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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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Gidgee Bush Ballad Awards finalists Finalists for the 2019 Gidgee Coal Bush Ballad Awards – now named in memory of the late Alan Luscombe – have been announced. For the Female Vocal award, Laura Downing with Home is Waiting Here, Dianne Lindsay with The Bridge and Anita Ree with Sweet Sugar Cane.
For Group or Duo/Collaboration, finalists are Gary Ellis & Tessa Libreri with I’ll Be Home Soon, Laura Downing & Glenn Jones with Rolling Wagons and Dianne Lindsay & Peter Simpson with Out There. For Instrumental, Terry Bennetts & Ginger Cox with Slim Dusty Medley, Lindsay Hammond with Big Gulf Rivers and Peter Simpson with When The Currawongs Come Down. For Album, Best Picker Collection by Peter Simpson, The Guardian by Laura Downing and More Times Than I Remember by Jeff Brown. For the Songwriter award, Jeff Brown & Kelly Dixon with After January Rains, Dianne Lindsay & Peter Simpson with Out There and John O’Dea with Back In Birdsville. For Comedy/Novelty, Jeff Brown with Tomorrow, Ashley Cook –with Two Day Course and Bruce Lavender with Wild Ride. Organisters thanked all artists who nominated for this year's Awards. Winners will be announced at the Pittsworth Town Hall on Sunday November 17. The annual finalists concert will be held the day before at the Pittsworth Town Hall. Visit the facebook page for more information.
Vale – Roger Cardwell Well known South Australian radio presenter, actor, reporter and musician Roger Cardwell has died aged 85.
Roger became a household name in a five-decade media career which saw him front news bulletins for all major Adelaide commercial television networks. The former journalist was also a newsreader for 5AD-FM and 5DN from 1985 to 1998. His ex-wife and former Channel 9 weather presenter Sue Cardwell announced Roger’s death on Facebook saying that he “lives on in all of us”. In the 1960s, Roger was host and performer for Nine’s national TV show Country & Western Hour and Channel 7’s Country Style. He has been recognised by Australia's Country Music Hall of Fame as a pioneer of country music television. Roger had survived two heart attacks. He was diagnosed with blood cancer two months ago and during scans doctors also discovered he had lung cancer. New operator for Hall of Fame The Australian Country Music Foundation (ACMF) and Tamworth Regional Council have come to an agreement that will see Council take over the day to day running of the Hall of Fame in Country Music Capital. The agreement was confirmed by Council on Tuesday night after many months of discussion and workshops to determine the best possible future for the museum.
Originally located in the former Tamworth Mechanics Institute in the city’s Brisbane Street, the Hall of Fame moved to the site of the previous Tamworth Visitor Information Centre at the corner of Peel Street and the New England Highway in 2015. The Visitor Information Centre was moved to the Big Golden Guitar on the Sydney Road at the same time. Foundation President Eric Scott said it was paramount to be able to preserve the internationally recognised archive and collection at the Hall of Fame.
Council will also be key in future management of the collection because of its expertise in preserving and showcasing valuable collections through its galleries and museums. Country Music Festival founder and Hall of Fame Patron Max Ellis said it was a huge win for the country music community. "I am delighted to see this happening. It will pay big dividends for the community and the festival as it grows and develops in different ways." Tamworth Mayor Col Murray said the current volunteers and their vast knowledge would not be lost in the takeover. "It is not to displace the volunteers, but to work with them and ensure the facility continues," he said. "We need to ensure it's a part of the landscape indefinitely into the future." There was also a ringing endorsement of the agreement from Australia's first lady of country music Joy McKean. "I am delighted to hear Tamworth Regional Council is becoming involved in the operation of the wonderful Country Music Hall of Fame and the ongoing preservation and expansion of the ACMF's unmatched country music archive and collection," she said. "I congratulate the Mayor Col Murray, Councillors, staff and all involved at the ACMF for reaching this agreement which will ensure these priceless country music artefacts will be cared for and preserved for decades to come." Weblink – www.countrymusichalloffame.com.au. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2019 Leading Australian songwriter Garry Koehler has lost his battle with cancer at age 64.
Born in Albury on May 23, 1955, the lead singer of the award-winning group The Bobkatz wrote about anything from red top tables and cars to celebrations of places and tributes to people. Garry’s undeniable love of family was a constant theme in his writing, a fact which reflected the man in full, according to his best friend and Bobkatz co-founder Rob Mackay. "Gaz was a kind and gentle man," Rob told the ABC’s Scott Lamond. "Everyone I've spoken to says they've never met a nicer guy." Rob first met Garry in a blues club when the pair were picked to play in a band with Phil Manning of Chain (an Australian blues band formed in the late 1960s) fame. As The Bobkatz, Garry and Rob played cover gigs in Hervey Bay, but before too long it became clear it was Garry's original songs audiences wanted to hear. They received national airplay of their debut single The Man In The Picture released in 2006. The Bobkatz became country music festival favourites. They won national awards at Mildura and were nominated for Golden Guitars in Tamworth. In 2010, The Bobkatz won Contemporary Song of the Year and Best Country Song of the Year for The Writer at the national Tamworth Songwriters Association Awards. Earlier this year, singer/songwriters Kevin Bennett, Michael Bryers, Brad Butcher, Allan Caswell, Kelly Cork, Sarah Koehler, Craig Lamond, Sam Maddison, Luke O’Shea and Michael Waugh joined Rob to record a tribute version of The Writer to Garry. The recording received widespread airplay. The Bobkatz have released seven studio albums and 12 music videos and scored several national number one singles on country charts. In a post on their facebook page, Rob said: “… we have been working on a new album for the last couple of years and Garry has completed his parts on some great new songs so we will be able to share the finished product next year when its complete. “I will try to have a single out as soon as I can as I think there will be no better way to remember Garry than by sharing his as yet unpublished work.” TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2019
Nominees have been announced for the fourth annual Live Music Awards. In the country category, they are Kasey Chambers, The Waifs, The Weeping Willows, The Wilds and The Wolfe Brothers. Of other "country" interest is the Guitarist category which includes Tommy Emmanuel. Winners will be announced "around Australia" on Wednesday December 4. Weblink – www.nlmas.com.au. MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2019 Winners have been announced for this year’s Tasmanian Country Music Awards which provide recognise in state and national categories.
Artist of the Year – Destiny Band Oz (pictured); Female Artist of the Year – Emma Jene; Male Artist of the Year (a double award this year) – Don Allen and Casey Barnes; Songwriter – Casey Barnes; Band of the Year – The Howie Brothers; Duo/Collaboration – Don Allen & Deidre Bentley; Country Album of the Year – The Good Life by Casey Barnes; Bush Ballad Album of the Year – Believe In Me by Garry Ellis; Rising Star award – Phoebe Jay. In the state categories, the winners were… Male Artist – Dean Richardson; Female Artist – Debbie Parry; Rising Star (two awards) – Katelin Jones and Montana Lipscombe; Most Popular New Talent – Chez Clarke; Songwriter of the Year – Debbie Parry; Band of the Year – Wild Rose. In Tasmanian broadcast categories… Most Popular DJ – Nigel Jones; Most Popular Station – TYGA FM 98.9; Most Popular Request Program – Sunday Night Country on Coast FM; Most Popular Program – Top 40 Country on TYGA FM. Other accolades announced… Lifetime Radio Award for Outstanding long time service to country music – Ray Hewitt and Scott Shaw(TYGA FM), Meroli & Peter Wicks (Coast FM); Most Popular Pure Australian Content Show – Australian Country (City Park Radio 103.7); Radio Volunteer of the Year – John Hay and Diana Langley; International Artist of the Year – Michael Lusk (USA). The Awards were held in New Norfolk and featured performances from artists including Allan Caswell, Aly Cook, Destiny Band Oz and Emma Jene. Artist of the Year winners Destiny Band Oz (husbane and wife duo Tessa & Thomas Libreri) said they were thrilled to once again be in the spotlight at the Tasmanian Awards after winning the National Band title last year.
Burra festival coming up The 2019 Burra AGL Country Music Festival will be staged from Friday November 15 to and including Sunday November 17.
The event will also feature emcee Tracey Rains, with the Claypan band return favourites.
A variety of food, refreshments, market stalls and displays will also be a feature, together with "fun on-the-spot quizzes". "We will have free wifi for are patrons and Eftpos for purchases." The festival will be staged in the unique surrounds of the historic Burra showgrounds, two hours north east of Adelaide. Powered and unpowered camping is available on-site (limited powered) and there are many accommodation options to choose from in the town (visit www.visitburra.com). Further information can be obtained by telephoning 0428 922 614. Weblink – www.burracountrymusicfestival.com. New from Little Lord Street Western Australia's alt country Little Lord Street Band has released the second single from their upcoming debut album.
The album is due out later this year. "Where Are We, written by Tash whilst parked up at 80-mile beach (coastal North West), is the sum of thoughts flying around after five weeks on the road and a case of the ol cabin fever (The Holden Commodore Chronicles) asking, where are you, where are we?" the band said. Little Lord Street Band have been nominated for Best Country Act in the 2019 WAM (West Australian Music) Awards, alongside Ralway Bell, Savanah & The Strays and Helen Townsend (winner to be announced October 31 in Perth). They won the award last year and in 2017 and Waking Up Next to You – the first single from the band's third EP – was named WAM's 2018 Song Of The Year (Country). The band is currently undertaking an extensive tour through NSW, Tasmania, Victoria and, of course, WA. Weblink – www.thelittlelordstreetband.com. Aaron wins a Josie Australia’s Aaron D’Arcy has won this year's Rising Star Americana Josie award.
More than 20,000 submissions were received in the 2019 Josie Awards which is billed as the largest independent artist award show globally. Since launching in 2015, the all-genre Awards have been held at a number of locations including Nashville. This year’s event was held at Dollywood in Pigeon Forde, Tennessee. They are organised and staged by the Josie Network, operated by broadcaster Josie Passantino and award-winning business manager Tinamarie Passantino. Previous Australian winners have included Alan & Trace who took out the Traditional/Classic Country Duo/Group of the Year award last year. Webinks – facebook.com/aarondarcymusic • www.josiemusicawards.com. ARIA Awards finalists Finalists have been announced for the 2019 ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) Awards. In the Best Country Album category, they are Backroad Nation by Lee Kernaghan, Frozen Rabbit by Felicity Urquhart, Raindance by Sara Storer, Snowpine by Charlie Collins and Things That We Drink To by Morgan Evans. Another finalist with a country connection is Paul Kelly (for Best Male Artist, Best Adult Contemporary Album with Nature and for Best Blues or Roots Album with Live At The Opera House). Award winners will be announced in Sydney on Wednesday November 27. Weblink – ariaawards.com.au. Special award for Joy The first lady of Australian country music – Joy McKean – was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Australian Women in Music Awards in Brisbane last night.
As well as writing many of husband Slim Dusty's best known hit songs, Joy is one of the founders of the Tamworth Country Music Festival and the Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA). She told Billboard magazine: "I’m so pleased with the progress of country music in Australia and the fact women are playing such a big part in it. ”Women now are writing what they want to write and they’re singing it loud and clear." The Seekers' Judith Durham was named the second to be elevated to the Awards Honour Roll, joining Helen Reddy who was the first to be honoured at last year's inaugural Awards. In other Awards... Dami Im was named winner of the Humanitarian award for her significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education, and/or assisting female artists working in remote and/or regional communities. Fellow finalists in this category were Alison Hams and Lindy Morrison. Christine Anu won the Diversity in Music and Artistic Excellence Awards, Virginia Read the Studio Production Award, Laurie May the Live Production Award, Sue Telfer the Music Leadership Award, Mojo Juju the Songwriter Award, Alice Skye the Emerging Artist Award, Tashi Hall the Music Photograher and Film-maker Awards, Caroline Almonte, the Excellence in Classical Music Award, Ange McCormack the Music Journalist Award, Melaine Knight the Excellence in Image Making Award and Katie Noonan won the Creative Leadership Award. A major tribute concert for the Joy is scheduled in Tamworth in January with an all star lineup appearing (see story here). Joy is one of the nation's most prolific and successaful songwriters. Among her many accolades is the distinction of being awarded the very first Golden Guitar ever presented. Concert tickets cam be purchased here. Weblink – womeninmusicawards.com.au. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2019 Dorrigo festival The Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival will be staged on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 25, 26 and 27. Organisers say the event will proceed despite recent bush fires near the Dorrigo Plateau.
This was especially important as the Festival “will bring much needed happiness to the Dorrigo township. “Thankfully, we’ve had a little bit of rain,” they said, “and while we’d rather a lovely sunny spring-time festival, we are hoping for some more.” Organisers have also announced they have made available a Bush Fire Relief Ticket Special for residents of the 2453 postcode for residents and fire fighting volunteers. The ticket special will be available until next Friday, October 18. The Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival boasts more than 40 individual acts including a number of overseas guests. This will be the 18th event which is described as “an acoustic weekend of concerts, workshops, jamming, dancing and more, focused on old-time, bluegrass and folk traditions”. “It’s a family friendly festival and we encourage participation from all ages,” organisers say. “We are dedicated to sharing our love of music.” The event is held every year at the Dorrigo Showgrounds. Weblink – www.dorrigofolkbluegrass.com.au. Southern Stars winners Winners of the 2019 Australian Independent Country Music Awards were announced in Mildura last night.
Bush Ballad of the Year – Dust Of Australia by Tom Maxwell, Group/Duo of the Year – Carter & Carter with Together We Can, Rising Star Female – Kiara Rodrigues with Pretty Baby Blues, Album of the Year – Like A Rhinestone Cowboyby Darren Coggan, Male Vocalist of the Year – Darren Coggan with The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress, Female Vocalist of the Year – Dianne Lindsay with Paddy's Soul, Single of the Year – Together We Can by Carter & Carter, Australian Independent Artist of the Year – Carter & Carter. Photo (by Robmac): Dianne Lindsay with her award. Weblink – www.milduracountrymusic.com.au. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2019 Star Maker entry deadline extended The entry deadline for Australia's most significant talent search – Toyota Star Maker – has been extended to Wednesday October 16. Star Maker has been the crucial launching pad for some of Australia’s newest and biggest country stars including Kirsty Lee Akers, Kaylee Bell, James Blundell, Lyn Bowtell, Beccy Cole, Travis Collins, Brad Cox, Lee Kernaghan, Blake O’Connor and Keith Urban.
“Toyota Star Maker has a responsibility to deliver a new winner who is not only the ‘next big thing’ but who also becomes an automatic ambassador for the Australian country music industry,” said Co-ordinator Cheryl Brown. "We want someone who is already making a considerable impact in country music, who has the country music x-factor, is driven and articulate, motivated and talented and someone who lives country music," she said. "Brad Cox, the 2018 winner, is a perfect example of this, having signed with Mirror Music Group under the management of Kurt Bailey and inked an exclusive worldwide recording deal with Sony Music Entertainment Australia in August, just 18 months after winning Star Maker." Brad received two Golden Guitar nominations for his debut self-titled album at this year’s Golden Guitar Awards. During his Star Maker year, he supported Australian superstar Lee Kernaghan on tour, toured with Adam Eckersley and Brooke McClymont, sold out his own shows, and played everything from caravan parks to pubs, clubs and major festivals including CMC Rocks and the Gympie Music Muster. To date, in his own right, Brad has amassed more than 3.5 million combined global streams. "This year’s winner, Blake O’Connor, has taken advantage of every moment of his reign performing at festivals, touring with The McClymonts and creating his own opportunities," Cheryl said. Former winners Beccy Cole and Travis Collins are the current Australian Female and Male Artist of the Year title holders from the Golden Guitars. Preliminary judging for Star Maker 2020 takes place in the first week of November with finalists announced in December. The Toyota Star Maker Grand Final will be held in Tamworth as a part of the January country music festival during the opening weekend on Sunday January 19. Weblink – www.starmaker.com.au. Aussie country beginning to make a metro mark Australian country music is finally starting to make a dent in metro markets.
As one measure of country music airplay in Australia, the chart showed that two new acts – The Buckleys (Daydream) and Darlinghurst (Sorry Won’t Get You Back) – were “in a tight battle” for the top spot. Nashville based Aussie duo Seaforth hit number three this week with Love That and Amber Lawrence’s Heart (from her latest album Spark) was at number four. A spokesman for one metropolitan based digital platform told The Music Network: “We are witnessing a new generational movement towards country music. “You are seeing country music consistently impact the wider mainstream charts, via collaboration, genre cross-pollination, and just great, well written and produced songs.” He also said the quality of Aussie country at the moment is "up there with the best in the world". Most people who work in the Australian country music industry know the quality has been there for decades, it’s just now, some elements of metropolitan radio are beginning to catch up. Many industry pundits put local product up with the best from overseas for most of this time, suffering a lack of attention only through the sheer weight of the foreign music marketing dollar and numbers in the larger markets. Country music in Australia sees many thousands of fans attending live music events and solo performance supporting hundreds of artists ranging from traditional bush balladeers through to pop country crossover artists. On this website’s festivals and events page, more than 145 separate events are currently listed, an average of almost three every week. And that includes massive events like the Tamworth Country Music Festival (billed as the biggest music festival in Australia) the Gympie Muster, Mildura Country Music Festival and CMC Rocks which, combined, have aggregate attendances of more than half a million. This combines with the prolific output of the industry – dozens of new albums and hundreds of singles and videos already been released this year with many more to come – to show the great strength and depth of Australian country music. Album chart action is also an indicator. In the weekly chart of Australian country albums published this week by The Bulletin using data from ARIA and iTunes, four new albums are appearing for the first time... Because We Can by Jetty Road at number one, Welcome To My Heart by Angus Gill at number two, Aussie As by Matt Scullion and Purple Sky by Lucky Oceans. This on top of regular strong sellers Adam Brand, Kasey Chambes, Troy Cassar-Daley, Morgan Evans, Adam Harvey, Lee Kernaghan, Amber Lawrence Keith UrbanJohn Williamson and The Wolfe Brothers. |
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For Male Vocal, finalists are Jeff Brown with More Times than I Remember, Ashley Cook with The Five Stars and Bruce Lavender with Riding Out the Storm. 
Described as a giant of Adelaide’s music and media scene, The Sunday Mail reported the former television and radio presenter passed away at a nursing home on Saturday morning succumbing to cancer.
Concern had been expressed that the facility would be difficult to maintain based purely on volunteer management and staffing which has been the case since the Hall of Fame was established by the ACMF in the mid 1990s.
Best known for penning The Man In The Picture, Garry died at his family home near Hervey Bay on Monday.
Live Music Awards nominations
In the national categories, winners…
Now in its sixth consecutive year, this year's event will feature stars including Billy Bridge, Allan Caswell (pictured), Peter Coad & The Coad Sisters, Sandi Dodd, Dwayn Elix, Jim Hermel & Runaway Dixie, Drew McAlister, Kiara Mercer, Rebecca Lee Nye, Seleen McAlister and The Twilight Zone.
"There’s plenty on offer for up and coming singer/musicians," said a Festival spokesman, "including songwriting workshops with Allan Caswell, the Nathaniel O’Brien Memorial Award, fantastic scholarships and cash prizes."
Where Are We follows the June release of
He was also nominated for Americana Song of the Year.
Organisers say they met earlier this week and decided it was safe to continue as normal.
And the winners are...
In January 2020, competition is expected to be as tough as ever, organisers say, with former winners setting strong examples of what is possible when committed to a career in the country music industry.
A report in The Music Network’s “Music Daily” newsletter highlighted the fact that a local act was “the most played” song on Australian country radio, according to the company’s Country Airplay Chart, for the third week in a row.
