to Australian shores this month to officially launch his third album Tell The People.
Since releasing his debut album Peel in late 2000, Matt has, more recently, been developing his career internationally. Peel sat in the ninemsn.com top 10 for six weeks whle his website at the time recorded an average of 10,000 hits per week. The self-produced music video for the title track went to air on country music television, MTV, Rage and Network Ten’s Ground Zero. The track was also added to rotation in South East Asia but was soon banned after outraged viewers called in to complain that the clip, featuring Matt driving around Sydney blindfolded, incited reckless driving. The banning prompted an invitation from Channel [V] Asia for Matt to be interviewed and perform live at the station. Some months later, the second clip, for The Cause, received similar exposure both locally and overseas. In 2004, Matt released his self-titled album to a similar widespread positive response. Tell The People will be released in Australia this Thursday, July 19. Weblink – www.mattellis.org. CMC Top 50 – James makes number one James Blundell (pictured) has taken over the top spot on the CMC (Country Music Channel) Top 50 playlist this week with his clip of Ring Around The Moon.
Rascal Flatts drops one place to five with Stand, Little Big Town are at six with Bring It On Home To Me and Melinda Schneider's Stronger jumps to seven. Gina Jeffreys' Stepped Right In It is down to eight, Amber Lawrence's The Things That Bring Me Down enters the top 10 at number nine and Keith Urban's I Told You So falls one more place to number 10. Just out of the top 10 are The McClymonts with Baby's Gone Home at 11 and Dianna Corcoran with Stepping Stones at 12. Bullet performers this week include Lee Kernaghan, Adam Brand and Steve Forde with Spirit Of The Bush (16 to 13), Troy Cassar-Daley with Everything's Going To Be Alright (new at 22), Tom Curtain's Chew Like Hell (37 to 34) and Danny Hooper's Every Reason (46 to 40). New entries to the playlist this week include Aaron Bolton with Rockin' Up (new at 50). The full playlist can be viewed at www.countrymusicchannel.com.au. SATURDAY, JULY 14, 2007 Entries have opened for the 11th annual TIARAs (Tamworth Independent Artist Recognition Awards) to be announced in January.
Categories for the 2008 Awards are Male Vocal, Female Vocal, Group, Bush Ballad, the Barry Thornton Memorial Instrumental Award, Vocal Collaboration, Duo, the Gentleman Geoff Brown Memorial Award and the Michael Cowdroy Memorial Songwriting Award. Entries close at 5pm on October 26. Adam Brand returns to perform at Quakers Hill, Sydney, this weekend, a venue he played in 1998 before breaking into the big time. There was only a handful of people at that show. In January the following year, Adam hit Tamworth performing a whole raft of free shows and picked up three Golden Guitar Awards from his first nominations. And the rest, as they say, is history. When Adam returned to Quakers Hill the same year, there was standing room only. And organisers are expecting a repeat of that when he returns again to "where it all started" when he plays the Quakers Inn at Quakers Hill tonight at 9.30. To round out his Sydney weekend, Adam will also be appearing at the Gearin Hotel, Katoomba, tomorrow afternoon (Sunday) from 5 o'clock. Weblink – www.adambrand.com.au. Last week, in a little country town called Mascot, Sydney, Amber Lawrence officially launched her debut album The Mile.The venue was packed and the beer was flowing and those that attended could have been mistaken for thinking that they were in a pub in the bush, rather than The Newmarket Hotel in the heart of the city, but no-one heard the planes overhead as Amber captivated her fans, media and fellow musicians alike, playing tracks from the new album.
"There are those of us in this room that already know Amber Lawrence and then there are those of us in this room that wish they knew Amber Lawrence," Said Jim, bush poet and country music legend. Since the announcement of her signing with MRA Entertainment, the release of the first single – Things That Bring Me Down (now bulleting up the charts) and now the album, Amber has been the talk of the town. "The Mile is an exceptional debut album that showcases Amber’s natural talent as an insightful singer and songwriter," said a spokesman for MRA. "All 12 tracks on the The Mile were written or co-written by Amber and the album was produced by Rod and Jeff McCormack." Pictured at the album launch: Amber with Tim Holland from ABC Music (left) and Tim Daley from CMC (Country Music Channel). Weblink – www.amberlawrence.com.au. Tom "on the road" again The new album follows the successful Ray Rose tribute album Sing Me Another Bush Ballad. Tom is no stranger to the road life these days spending several months each year travelling in most States and the Northern Territory before returning to his home base of Tamworth. It has been several years since Tom released his first road album and fans have been crying out for him to release another collection of crowd favourites from his live show. Volume two includes a number of "all-time classics" and a couple of original bush ballads written by Ben Jacobs & Shaza Leigh – Born & Bred In The Northern Territory and The Style Of Their Hat. Weblink – www.tommaxwell.com.au. New album on the way from Craig Craig Giles' 12th album – Heart Of Australia – will be released at the 2007 Mildura Country Music Festival in September.
"Modern technology has made it possible to re-record these songs and make them sound even better than they originally were." They are Rusty Memories, Rodeo Queen, Daddy Clown, Heart Of Australia and Together As One, "A Tribute To The Vietnam Vets”. Another inclusion which was co-written by the same writing trio is Fair Dinkum Aussie which was only ever available on the Sno-Cap compilation album. Picture On The Mantle was co-written by Vietnam veteran Reg Meffert along with Craig and Roz and was only previously available on a limited edition EP for the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan. There are also three new original songs on the album... A Bushman’s Last Lament and When Am I Going Home written by Gold Guitar winner Wayne Cotter and He Rides Alone by singer/songwriter Sharon Benjamin. Craig joined forces with the Gentle Giant of Country Music Reg Poole and had a lot of fun with the Joy McKean composition Indian Pacific on the new album. The final three songs are the classics Blue Heeler, This Land Is Your Land and You Can Never Do Wrong In A Mother’s Eyes. Weblink – www.craigiles.com. FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2007 In what must be a first for country music in Australia, brother and sister Lee and Tania Kernaghan currently hold the number one position on two of Australia's major singles charts. Tania has taken over the number one spot on the Country Tracks National Top 30 with her hit Life Don't Get Much Better Than This while Lee has debuted at number one on this week's ARIA Australian Singles Chart with Spirit Of The Bush. Tania’s hit is her first number one single in six years. Goin’ Bush was the last in 2001 – and this is her first as an independent artist. "I am absolutely stoked that Life Don’t Get Much Better Than This has hit number one off the back of the successful video clip," Tania said. "It really doesn’t get much better than this!" It’s also great news for the writer of the song – Fiona Kernaghan - who has just arrived back in Australia to start writing with Tania for her follow up album to Higher Ground.
Lee's song is a collaboration with fellow country stars Adam Brand and Steve Forde and is a dedication to the people of regional and rural Australia. Photo: Adam, Lee and Steve on a recent publicity round promoting the single with John Laws. Weblinks – www.aria.com.au, www.leekernaghan.com.au, www.taniakernaghan.com.au, www.adambrand.com.au, www.steveforde.com.au.
Tickets are available from www.moshtix.com.au. Following Tania Kernaghan's number one on the coming week's Country Tracks National Top 30 Singles Chart, Life Don't Get Much Better Than This, is Carrie Underwood's Wasted at number two and Keith Urban's number one from last week, I Told You So, at number three.
The Alison Krauss/John Waite duet Missing You is at number eight, Tim McGraw's Last Dollar (Fly Away) is down to nine and Gretchen Wilson's Come To Bed falls to number 10. Bullet performers this week include Dianna Corcoran with Stepping Stones (16 to 12), Casey Watt & Brendan Radford with If I Needed You (17 to 13), Harmony James' Tailwind (18 to 14) and The Sunny Cowgirls with Cuttin' Up B&S Style (25 to 22). New entries to the chart this week include Shea Fisher (pictured) with Just The Excuse (in at 30). The Top 30 Countdown goes to air Sunday night on CMR (Country Music Radio) on the Super Radio Network. The full chart can be viewed at www.nfspublicity.com.au. THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2007 Troy Cassar-Daley will release a "best of" album titled Born To Survive next week.
Born To Survive is described as "a luminous collection of 20 songs, tracing Troy's career from his first major label recording Dream Out Loud to his new single Everything Is Going To Be Alright". Thirteen of the 20 songs reached number one on the Country Tracks National Top 30 Singles Chart and many of them secured accolades from ARIA Awards to Golden Guitars. Troy's memorable duets are on the album, including those with Jimmy Barnes (Bird On A Wire) to Paul Kelly (I Wish I Was A Train) and Slim Dusty (The Biggest Disappointment). To celebrate the release of Born To Survive, Troy will be performing at The Factory Theatre in Sydney and Tivoli in Brisbane to launch the collection. Tickets are available from www.ticketek.com.au. Weblink – www.troycassardaley.com.au. Top five hit for Natalie in America Weblink – www.nataliehoward.net. When A Cowboy Gets The Blues is the second solo single for Steve Eales.
Steve's solo debut, Girls On Horses, was a CMC and radio hit and the new single is predicted to be a strong follow-up. His eagerly awaited solo album, The Battler, has just been released through his own record label, Wild Country Records. "The album showcases Steve Eales at his very best – not only his weather beaten honey vocal but his attention to lyrics and music and the ability to tell Australian stories with the right amount of emotion or that cheeky demeanor unique to Ealesy," said a spokesman for the artist. Weblink – www.steveeales.com.au. WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2007 Better deal for artists ordered by Copyright Tribunal Australian recording artists and record labels will receive a better deal when their music is played in nightclubs and at dance parties following a decision handed down yesterday in the Copyright Tribunal. The Tribunal has approved an application by the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA) for an increase in music licence fees paid to artists and record labels by dedicated nightclub venues and commercially organised dance parties.
The decision follows a two week long case before the Tribunal (headed by a Federal Court judge) which heard expert economic evidence on the value of the licensed music played in nightclubs and at dance parties. The Tribunal found: "The object of the tribunal in approving the proposed scheme is to fix upon a licence fee that can be regarded, as nearly as it is possible to estimate, on the basis of the evidence… as the fair market price for the privilege of playing the recorded music in respect of which (PPCA) is able to grant a licence. If it be the fact that the market rate is 30 times the rate that has hitherto been charged... that is no reason why it should not now charge that rate." Responding to the decision, PPCA Board member and Mondo Rock musician Paul Christie said: "An increase in these tariffs is long overdue and will help compensate artists who create the product which is the foundation of the nightclub and dance party industries. Artists are entitled to a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work and this will go some way towards compensating us for our creative output." Former drummer for the Go-Betweens and PPCA Board member Lindy Morrison said: "When we lose a musician in Australia the public grieves. It reminds us that many of our recording artists have very little finance to fall back on as they grow older. In my experience the community recognises that musicians have been given a poor deal and that’s why these tariffs are important. Music bestows a cultural bond between us all and artists should be valued for this." PPCA Chief Executive Stephen Peach said the decision was a pleasing step forward and endorsed PPCA’s argument that recording artists and labels deserved a fairer return. "The music is the key to attracting patrons and driving revenue in these venues. The Tribunal has recognised its important role and accepted our evidence in support of a rate rise. "This is a modest increase when considering nightclub operators typically charge $10 per person for admission, $5 for a drink, $2.80 for a bottle of water and $2 to hang up a coat," he said. "The recorded works of artists and their recording companies have been undervalued in many areas for far too long," said John O'Donnell, Chairman of the PPCA Board. "This decision goes some way to addressing that and is very much welcomed by the artist community and record labels." The new rates will not affect community events, weddings or family functions. Weblink – www.ppca.com.au. A full copy of the judgment can be seen at www.fedcourt.gov.au/aboutct/aboutct_admin_other_ct.html. Finalists have been announced in the 2007 Q Song Awards.
In the Blues and Roots category, finalists are Mason Rack (Mason Rack & Steve Balbi) with Dust, Asa Broomhall with Driving Back To You, Shane Murray with How Did I Get Here? and The McMenamins (Fleur & Simon McMenamin) with How It Is. Winners will be announced at the The Tivoli, Brisbane, on Tuesday, August 14. Hosted by Richard Fidler from ABC 612 and Caroline Tran from Triple J’s Home & Hosed Program, the Awards night is described as a celebration of Queensland music not to be missed. Weblink – www.qsong.com.au. Lynette inducted to Wall of Honour Country Music Capital’s Lynette Guest was inducted to the Australian Country Music Wall of Honour during last weekend's Hats Off to Country Festival. Weblink – www.lbsmusic.com.au/wallofhonour.htm. Tourism Tamworth, co-ordinators and promoters of the annual Hats Off to Country festival in Country Music Capital, have heralded the four days "a fantastic success with all reports showing the Festival is continuing to grow in popularity". Australia, world's seventh largest music market
Figures released last week by IFPI show that the USA is the world's biggest music market, followed by Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Canada. Rounding out the top 10 in the list following Australia are Italy, Spain and Mexico. IFPI said on digital value alone, the Australian market ranked number 10. The US leads, followed by Japan, the UK, South Korea, France, Germany, Canada, China and Italy. Weblink – www.ifpi.org.
Saxophone legend Boots Randolph dies Boots Randolph, Nashville’s most celebrated saxophonist and a member of the city’s vaunted "A-Team" of session musicians, died last week (July 3) after suffering a subdural hematoma the week before. He was 80.
As singular as his work as a sideman was, however, he was best known for his 1963 hit Yakety Sax, a juking instrumental inspired by King Curtis’ saxophone solo on the Coasters’ 1958 R&B smash Yakety Yak. Written with guitarist James "Spider" Rich, Boots' record later became the theme song of the long-running British comedy "The Benny Hill Show". Boots invoked rural imagery to describe his playing, routinely joking from the stage that he was "the world’s only hillbilly saxophonist". Ironically, it was his gift for improvisation and command of dynamics in genres ranging from jazz to blues that in many ways stood out most. "The sax is a loud, blare-y instrument," said A-Teamer Bob Moore. "But Boots had a way of playing something that would fit with the style and the mood of the song. Whatever he came up with was always outstanding." Brenda Lee, discussing Boots' swinging solo on her 1960 hit Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree, said: "I don’t care who has recorded that song since, they all copied him." From his salacious wailing on Elvis’ 1960 recording of Reconsider Baby to the staccato riff he played on Roy Orbison’s Oh, Pretty Woman, Boots Randolph’s contributions indeed were inimitable. Born in Paducah, Kentucky, in 1927, Boots grew up playing ukulele and trombone in his family’s band which supplemented their household income with public performances during the Depression. He didn’t take up the saxophone until he was in high school. He worked in nightclubs in Indiana and Illinois for a decade after serving in the Army during World War II. His big break came after he sent a tape of Yakety Sax to Chet Atkins, then the head of RCA Records in Nashville. Chet liked what he heard and hired Boots to do session work for such artists as Perry Como and Homer & Jethro. – TwangtownUSA.com Faith and Tim celebrate 10 years The marriage of Faith Hill and Tim McGraw wasn't just a celebrity match made in heaven. It was a concert promoter's dream date. Ten years after a spring tour together led to an autumn wedding, country music's powerhouse pair hit the road last summer for the inaugural "Soul 2 Soul" tour, a blockbuster run whose $88 million gross made it the year's third-highest grossing show – and the biggest country trek of all time.
As the highest-profile parents in country music, the duo certainly draw ample attention in the celebrity press, much of it focused on the couple's life with three young daughters. The daily calendar can be frantic these days, especially during the nine months when school schedules share equal billing with studio sessions and promo appearances. "I look forward to getting on the road to get some rest," Tim jokes. He may not be entirely kidding. The exercise-obsessed star now hits the road with a traveling gym, a semitrailer that folds out into a full-fledged fitness center complete with a sauna and basketball hoop. Between the weights and the pickup ball games, Tim reckons he works out up to five hours a day while on tour. For all the magazine covers and gossip-page chatter, he still knows where his paycheck – and passion – comes from. He's a musical perfectionist at heart, continuously logging notes as he looks to raise his own standards. It's a mentality that propelled him from just-another-singer-with-a-hat in 1993 to the top of the country kingdom in 2007, and he's confident the future has only more musical adventure in store. "We always think we can get better every album. We try to get better every album," he says. "I certainly think that I'm only 30 percent as good as I can be or want to be. But that's what keeps me motivated: wanting to keep getting better all the time." – Detroit Free Press TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2007 Felicity signs to Mushroom Other recent awards and accolades have included Best Female Vocalist at the 2007 Australian Country Music People's Choice Awards, Best Country Artist 2006 Musicoz Awards, Independent Entertainer of the Year at the Country Music Achiever Awards, Female Vocalist, Album and Single of the Year at the Australian Independent CM Awards. Weblink – www.felicityurquhart.com. South Australian based artists John O'Dea and Dave Prior have been on the road together recently doing a number of gigs across their home State and Victoria, including a recent trip to Noble Park with stops along the way at Border Town and Millicent.
"It’s an interesting road trip," Dave said, "with John in the passenger seat balling his eyes out and me in the driver’s seat laughing my head off!" Along the way, the boys stopped at Colac and caught up with Kevin "Bloody" Wilson who was playing to a packed house at the RSL Club. Kev and his crew reciprocated by turning up to the Noble Park RSL Club to see their show. "Kev said it was a fantastic show," says Dave, "but not near enough swearing!" Most recently, the duo played to a full house in Orroroo, John’s home town, and then on to Parachilna and the famous Prairie Hotel. "A great gathering of station people turned up for the show and a BIG night was had by all... the last wandering off at about 5am," the boys said. John will be releasing his new single Parachilna Sunset shortly, hot on the heels of the top 10 success of Old Rusty Ute. And Dave is releasing his new live comedy album Big Fat Bastards Like Me at the end of this month. John and Dave say they are looking forward to their next tour which will becalled "Will Travel for Money" (and not much apparently!). Photo: John (left) and Dave (right) when they caught up with Kevin "Bloody" Wilson. Tammy wins Telstra Road to Tamworth Townsville heat Tammy Moxon has won the Townsville heat of the Telstra Road to Tamworth talent search held at Rupertswood Horse Club on Saturday night. Overall grand final winner of the competition wins "an album deal" with ABC Music in a prize package worth tens of thousands of dollars. Weblink – www.beinvolved.telstra.com/countrymusic. Jeanette releases new radio single Jeanette Wormald has released a new radio single, Pukulpa Days. Weblink – www.jeanettewormald.com.au. The annual Variety Bash celebrates a year of fundraising from Sunday August 5 when dedicated Variety "Bashers" drive their decorated pre-1970 cars through country areas to support isolated and special needs kids.
The Bash is about putting the "fun" back into fundraising, according to a spokesman for the organisers, "with fantastic theme days and pranks" but themain goal remains – raising as much money as possible for Australia’s special needs children. The 2006 Variety Bash raised more than $1.7million net, and this year’s Bash is expected to exceed this amount to allow Variety to help even more children in need. Variety, The Children’s Charity, is dedicated to improving the quality of life of special needs children. Kids in need directly benefit from the services and special equipment provided by Variety including wheelchairs, modified tricycles, musical equipment, sports programs, special needs children’s camps, Sunshine Coaches, Braille typewriters, walkers, the innovative Liberty Wheelchair Swings and, more recently, the Variety Show of Hearts Scholarship Fund. Last year alone, Variety granted more than $3 million in appeals across NSW. Highlights: $834,000 for wheelchairs, $566,000 for hospital and retrieval equipment for neonates and children, 14 Liberty Swings, nine Sunshine Coaches and 17 Show of Hearts Scholarships. The Bash is an integral part of Variety’s fundraising efforts. Weblink – www.varietyaustralia.org.au. MONDAY, JULY 9, 2007 Redlands Bluegrass kicks off this Thursday
"What sets Bluegrass Parkway apart from other bluegrass bands is the priority they have placed on presenting bluegrass music in its most authentic form. Since early 1994, Bluegrass Parkway have performed around a single microphone, as was the norm for the pioneers of the genre in the 1940s. Tickets for the concert can be obtained from www.judithwrightcentre.com.au or by phone, 07 3872 9000. Weblink – www.redlandscountry.asn.au. Melanie and Kris – overall winners at Tamworth
Melanie won the Juvenile Overall Winner title while Kris won the Junior Overall Winner crown. The pair took out the prizes from around 50 competitors from all parts of Australia and New Zealand. Mitchell King was named winner of the Winners Concert Overall Best Performance prize which, when added to the fact it was his birthday, made Saturday a special day for the now 18 year old. All three key winners were graduates of this year's Tamworth Camerata junior school of country music. Part of Kris' win is a scholarship to Camerata 2008. Weblink – www.ccma.net.au. CMC Top 50 – The Sunny Cowgirls hit the top The Sunny Cowgirls have taken over the number one spot on the CMC (Country Music Channel) Top 50 playlist this week with the clip of their song Cuttin' Up B&S Style.
Gina Jeffreys' Stepped Right In It drops one place to number five while The McClymonts are steady at six with Baby's Gone Home and Shea Fisher's Just The Excuse bounds into the top 10 at seven. America's Little Big Town are at eight with Bring It On Home To Me, Keith Urban's I Told You So slips one place to nine while Melinda Schneider's Stronger enters the top 10 at 10. Bullet performers this week include Amber Lawrence with The Things That Bring Me Down (16 to 11), Lee Kernaghan's Spirit Of The Bush (19 to 16), Jetty Road's Real Smooth Cowboy (34 to 31) and Kimber Sparks' Somewhere Between (43 to 39). The full playlist can be viewed at www.countrymusicchannel.com.au. FRIDAY, JULY 6, 2007 Slim video set for DVD release EMI has announced that the Slim Dusty Live Into The '90s video will be released in August on DVD under the title One Night In May.
One of the reasons for their popularity could be that through the 60 years the Slim Dusty road show toured the length and breadth of Australia, only three entire public concert performances had been located. "With the upcoming One Night In May DVD release... we now see all three of these known filmed Slim concerts being made commercially available in a remastered DVD format," EMI said. "The only other two known concerts were made available in 2006 as a part of the Slim Dusty Live set (the 1987 Richmond Theatre Concert and the 1992 Geelong Arts Centre Concert)." The One Night In May concert was filmed at Sydney's Global Studios in May, 1992, and features the McKean Sisters, Anne Kirkpatrick, David Kirkpatrick and Slim's highly acclaimed '90s Travelling Country Band line-up featuring the multi-talented Rod Coe, Alistair Jones, Mike Kerin, Ian Simpson and Rob Souter. "The concert footage and audio have been specially remastered for this new DVD release," EMI said. "At the time of the concert, Slim insisted there had to be some exclusive songs... and, apart from the six live performances not featured on any other Slim concert DVD, there are also three tracks totally exclusive to this special One Night in May concert." The exclusive tracks are That'll Do Me (written by Slim), High, Dry And Homeless (written by Graeme Connors & Don Walker) and I'm Still Here To Give It My Best (written by Col Buchanan). Slim Dusty One Night In May will be released on August 4. Weblnks – www.musichead.com, www.slimdusty.com.au. New Zealand country star Aly Cook leaves this Saturday July 7 to travel around the globe to the Halogaland Country Music Festival in Norway where she has been asked to perform.
Also performing at the festival will be Rockabilly Hall of fame and two times Grammy nominee Wanda Jackson, Keith Austin (Dr Hook), American artists Rayburn Anthony, Penny Dale and Kasey Landsdale, Sweden's High-Jacks and Mike & The Strangers and the home grown (Norwegian) Big River, Kai Finstad, Stef Nevers and Kenneth Weines. Aly will be backed at the festival, which runs from July 19 to 21 at Grytoy, by Big River from Norway. Meanwhile, Aly (pictured) has been recognised for her community work... Aly is a co-organiser of a Wine, Food and Art Festival called Taste Tasman, which won the 2007 Trustpower Supreme Award for the Nelson Tasman Region. Weblink – www.alycook.com. The 2007 Hats Off To Country Festival continues today in Tamworth, Australia's Country Music Capital. Main event for today is the Capital Country Music Association (CCMA) Winter Junior Talent Quest being staged at the Family Hotel function room which continues tomorrow. Organisers report another excellent response with the number of entries this year exceeding last year's total. Doors open daily at 8.30am. Tickets at the door. The talent quest grand final winners concert will follow the annoucement of winners from 2.30pm. Weblink – www.tourismtamworth.com.au. Chart update – Keith still at number one Keith Urban is number one on the Country Tracks National Top 30 Singles Chart this week for the third week with his current hit I Told You So.
Tim McGraw's Last Dollar (Fly Away) drops back to five, as does James Blundell's Higher Than Heaven to six while Adam Brand's Can't Live Without Your Love jumps to seven. Melinda Schneider's Stronger zooms into he top 10 at eight, Gretchen Wilson's Come To Bed is steady at nine and Dierks Bentley's Every Mile A Memory falls to number 10. With four American acts in the top 10 during the last couple of weeks this has been the strongest showing of high charting foreign acts for some time. Bullet performers this week include Gina Jeffreys' Stepped Right In It (15 to 12), Amber Lawrence with Things That Bring Me Down (29 to 26) and Anne Kirkpatrick with One Of A Kind (30 to 27). New entries to the chart this week include Dean Perrett with Return Of The Stockman (in at 29) and Arthur Blanch (pictured) with When Your Rock Turns To Stone (in at 30). The Top 30 Countdown goes to air Sunday night on CMR (Country Music Radio) on the Super Radio Network. The full chart can be viewed at www.nfspublicity.com.au. THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2007 Twenty-one aspiring country music stars have been in Country Music Capital this week taking part in the Tamworth Camerata junior school of country music.
The graduates are pictured at right. Click on the photo for a larger image. (Photo by Terry Phillpot). The school curriculum includes specific instrument training and activities like visits to the Australian Country Music Hall of Fame to gain an understanding of Australia's country music heritage. Camerata 2007 comes to a conclusion tonight with a graduation concert at the West Tamworth League Club. Course tutors included David and Merelyn of Carter & Carter and Jim Haynes who oversaw activity of students' parents who are invited each year to get involved in the learning process. Students came from all over Australia and New Zealand... five from NSW, two from New Zealand, seven from Queensland, two from South Australia and five from Victoria. Ages ranged from 12 to 18 (and an average age of 16). After this year, there will be 105 graduates who have participated since the school commenced six years ago. "Tamworth Camerata is recognised as a vital stepping stone in the learning process for young people seriously interested in a country music career," said co-Founder Greg Williams. Underwritten from inception by The Pub Group, Tamworth, Camerata continues to gather support from numerous scholarship awarders and local and national business sponsors who "adopt" a student and follow their progress during and after Camerata. Weblink – www.thepub.com.au/camerata. WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2007 Grenfell Spirit of the Bush tops 19,000 More than 19,000 country music fans turned the central NSW town of Grenfell into a country music mecca on Saturday for the second Spirit of the Bush concert.
Following Saturday’s event, Premier Iemma thanked all involved saying, "It's a testament to the strength of the musical line up that Lee has organised that this concert is such a success." At the concert, Lee released the single The Spirit of the Bush with almost 3,000 copies selling on site with 100 percent of profits going to Aussie Helpers, a team of volunteers headed up by Brian and Nerida Egan who assist Australian farming communities that have been hit hard by the drought. Saturday’s line-up included Adam Brand, Wesley Carr, Diesel, Shea Fisher, Steve Forde, The McClymonts, Leo Sayer and, of course, Lee. After the concert, Lee spoke on air with ABC Radio's “Saturday Night Country” broadcaster John Nutting, announcing the next Spirit of the Bush concert would be in Roma, Western Queensland, later this year. Lee’s new Spirit Of The Bush album is set for national release through ABC/Warner on July 14. Photo: Lee (second from left) with NSW Premier Morris Iemma (right), Brian Egan (left) and Leo Sayer. More info – www.leekernaghan.com.au. Mark wins first Telstra Road to Tamworth 2008 heat
Harrigan’s at the Hunter Valley Gardens was the venue for Saturday's heat with ABC Radio Newcastle presenter Madeleine Randall, Rob Potts, CEO of country music promotion company Entertainment Edge, and Greg Swain, National Sponsorship Manager, Telstra, acting as judges. Entries have now closed for the next two heats in Townsville, Qld, this Saturday (July 7) and Penrith, NSW, on Saturday July 14. Entries are now open for heats to be held in Rockhampton, Qld, on Sunday July 22, Launceston, Tas, on Friday, July 27, Shepparton, Vic, on Sunday August 5, Darwin, NT, on Saturday August 11 and Bairnsdale, Vic, on Saturday August 18. Weblink – www.beinvolved.telstra.com/countrymusic. Country Music Capital's mid year country music festival Hats Off To Country starts tomorrow.
The city's regular country music attractions like the Australian Country Music Hall of Fame, Big Golden Guitar Tourist Centre (including Country Music Gallery of Stars Wax Museum) and Walk A Country Mile interpretive centre are open, some extended hours. And this year a Country Art 4 Cancer Black & White Ball will be held on Saturday night at the Tamworth Regional Art Gallery in Peel Street. A copy of the official program for the 2007 Hats Off to Country Festival or further information about proceedings over the four-days, can be obtained from Tourism Tamworth on 02 6767 5300. Weblink – www.visittamworth.com.au. Butlers' "one big show" for Hats Off
2007 Roll of Renown recipient Lindsay Butler and 2007 TSA Gospel Song of the Year winner Shaza Leigh will "open the studio" and present their touring show with their band The Butler Boys featuring Lindsay Waddington and versatile musical duo aqa. Special guest artists for the concert will include the legendary Brian Young, leading young bush balladeer Ashley Cook, country ladies Lynette Guest and Melissa Bajric and new talent Lana Ross. A mid year inductee on to the museum's Wall of Honour will take place during the weekend. Connie releases in America
Weblink – www.conniekisandersen.com.au. Broken Hill, NSW, artist Stephen Rowe has returned home this week to launch a new single and record a new duet with Tania Kernaghan.
The duet with Tania – Lets Fall In Love Again – was co-written by Stephen and Tania's sister Fiona. It will be released later this year. Stephen says it was an easy decision to choose Tania as his female singing partner on the song as Tania had been a champion for Stephen and his music from day one. It was Tania who invited a then unknown Stephen to feature on the recording of her smash hit Yee Ha! and in front of the 20,000 plus crowd in Tamworth at Bicentennial Park in January to perform the song. It’s been a hectic six months for Stephen who released his debut album Broken Hill in February with the title track reaching 27 on the Country Music Channel Top 50. He also recently performed to rave reviews at the world famous Los Angeles music venue The Mint (along with ARIA Award winner Tyrone Noonan, Fiona Kernaghan and Brooke Beyan. Stephen has also had a full front page feature in the "Barrier Miner" newspaper in Broken Hill and has just been named a winner in BLU FM’s Dog Song Competition for his track Don’t Kick My Dog. Weblink – www.brokenhillboy.com. APRA distributes almost $50 million in royalties Christie Eleizer reports in his weekly column at themusic.com.au that non-profit music creators society the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) distributed almost $50 million in domestic (Australia and New Zealand) royalties.
This is an increase of 13.8 percent over the amount received for the equivalent period in 2005. APRA|AMCOS CEO Brett Cottle said: "Our distribution data reflects an encouraging trend amongst music users and audiences to prefer original homegrown music. Our music creators clearly hold their own, despite tough overseas competition." Weblink – www.apra.com.au.
Not only does this mark George's 55th number one, it is also the third single to hit number one from his 34th studio album It Just Comes Natural. The success of Wrapped is the latest in a string of accolades from George's current album. The first single off the project, Give It Away, went to the top of the country singles chart in just 13 weeks, making it the fastest rising single of his career. The song also recently received two Academy of Country Music Awards for Song of the Year and Single Record of the Year. The album's title track also reached number one on the charts. Though George already held the record for solo number one singles, his 55th notch ties Conway Twitty's record which includes his number one duets with Loretta Lynn. Since his debut in 1981, George has put together scores of hits that have earned him millions of fans worldwide and the unanimous respect of the critics. Weblink – www.georgestrait.com. – AllAboutCountry.com Music industry hopes for, yet fears, iPhone effect The music industry has long hoped mobile phones will help turn around weak music sales, but music executives privately fear the most obvious contender, the iPhone, may give too much clout to Apple Inc in shaping the future of the fledgling mobile music market.
Some executives say the iPhone could speed up that trend after the device's US launch last Friday, if the much wider base of consumers who own cell phones see the phone as a music machine. "It is going to change the way people think about their mobile from being a fringe portable entertainment device to everyone recognizing that this is a really desirable mainstream device," said Barney Wragg, global head of digital for EMI Group's recorded music unit, the world's third-largest record company. That view is tempered by concerns over Apple's increasing power base in digital music sales, which rose more than 50 percent in the first quarter, according to Nielsen Soundscan. The total US music market slimmed to about $11.5 billion in 2006, according to music trade body Recording Industry Association of America. "Ironically, the iPhone comes at a time when the music industry would like to see a stronger player other than Apple," says Michael Gartenberg, analyst at JupiterResearch. Apple's iTunes Music Store, which sells only digital music on line, has risen to third place among music retailers overall with around 10 percent of sales in the United States, behind Wal-Mart Stores and Best Buy Co, according to NPD Group. The company's iPod device also accounts for nearly 80 percent of the market for digital music players. "But the real question is whether their competitors will be able to capitalise and offer improved service offerings that challenge Apple," Gartenberg said. Mobile handset makers and their network operator partners have been investing heavily in the music space. But many users still don't see their phone as a music device for anything beyond choosing ringtones. JupiterResearch estimates that US consumers will own nearly 28 million music playing phones by the end of 2007. But it expects that "only a modest percentage of consumers will actually listen to music on their phones." The iPhone, which will be carried exclusively in the United States by AT&T (and no forecast date for Australia) for at least two years, will work like the iPod, syncing digital songs and video via the iTunes application on a desktop-based personal computer. Photo (apple.com): customers cue at the recent launch of iPhone in America. – YahooNews.com. MONDAY, JULY 2, 2007 Graeme Connors continues on "the road less travelled" to the ACT, NSW, Queensland and Victoria this month on his "It’s All Good" to promote his critically acclaimed 14th album of the same name.
In some two hours of listening, the new album includes tracks, in addition to the title track, like Louisa and definitive songs A Little Further North, Cyclone Season, Let The Cane Fields Burn, You’re Getting To Me and Sicilian Born To the Stage, along with Songs From The Homeland, The Great Australian Dream and The Ringer and The Princess from Graeme’s extensive catalogue of classic hits. The country star has toured extensively with his band since the album launch, performing to sell out shows with "great reviews"... “So gifted is he at waxing lyrical, I felt each song was connected to my own experiences," said Sonia Ball from the Bush Telegraph: "he’s a mixture of talents and connection, the voice, the works, the personality and humbleness... good value, good time." Graeme counts 12 Golden Guitars, one platinum and three gold albums, MO, APRA, ARIA, PPCA awards and a Galaxy of Stars induction in Tamworth in 2006 among his many accolades. Weblink (including tour dates and details) – www.graemeconnors.com. CMC Top 50 – Dierks hits number one America's Dierks Bentley (pictured) hits number one on the CMC (Country Music Channel) Top 50 playlist this week with the clip of his song Long Trip Alone.
James Blundell's Ring Around The Moon is at five, The McClymonts are down to six with Baby's Gone Home and Adam Brand is steady again at seven with Can't Live Without Your Love. Keith Urban holds on to number eight with eight with I Told You So while Tania Kernaghan's Life Don't Get Much Better Than This drops to nine and Faith Hill is steady at 10 with Lucky One. Bullet performers this week include Melinda Schneider with Stronger (17 to 13), Amber Lawrence with The Things That Bring Me Down (20 to 16), Lee Kernaghan's Spirit Of The Bush (debuting at 19), Kasey Chambers' Sign On The Door (25 to 22), The Greencards' Waiting On The Night (31 to 26) and Jetty Road with Real Smooth Cowboy. The full playlist can be viewed at www.countrymusicchannel.com.au. ©Copyright 2007, ICMB Publishing | |||||||||||||||
The City Muster will be staged on Saturday, September 15 from 7pm while Jimmy's Rock The Foundation will be staged the following day from 5pm, both activities at the George Brown Botanic Gardens Amphitheatre.
The Festival now receives automatic entry into the broader NSW state tourism awards with finalists announced after Monday October 8 with winners to be announced at a gala awards ceremony on Thursday November 15. 
The Association also unveiled a virtual Hall of Fame at 
In the Country Top 10, finalists (in alphabetical order by song) are Angels Fly Close To The Ground by Donna Boyd, David Carter & Merelyn Carter, Birnam Fare by Michael Pavlich, Close The Door by Casey Watt, Drinkin' And Women by Neil Andrews, Heartbeat Waltz by Mark Lucas, Night Divine by Jared Haschek, Nobody Waltzes No More by Norman Connor, One More Dance by Donna Boyd & David Carter, She's The One by Danny Hooper and Waiting On Lonely by Ronni Rae Rivers.
Hot new rising star Markus Meier will launch his debut album – Raindance – on Saturday night (July 28) through Shock Records.
Gina Jeffreys' Stepped Right In It jumps two more places to number two while Melinda Schneider's Stronger edges up one place to three and America's Carrie Underwood is down to number four with Wasted.
Based in Queensland (and a renowned horse-breaker by day!), Tom has been unstoppable since first hitting the scene with his Garth Porter produced debut CD Smack Bang! which had its title track up as number one on the country charts with virtually every single released from the album also charting in various top 10 positions.
Four songs from Clelia’s Heartbeat Highway album have debuted in the top 20 of a chart in Poland, despite the singer taking a well-earned break this year from actively touring and performing. "I decided late last year I needed a break, and this was the year for me to do it," she said.
"Seventeen days into the tour and so far our auctions have raised $20,000 for Children’s Charities," say Chris, Darcy and John.
Martin Fallon Cavalier Homes – a locally-based building company – is the new sponsor and the event will now bear their name.
At the recent Brisbane Steel Guitar Convention, more than 200 fans attended from Tasmania, NSW, the Northern Territory, Western Australia, Queensland, New Zealand and Thailand, as well as many local based musicians, for the concert and the Hall of Fame awards.
Campbelltown (Sydney) community radio station 2MCR is staging a star-studded fundraiser show for the Leukaemia Foundation this Sunday, July 29.
Kel-Anne was invited to be involved by the Forces Advisory Council on Entertainment (FACE) and travelled with fellow entertainers Brielle, Bev Killick and The Screaming Jets.
Mike, described as an altruistic benefactor of many worthy causes, volunteered to helm the show that is repeated at 6.30am on Monday and 2am on Thursday.
The Hodag Festival – now in its 30th year 
Following her latest chart hit, Somewhere Between, Kimber has just been named a finalist in the 2007 Gold Medallion Awards for Best New Talent alongside fellow rising stars The BobKatz, Rose Carleo and Sarah McMonangle.
Entries are now open for the Awards in eight separate categories covering juniors, seniors, individuals and bands.
The single – titled Yeah She Does – was written by global superstar Keith Urban and Hugh Murray. 
Speaking at the launch in Sydney on Friday, NSW Premier Morris Iemma said he was pleased the Government was able to support the APRA|AMCOS initiative "to establish the Song Summit Sydney as an international standard showcase for one of our most important industries".
Alison Hams and Mark Tempany are joining with "the kids of Whyalla" to support Jeans for Genes – a major fundraiser for the Children's Medical Research Institute – by hosting their own Jamm 4 Genes event in South Australia.
The first round of nominees in the 2007 "MO" Awards have been announced.
Husband and wife Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman are both listed among the 10 top Australian entertainment earners in this week's issue of BRW magazine.
Carrie Underwood is steady at number two with Wasted while Melinda Schneider's Stronger jumps another two places to three and Gina Jeffreys' Stepped Right In It rises another three places to number four.
Frank Ifield was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame at a special function in Melbourne last night.
Starring on the bill (in alphabetical order) are James Blundell, Karl Broadie, Beccy Cole, Morgan Evans, Nicki Gillis, Adam Harvey, Jim Haynes, Jonah's Road, Nick Kingswell, Drew McAlister, The McClymonts, Stacey Morris, Jake Nickolai and Nik Phillips.
The limited edition Wolverines prints have proved very popular with some unsuccessful bidders even following the concerts up the coast in search of a win!
As more than 400 registrants have already signed up for the August 16-18 eighth AustralAsian Music Business Conference at Sydney's Acer Arena, producers IMMEDIA! have announced 10 new speakers for the event, bringing the number up to 44 out of 50 for the nine seminars and three lunches over three days.
The company will bestow its "icon" designation upon Willie during its 55th annual Country Awards scheduled for November 6, an honour given to songwriters and artists who have had "a unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers".
Applications close August 30 this year.
Nomination forms can be found inside the June issue of "Deadly Vibe" or nomination can be made on line at 
The album was recorded in Los Angeles with an "all star" cast of musicians. The launch will be followed up with an Australian mini-tour which will see Matt, who has graced stages everywhere from the Sydney Opera House to New York, play two exclusive shows, one each in Sydney and Brisbane.
The Sunny Cowgirls number one from last week – Cuttin' Up B&S Style – has slipped to number two while Dierks Bentley's Long Trip Alone is steady at number three and Shea Fisher's debut Just The Excuse has risen to number four.
Paul Costa's A Lover's Question is steady at number four, Melinda Schneider's Stronger jumps three places to five while Adam Brand's Can't Live Without Your Love edges up one place to six and Gina Jeffreys' Stepped Right In It bounds into the top 10 at seven.
Troy, who has earned the reputation as one of Australia's finest country performers, honed his craft over the course of 20 years and six studio albums.
Network (Los Angeles/New York) Country Top 30 Countdown after receiving strong support overseas and being nominated as a "hot" track for several weeks.
The song is described as "a perfect-for-radio country gem – it’s straight-up country at it’s very best with an infectious chorus and melody".
In the first comprehensive review of this tariff ever undertaken by the Copyright Tribunal, the Tribunal has lifted rates for licensed sound recordings played in nightclubs from seven cents per person to $1.05 per person. The dance party rate rises from 20 cents to $3.07 cents per person.
In the Country category, finalists are Chris Pickering with two entries – Edge Of The Earth and The Humming Song; Katie Jacobsen & Ben Dougherty (under the name Texas Tea) with Whiskey & Wine and John Turnbull with Third Wheel.
More than 80 artists appeared during the four-day festival, events were held at over 15 venues across town highlighting the renewed business and community support for Hats Off. In addition to pre-programmed shows a dozen or so other events were held and a number of buskers entertained in Peel Street.
Christie Eliezer reports in his weekly column at 
In a country music world where don't-fix-what-ain't-broke traditions hold sway, it was no shock when Faith and Tim announced they'd be reprising "Soul 2 Soul" this year.
This year’s Bash will take off from Garden Island at the Royal Australian Navy Base in Sydney travelling for 13 days around country NSW, Queensland and the Northern Territory visiting towns such as Dubbo, Brewarrina, Thargomindah, Charleville, Longreach, Richmond, Burketown, Borroloola, Katherine, finishing with a large party at Darwin.
"Fans have obviously embraced Slim on DVD," the company said, as more than 100,000 Slim DVDs have already been sold.
Aly will be the only New Zealander on the bill.
Tania Kernaghan's Life Don't Get Much Better Than This edges up another spot to number two while Carrie Underwood's Wasted jumps another three places to number three and Paul Costa's A Lover's Question rises one to number four.
Co-ordinators Tourism Tamworth is encouraging all residents and visitors alike to become involved and support the special country music celebration.
Lindsay Butler Studios in Country Music Capital will stage "one big show" during the Hats Off To Country Festival this weekend.
"This is the perfect opportunity to connect with a gifted and compelling storyteller who captures the beauty, depth and frailties of the human condition and our landscape in his definitive songs," said the release announcing continuation of the tour.
The Sunny Cowgirls' Cuttin' Up B&S Style rises three places to second position while Rascal Flatts is at three with Stand and Gina Jeffreys' number one from last week, Stepped Right In It, slips to four.