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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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Mildura country music – "under new management" Some positive news amid the coronavirus pandemic is the announcement that the Victorian city of Mildura is set to continue having a major annual music festival building on the base established by the long running iconic country music festival.
Mildura Rural City Council has announced that experienced event manager and promoter ChandlerShaw Events will co-ordinate the event for the coming three years. Rumours had been circulating for some time the festival would not proceed in 2020. Renamed the Mildura Music Festival, the event, according to a release from the Council, will retain an emphasis on country music, especially the traditional form that has been so popular with patrons. “Independent artists will still be a hallmark of the revamped event, while offerings will be expanded to include bluegrass, folk, Americana, country rock, alt-country and much more.” More information regarding the 2020 Mildura Music Festival will be released at a later date. ChandlerShaw Events managing partners, Jeff Chandler and Greg Shaw, have extensive knowledge and experience in the entertainment industry. Greg has worked as a booking agent, promoter and artist manager, with artists including Keith Urban and Kenny Rogers while Jeff has managed artists including James Blundell, Troy Cassar-Daley, Tommy Emmanuel, Lee Kernaghan and Sara Storer. Greg has managed events including City Musters in Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin and Perth and Caboolture’s Urban Country Music Festival. Jeff, who has significant event management experience as well as serving as Festival and Program Director for the Gympie Music Muster from 2012 to 2018, said their group was delighted to be selected as producers of a new music festival on behalf of Mildura Rural City Council. “The former Mildura Country Music festival has been an important event on the local calendar for more than 30 years, and it was decided that change was needed to ensure that it remained relevant and was part of a rapidly-evolving and expanded offering of music and cultural events in Australia,” he said. “We’re excited by this opportunity,and are looking forward to taking this hallmark event to new and exciting heights.” Mildura Councillor for Economic Development & Tourism Mark Eckel congratulated the new event organiser, which will take over the running of the Festival starting this year. “This is an exciting time for one of our region’s longest-running hallmark events,” he said. “To have an event manager and promoter the calibre of ChandlerShaw Events behind the Festival is a major boost and I look forward to hearing their plans.” Council would provide financial and facilitation support for the term of the agreement. He said the incoming event organiser represented a new era for the Festival, ensuring it would continue to play an important role in the region’s suite of tourism and visitor drawcards. There has been no announcement as to the future of the Australian Independent Country Music Awards which have been the centrepiece of the annual Mildura festival. Aussies excel with "covid covers" Artists world-wide – and especially Australian country artists – are finding interesting and novel ways to keep active during restrictions caused by the novel coronavirus.
One the most novel, however, and appropriately, is the "covid covers challenge" where artists record and upload a cover of one of their fellow artists songs who are then challenged to record and upload another of their fellow artists songs. The challenge appears to have been initiated by Caitlyn Shadbiolt as a way to support Australian artists during the current crisis. And so far, notable covers have been performerd by Adam Brand, Sinead Burgess, Travis Collins, Lee Kernaghan, Jasmine Rae and The Wolfe Brothers. Click the #covidcoverschallenge to search on facebook or click the image above to start with Caitlyn Shadbolt... APRA Awards go on-line The APRA Music Awards will be announced on-line this year. APRA has taken this step in lieu of cancelling or postponing the event because of coronavirus restructions.
More details will be announced in the coming weeks, but it can be confirmed that the format will feature presenters, winners and performances of the Song of the Year finalists. Jenny Morris, Chair of the APRA board, said it was important that the awards proceed. “This is an unprecedented time in all our lives, it’s not easy to make any sort of decision right now about the near future,” she said. “But everyone involved with the APRA Music Awards decided that going ahead with the awards was something we could and should do – albeit in a very different way, but one that brings the awards to music fans far and wide for the first time. “It’s important to celebrate and acknowledge the success and artistry of our songwriters whose work enriches our lives. They will be the ones who help us get through this time.” Nominees for the “reimagined” 2020 APRA Music Awards will be announced on April 7. APRA AMCOS has also introduced an award for the Most Performed Alternative Work. As with all the genre categories, the nominees and winners are determined by royalties earned from Australian performances of the song across broadcast, digital downloads, streaming services, and live performance. Weblink – www.apraamcos.com.au/awards. Sending out an SOS The public appeal for support to the music industry has expanded with the launch of a "sound of silence" website. www.thesoundofsilence.com.au has been set up by the Music Industry Taskforce – comprising numerous music industry organisations and entities – to focus on how members of the public can help "bring immediate relief" to the industry. "By working with Support Act and CrewCare and through a raft of targeted activity, we hope to alleviate the severe haemorrhaging of income that has come with widespread cancellations of festivals, concerts, shows and local gigs," the Taskforce said.
"Workers in our industry live from gig to gig. Shows are their lifeblood and it will take more than the containment of COVID-19 to return them to economic stability. The ramifications are far-reaching and seriously long-term." "The music industry has historically banded together to donate time and money to those in need, as seen recently with bushfire relief efforts – always there to lend a helping hand. "Now they need the Australian music-loving public to do the same. "As we all prepare for an indefinite period of social isolation and subsequent event postponements and cancellations, we’ve put together a guide of suggested ways to continue to support those within the live music and event communities." The Taskforce sais the list is by no means exhaustive and they welcome the sharing of additional suggestions of ways to support the live music industry and its members. It is also suggested that those in the industry, and fans, share this information as widely as possible to reach as wide an audience as possible. How to support live music over the next few months...
Infographic provided by Mushroom Music/Frontier Touring. Weblink – www.thesoundofsilence.com.au. Support Act announces emergency appeal Support Act – Australia's music industry charity and benevolent organisation – has announced an emergency appeal to raise funds to help those in the industry facing crisis in light of the COVID-19 emergency.
"People in the live music and entertainment industries are being severely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic," Support Act said announcing the COVIND19 Emegency Appeal today. "Thousands of jobs have been lost in recent weeks as a result of the cancellation of concerts, festivals, tours and shows. Reported losses across the sector amount to well over $100 million and are rising daily. "While clearly necessary to protect the health of the nation, these cancellations have affected a huge array of music industry workers including artists, crew, management, promoters, agents, vendors, publicists, merchandisers, drivers, loaders, riggers and everyone else who relied on live events for their income,"Support Act said "The vast majority of these workers are independent contractors who do not have the luxury of sick leave or annual leave. Most live from tour to tour, or gig to gig and they have lost their ability to earn an income through no fault of their own." Support Act is already being inundated with requests for crisis relief from people who have gone from having seemingly secure income over the coming months to suddenly having no way to pay their bills. "Our Mental Health Helpline, which provides free counselling to those in need, is also reporting a surge in calls." Many of the people who find themselves in this position are the same artists, crew and music workers who donated their time and talent to support others by staging benefit shows following the bushfire crisis just a few months ago. "Support Act is committed to doing what it can to help those in need but our resources are limited. We urgently need to build our own war chest in order to provide even a modest level of crisis relief to people who have been impacted. "Today we have therefore launched the COVID-19 Emergency Appeal to accept donations from all sections of the Australian community. The target for the Appeal is $20million and Support Act has contributed $100,000 from its limited reserves to kickstart the campaign. "To donate, please visit our dedicated appeal page or follow the links from our website: supportact.org.au. "We ask music lovers across the country to support this appeal where possible, to help us raise the funds that will be needed to meet the expected demand. This could be through a direct donation or by directing proceeds from your own fundraising activities. "We also stand ready to work with all levels of Government. We hope they will recognise the special needs of this vulnerable section of the community and provide cash support to our campaign and to the broader entertainment sector. We also urge the Federal Government to expedite access to key government programs such as the Newstart Jobseeking Allowance. "Please help us to support our music workers through this difficult period and help them be in a position to bounce back louder and prouder than ever once the pandemic has passed." COVID-19 ... big impact on music industry The novel Coronavirus COVID-19 crisis is hitting the Australian music industry in a big way. On the country music side, in addition to Friday's announcement by CMC Rocks Qld, we have been notified that the Penrith Working Truck Show, Boggabri Drover's Campfire and Terara Country Music Campout (all NSW) and Yakka Park Country Music Festival (SA) will not go ahead this year.
A special website – ilostmygig.net.au has been set up by the Australian Music Industry Network and the Australian Festival Association together with industry partners as an industry focal and support point. It follows the creation of ilostmygig.com in the US which was spurred by the recent cancellation of the Texas industry event SXSW. "We're working hard to find ways to support people and businesses who have been affected," said a spokesmen for the Australasian site. "Leave your details so we can connect with you in the future about funding opportunities and other support." ilostmygig.net.au is tallying the local impact and is looking for input. "Bushfires and Coronavirus have led to the cancellation or postponement of hundreds of concerts, conferences, events and festivals across Australia and the rest of the world with many more still vulnerable. "Many performers, businesses and contractors have lost vital income."
CMAA Statement The Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) issued a statement today... "Whether you're a performer, musician, producer, sound tech, production crew, manager, booking agent or other worker, we encourage you to visit the ‘I Lost My Gig’ website and provide details of your gigs which have been cancelled or postponed due to the Coronavirus situation, as well as the recent bushfires. "The data collected by the website will be used to inform government of the economic impact and connect those at risk with help and ultimately rebuild to a stronger industry. "We know many of you are under severe stress due to this situation and it is important that our community work together to get through this and keep up communication. "If you need urgent help, please contact SUPPORT ACT on 1800 959 500 or LIFELINE on 13 11 14.
Impact so far Following the government ban of any non essential organised mass gathering of 500 people or more amid the on-going COVID-19 crisis, The Music Network today updated the "current" situation... The Australian music and arts community now faces an unprecedented challenge. Festivals and shows of all sizes have been cancelled, venues have closed their doors for the coming weeks, and already, as of 12pm today, $47 million in income has been lost. According to I Lost My Gig Australia, that's 190,000 jobs impacted; 20,000 events cancelled. It's artists, production crews, engineers, managers, agents, media, hospitality and more that are affected and that will be faced with the reality of not being able to pay their rent and buy their groceries. In an appeal to music fans, The Music Network said: "While gigs are suffering, there are a lot of other ways you can support the Australian music community right now. "We're asking you to #SupportTheBands – listen to their music, buy their merch, visit their websites, buy tickets to their virtual shows, make a donation to Support Act." Carter & Carter win 2020 Spur Award Carter & Carter have won this year's International Spur Award, presented by international star Frank Ifield at Sydney's Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Club. David and Merelyn Carter (second and third from the left) were joined on the night by a number of previous winners of the award, as shown in our photo, from left, Karen Lynne (2007), Steve Passfield (last year) and Nicki Gillis (2009). That's Frank next to Nicki.
The Spur Award was launched in 1998 at the then annual Galston Country Music Festival, by the Rotary Club of Galston and presented by Festival Patron Frank. Initially an encouragement award, the accolade now focuses on the potential global appeal of the winner's recording, individual style and professionalism of performance both on and off the stage. Previous winners have included Kirsty Lee Akers (2008), Travis Collins (2006), Donna Fisk (2015), Stuie French & Camille Te Nahu (2014), Johanna Hemara (2010), Wayne Horsburgh (2000), Troy Kemp (2017), Neilly Rich (2016), Melinda Schneider (1999) and John Stephan (2011). CMC Rocks postponed CMC Rocks Qld has been postponed as a result of the Federal Government's advice that events of more than 500 people should not go ahead in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
"It is with deep regret that the CMC Rocks Qld team announces the postponement of the 2020 event," a statement on the event website reads. "As a result of the Australian Government’s announcement this afternoon, holding the festival is now infeasible and as such, the March festival cannot proceed as planned. "Ticketholders are advised to hold onto their tickets; we’re working to reschedule to October. Anyone who is unable to attend the new dates will be entitled to a full refund. "We thank the CMC Rocks community for their support and understanding during this unprecedented time." Weblink – www.cmcrocks.com. New from Adam Adam Brand will release his latest album – Speed Of Life – tomorrow.
“The whole experience of making this album was a vastly different experience to all the other albums I’ve done in the last 20 years," Adam said. "It was a calm and stress free process and I put that down to the place in life I’m at. I felt no pressure in putting this album together… no urgency to find that big hit song… to be honest I let my heart guide me this time, and my heart was full of the wonderful notion of my baby girl who was about to be born," he said. "I whole heartedly believe she gave me that calmness and clarity in knowing what I wanted to sing about this time around." The first single off the album will be Fly, a song Adam describes as a prayer you want to give someone you love. Weblink – www.adambrandmusic.com. Kristy scores another Billboard hit Australian bluegrass star Kristy Cox has scored a second Billboard hit with her new album No Headlights.
Kristy's Riccochet album debuted at number one on the same chart in 2018. No Headlights is Kristy’s sixth album and her second release with US label, Mountain Fever Records. Produced by Jerry Salley, No Headlights features a number of leading musicians and singers including Tommy Emmanuel who features on guitar on the track Finger Picking Good. Kristy picked up back to back Golden Guitar awards for Bluegrass Recording of the Year in 2019 for Ricochet (the title track to her most recent album) and this January for Yesterday’s Heartache (off the new album). Kristy will play shows in Europe in May before returning to Australia to perform at the Groundwater Country Music festival on the Qld Gold Coast in July. Weblink – www.kristycox.com. New from Fanny Fanny Lumsden will release her latest album – Fallow – this coming Friday. Billed as "an indelible collection of storytelling that features some of her most intimate songwriting to date," the album will be launched at a special fundraiser at Tooma, NSW, on Saturday.
"We were always planning to launch our new album in Tooma," Fanny said. "We just hadn't planned the fire part. "We have decided that we will donate all the proceeds to the Tooma Community Bushfire Recovery fund, which is raising money to help with the clean up, rebuild fences, sheds, feed for pets and stock, mental health resources and more." The new album represents something of a lyrical shift for Lumsden, a spokesman for her record label, Cooking Vinyl Australia, said, "for an artist who’s made her name writing songs packed with clever observations and witty asides, often about the quirks of small-town Australian life. "Her eye for detail is as sharp as ever, but this time the subject matter is more personal." “I wrote this album in amongst a season of change,” Fanny said of her third full-length record. "It was a time of re-evaluation." Over the past few years, the singer-songwriter has experienced some of life’s greatest joys, including the birth of her son. As she was pregnant, however, her husband and bandmate, Dan Stanley Freeman, lost his mother to cancer. As Fanny sings in the song This Too Shall Pass, “Some of this is magic/and some of this is pain." "With this album I was really trying to just write what I felt, rather than trying to be clever about observations," she said. "I felt like I learned to see not just the funny, witty stuff anymore. I want to say these things and sing these things because that’s what I’m feeling right now. I’m in this space, so why not celebrate it?” Weblink – www.fannylumsden.net. Catching up on Tamworth – CMAA election Meryl Davis and Rebecca Gracie have retained their positions on the Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) board for a further three years following the Association's election in January.
Tim Holland and Peter Simpson have been re-appointed to the board for the current 12 months. Board members currently serving continuing terms are Lachlan Bryan, Roger Corbett and Tom Inglis. “I want to give a sincere thanks to our members for their ongoing support of the CMAA and special thanks to our board members, who give their time voluntarily,” Chair Dan Biddle said. “Together, we will continue to do our best to further the interests of Australian and New Zealand country music around the world. "Last year, President Dobe Newton completed a major report into the state of the Australian country music industry which found it to be in a strong position. The findings will continue to assist the CMAA and industry as a whole in working towards an even stronger future for the genre. "The CMAA is working to increase communication with the industry and we all welcome questions, comments or information from all members." CMAA board members each have an area of interest or expertise – Lachlan Bryan (Alt Country), Roger Corbett (Academy of Country Music), Meryl Davis (Traditional Country), Rebecca Gracie (Publicity, PR & Content), Tim Holland (Industry Liasison), Tom Inglis (Contemporary Country), Dobe Newton (Government Relations), Peter Simpson (Bush Ballads). Weblink – www.country.com.au. Groundwater festival wins gold The Queensland Gold Coast's Groundwater Country Music Festival has won gold at the Australian Tourism Awards. Annnounced in Canberra last night, the event won top honours in the Festivals & Events category from runner-up Tasmania's The Unconformity and NSW's Grazing Down The Lachlan in third place.
"I don’t think eight years ago anyone would have linked Broadbeach with country music and now it’s a well-known annual pilgrimage for fans all over Australia. The team worked so hard to make this festival work and we couldn’t be happier." The 2018 Groundwater Country Music Festival (formerly Broadbeach Country Music Festival) took out gold in the Festivals & Events category at the Queensland Tourism Awards in November, automatically putting it in the running to win the national award at the Australian Tourism Awards. As the tourism industry’s peak accolades, the Australian Tourism Awards acknowledge and promote excellence in tourism each year across 25 categories ranging from cultural tourism to destination marketing. Held across Broadbeach’s streets, parks, and bars for three days every July, patrons travel from Australia and overseas to attend Groundwater each year to soak up the sun while listening to some of the best and most diverse country acts in the world. Many patrons turn the free festival experience into a long weekend, taking advantage of Broadbeach’s dining, beaches and accommodation. Featured acts at the festival over the last two years have included Adam Harvey, Lee Kernaghan, The McClymonts and The Wolfe Brothers. Organisers say "Groundwater 2020 is set to be a scorcher this July with the recently announced line-up to include Kasey Chambers, Gina Jeffreys, Shannon Noll and the Sunny Cowgirls among 110 live music performances from nearly 50 acts on 15 stages across the three festival days, Friday July 24 to Sunday July 26. Groundwater Country Music Festival saw more than 70,000 people attend the three-day event last year. Photo: a part of the crowd at Groundwater 2020. Weblink – groundwatercmf.com. Big line-up at Penrith Truck Show A big entertainment line-up is included on the program for the 33rd Penrith Working Truck Show to be staged at the Museum of Fire on Sunday, March 29.
Compere will be "the singing firey" Dan Murphy. The show is regarded as a "must see" by local residents and the entire national transport industry with exhibits on display from states across the country and crowds who travel from all over to experience the show each year. Hundreds of vehicles will be on display, from B Doubles to custom trucks, "plastered with chrome detailing and spectacular airbrushing," according to a spokesman for the organisers. All this, "together with the outstanding collection of fire engines of the Museum." In addition to the truck displays and live entertainment, the show will have a large show rides, fairy floss, face painting and other activities for children, all included in the entry fee. Weblink – pwts.com.au. Queensland Award winners
Oh Harlow (Tiana Dennis and Briannah Dennis, pictured) won the Country award with their song, Give It A Miss. Busby Marou were successful in the Blues/Roots category with Naba Norem (The Reef Song). Australian music industy legend, Denis Handlin – Chairman & CEO, Australia & New Zealand and President, Asia, for Sony Music Entertainment – was presented with the QMusic Honorary Award. Weblink – queenslandmusicawards.com.au. Vale – Ted Hintz Tamworth and the country music and equine worlds have lost another of their pioneers with the death on Saturday night (February 29) of renowned broadcaster and rodeo announcer Ted Hintz.
Over the years, he became an extremely respected radio personality. He was inducted into the Country Music Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2014. Ted was equally well known in the equine world both as an events presenter and expert writer and commentator. Among many accolades he received over the decades was membership of the prestigious Cutting Horse Hall of Fame in recognition of his contributions to this sector of the industry. Janine Miles, one of Ted's many friends, said: "Ted was a larger than life character whose prodigious memory, vast experience and huge circle of friends gave him a remarkable presence in both horse and music circles." Ted was 85. Friends and family are organising a celebration service of his life and achievements to be held in Tamworth in the next few weeks. – Max Ellis Queensland Awards
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Subject in 2020, of course, to where pandemic-required restrictions may allow at the time.
Originally scheduled for April 28 at Sydney's International Convention Centre, the Awards format will change and be streamed exclusively on-line for the first time on Tuesday May 26.
"The music industry and those at its peripheries cannot survive without an alternative source of revenue that has disappeared along with live shows, a figure that has literally gone from 100 to 0 in under a week.
More cancellations are expected in the coming days.
Organisers are planning to reschedule the event, which was to be held next weekend at Willowbank, to October,
The new release has debuted at number two on this week’s Billboard Bluegrass album chart.
Fanny and her incredible band will launch the new album, Fallow, while raising much-needed funds for the community of Tooma, on March 14.
Meryl has also since been returned to her role of Secretary with Dobe Newton confirmed as President, Dan Biddle Chair, Natalie Waller Vice Chair and Ross Johnson Treasurer.
"This award is symbolic of the Gold Coast thinking outside the box," said Festival Director and Acting CEO of Broadbeach Alliance Mark Duckworth, who accepted the award.
In alphabetical order, stars of the day will be Brothers3, Blake O'Connor, Hype Band, Simply Bushed and The Wolfe Brothers (pictured).
Busby Marou and Oh Harlow have been named winners at this year's Queensland Music Awards.
Ted, who was already very well known for his activities at major rodeos and horse events around the nation, came to Tamworth in the late 1970s to work with the legendary John Minson on his "Hoedown" radio program on Radio 2TM.
The 2020 Queensland Music Awards will be staged in Brisbane's Fortitude Music Hall tomorrow night (Tuesday March 3).
