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This website brings you the latest Australian country music news. News releases can be sent to news@countrymusicbulletin.com.au |
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TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2019 Jimmy releases Troy song Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes has released a new single titled Shutting Down Our Town, written by Australian country legend Troy Cassar-Daley. The Music Network reported the song is from Jimmy's next album, My Criminal Record, and was inspired by the closing down of the Holden factory in his hometown of Elizabeth, a northern suburb of Adelaide.
Troy wrote the song for Jimmy after finding inspiration from the book Working Class Boy. "I changed a couple of words just because of local knowledge," Jimmy said,"but it was 99.999 percent Troy’s song. He played it to me and I immediately felt the connection." Premiering on Radio Triple M, the song has since been added across-the-board to Sydney and Melbourne stations as well as the Triple M Regional network. In 2005, Jimmy and Troy had a hit with their duet recording of the Leonards Cohen song Bird On A Wire. The track won the pair the Vocal Collaboration award at the Golden Guitar Awards in January 2006. Weblinks – www.jimmybarnes.com • www.troycassardaley.com.au. MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2019 New from Matt Australian country artist Matt Ward will release his debut album this Friday.
Heartland is "an outstanding reflection of the... influences that Matt has sought during his journey as an artist," according to a spokesman. "A mixture of personal reflections and stories, it's an album in its truest sense and has been carefully crafted to allow the listener on a journey on matters of the heart, country and love." Take Me Home features Brielle Davis and some of Australia's most prominent musicians, combining "elements of outlaw, bluegrass and modern Australian country to deliver a rollicking tune with fiddle solos and a chorus that will be stuck in your head for days." Weblink – https://www.mattwardmusic.com.
FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2019 New from Felicity Felicity Urquhart has today released her first ABC Music studio album – Frozen Rabbit – also her first solo release in more than a decade.
Produced by Felicity’s husband and long-time collaborator Glen Hannah, Frozen Rabbit has 11 songs including the pre-released single Chain Of Joy and the second single, released today, New Harmony. As host of ABC Radio’s "Saturday Night Country", Felicity "has solidified herself as one of the most popular and recognisable country music artists in Australia," according to a spokesman for ABC Music. "She has also accumulated an extensive list of accolades to her name. An eight-time Golden Guitar winner with seven studio albums behind her, Felicity has also been nominated for an ARIA, won the CMA International Broadcaster award and performed for both the Pope and the President of the USA. "Her 2018 album with Bennett and Bowtell, Weeds, won the Golden Guitar this January for Vocal Collaboration with Karl Broadie. "The welcome return of a master singer/songwriter and enduring country favourite; the distillation of songcraft honed across half a lifetime, and a new highpoint in the career of one of Australia’s most consistently captivating artists, Frozen Rabbit is Felicity Urquhart at her pure, joyful best." To coincide with the album release, Felicity has announced a run of tour dates throughout Australia from this weekend (tomorrow at Cronulla and Sunday at Newcastle) through to the end of the year. Weblink – felicityurquhart.com. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2019 Roady4Roadies raises $55,000+ for Support Act The inaugural Roady4Roadies events proved successful in so many ways, according to organisers, raising a total of $56,790, after expenses, for the Support Act "Roadies Fund". Conducted nationally, the "campaign" ran on March 10 in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney and March 24 in Adelaide. "Shining a big, bright spotlight on the diverse range of highly technical and creative skills required of live music production crew, Roady4Roadies also raised public awareness to the dire outcomes many of them now face," said a spokesmen for campaign organisers. "The work is high octane, high pressure and sometimes highly dangerous! The intense pressure of the job itself can often lead to chronic physical problems, financial difficulties and mental health issues." Co-organiser Tony Moran said: "One of the most pleasing aspects was to witness so many of our top professionals, from all areas of the music business, pulling together as a team. Promoters, publicists, managers, agents, venues and artists, all freely giving their time... and their money! All working along-side each other with the best crew in the country, the best in the world." Support Act CEO Clive Miller said: "Support Act adds its thanks and congratulations to all involved with the inaugural Roady4Roadies event. The funds raised will enable us to continue providing crisis relief services to those in need, whether it is paying the rent, facilitating access to housing, assisting with medical needs, or the many other physical or mental challenges that road crew sometimes confront.
Roady4Roadies was staged by a voluntary team of Australia’s leading live production personnel and industry professionals. The auction will be open until 5pm on Tuesday April 30. Roady4Roadies 2020 is already being planned as "a truly national day" for all crew on Sunday April 5. Along with Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, events will be rolled out in Canberra, Darwin and Hobart as well as regional areas incuding Bendigo, Geelong, the Gold Coast, Launceston, Newcastle and the Sunshine Coast. Photo: part of the crowd at the Perth event and the Keith Urban signed guitar being auctioned. Weblink – roady4roadies.com. TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2019 Kasey presented with Bluesfest award
It was the 30th Bluesfest and Kasey has been involved in quite a few, especially since releasing her The Captain album 20 years ago; an album she is in the process of re-releasing as a Deluxe Edition to celebrate the anniversary. Making the presentation of a Bluesfest Star Award to Kasey, Festival Director Peter Noble made an emotional speech about the star's long connection with the event. Photo: Kasey accepts the award from Peter Noble. Weblink – kaseychambers.com. THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2019 APRA Awards The 2019 APRA Music Awards will be held in Melbourne on Tuesday, April 30. Awards will be presented in 15 categories including Country Work of the Year.
Ain't Seen It Yet by Brodie Rainbird, Nick Wolfe, Tom Wolfe & Erik Dylan (recorded by The Wolfe Brothers). The Campfire Song by Kasey Chambers, BilL Chambers & Alan Pigram (recorded by Kasey Chambers & The Fireside Disciples featuring Alan Pigram). Day Drunk by Morgan Evans (pictured), Chris DeStefano & Lindy Robbins (recorded by Morgan Evans). I Do by Morgan Evans, Chris DeSrefano & Ashley Gorley (recorded by Morgan Evans). In The Morning by Tori Forsyth (and recorded by Tori). Country related finalist nominations include Paul Kelly who is a finalist for Song of the Year with With The One I Love. Weblink – apraamcos.com.au/awards. TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2019 Ted Albert Award to Rob This year's Ted Albert Award – presented by APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) for outstanding services to Australian music – will be posthumously bestowed on the late country music agent and promoter Rob Potts who died unexpectedly in 2017. In a career spanning more than three decades, Rob’s passion and belief in country music and its potential in Australia never wavered, a spokesman for APRA said.
As Chief Executive of his company Entertainment Edge, Rob helped open doors for Australians into the competitive Nashville scene thanks in part to the connections he made as the Australian concert promoter for American stars including Brooks & Dunn, The Dixie Chicks, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith and Tim McGraw. In 2009, he brought Taylor Swift to Australia for her first shows in the market. The success of his tours led to Rob establishing the CMC Rocks festival brand and forging a long running partnership with Michael Chugg’s Chugg Entertainment. In 2018, he was honoured with the prestigious Academy of Country Music’s Jim Reeves International Award, presented to an artist or industry leader for outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country music internationally. Rob was involved at board level for many years with the Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA). On hearing news of the APRA honour, Michael Chugg said: “I am so proud and very pleased that APRA is honouring my late and great mate and partner... Rob Potts is a shining example of everything that is wonderful about our industry. "For many, many years he led the battle to break Australian country music in Nashville and became a Board member of the CMA (Country Music Association of America). Many of us are saddened every day that Rob is not with us to see all his hard work come to fruition; Keith Urban, Tommy Emmanuel and Morgan Evans are just three of the acts he championed." Claire Spencer, Chief Executive Officer of Arts Centre Melbourne which is working with APRA AMCOS in honouring the 2019 Ted Albert Award recipient, said Rob was a true pioneer working against the tide of ‘90s rock music to develop and raise the profile of country music in Australia. "His illustrious career means we can share in the stories of some of the world-class artists he helped create," she said. The award, determined by the APRA Board of Writer and Publisher Directors, will be formally bestowed during this year's APRA Music Awards in Melbourne on Tuesday April 30. Weblink – apraamcos.com.au. FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019 Kasey to mark 20th anniversary of The Captain Kasey Chambers will mark the 20th anniversary of her ground-breaking album The Captain on May 17, exactly 20 years to the day the album was released in 1999.
In addition to the 12 tracks from the original album and seven from the bonus edition released in 2000, the new release will have 13 previously unreleased track-by-track interview pieces from the year of original release and an accompanying 32 page booklet with never before seen photos of Kasey’s childhood, promotional and live pictures and an image of the original handwritten lyrics for the title track. The original album will also be made available on vinyl for the first time. Talking about The Captain back in 1999, Kasey said: "I’d like to convert some people with this record. I think it has the potential to prove that country music has a lot more depth and soul…" The album, the cornerstone of her subsequent career path, is touted as "one of the most extraordinary and lauded debuts by an Australian artist in any genre". Off the back of The Captain, Kasey picked up her first solo ARIA Awards, for Best Country Album and Best Female Artist. The album would go triple platinum in Australia, reach the Top 50 of the US Billboard Country Albums and launch Kasey’s music to the world. The Captain has been followd by 11 more albums and an ever-growing base of fans. In January last year, Kasey received Australian country music's highest honour when she was elevated to the Country Music Roll of Renown and, later the same year, she was the youngest female ever to be inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame. Weblink – kaseychambers.com. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2019 Stanley adds two new acts Alt-country label Stanley Records has signed two more acts – Katie Brianna and Peta Caswell & The Lost Cause.
Her next album is due in September, produced by labelmate and frequent collaborator, Adam Young. Brianna’s band on the album features Adam, as well as members of The Cruel Sea, The Re-Mains and Spurs For Jesus. Sydney-based Peta Caswell, the niece of high profile singer/songwriter Allan Caswell, raised eyebrows on last year’s ground-breaking Aussie alt-country Take Me To Town compilation.
Dave Favours, the alt-country musician who fronts The Roadside Ashes and set up Stanley Records in 2010, said it was an honour to "have two of the country’s finest singer/songwriters join our family". Stanley Records’ roster also includes Deadwood 76, Ben Leece, The Saloon Daddies and Spurs For Jesus. Weblinks – katiebrianna.com • petacaswellmusic.com. TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 2019 Keith wins Entertainer double
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