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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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Bungendore Muster cancelled, Awards to go ahead Organisers of the Bungendore Country Music Muster have announced that the 2021 Muster, which would have been held in February, has been canclled but the associated Stan Coster Memorial Bush Ballad Awards would be going ahead.
The decision was made with the health and safety of community, artists, volunteers, committee members and public, as the paramount consideration. “Our goal is to return in 2022 and we look forward to seeing everyone then,” a spokesman said. Though the Muster has been cancelled, organisation and presentation of the Stan Coster Memorial Bush Ballad Awards would be going ahead via a virtual presentation on Saturday night February 27. Weblink – http://bcmm.com.au. Industry on verge of collapse Various reports have been written in recent weeks and months about the lack of Federal Government response to the needs of Australia’s music industry during the coronavirus pandemic. A number of federal programs have been announced and various state governments have also announced measures. Today, we reprint the first of two comprehensive reports from The New Daily which tells the story… A meagre support package could see Australia’s once-thriving music and festivals scene collapse entirely, industry figures fear, with worries that critical workers will simply leave the sector forever. APRA AMCOS said the industry faced its “worst crisis in 100 years”, claiming venues faced a hit of at least $500 million in lost ticket sales alone – and groups representing artists and festivals say “virtually nobody” will be helped by large parts of the government’s stimulus.
Acting Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly told The New Daily last month that big concerts were “relatively high risk”, and work to get them started again or to consult with industry was “not front of mind” for authorities. Industry bodies are now pushing a suite of ideas to resuscitate the sector, including government subsiding empty seats, or offering HECS-style loans to venues. Essentially every major music concert since March – from Splendour In The Grass and Tamworth country music festival, to Download festival and Falls – has been cancelled. Only recently have some venues started experimenting with seated, socially-distanced gigs. The federal government committed more than $300 billion for recovery, but only a small percentage has gone to entertainment – among the first industries to be shut down, and among the last to fully reopen. The key support so far is the $250 million Creative Economy Support Package launched in June with an event featuring singer Guy Sebastian – months after venues began closing. The bulk of these funds are available to the entire performing industry including theatre and dance, not just music, including a $75 million seed funding initiative called RISE. It took until mid-August for funding guidelines for only half the project to be approved by arts minister Paul Fletcher, and money may not start flowing until the end of 2020. Labor’s shadow arts minister, Tony Burke, called the delay “truly pathetic.” ‘Virtually nobody’ needs loansBut industry figures say the largest part of the support – $90 million in ‘ShowStarter’ loans – will be useless to many. “The music industry has never relied on banking or finance to fund it,” Stuart Waters said. Julia Robinson, General Manager of the Australian Festivals Association – representing some of the country’s biggest concerts – feared the support would not be enough. “Our members worry that once RISE has been used, and JobKeeper and JobSeeker run out, we will start losing parts of our industry forever,” she told The New Daily. “While some states and territories have begun to reopen, the ecosystem is unbalanced and is therefore still at risk of devastating losses across the board.” Others in the music landscape told The New Daily “virtually nobody would be willing to take a loan” to finance events. Many major festivals only operate on a model of financing the next event with the previous year’s takings. “They don’t need loans,” a senior festival director said. Insurance problemsAlso in the support package was $50 million in insurance assistance for the screen industry, in case of COVID interruptions. This was not extended to music. Music figures worry that even when festivals can resume, they will be unable to obtain COVID-related insurance. Julia Robinson said if events were forced to shut down at the last minute for COVID reasons, festivals would be liable for huge fees for last-minute cancellations – a risk few would take. “Ticket Cancellation insurance in the event of an outbreak or reintroduction of restrictions is simply not available, placing considerable risk back on the promoter,” she said. Tony Burke said he was “amazed” more wasn’t done to help events obtain insurance. “I’m surprised the government hasn’t made the money available now, as effectively pandemic insurance, in the event of more restrictions,” he told The New Daily. “There’s insurance for the film industry but they haven’t designed the music money that way. It would allow commercial confidence for organising to start. Industry has been talking about it for months.” ‘Skills drain’But the biggest fear for some is around highly-skilled lighting and sound technicians being lost to the profession. While some music venue workers are eligible for JobKeeper – dubbed a “lifesaver” by Julia Robinson – many technical workers are employed on short-term or gig-to-gig contracts, disqualifying them from the wage subsidy. It’s feared workers may sell their expensive gear and find new jobs – meaning even when gigs can return, essential technical workers won’t. “There is a skills drain. It’s not something you can simply turn back on at the end,” Stuart Waters said. Tony Burke wanted to see more income support for such workers. “The pandemic has pressed pause on their jobs. The government package presumes they’ll be permanently available, but without support to start up again,” he said. “I don’t know anyone’s life works that way.” Novel ideas in the worksWhile large concerts are cancelled, some musicians have tried new ideas – like drive-in concerts or seated gigs – to get money flowing and give fans a live music fix. However, these “will simply not be commercially viable” in the long run, Julia Robinson said. APRA AMCOS wants to see a government tax rebate for venues. Stuart Waters said industry figures had a range of novel ideas for government, including HECS-style loans to be repaid once profits return, allowing border exemptions for musicians to undertake tours or public funding to subsidise empty seats in socially-distanced gigs. “If they want the industry to be there when the restrictions lift, it’s time for them to start looking at the music industry specifically,” he said. “It’s a unique situation. This is a business very much at risk which requires specialised intervention.” Country artist appointed to senior local government role Country artist Craig Lloyd – a graduate of the Australian Academy of Country Music – has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Victoria’s City of Whittlesea Council.
In recent times, Craig has supported and worked with a number of well-known artists such as Lyn Bowtell, Catherine Britt, Lachlan Bryan & The Wildes, Carter & Carter, Roger Corbett, Fanny Lumsden and Dobe Newton. Day job-wise, Craig has extensive senior executive experience in the public sector, including roles with state and local government, emergency services and not-for profit organisations. The appointment comes after several years as CEO of the neighbouring Murrindindi Shire Council and was previously a Director at the City of Greater Bendigo. He takes up his new role on Monday October 12. Whittlesea has run an annual country music festival for many years. Weblink – www.craiglloyd.com.au. Country on Keppel returns Country on Keppel returns this November with an impressive revamped entertainment line-up. This year’s award-winning artist roster now includes headliner James Blundell, Brad Butcher, Tony Cook, singer/songwriter Matt Cornell (half of the Cornell & Carr duo), Anna Farquhar and Saltbush Six with more Queensland artists to be announced in coming weeks.
Pictured (clockwise from top left): James, Brad, Tony, Matt, Saltbush Six and Anna. Due to the uncertainty of COVID-19 border restrictions, festival organisers have had to postpone performances by Aaron Jurd, Danny Phegan, Jasmine Rae and Jonny Taylor as they would all have to travel from interstate. Festival organiser Peter Blundell said Country on Keppel offered a unique experience for music lovers. Scheduled for the weekend of November 13 to 15 (Friday to Sunday), the festival will run at Great Keppel Island Hideaway, Great Keppel Island, off the Queensland coast from Rockhampton and Yeppoon. The festival this year will include a talent quest – the Green Brothers Country on Keppel Talent Search on the Friday night with prizes including a Takamine guitar worth $1000 plus case and a performance opportunity during this year’s event. This is the second of the Country on Keppel event. Weblink – greatkeppelislandhideaway.com.au/country-on-keppel. Directory makes a comeback The Directory of Australian Country Music is making a long-awaited comeback. Launched in the 1990s by the well-known country music associated company Max Ellis Marketing (MEM), the definitive reference resource for the industry was most recently published by Rural Press Events under licence from MEM.
For various reasons, the Directory has not been published for a number of years but is now about to make a comeback via the Country Music Bulletin group. “It’s an ideal time for the Directory to relaunch,” said the Bulletin’s Bob Kirchner, “as the industry starts to regroup coming out of the coronavirus pandemic. “We do have a way to go but there are already signs of performances, festivals and events coming back so having an updated Directory will play an important role in an industry revival. "Although there is no question the industry, and most of the people involved, are taking a significant monetary hit, a large amount of recorded product continues to be released," Bob said. "This, coupled with the extraordinary efforts being made by many individuals through on-line performances and promotions is a clear sign the industry will return with a bang as soon as conditions allow." The Directory will be published on-line, in line with modern media and marketing trends. “There will be a number of new reference sections as well as some consolidation as certain industry activity and structures have modified since the last publication,” Bob said. The on-line framework for the Directory is almost complete and the extensive work involved in bringing listings up to date is now underway. “We will be making contact with as many individuals and entities as we can in this process,” Bob said, “but we also encourage industry participants to add or update their own information without waiting to be contacted." The listing page can be accessed directly via the website www.countrymusicdirectory.com.au. Although there will be no celebratory Tamworth Country Music Festival this coming January, the aim is to have the Directory ready to launch as part of January Country Music Month. The Country Music Bulletin group comprises the Country Music Bulletin news website, all-Australian country music internet radio station Capital Country Radio and the Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards. Great Southern Nights artists announced More than 50 initial acts have been announced for NSW's Great Southern Nights promotion. The promotion is a Government led initiative in partnership with ARIA which will see more than 1,000 gigs take place across the state in November, also tying in with Australian Music Month.
Eight regions have been confirmed to host the gigs, with more than 700 venues (at recent count) which were able to apply with COVID-safe plans, registered to be involved. “We are excited to get this COVIDSafe show on the road in consultation with NSW Health,” said State Jobs Minister Stuart Ayres.
Great Southern Nights was created to kick start the NSW entertainment, hospitality and tourism industries COVID-19recovery. “We’re on track for big-name Australian artists to play in the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Country NSW, the Hunter, North Coast, Outback NSW, the South Coast and Sydney, and the program is developing every day," the Minister said. “Plus, we have around 900 gigs with established and emerging artists being programmed by Sydney and NSW venues in collaboration with ARIA. Great Southern Nights will make a real difference for communities recovering from drought, bushfires and COVID-19.” “The feedback we’re getting from industry is that Great Southern Nights is exactly what they need after months away from live performance”, said ARIA CEO Dan Rosen. “We’re proud to play an integral part in this project to get artists, the industry and NSW live music venues back on their feet. The generosity and enthusiasm of everyone involved is testament to the importance of music to us all.” Weblink – www.greatsouthernnights.com.au. Qld Govt outlines arts recovery fundingThe Queensland Government has announced the latest round of funding for the state’s arts sector, with $22.5 million pledged in total. The Music Network reported The latest part of the Arts and Cultural Recovery Package aims to help create jobs for artists and arts organisations, as revealed by Arts Minister Leeanne Enoch.
The package includes almost $360,000 made available to 18 venues as part of the Live Music Venue Support program. “The Live Music Venue Support program works to offset the cost of re-opening in the wake of COVID-19, ensuring the venues continue to employ staff and engage local artists.” Meanwhile an additional $380,000 will support the costs of live performances as part of the Creative to Go program.
Casey Barnes is one artist to receive a grant, and he’ll use $17,883 for his Town Of A Million Dreams tour. “Back at the start of 2020, we had prepared an extensive national tour to coincide with the release of my latest album," Casey said, "which included a number of different states, festivals and venues. “Sadly, as we now know, along came a global pandemic which heavily impacted on the tour and how we could go about it. “The overall goal is to use this tour to help build on this momentum into 2021 to support even more touring next year once restrictions are hopefully eased and we can start playing at some larger festivals.” Finally, an additional $812,635 has been provided as part of Play Local for 52 live music and performing arts venues. “Since the onset of COVID-19, the Palaszczuk Government has invested more than $42.5 million, including a $22.5 million Arts and Cultural Recovery Package, to sustain our arts sector, drive new creative work, employ artists and arts workers, and deliver rich, COVID-safe arts experiences for Queenslanders,” Minister Enoch said. Lee to headline Savannah Summer Series Country star Lee Kernaghan will headline the 2020 Savannah Summer Series of concerts in North Queensland in October.
The Savannah Summer Series will visit Cairns’ Salt House on Thursday the 1st and Mareeba’s Rodeo Grounds on Friday the 2nd. Set to help the live music industry get back on its feet, Casey Barnes believes this year’s Savannah Summer Series will be one of the most exciting things to happen for country music in Queensland. “I can’t wait to get up to Cairns and Mareeba this October to welcome back live music to the region,” he said. “To show that live music is alive and kicking post-COVID will be a big highlight after a tough year for all of us!” The Series rounds out on Saturday October 3 at the 2020 Great Northern Bullriding Series at Mareeba’s Rodeo Grounds. Weblink – www.savannahintheround.com.au. Amber at school For the past seven years, country star Amber Lawrence has been visiting schools and performing free concerts for primary school children. On the noise11.com website quotes Amber as saying she would visit schools on tour for a number of reasons… including to “give back and share my story of believing in yourself” and to get country music into schools “because it’s not a form of music that gets a lot of radio play…”
“If we were in town, the local newspaper would always love to follow the story of someone coming in to give a free concert. They have always been free. I’ve done over 300 free kids shows,” Amber said. The concept became the star’s “Be Your Own Superhero” campaign.
Amber tried a number of times to kick start a career in the country music business. She did so on her fourth attempt when she got through on The Road to Tamworth talent quest and ended up coming second to Jessica Mauboy. “If I had given up on those first attempts I wouldn’t be singing now,” she said. “The kids like that story of never giving up.” Amber chooses to perform for primary school children. “I feel I get the best connection from Years 3, 4 and 5. They are old enough to get excited and have a dream and they aren’t too old for me to be uncool.” Career-wise, Amber had some big news this week when her just released Amber Lawrence Live DVD debuted at number two on the ARIA Music DVD chart, second only to international heavy metal star band Metallica. It was certainly the biggest selling Australian DVD this week. Weblink – www.amberlawrence.com.au. Tamworth 2021 suspension – confirmed Tamworth Regional Council last night reluctantly confirmed the widely predicted suspension of Council run events and activities for the upcoming January Country Music Festival which means a virtual cancellation of the 2021 event. "With the current public health orders in place, which include the prohibition of music festivals and mass gatherings, coupled with travel restrictions and venue capacity challenges, Councillors could not in good conscience vote to proceed with the event," an official Council statement said.
Tamworth Region Mayor Col Murray said: “Tamworth Region Councillors faced a difficult decision tonight, one that had the health and safety of our community, our fans, the artists, volunteers, local businesses, staff, and the wider country music industry front of mind. "It is hard to believe that we have had to make this decision, and it most certainly has not been an easy decision to make. Still, the impacts of introducing COVID-19 to our community far outweigh the impacts cancelling the Festival would have on our community.” While the Festival as such will not proceed in 2021, a number of activities will still take place, mostly in an on-line environment. These will inclide the annual Australian Country Music People's Choices Awards, Country Music Awards of Australia (Golden Guitars) and TSA (Tamworth Songwriters' Association) Awards. It is understood an elevation to the Country Music Roll of Renown will still be announced in adition to a number of other activities that are normally announced or conducted during the festival. As the longest standing music awards in Australia, the Golden Guitars will be streamed live and covered by ABC Radio. “It is important that we continue to recognise country music talent at the 49th Toyota Golden Guitar Awards, despite not being able to hold a live event,” Barry said. The Awards will be staged on its "usual" date – which falls on Saturday January 23. People's Choice Award winners will be announced on Thursday January 21. “Artists have faced an extremely challenging year, but many have continued to work hard and release new music, under the most difficult of circumstances, and we want to pay tribute to them by hosting a remarkable event, that is streamed far and wide so that everyone can experience the best of Australian country music." The Toyota Country Music Festival, Tamworth, will be back to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2022. "We appreciate all the support shown to us to date, and we encourage everyone to support your favourite country music artists in any way, in the coming months, as we look forward to a bigger and better Festival in 2022," Barry said. Weblinks – peopleschoiceawards.com.au • tcmf.com.au. Aussie acts to feature in global showcase Troy Cassar-Daley, Beccy Cole, Charlie Collins and Dan Sultan are to feature in a global Country Connections showcase next week.
Sounds Australia – a non-profit organisation established to profile and promote Australian artists and music businesses around the world – has announced the activity. Originally run at the giant Texas USA music event SXSW (South by South West) in 2011, Country Connections will now be presented in an online format by Sounds Australia, British Underground and CIMA. The showcase is presented by Americana Music Association Foundation and is part of the Thriving Roots: A Virtual Community Music Conference. It will highlight artists from Australia, Canada and the UK, and is set to take place on Friday September 18 at 8am Australian Eastern Standard Time (Thursday September 17 at 5pm in the US). Weblink here. Voting opens in SA Awards Voting has opened for the 2020 South Australian Music Awards, otherwise known as the SAM Awards.
"We value your contribution so much that all of our genre based winners are strictly chosen by public voting." Twelve categories are open for voting including Country with nominees Cookie Baker, Cassiday Rae Gaiter, The Jango, Nathan May, Matt Ward and Jessica Wishart (click here for voting link). Non-genre specific artist/performer awards include Best Song, Best New Artist, Best Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Artist, Best Group, Best Solo Artist, Best Release and Best Music Video. Broader categories include Best Studio, Best Engineer, Best Music Venue and Best Manager. Winners of this year's Awards will be announced on Tuesday November 3 at a ceremony in line with current COVID-19 safety restrictions. Format of the celebrations will be announced at a later date. Weblink – southaustralianmusicawards.com.au. Slim & I soundtrack released The official soundtrack to the Slim & I documentary is now available. Included on the extensive release is a new Joy McKean song, her first release in more than 10 years, I Don't Belive You, co-written with Joy’s grandson James Arneman and his wife Flora Smith who front up-and-coming Melbourne country outfit Small Town Romance.
At age 90, Joy has been "there and back again" touring Australia with her husband and partner the late Slim Dusty for more than 50 years, collecting and writing songs in her unique voice. “The song was written a couple of years after Slim passed,” Joy said. “I’ve always been a believer in the saying that as long as you remember someone they are never really gone. I realised that Slim, his music and his legacy will live on. This inspired the lyrics 'Don’t say a song won’t live, after the singer. Don’t say that love is lost, while the memory lingers. I don’t believe you'."
The Slim & I feature documentary explores the legacy and partnership of Slim and Joy and will be released to cinemas on Thusday September 10. In addition to the new song, the documentary soundtrack includes a mix of Slim and Joy's catalogue spanning 50 years, interspersed with interview excerpts from the cast of the film. Australian music icons Troy Cassar-Daley, Bill Chambers, Kasey Chambers and Missy Higgins all present insights and acoustic performances of Joy’s songs made famous by Slim. Weblink – slimdusty.com.au. Tamworth 2021 set to be suspended For the first time since 1973, the streets of Tamworth – Australia’s Country Music Capital – look set to be relatively quiet in January 2021. Because of restrictions currently imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic, Tamworth Regional Council will consider a recommendation to suspend Council run operations for the upcoming event.
And this would mean that the Festival, ostensibly, would not happen on any scale like it normally does. Feedback from local venues, including major stakeholders like Wests Entertainment and The Pub Group, had indicated to Council, given the restrictions on audience numbers, that it would not be viable for them to do anything like they normally do. Because of the nature of the Tamworth Country Music Festival, however, being an amalgamation of hundreds of venues, events and individual organisers, it is possible that some activity may still occur. It would be unlikely, say, for Golden Guitar Awards not to be presented given the option for a scaled back or on-line event. Organisers of the People’s Choice Awards have already announced they will proceed in some form, most likely also on-line. And some venues may still have some form of entertainment on a much smaller scale. Any developing news will be reported here at the Country Music Bulletin. Festival Manager Barry Harley said the recommendation to suspend Council-run operations which would be voted on at next week's ordinary council meeting. The proposed suspension has been a possibility for some time but organisers were hoping the situation would change enough for the Festival to be able to go ahead. Tickets for major events would have usually gone on sale by now, Barry said, and mass marketing campaigns to attract crowds would have started so it was the right time to call it, even if government restrictions were to relax. "It is the right decision,” he said, “and we'll stand by it. If we had to shut down the community for six or eight weeks that effect would be far greater than the loss of the 10 days of the festival." |
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The organising committee had hoped to be able to host the Muster for its 36th year, but decided, due to continuing coronavirus restrictions, planning and management of the event was very difficult.
“It’s not alarmist to say, without more government intervention, collapse is possible,” Stuart Waters, of the Live Music Business Council, told The New Daily.
The singer/songwriter released three singles this year... including the original One Last Time and a cover of the classic If Tomorrow Never Comes.
Among the country acts included are Casey Barnes, Troy Cassar-Daley, Kasey Chambers, Tori Forsyth, Fanny Lumsden and The Wolfe Brothers.
“The calibre of artists who have put their hand up to be part of the inaugural Great Southern Nights event is fantastic, and we’re stoked that many artists have asked to play in regional NSW."
“The Arts and Cultural Recovery Package has so far provided $2.03 million to the sector, with almost $10 million due to be distributed by the end of the month to support the employment of artists, the reactivation of venues and to provide COVID-safe arts experiences,” the Minister said.
Twenty-four projects and 241 artists will receive funding as part of the program, to help them perform live and partake in engagement activities in regional venues.
Set to take place over Thursday and Friday October 1 and 2, the event will feature an all-Australian lineup for the first time with Casey Barnes, The Buckleys, and SaltbushSix to join Lee on the bill, as well as local axcts The Ayres Rockettes and The Roadtrippers.
Amber (pictured here on one of her visits) took it upon herself to educate school kids about country music: “I thought if I could sing it for kids and they go home and they look it up on YouTube you might find you are turning kids into country music fans.
“The most important thing is that I want kids to know they can be whatever they want to be,” Amber said. “I am certainly not encouraging them to become singers or country singers. I tell my story of never giving up.
Festival Manager Barry Harley said: “Today is a sad day, not only for Tamworth, but for the artists, and the country music industry. We have remained as optimistic as we could and continued with our planning in the hope that conditions would ease. Unfortunately, like so many others in our situation, we have had to surrender to the challenges COVID-19 has placed on us and make the difficult decision to suspend TCMF2021."
"The most important thing in the South Australian music industry are the audiences who continue to support local music," Awards organisers say.
The song is described as Joy's writing at her most honest and poignant, reflecting on legacy to Australian music and is performed by Small Town Romance and Joy’s daughter Anne Kirkpatrick.
I Don’t Believe You is accompanied by an music video weaving together in-studio performance with never before seen 8mm home movies of Slim and Joy on the road through the 1960s, a rare glimpse of their legendary outback tours.
These include the Peel Street entertainment, busking competition and free concerts in the Bicentennial Park.
