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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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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2019 Special video for Emma's The Drovers Emma Dykes has unveiled the video for her latest single The Drovers, a song inspired by a 4,500km fundraising adventure named The Drovers Run which Emma was asked to take part in as both a musician and Rural Emergency Nurse. The off-road 4WD journey raised money for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter. Emma, along with co-writer Matt O’Leary, asked participants to write down what the chopper meant to them and The Drovers was born.
“I’m very grateful,” Emma said, “because I wanted the clip to show a day in the life of the rescue staff. To show the important tasks they complete and just how emotionally invested they are. In a broader sense, both the song and the video are about the emergency services in general. They’re from all walks of life and do an incredible job. I also noticed they included a quick shot of me!” The Drovers marks the intersection of Emma's two professional passions: music and nursing. Golden Guitar winner Luke O’Shea commented that Emma's empathy and strength (essential to being a registered nurse) “transcends through her voice and into her beautiful songs”, while The Reviewers Inkpot noted that “her beautiful debut album Pay It Forward is nothing short of passionate, emotional, inspiring and honest”. The single Pay It Forward also placed fifth in the Country category of the Australian Songwriters Competition. It won Song of the Year at the Oz Country Downunder Blue Diamond Awards too, at which Emma earned a nod for Female Vocalist of the Year. With more than 4,500 kilometres behind her, Emma is set to continue her musical and nursing journey by land and air, "resuscitating people with her songwriting talent and unforgettable voice". Emma is currently on tour with a series of dates culminating during the upcoming Tamworth Country Music Festival. Weblink – www.emmadykes.com. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2019 Morgan wins 2019 Country ARIA
He snatched the honour from fellow finalists Lee Kernaghan (with Backroad Nation), Felicity Urquhart (Frozen Rabbit), Sara Storer (Raindance) and Charlie Collins (Snowpine). Things That We Drink to currently sits at number one on the all Austraian Country Albums Chart and number five on the ARIA Country Albums Chart after 58 weeks in. Paul Kelly won Best Adult Contemporary Album with Nature. The Awards were held in Sydney. Weblink – ariaawards.com.au. Gidgee winners Jeff Brown has taken top honours at this year's Gidgee Coal Bush Ballad Awards held at Pittsworth, Qld, winning or sharing in three award categories.
Laura Downing was announced as winner of the female vocal award for Home Is Waiting Here. Dianne Lindsay & Peter Simpson won in group or duo/collaboration for their song Out There. The instrumental award went to Lindsay Hammond with Big Gulf Rivers and Comedy/Novelty was won by Ashley Cook with Two Day Course. Gidgee Coal Awards "legend: status was conferred on Kev Groves and Bud Thomson & Lynne Bennett. Visit the Awards facebook page for more information.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2019 Country Spirit for bushfire victims Two major fund-raising concerts to benefit those on the frontline of the devastating bushfires sweeping NSW and Queensland will be staged in Gosford and Tamworth in coming weeks. Driven by Tamworth's Chris Watson and presented by Toyota Country Music Festival Tamworth, the concerts will run under Country 4 Our Country banner. Tickets are on sale now for both shows, with the first to be held at the West Tamworth League Club on Friday November 29, the second at the Central Coast Leagues Club on Sunday December 1.
Dozens of artists and organisations have come on board to support the concerts which will raise funds for The Salvation Army Disaster Appeal. Motivated by the plight of Australians facing unprecedented drought conditions prior to the outbreak of bushfires across the country, Chris Watson was determined to make a difference to affected communities.
“Losing lives, homes and our beautiful wildlife certainly makes you realise we have a lot of healing ahead. We are so thankful to those working on the frontline including firefighters and it’s times like these that the Aussie country spirit is needed more than ever.” The first artist to put his hand up in support and join the line up was multi-award winning star Travis Collins (pictured). “What I love most about being Australian is that we all chip in and help our mates, neighbours, or even strangers when they're having a rough time… it’s who we are,” he said. “These latest bushfires have cost many Aussies their homes, their livelihoods and sadly for some, their loved ones. So whilst our brave emergency services and volunteers continue to work to bring these fires under control, we’ll be rolling up our sleeves and doing what we know, helping through music. I hope that everyone can get behind us, as we all get behind those who need us right now.” Travis will be joined in Tamworth by Catherine Britt (pictured), Ashleigh Dallas (pictured), Rex Dallas, Brooke Lambert, Dan Murphy, Aleyce Simmonds and special guests. At Gosford, he’ll be joined by stars including Catherine Britt, Mike Carr, Darren Coggan, Ashleigh Dallas, Buddy Goode, the Viper Creek Band and special guests. Country 4 Our Country is supported by Chris Watson Travel, Australian Community Media, Thrifty, West Tamworth League Club, Central Coast Leagues Club, Today’s Country 94.1 and 2TM/92.9FM. Tickets can be purchased via the venue websites in Tamworth, www.wtlc.com.au and Gosford, www.cclc.com.au. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2019 Star Maker 2020 finalists Finalists have been announced for the 2020 Toyota Star Maker Quest. They are (from left below)... El Cosgrove (from Dalby, Qld), Hannah May (Mount Cotton, Qld), Zoey Mills (Mackay, Qld), Leigha Moore (Sunshine Coast, Qld), Juliet Oliver (McLaren Vale, SA); and (from left at bottom)... Taylor Pfeiffer (Adelaide, SA), Clancy Pye (Orange, NSW), Chloe Styler (Gold Coast, Qld), Jarred Taylor (Tamworth, NSW) and Sammy White (Townsville, Qld).
The 10 will come together to vie for Australia's most significant country music talent search in January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival. Next year will be the 41st staging of the event which has been responsible for launching the careers of numerous Australian country stars including Kirsty Lee Akers, Lyn Bowtell, James Blundell, Darren Coggan, Beccy Cole, Travis Collins, Gina Jeffreys, Lee Kernaghan and Keith Urban. The competition grand final will be held at Country Music Capital's Bicentennial Park on Sunday January 18. Weblink – www.starmaker.com.au. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2019 Andrew named Ambassador for the Dog on the Tuckerbox Country star Andrew Swift has been named the official Ambassador for the iconic Dog on the Tuckerbox at Gundagai (NSW).
“I’m truly honoured and absolutely stoked with the (Cootamundra Gundagai Regional) Council’s decision to make me ambassador for Gundagai’s beloved dog,” Andrew said. “It is definitely a title I will wear with pride… it means a lot to me and I hope that I can make the locals proud with my representation for their Dog on the Tuckerbox in all my travels both nationally and abroad. “I once made a sweeping statement that I’m pretty sure it’s illegal to not stop and get a photo with the Dog on the Tuckerbox.” The Dog on the Tuckerbox concept came from the poem ‘Bullocky Bill’ published anonymously in the mid 1800s under the nom de plume "Bowyang Yorke"... The poem became the inspiration for the 1937 song Where The Dog Sits On The Tuckerbox by Jack O’Hagan. O’Hagan also wrote On The Road To Gundagai in 1922. Among popular covers of the song was a version by the Howie brothers band 1901 which won them the Vocal Group of the Year Golden Guitar in 1980. Weblink – www.andrewswift.com.au. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2019 Golden Guitar finalists 2020 Finalists in the 2020 Toyota Golden Guitars were announced in Sydney today. Lee Kernaghan, Sara Storer and Felicity Urquhart lead the finalist nomination count, Lee and Felicity with eight each, Sara with seven.
For Album of the Year... Morgan Evans with Things That We Drink To (producer Chris De Stefano), Lee Kernaghan with Backroad Nation (Lindsay Rimes), Amber Lawrence with Spark (Stuart Stuart), Sara Storer with Raindance (Matt Fell) and Felicity Urquhart with Frozen Rabbit (Glen Hannah). For Alt-Country Album of the Year... Kevin Bennett & The Flood with Blood Red Ties (producer Glen Hannah), Brad Butcher with Travelling Salesman (Matt Fell), Hayley Marsten with Spetacular Heartbreak (Matt Fell), Jenny Mitchell with Wildfires (Matt Fell) and Michael Waugh with The Weir (Shane Nicholson). For Contemporary Album of the Year... Busby Marou with The Great Divide (producer Oscar Dawson), Cornell and Carr with We Go Way Back (Matt Fell), Morgan Evans with Things That We Drink To (Chris De Stefano), Amber Lawrence with Spark (Stuart Stuart) and Lee Kernaghan with Backroad Nation (Lindsay Rimes). For Traditional Album of the Year... Ashleigh Dallas with Reflection (producer Brett Dallas), Angus Gill with Welcome To My Heart (Angus Gill), Gina Jeffreys with Beautiful Tangle (Rod McCormack), Sara Storer with Raindance (Matt Fell) and Felicity Urquhart with Frozen Rabbit (Glen Hannah). For Male Artist of the Year... Brad Butcher, Morgan Evans, Lee Kernaghan, Blake O'Connor and and Michael Waugh. For Female Artist of the Year... Ashleigh Dallas, Gina Jeffreys, Amber Lawrence, Sara Storer and Felicity Urquhart. For Group or Duo of the Year... Kevin Bennett & The Flood, Busby Marou, Cornell & Carr, Jetty Road and The Viper Creek Band, For Song of the Year... Backroad Nation by Lee Kernaghan (writers Lee Kernaghan, Colin Buchanan, Garth Porter, Lindsay Rimes, Phil Barton), Chain Of Joy by Felicity Urquhart (Felicity Urquhart & Kim Richey), Raindance by Sara Storer (Sara Storer, Greg Storer), Rusty Strings by Brad Cox (Brad Cox/Jackson Besley) and Sing Me A Story by Luke O'Shea & Lyn Bowtell (Luke O'Shea, Felicity Urquhart). For Vocal Collaboration of the Year... Next Year People by Sara Storer and Colin Hay, Second Hand by Andrew Swift and Gretta Ziller, Sing Me A Story by Luke O'Shea and Lyn Bowtell, Slow It Down by Felicity Urquhart featuring Karl Broadie and Till It Ends by Lee Kernaghan with The Wolfe Brother. For Bush Ballad of the Year... Country Copper by Allan Caswell (written by Allan Caswell & Manfred Vijars), The Drovers Friend by John O’Dea (John O'Dea), His Last Cattle Drive by Dean Perrett (Carmelo Cacciola), Knights Of The Saddle by Graham Rodger (Graham Rodger) and More Times Than I Remember by Jeff Brown (Jeff Brown & Kelly & Marian Dixon). For Heritage Song of the Year... Freshwater Lady by Brad Butcher (written by Brad Butcher & Vaughan Jones), Hayrunner by Sara Storer (Sara Storer), Sing Me A Story by Luke O'Shea & Lyn Bowtell (Luke O'Shea, Felicity Urquhart), The Trucks Came Through by Lee Kernaghan (Lee Kernaghan, Colin Buchanan, Garth Porter) and Where The Fruit Hangs Low by Felicity Urquhart with Shanley Del (Felicity Urquhart, Mick Thomas). For Instrumental of the Year... The Balcony Bunch by Michael Fix, Bridle Track by Mickey Pye, Death Mountain Run by Mustered Courage, Gallaghers Lane by Phil Emmanuel with Jacob Funnell and Timeless Traveller by Rod McCormack. For Bluegrass Recording of the Year... Bad Politics by Allan Caswell, Bled Me Dry by The Hillbilly Goats, Home Of Lost Lovers (The Ballad Of Glen Turner) by Mustered Courage, Shimmers by Rod McCormack and Yesterday's Heartache by Kristy Cox. For New Talent of the Year... Casey Barnes, The Buckleys, Sinead Burgess, Blake O'Connor and Seaforth. For Video Clip of the Year... Backroad Nation by Lee Kernaghan (director Jay Seeney), Chain Of Joy by Felicity Urquhart (Glen Hannah), Hey Brother by The Wolfe Brothers (Jay Seeney), Raindance by Sara Storer (Duncan Toombs) and Real Men Don’t Cry (War on Pride) by Fanny Lumsden (Dan Stanley Freeman & Fanny Lumsden). For Single of the Year... Backroad Nation by Lee Kernaghan, Chain Of Joy by Felicity Urquhart, Hey Brother by The Wolfe Brothers, Rusty Strings by Brad Cox and Young Again by Morgan Evans. Golden Guitar winners will be determined, in most categories, by a vote of Country Music Association of Australia Professional Members and will be announced in Tamworth on Saturday, January 25. In addition to the judged and voted categories, an award is also presented to the top selling Australian country music album for 2019. Weblink – country.com.au. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2019 Multi award-winning singer/songwriter Genni Kane – ex Flying Emus, The Kanes and The Trio – has released a new album titled Songs From The Kitchen Table. Released in September, the album has "12 tracks of family, friends, Genni’s beloved village of Millthorpe, and acquaintances she’s met along the way," according to a spokesman. “The album is a trip through all the stuff you do at your kitchen table – at a surface level, it’s friends and family and the music we play around our table, but it’s also those conversations, the meal you have with someone where you find out what’s important to them or share funny stories,” Genni said.
Even after decades of writing and recording songs as a solo artist and an integral member of bands, Genni said it was a thrill when a listener felt her songs were also their stories. “They are not just my stories, but other people’s stories, too,” she said. “It’s really lovely when someone comes up and says they feel a song is about them.” Produced by her brother John Kane and mastered by Jeff McCormack, the album features the musicianship of Genni, John, Genni’s husband Jon Wilby, Christian Prusiak, Syd Green, and harmonies and a duet with Smith & Jones. “As a body of work, I’m quite proud of these songs because I feel a real connection to all the stories,” Genni said. Genni's previous album Selfies was dedicated to her friend Naomi whom she lost prior to the release of the album. Songs From The Kitchen Table is dedicated to her late father-in-law, James, who is immortalised in the final song on the album, The Captain Of The Ship. “Jim was a big part of our lives and the loss of him is still very raw,” Genni said. “His was a different experience of war than what we normally hear about in Australia where we are very much focused on the Anzac story, as we should be. But there are other stories from other cultures we should know, too. By writing the song, I was just trying to express my love for him, but also give a vehicle for his story to be told.” As an artist, Genni said her greatest goal was to be happy with the music she was producing, and this album ticked the boxes for her. “It’s the songwriting part of it that I love the most. When you get to that point and the song is done. You can hold it, and know that it’s ready and you can gently put it down and let it out into the world,” she said. Weblink – gennikane.com.au. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019 Golden Guitar finalist announcement Finalists for the 2020 Golden Guitar Awards will be announced in Sydney on Tuesday (November 19).
The event will be live-streamed via the Festival facebook page here. Details for Tamworth 2020 are being released progressively. One of the latest items is the artist roster for the Festival Official Opening Concert on Friday evening, January 17. Stars of the show will include Lyn Bowtell, Adam Brand, Ashleigh Dallas, Buddy Knox, The Long & Short Of It, Blake O'Connor and Andrew Swift. Reigning Tamworth Busking Champion Rhys Crimmin will also appear, together with students and tutors from the 2020 Academy of Country Music. Weblink – www.tcmf.com.au. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2019 Golden Guitar winner Tom Curtain will release his latest album –We’re Still Here – on Friday (November 15). The album follows the release of the title track in September which “sings up” the lifestyle of country people.
“We were travelling through Central Queensland on the Speak Up Tour and everything was in drought,” Tom said. “It was terrible. And then, weeks later coming back through, it was heartbreaking to see how the floods had decimated the land, the animals and affected the communities. “I was very passionate about it and felt I had to get the message out there – these farmers and communities are facing all these hardships including droughts, floods and fires, and it is so soul-destroying, but they are supporting each other and bouncing back, one foot in front of the other.” Tom mixed deeper tracks and story songs on the new work “with rocking numbers that will have fans taking to the dance floor” according to a spokesman. But “the theme of celebrating Australia and our unique way of life flows throughout.” “Overall, I wanted to bring a smile to people listening to certain songs and inspire people out there battling to hold on and speak up in times of hardship,” Tom said. “I love storytelling and there’s a few good yarns in there as well.” The singer-songwriter said he wanted to inspire and uplift his listeners through the songs about his life, his journey and the “great people who make up this amazing country out here”. “We’re Still Here is definitely one of my favourites as it depicts the struggles the people and communities face living in rural Australia,” Tom said. Moving through the tracks, Tom’s songs take listeners from the Kimberley to his home state of the Northern Territory through to Central Queensland and back again with something for his fans of all ages. “Raised Up Right and his 2018 hit Speak Up contain positive messages we can all learn from, while Hitchhiker tells the story of how Tom met his wife, Annabel, when he was at his lowest point, and Mannuem Falls reflects on childhood memories of adventures had with his brothers growing up near Kumbia, Queensland.” One of the highlights of the album is She Gave Us The Song, a tribute to Joy McKean which sees Tom joined by Lee Kernaghan and Sara Storer on the recording. The song was written by Garth Porter and Kelly Dixon. After the release of his 2017 hit album Territory Time, Tom, Annabel, their horses, dogs (“and a few ducks”) and their team toured from the Territory through Western Australia and followed this with an extensive tour from the Territory through Western and Central Queensland, NSW and Victoria in 2018/2019. The team will be joined by Tom and Annabel’s first born Harry Hugo on his 2019/2020 tour which will take in some of the most remote parts of Australia to the coast. Tom’s shows comprise an hour of horse and working dog demonstrations followed by an hour of live music with special guests. “It’s an enormous buzz to see the people coming together and I love seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces when they see the dogs,” Tom said. “People love the interaction with the animals and feel like they get extra value from the training tips we share. It’s a very hands-on experience for the kids but also an important opportunity to bring the community together and check-in on one another.” Weblink – www.tomcurtain.com.au. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2019 The Sheik now officially iconic Chad Morgan's I'm The Sheik Of Scrubby Creek is among 10 works announced today as additions to the National Film & Sound Archive's register of culturally and historically important sound recordings that have helped shape the nation's culture.
The new titles added today include The Man From Snowy River by Leonard Teale (1956), You're The One That I Want by Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta, written by Australian musician John Farrar (1978), Up There, Cazaly by The Two-Man Band (1979) and You're The Voice by John Farnham (1986). Chad was discovered on Australia’s Amateur Hour, a radio talent contest, where he sang The Sheik (his original song) and was named a finalist. He subsequently released the song through Regal Zonophone Records (a subsidiary of EMI) in 1952. It was a hit and became his signature song. Chad toured Australia in the 1950s with the Slim Dusty Show and the All Star Western He has since released more than 20 albums and, at the age of 86, is still performing and touring around Australia. He was inducted into the Tamworth Hands of Fame in 1979, the Roll of Renown in 1987 and received the Kempsey Living Legend Award in 2002, the Order of Australia Medal in 2004 and a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Golden Guitar Awards Sounds of Australia additions are taken from nominations by members of the public. Weblink – www.nfsa.gov.au/about/our-mission/sounds-australia. Matt promotes mental health awareness Rising Australian country star Matt Ward is raising awareness of rural mental wellbeing with his new single Better Man. For the South Australian artist, songwriting is all about connecting with and moving people, and nowhere is this more evident than Better Man.
“He tried to make things work on his farm… however as things got harder and harder his wife and kids ended up leaving and moving to Melbourne. He dug his heels and unfortunately eventually lost the farm, his family, everything” Matt said. “He was clearly very upset and was saying he had, had suicidal thoughts, so I wrote the song from that story.” Better Man is released on Matt’s number one album Heartland. “It’s an appropriate time to release the song and I hope to use the release to raise awareness for mental wellbeing, particularly in regional areas,” he said. “The video expresses that sentiment, too, and all album sales through October and November and all streams will be donated to the Black Dog Institute.” The Black Dog Institute has endorsed the song and Matt wants to help destigmatise mental health issues by talking about the story of Better Man and mental health awareness in itself. “Talking about it may just encourage people to think about checking in on each other.” The song already evokes plenty of emotions at live shows, with plenty of listeners being able to relate to it," Matt said. “The story behind it is connecting with people and that’s exactly what I want out of my music. Weblink – www.mattwardmusic.com. Rachael success Rachael Fahim – the winner of Toyota Star Maker 2017 – has released the third single from her latest album Iconic and has gained the attention of some metro media.
Her latest single – Even If I Wanted To – is reportedly the fifth most added (and number one Australian most added) song alongside the likes of pop stars Harry Styles and Zayn. Featured by Apple Music globally last week and appearing on major Spotify playlists, the single features fellow Star Maker winner Brad Cox and has collected more than 400,000 streams in its first month with all tracks from Iconic now collectively more than 4 million streams. This follows Rachael's achievement of last year where she was the highest streamed Australian female country artist of the year. The number surpassed 3 million recently. Rachael has also teamed up with fellow country starlet Missy Lancaster in a new side-project under the name Southbound, an all-female country rock spectacular planned to be tour nationally early next year. Rachael's Iconic was released in September. Even If I Wanted To is the third single release following Brake Lights and Crush. Although described as an EP, with seven tracks, the work fits the ARIA definition for an album (six or more tracks). Weblink – www.rachaelfahim.com. |
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Morgan Evans has won the 2019 ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) Award for Best Country Album with his hit release Things That We Drink To.
He won the album award for More Times Than I Remember, the title track also winning him the male vocal title and he shared songwriter accolades with Kelly & Marion Dixon for After January Rains.
“I’m very proud to be a part of this appeal. The drought has already tested the resilience of many, and now to see communities face the threat of these intense bushfires is gut wrenching,” he said.
The Dog was recently restored after being vandalised earlier this year.
The full list is...
“Each of the songs are physically talking about that situation and, in a sense, they’re all linked by the fact they were written here (at the table) and talked about and discovered here as well.”
The announcement will combine with the official launch of the 48th Toyota Tamworth Country Music Festival.
Tom’s 2018/2019 tours inspired more songs that appear on We’re Still Here, a spokesman said, including the title track, a co-write with his award-winning producer Garth Porter.
Known as Sounds of Australia, the register now numbers almost 150 and includes songs, in chronological order, like Wrap Me Up In My Stockwhip & Blanket by Tex Morton, The Adventure Of The Singing Bullet by Smoky Dawson, A Pub With No Beer by Slim Dusty, I Remember You by Frank Ifield, 
The single tells the true story of a farmer Matt heard interviewed on the radio in 2012, telling his story of hardship during the Millennium drought.
According to reports, Rachael has become the first Australian country artist since Morgan Evans to "break" metropolitan commercial radio.
