 |
 |
 | ||
This website brings you the latest Australian country music news. News releases can be sent to news@countrymusicbulletin.com.au |
||||
|
|
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2019 Mildura underway The 2019 Mildura Country Music Festival is in full swing with thousands of fans converging on the Victorian border city for the 10 day event. Renowned for showcasing the talents of independent Australian country music artists, the Mildura Festival wraps up on Sunday after the Southern Stars Awards night in Saturday.
In this 33rd year of the festival, the entertainment is spread over 25 venues from the City Mall providing all-day entertainment at central city venues in Mildura to outlying locations like Wentworth, Merbein, Red Cliffs, Coomealla, Buronga and Gol Gol. "Every taste is catered for," said organiser John Arnold, "with bush ballads, country rock, bluegrass and daily walk ups for those not on the program. "The culture of Mildura has built up on a real family factor, and that applies equally to the artists as well as the fans. There is a noticeable lack of urgency and panic during the festival, because if you miss a planned event on one day, you can usually catch up later in the week. "The excitement factor is still there, but there’s an element of control built in – and that’s why the enjoyment factor is just as evident on day 10 as the start. "And the reason the artists enjoy it so much is that it’s 10 days of music, friendship and fun." Weblink – www.milduracountrymusic.com.au. New from Emma Rising country star Emma Jene has released her third studio album, Erosion.
All songs on the new work are describd as having Emma's "signature blend of emotional country songwriting and spreading positive messages, with underlying rock and pop influences". Inspired by her work as an aged care nurse, the title track relates to the journey of dementia patients. "When you’re singing to dementia patients, it can bring back memories they had when they were younger," Emma said. "I’ve always wanted to help people, make a difference in society, see smiles on people’s faces and make sure they’re okay and have what they need." The album follows the release of the Shoalhaven singer/songwriter’s first single Feels So Good – written by Jerry Salley and Hannah Blaylock, the track also dealung with the issue of mental health. "For people with mental illness, music can make them feel a little bit better and that there is a light at the end of the tunnel," Emma said. Erosion was produced by award-winning singer/songwriter Angus Gill. "Emma Jene is the definition of powerhouse," Angus said. "One hell of a vocalist and an excellent entertainer. Not only have I had the privilege of producing her new album, but we’ve toured many times and she always has the audience in the palm of her hand." Although she began singing in musical theatre when she was six, Emma Jene recorded her debut album Dare To Dream at just 14 years of age. She followed this up with her national top 10 album of the year, Cross Your Heart. Weblink – www.emmajene.com. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2019 Widgee Bush Balladeers
walkup performances will precede the official start date on Monday 7th, the same day entry to the campground opens. Artists appearing this year will include Alice Benfer, Jeff Brown, Kylie Castle, Michael Clare, Ray Essery, Paul Fleming, Gary Fogarty, Terry Gordon, Kev Groves, Col Hardy, Caitlyn and Keith Jamieson, Dianne Lindsay & Peter Simpson, Bianca Murphy, Alisha Smith and Rod Walters. Weblink – www.widgee.info/balladeers. New from Matt Singer/songwriter Matt Scullion has released his new album, Aussie As. Well known for his distinctly Aussie songwriting style, the new release has already scored two hits in the title track and last year's Shout The Land A Drink with James Blundell, Tania Kernaghan, Drew McAlister & Simply Bushed (as The Hay Balers).
"Aussie As was such a fun album to write and record. Every single song on the album I have lived, laughed and cried," he said. "Although I’m predominantly known as more of a songwriter, with Aussie As this is me slapping on my Akubra and stepping out of the shadows and into the spotlight once again." Produced by multiple ARIA and Golden Guitar winner Shane Nicholson, the album is described as a "classically Aussie album" with songs like Big, The Aldi Song and Ulladulla Sticker. Matt has been nominated for seven Golden Guitars, winning one for Our Backyard,with Amber Lawrence and Travis Collins, and two APRA Awards. The album will be officially launched on Saturday October 12 at Henderson Park Hall, Adamstown (Newcastle). Weblink – mattscullionmusic.com. Concert for Joy What is believed to be one of the biggest and most significant line-ups of performers will come together in January to pay tribute to the first lady of Australian country music Joy McKean.
The line-up at this stage is Kevin Bennett, James Blundell, Lyn Bowtell, Catherine Britt, Jeff Brown, Colin Buchanan, Brad Butcher, Beccy Cole, Travis Collins, Graeme Connors, Davidson Brothers, Troy Cassar-Daley, Bill Chambers, Adam Eckersley, Adam Harvey, Gina Jeffreys, Glenn Jones, Paul Kelly, Tania Kernaghan, Amber Lawrence, Dianne Lindsay & Peter Simpson, Lawrie Minson, Luke O’Shea, Dean Perrett, Sara Storer, Felicity Urquhart and Don Walker. Family members James Arneman & Flora Smith (Small Town Romance), Kate Arneman, Anne Kirkpatrick, Daniel Kirkpatrick, David Kirkpatrick and Hannah Kirkpatrick. The Concert for Joy – celebrating the life, songs and 90th birthday of Joy McKean – will be staged at Tamworth Regional Entertainment & Concert Centre at 1:30pm Wednesday January 22. Presented by Kempsey’s Slim Dusty Centre, tickets are available via tcmf.com.au. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2019 C2C Australia The first C2C (Country To Country) festival will be staged in Brisbane and Sydney over the weekend of September 28 and 29.
From Australia, stars will include Casey Barnes, Kaylee Bell, Sinead Burgess, Travis Collins (pictured), Jody Direen, the Adam Eckersley Band, Judah Kelly, The McClymonts (pictured) and Andrew Swift. From overseas, Kelsea Ballerine, Blanco Brown, Lacy Cavalier, Tim McGraw, Midland, Jess Moskaluke, Eric Paslay, RaeLynn and Reverie Lane. The Sydney event will be held at the Qudos Bank Arena Homebush on Saturday September 28 with the Brisbane event at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Sunday September 29. "We are very excited to be staging the first ever Country 2 Country Festival in Australia," said Tim McGregor, Managing Director of promoters TEG Live. "With 18 fantastic acts and a ton of festival fun across each day, we look forward to C2C becoming an annual celebration for both brand new and rusted-on country music fans." MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2019 Academy announces first January intake The Australian Academy of Country Music has announced the first eight successful students of the 2020 senior class this January.
The aim of this is to encourage prospective students to apply as soon as possible, according to a spokesman for the Academy operators, the Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA). Students will attend the two-week intensive Academy course in Tamworth from January 4 where they will learn about all aspects of the music business, musical performance, songwriting, promotion and recording, among other aspects of making a career in music, all from top industry insiders. The first round of students accepted hail from as far away as Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Two – Prayer Corby and Ruby Gilbert – have won scholarships from the Northern Territory and the Gympie Music Muster, respectively. "The Academy is a premier educational opportunity for those wanting a career in the music industry," said Academy Director Lyn Bowtell. "By announcing the successful students as they are accepted, it builds the excitement for their upcoming Academy experience and encourages those who may be considering applying, to complete their applications early. We welcome applications from everyone considering a career in music." Academy General Manager Roger Corbett said students found "their tribe" during each course and the education they received and relationships they formed during their time together were invaluable, with most groups staying in contact for years, even decades after they’d graduated. "As well as the world-class tutors, songwriters, and industry professionals students are able to meet and learn from, the relationships they form are priceless for their development as artists," he said. "The education students receive at the Academy cannot be found anywhere else." In addition to Prayer (from Darwin) and Ruby (Brisbane), students of the first intake are Amanda Heartsong (Deepwater, Qld), Dom Italiano (Lara, Vic), Keely Johnson (Ayr, Qld), Tameka Kennedy (Bathurst, NSW), Craig Lloyd (Alexandra, Vic) and Sally Pottinger (Serpentine, WA). Academy applications close on October 31 or when all positions are filled. Weblink – academycountrymusic.com.au. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019 New from Hayley Hayley Marsten has released her debut album Spectacular Heartbreak. The release follows the success of pre-release singles including Wendy and Red Wine, White Dress which have struck a chord with listeners across the country, according to a spokesman for the artist.
Speaking about the album, Hayley said: "... I had two really clear visions coming in: I only wanted to work with people I was friends with so I could be as honest and exposed as possible, and I wanted the album to sound like my personality: big, and a little dramatic, but still fun with a bit of risk. I think those visions were realised." The album was recorded with ARIA and Golden Guitar award winning producer Matt Fell. "I think that at first glance you could probably write this as just another break-up album," Hayley said, "but it’s much more than that. "With a name like Spectacular Heartbreak you’d be correct in assuming I’ve run into a few heartbreaks over the past two years, but I don’t hear sadness or defeat in this record. "It’s about strength and acceptance, about standing up for what you believe is right and living like you don’t know how much time you have. "I think it’s the perfect representation of me as a young woman finding her place in the world and trying to find the spectacular in the heartbreak." Weblink – www.hayleymarsten.com. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2019 Hometown Fest Details have been announced for Hometown Fest, a two day event to be staged in Brisbane in November.
Casey Barnes, Katie Bates, Baylou, Kaylee Bell, The Buckleys, Brook Chivell, Brad Cox (pictured), Melanie Dyer, Adam Eckersley Band, Ella & Sienna, Racehl Fahim, Homegrown, Hurricane Fall, Hayley Jensen, Felicity Kircher, Christie Lamb, Missy Lancaster, Fanny Lumsden (pictured), Hayley Marsten, Drew McAlister, Blake O'Connor, Bridget O'Shannessy, Natalie Pearson, Jared Porter, Route 33, Josh Setterfield and Brooke Schubert. The event – billed as a premium music, arts and culture festival – will run at the Brisbane Showgrounds on Saturday and Sunday November 23 and 24. Weblink – hometown-fest.com. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 Golden Guitar nominations open
Fifteen of the 17 categories in what are officially known as the Country Music Awards of Australia are open for nomination with all albums nominated automatically included for consideration for Album of the Year and the award for Top Selling Album based on sales calculated by ARIA (the Australian Recording Industry Association). The categories open to nomination are Alt Country Album, Contemporary Album, Traditional Country Album, Male and Female Artist, Group or Duo, Vocal Collaboration, Bush Ballad, Heritage Song, Instrumental, Bluegrass Recording, New Talent, Song, Video and Single if the Year. Nominations close at 5pm Tuesday October 1. Weblink – www.country.com.au. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2019 New from MichaelMichael Waugh has released a new album titled The Weir.The album "reaches up from the dried, cracked heart of Gippsland’s irrigation reservoir – Lake Glenmaggie – asking what it means to grow up Australian," according to Michael's label Compass Brothers Records.
|
|
||
click here for recent news |
||||
© Country Music Bulletin |
||||
Artists appearing this year include Connie Kis Andersen, Sharon Benjamin, Lance Birrell, Owen Blundell, Cahoots, Rob Breese, Jeff Brown, Kalesti Butler, Stephen R Cheney, Aly Cook, Country Horizon, Dwayne Elix, Emma Jene, Lee Forster, Angus Gill, Paul Gibbs, Terry Gordon, Bec Hance, Kate Hindle, Ged & Trudy Hintz, Marie Hodson, Graeme Hugo, Michaela Jenke, Keely Johnson, Glenn Jones, John Lecner, Warren Mahoney, Tom Maxwell, Neil McArthur, Blake O'Connor, John O'Dea, Steve Passfield, Dean Perrett, Evan Platschinda, Taylor Pfeiffer, Reg Poole, Amber Joy Poulton, Dave Prior, Anita Ree, Kim Ritchie, Kiara Rodrigues, Michelle Russell, Peter Smith, Steve Sparrow, Justin Standley, Kevin Sullivan, The Long & Short Of It, Gina Timms, Rodney Vincent, Bryen Willems and Chooka Williams.
"My new album presents songs of joy and sorrow of everyday life," Emma said "Circumstances we find challenging such as those suffering from dementia, a love lost and moving on alone, as well as the happiness of coming home, a new love found, and finding the essence and strength within ourselves to feel confident about our future."
The 16th annual Widgee Bush Balladeers Muster will be held from Thursday October 10 to Sunday 13th at Widgee, Qld, west of Gympie.
Matt says he’s lived his whole life to write Aussie As, returning home after an extended period overseas being "all the inspiration" he needed.
Already an established event in the United Kingdom and Europe, C2C Australia 2019 will feature a variety of local and visiting acts.
For the first time in the Academy’s history, successful students will be announced as they are accepted to the course, rather than being announced in one group.
"Hayley has found herself reaching an unprecedented audience and connecting with people through her sometimes sassy, always heartfelt personality.," the spokesman said.
Billed as "genre-defying arts celebration, more than 50 local and visiting performers will feature on the bill, including numerous country or country-related acts.
Nominations have opened for the 2020 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards.
"It is family 'carguments' on long holiday drives to see the big things of Australia, mozzie-bitten itches of first summer loves, Meldrum-fuelled familiarity of Aussie rock classics and the lived-in love of dinner with your partner in front of 'Neighbours'.
The duo also counted a Golden Guitar and CMC Music Award wins to their credit.
