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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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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2019 Roady4Roadies Roady4Roadies is the name for a series of "fun, family orientated events" aimed at promoting public awareness to "the unsung heroes" of the Australian music industry: Roadies, "the unseen but essential backbone of every music event we all enjoy". A spokesman said the events also aimed to highlight the diverse range of highly technical and creative skills required of live production crew and to raise funds to help those in crisis. Roady4Roadies activities take place around the country on Sunday March 10 in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney and Sunday March 24 in Adelaide.
"Roadies are amongst the most essential figures in the entertainment world," said the spokesman. "The reality is, no roadies = no show. "Despite their hard work and dedication to the artists and events they work with and for, many roadies find themselves in precarious health and financial circumstances." Barbecues, prizes and Roadie Games for the kids will all feature at events together with the Crewathlon, "a fun and friendly competition between teams of roadies, with awards, speeches and prizes given away on the day". Raffles and auctions will be held at each event with major prizes on offer including a special edition Urban Vintage Player guitar - personally signed by Keith Urban, a rare three volume collection of Australian concert posters (limited to only 666 hand numbered copies), an acoustic guitar/case and strap, five professional road cases personally signed by some of the biggest names in Australian music (valued at $850 each) and signed merchandise. The day will conclude with live entertainment from some of the country's leading artists. Combined tickets for the Roady4Roadies Walk and entertainment are on sale now through Moshtix for only $30 and are limited to 300 participants in each capital city. Every participant receives a t-shirt, wristband, laminate and lanyard, with water and sunscreen provided along the way. Tickets and event information for each city are available at roady4roadies.com. Each city’s event will kick off with the inaugural Roady4Roadies Walk ( 3-5kms), culminating in a variety of family activities and performances at well-known entertainment venues. Roady4Roadies Brisbane walk commences at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre (Carpark 4) at 10.30am, before meandering through surrounding park lands in the Brisbane Entertainment Centre grounds for a family day of fun and entertainment. Tyrone Noonan will be headlining the live entertainment. In Melbourne, the line-up at the Palais Theatre will be Mark Seymour, Dave Graney & the mistLY, J.R. Reyne, Sisters Doll and Jarosite. Doors open at 12.30pm, with show starting at 12.40pm and running through to 3.20pm. Tickets are $20 at the door. The Perth walk begins at The Lucky Shag then follows the banks of the Swan River with a pit stop at The Point Bar & Grill. A family day of fun and entertainment will feature Darren Reid and friends. Due to demand, the Sydney event has been moved to the Bridge Hotel in Rozelle with a walk along the inner west’s "Bay Run”. Registration will take place at the Bridge Hotel from 10.30am with the show starting back at the hotel after the walk. The Sydney line-up includes Mark Callaghan and Buzz Bidstrup from GANGgajang. In Adelaide on Sunday March 24, assembly will be at 11.30am at Creswell Gardens (East gate of Adelaide Oval) with the walk at 12 noon through parklands to the Adelaide Entertainment Centre where the Australian Music Collective SA will induct industry legend Frank Castel into the SA Music Hall of Fame. Following the Crewathlon, prizes and auction, live performances by Kelly's Wayke, Darren Constable and Pigsy will conclude the event. "The inaugural Roady4Roadies is our chance to give back to those who give us so much and are open to the public and industry alike," the spokesman said, "with all profits going to Support Act, the Australian music industry's benevolent organisation. Hemisphere are proud to be a part of Roady4Roadies. Along with a representative from Support Act, Hemisphere will be present at the Health and Wellness Stand at every Roady4Roadies event. Roady4Roadies is being staged by a voluntary team of Australia’s leading live production personnel and industry professionals. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2019 New album from Luke Luke Dickens has released a lead single – Let It Burn – from his upcoming new album release After The Rain. Let It Burn is described as "a catchy, modern country, beach vibe, chin up, good advice to a break-up, song. "When I heard the ... demo of this radio-friendly number, I wanted it for myself," Luke said, "I know a hit when I hear one!" From every ticket sold to the album launch, $10 will go into the SUP HOLMES initiative to have male mentors trained by MHFA and will remain in the community of Young to support those most affected. Tickets for the launch are $30 and also include a signed CD. After The Rain is Luke's third album.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2019 Major artist line-up announced for this year's Deni Ute Muster Headline acts have been announced for this year's 21st birthday staging of the Deni Ute Muster. Local stars Beccy Cole, Travis Collins, Adam Harvey, Lee Kernaghan, The Sunny Cowgirls, John Williamson and Ross Wilson will be joined by American country star Tim McGraw and support acts Mustered Courage, Round Mountain Girls, Ben Ransom and Aleyce Simmonds.
"Day stage" artists are yet to be announced.
Close to 20,000 people attend the annual Muster with more than a thousand volunteers mobilising to help put on the event which donates close to $100,000 back to community groups. The Muster was the brainchild of a group of community minded locals who came together in 1999 to start a rural themed festival to bring visitors to Deniliquin which was struggling with a crippling drought at the time. The first Deni Play on the Plains Festival, as it was known at the time, took place in October that year "on the flattest, natural, open plains on earth, and with 'ute culture' being an intrinsic part of the town, it was unanimous that it would play a major part of the festival and hence the Deni Ute Muster burst into the national psyche." In its first year, the Muster had some 5,000 patrons and set a new Guinness World Record for the most number of legally paraded utes at 2,839 – a record which still stands today. Since then, the Muster has become the region’s biggest tourist drawcard and a celebration of all things Australian. Photos – top (from left): Beccy, Travis, Adam; Lee. Centre: The Sunny Cowgirls, John Williamson; bottom: Tim McGraw. Weblink – www.deniutemuster.com.au. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019 Kaylee shares Keith tribute For those who don't already know, Kaylee Bell is a huge fan of Keith Urban, so much so, the 2013 Star Maker winner has paid the ultimate tribute.
Described as "a rousing celebration of Urban’s music and career, whose trajectory to country music superstar status has been a source of inspiration for this fellow 'small town' girl," Kaylee uses a collection of Keith’s song titles "to inspire a simple relatable story of young love". Kaylee explains how the song came together: "Keith was a song that I had the idea for in my sleep, and still features some of the lyrics that I recorded into my phone that night. I sat on the idea for over a year as I hadn’t really settled on how to bring the song to life, but in Nashville last year, while recording with (producer) Lindsay (Rimes), I took the idea to a writing session with he and Phil Barton. "The song really wrote itself and was one of the best writing days I’ve had in Nashville," she said. While Keith draws "a ton of inspiration" from the superstar's recordings, the song is also an ode to the significance of music as it ties into our past. "Music connects us to moments and memories through our life," Kaylee said. "The song feels real to me as I connect a lot to it lyrically as it takes me back to being 16 and falling in love for the first time." Along with Kaylee’s all-time favourite Keith Urban song, Somebody Like You, 11 other song titles are worked into the song’s narrative: Somewhere in Your Car, Long Hot Summer, Raise ‘Em Up, Days Go By, Wasted Time, Little Bit of Everything, Making Memories, We Were Us, Look Good in My Shirt, Once in a Lifetime Love and You'll Think of Me. The new single follows the success of Kaylee's single One More Shot which has clocked up more than a million plays since its debut through some of the world’s biggest country music playlists in October last year. Kaylee will release her long-awaited self-titled album this year. Weblink – www.kayleebellmusic.com. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2019 Bombala talent quest The Bombala (NSW) & District Country Music Association's 26th annual talent quest will be held this Saturday at Club Bombala from 9.30am.
"We have categories for veterans, open Australian, sub junior (under 12 year old), open instrumental, junior vocal, senior gospel, open junior gospel, senior vocal, open singer songwriter, open duo or group and open country rock," Marilyn said. On the day, organisers of the talent quest will be holding a tribute to Michelle Farran who lost her battle with brain cancer on Sunday. A celebration of Michelle’s life will be held at the Bendoc Hall on Saturday at 2pm. “We will all be remembering Michelle on Saturday at the Talent Quest which she entered and encouraged all her children to enter every year," Marilyn said. “She will be sadly missed by all our members and our thoughts and love go to the family." “Michelle was in the process of making a music CD and putting out a poetry book which (her husband) Mathew will go ahead and finish. “We will hold a launch of the CD and poetry book and all the funds raised will go towards medical research." The talent quest will continue through the day with the sub junior awards presented during the afternoon. Late entry enquiries can be directed to Marilyn Giles on 02 6458 2021. Photo: Felicity Dowd, a winner from last year's talent quest. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2019 WA winners John Bennett (pictured) was a key winner in Friday night's West Australian Country Music Awards taking home two trophies.
Group of the Year was won by Delilah Rose & The Gunslingers. Independent Single of the Year went to Unclouded Day by Connie Kis Andersen. Julie Kember was named Songwriter of the Year for Go Baby Go. Video Clip of the Year was awarded to My Heart, My Land by Bradley Hall, produced by Brock Daubert. Sally Jane Pottinger was named Junior Vocalist of the Year and Sarah Gamble Emerging Artist of the Year. Weblink – www.countrymusicwa.com.au. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2019 Lance honours soldiers of Kokoda for Track Memorial Walkway
Lance, formerly of Port Pirie and now of Dubbo (NSW), was commissioned to write the song by the Quirindi RSL Sub-branch as the theme for the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway which has been in the planning stages since 2013. The Walkway, the vision of Quirindi RSL Sub-branch President and Shire Councillor Doug Hawkins, has the support of the local Liverpool Plains Shire Council and the state member of parliament. When complete, it will have a length of 22 kilometres running from Quirindi to Werris Creek with one stop each kilometre representing one of the 22 villages along the actual Track in Papua New Guinea. Radio commentator Alan Jones will declare open the tourist attraction and shrine to the memories of World War II soldiers at the March opening.
"I tried to write it from the eyes of someone who had been through it," Lance said. "People ask me to explain the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels who are mentioned in the song. "They were the natives – little people with fuzzy hair who helped our soldiers, taking the wounded on their backs through the scrub. That is why they were called ‘angels'." Lance’s song made the semi-finals in the Anzac section of the Tamworth Songwriters' Association Awards at the festival. He has also just released a third country solo album, I Know She Still Loves Me. Weblink – www.lancebirrell.com.au. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2019 Tamworth Festival raises more than $30,000 for Rural Aid More than $30,000 has been raised for Rural Aid at this year's Tamworth Country Music Festival.
"We spent the 10 days of the festival listening to stories of those who have been struggling through this drought," said Rural Aid CEO Charles Alder. "The support that we’ve had from Toyota Australia and those attending the festival goes a long way to help out." "We have a long history of supporting rural and regional communities in Australia, and we’re looking forward to partnering with Rural Aid again for the 2020 Toyota Country Music Festival," said Toyota Australia Chief Marketing Officer Wayne Gabriel. A raffle – the Raffle for Resilience – was also launched at the festival, with the top prize being a one-of-a-kind Toyota Land Cruiser 200 Sahara. That raffle won’t wrap up until early March. The $10 tickets can be obtained from www.raffletix.com.au/ruralaid. Runner-up prizes include a meet-up with cricket legend Glenn McGrath, a trip for two to the 2019 AFL Grand Final, a cricket bat signed by the 2018 Australian cricket team and a football signed by players selected in the All-Australian team. Founded in 2015, Rural Aid raises money to support drought-affected farmers doing it tough across Australia. More information on the raffle can be found here. Photo: two 2019 festival fans show off their festival hats. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2019 WA Awards finalists A raft of West Australian country artists are up for recognition at tomorrow night's West Australian Country Music Awards. Finalists for Independent Single of the Year are Connie Kis Andersen with Handle With Care and Unclouded and John Bennett with Country Is Calling. For Independent EP/Album of the Year (pictured below)... Connie Kis Andersen with A Closer Walk, John Bennett with Country Is Calling and Terry Bennetts with Guitar Picker.
For Open Songwriter of the Year... Julie Kember with Aint No Love Affair, Go Baby Go and Lived a Million Lives. For Male Artist of the Year... John Bennett, Bradley Hall and Chad Woods. For Junior Vocalist of the Year... Georgia Carbone, Tom Eddy, Kyannah Johansen and For Video Clip of the Year... Applejack & Moonshine by Applejack & Moonshine, Big Moon by Delilah Rose & the Gunslingers and My Heart, My Land by Bradley Hall. Group of the Year... Applejack & Moonshine, Little Lord Street Band and Delilah Rose & the Gunslingers. For Emerging Artist of the Year... Tori-Rae Davies, Sarah Gamble and Darcy Hay. Awards will be announced Friday night. Weblink – www.countrymusicwa.com.au. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2019 Groundwater announces artist line-up The Qld Gold Coast's Groundwater Country Music Festival has announced the artist line-up for its seventh year. This year's big winners at the 2019 Golden Guitars, The Wolfe Brothers, will also appear, together with Adam Eckersley Band, Tori Forsyth, Shane Howard, Fanny Lumsden, Mustered Courage, Round Mountain Girls, John Schumann, Andrew Swift, Felicity Urquhart and Greta Ziller. Star Maker 2019 Blake O'Connor is also on the bill with Pete Cullen & The Hurt and Mongomery Church. And more to come, organisers say. The Groundwater Country Music Festival is billed as the nation's fastest growing music festival and has been elevated to "major" status by Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) due to its importance to Queensland’s economy and significant growth in generating visitation to the Gold Coast.
"Since the event’s inception in 2013, it’s grown from strength-to-strength. Last year more than 63,000 people attended the event, generating nearly 30,000 visitor nights for the Gold Coast,” she said. Festival Director Mark Duckworth, who has just been awarded The Cultural Achievement Award at the Gold Coast’s 2019 Australia Day Awards, is proud of how Groundwater is growing in popularity and continues to showcase top country artists each year. "Groundwater Country Music Festival will always present Australian country music’s top artists, as well as create pathways for some of the our newest and most deserved performers," Mark said. "Each year as our festival family increases our event builds its own traditions and unique experiences." The free festival runs in Broadbeach through its bars, restaurants, streets and parks with more than 110 live music performances and 130 hours of free live entertainment. Weblink – groundwatercmf.com. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2019 ICMA winners Catching up on more award winners from the 2019 Tamworth Country Music Festival, and one of the music award schemes gaining notability is the one run by ICMA, Independent Country Music Australia.
Casey Barnes was a key winner this year with three awards to his credit, Male Artist for his album The Good Life, and Video and Single for We Ride. Sally-Anne Whitten (pictured) was another multi award winner taking home Most Popular Independent Female Artist and Most Popular Independent Album for Burgundy Street which also won the Producer award for Sally-Anne's husband Alwyn Aurisch. The group Whiskey Business won two awards... Most Popular Independent Australian Country Band and the EP award for Positive Attitude. Brendan Smoother was named Most Popular Balladeer for Burrumbuttock Hay Runners and The Long & Short Of It won Most Popular Independent Duo. Rory Phillips win the Patti McKinnon Encouragement Award – an award named for singer/songwriter Patti who encouraged organisers to recognise new talent; and Tracy & The Big D took home the Most Popular Community Radio/Presenter award. A special award presented this year was the Al Slade Memorial Award for Photography which went to Kat Blackwell. Al, who died late last year, was a strong supporter of the ICMAs. Weblink – www.indiecountrymusicaustralia.com. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2019 Aussies up for US awards Five Australians are nominated in four of five categories in the US-based Country Music Association (CMA)’s annual International Awards. The CMA presents the awards to recognise those who have "supported and made a difference in the growth and promotion of country music in the international market place".
Travis is up against The Netherlands' Ilse DeLange, Canada's James Barker Band, Sweden's Jill Johnson and the UK's Ward Thomas. Melbourne music journalist, broadcaster and songwriter Dave Dawsion is nominated for the Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award which recognise outstanding achievements in the media as they relate to country music outside of the United States. Other nominees in this category are Rob Farina of iHeartRadio Canada; Jan Gradvall, one of the most well known and influential music writers in Sweden; UK publicist Claire Horton; and respected UK freelance print writer and broadcast journalist Paul Sexton.
Nova Entertainment's Paul Jackson is also up for this award together with Northern Ireland broadcaster Stuart Banford of Downtown Country fame; Canada's Casey Clarke, host of "The Casey Clarke Show" and "The Casey Clarke Country Countdown" syndicated on radio stations across Canada; and the BBC's Baylen Leonard who has presented country shows on BBC Radio London, Radio 2 Country, BBC Radio 4, BBC Scotland, Monocle 24, and Amazing Radio. Susan Heymann, General Manager of Chugg Entertainment, is a finalist for the Jo Walker-Meador International Award which recognises outstanding achievement by an individual in advocating and supporting country music's marketing development in territories outside the United States. Other nominees in this category are UK based booking agent Nigel Hassler; Christina Sas, the founder of Country & Co, the leading social media platform for country music in Germany; Bob Sherman, Director of Radio & Music at the BBC and Chairman of the CMA's UK Taskforce; and UK based promoter Chris York who has sold more tickets in country music than any other UK promoter in the past 25 years. For close to 60 years, Dawson spread the story on country music, especially its mavericks, in major newspapers and music magazines as Juke, Beat, Across Country and Mixdown, and presented numerous radio shows. He is currently a producer on Nu-Country TV. The awards will be handed out as the CMA hosts showcase events through March in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019 Boyup Brook Festival 2019 The annual Boyup Brook Country Music Festival, featuring the WA Country Music Awards, kicks into gear next Friday, February 15.
The popular annual music and camping event runs for three days until Sunday the 17th with an extensive program of entertainment and other activities. Included on thi year's program will be the showcase Travellin’ Still: The Songs of Slim Dusty with Pete Denahy and members of Slim's Travelling Country Band. Acts on stage in the Music Park on the banks of the Blackwood River will be Connie Kis Andersen, Band of Mates, Bennett, Bowtell & Urquhart, The Buckleys, Darren Coggan, Patrick McMahon and Amber Joy Poulton. Rounding out the program will be Desert Road, Jane Germain & Ian Simpson, Kate Hindle, Julie Kember, Kate Linke, Mary Myfanwy, Red Ochre, Rohan Powell, Delilah Rose & the Gunslingers and Chad Woods. Blue Hornet, Cowboy Roger Lawson and Kate Linke will entertain at the Ute & Truck Muster, which will see a convoy of utes, trucks, tractors and vintage cars roll into town and compete for $10,000 in prizes. Festival music director Sharon Winter said attendees would again be spoilt for choice, with a mixture of music, art and culture ensuring there is something to interest everyone. “We are thrilled to once again offer a top line-up, as part of the biggest event on the Western Australian country music calendar,” she said. “The festival is a favourite of both artists on the country music circuit and music fans and we look forward to welcoming everyone to Boyup Brook for what will be another great long weekend of entertainment and a celebration of everything country. “Come along and enjoy the performances, along with a street carnival, ute and truck muster, and Variety Showcase at Harvey Dickson’s.” The 34th annual festival Wednesday and Thursday February 13 and 14 including the bush poets breakfast (with Peter Blyth [the bloke from Bugger-up Downs], Christine Boult, Keith "Cobber" Lethbridge and Greg North) and art exhibition opening. Tickets are available through the official event website − www.countrymusicwa.com.au. WA Awards a highlight
The aim of the Awards is to recognise and support WA artists who are serious about pursuing a career in country music and will be held at the Boyup Brook Music Park on the Friday night of the Festival (15th). Performances by the Awards Group, Male Artist and Songwriter of the Year will be included. Awards to be presented will include Group of the Year, Single, Album, Video Clip and Songwriter of the Year together with Emerging Artist of the Year and Junior Vocalist of the Year. Last year's winners included Jasmine Atkins, Julie Kember, Jane Germain & Ian Simpson and Karin Page. Photo: Karin Page with her 2018 awards for Emerging Artist, Video Clip and People's Choice. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2019 Ernie wins a triple at Bungendore Ernie Constance has won three of the awards up for grabs at Bungendore on the weekend, the Stan Coster Memorial Bush Ballad Awards.
Dianne Lindsay and Brian Letton won the Female and Male awards, respectively, with Paddy's Soul and WA Calling Me Home. Graham Rodger and Col Hardy won the Duo award with I’m An Old Black Man and Kylie Adams-Collier won New Talent with On A Sandstone Ridge. The Instrumental award went to Lindsay Butler & Anthony Baxter for Looking Forward, Looking Back.
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The album is scheduled for release on Friday March 22 with a launch the following day at the Young (NSW) Services Club which will also be a fundraiser to raise awareness for 
Organisers sat tickets to the 2019 Muster "have been selling like wildfire with our Muster Adorer ticket allocation selling out within two hours of going on sale. Early Bird ticket allocations have also sold out and general admission tickets are on sale now."
Reserved camping for the Muster have been selling well with a number of campsites already sold our.
Kaylee, who has shared the staged with Keith on his 2014 "Light The Fuse" and 2016 "Ripcord" tours, has released her new tribute single Keith, together with an accompanying live-performance video.
Talent Quest coordinator Marilyn Giles said there were 11 categories for junior and senior musicians and vocalists to take part in, according to the local Bombala Times.
He won Male Artist of the Year and Independent EP/Album of the Year for Country Is Calling. The album was produced by David Hyams.
The emotional tribute to soldiers of the Kokoda Track by singer/songwriter Lance Birrell will see the opening of a replcia, scaled-down version of the Track near Tamworth next month.
The Kokoda Track was trekked by soldiers in appalling conditions in then-Papua as they battled Japanese invaders.
A total of $32,465 came from major fund-raising activities like the festival hats promotion by festival sponsor Toyota.
Beccy Cole and Lee Kernaghan (pictured) will headline the festival which will run over three days, Friday, Saturday and Sunday July 26 to 28.
Assistant Tourism Industry Development Minister Meaghan Scanlon said TEQ had upgraded the festival’s status after the 2018 edition generated more than $5 million for the state’s economy – a 25 percent increase from 2017.
Awards, known as the ICMAs, are presented annually at the South Tamworth Bowling Club.
Key among the nominees is singer, songwriter and recording artist Travis Collins who is a finalist for the Global Artist Award, a gong which has been won in the past by Australian acts including Catherine Britt, Troy Cassar-Daley, Kasey Chambers, Slim Dusty, Tommy Emmanuel, Morgan Evans, Adam Harvey, Lee Kernaghan, The McClymonts and Jasmine Rae.
Long time industry identity Trevor Smith, now of Aloha Media, who has been involvd in music media, and especially country music media, for some 50 years, is up for the International Country Broadcaster category recognising outstanding achievement by a radio broadcaster or syndicated radio reporter outside the United States who has made important contributions for the development of country music in their country.
The annual Country Music Awards, also presented by LiveLighter, attracts country music talent from all over Western Australia.
He took home the Album award for Lead A Horse To Water, the Songwriter award for the title track to the album and the Comedy award for If It Ain't Broke.