AUSTRALIAN COUNTRY MUSIC NEWS ARCHIVE – AUGUST 2021

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Vale – Tom T Hall

American country star Tom T Hall – known as "The Storyteller" – has died. He was 85.

Along with such contemporaries as John Hartford, Kris Kristofferson and Mickey Newbury, Tom helped usher in a literary era of country music in the early 1970s, with songs that were political, like Watergate Blues and The Monkey That Became President, deeply personal like The Year Clayton Delaney Died, and philosophical like (Old Dogs, Children and) Watermelon Wine.

"In all my writing, I’ve never made judgments,” he said in 1986. “I think that’s my secret. I’m a witness. I just watch everything and don’t decide if it’s good or bad.”

Tom settled in Nashville in 1964 and first established himself as a songwriter. His breakthrough came with Harper Valley P.T.A., the 1968 international hit about small-town hypocrisy recorded by Jeannie C Riley whichsold millions of copies and won a Grammy award for the singer. His own career took off after that.

Throughout the ’70s, Tom became one of Nashville’s biggest singer/songwriters. he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1978.

Tom died on Friday August 20 at his home in Franklin, Tennessee. Hall, known as “The Storyteller” for his unadorned yet incisive lyrics, composed hundreds of songs.

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2021

Melanie moves to ABC

Rising star Melanie Dyer's new single Run Out Of Road will be released by ABC Music.

The new release signals the end of Melanie's longstanding relationship with Universal Music Australia, as reported by The Music Network.

Melanie appeared on "The Voice" in 2012 but none of the judges – Delta Goodrem, Joel Madden, Seal or Keith Urban – turned their chairs and selected her for their teams.

At the time, Madden said he would regret the decision and added “mark my words, you are going to make it”.

In 2013, Melanie then signed to UMA.

For her new single, however, she’s made the move to ABC Music.

She said she’d always felt drawn to the ABC Music team.

“I’m really excited and honoured to be joining ABC Music. Over the years I have naturally gravitated towards the ABC team at gigs, award shows and industry events. I’ve always felt heard and supported, especially being led by such strong, nurturing women in Natalie Waller and Jenny Peachey,” she said.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that ABC is a perfect fit for me and I can’t wait to work with the rest of the team and release all the new songs I’ve been working on.”

ABC, meanwhile, was equally excited to have Dyer on the roster. “We look forward to building on her accolades and achievements to date with the new music,” said Jenny Peachey.

Melanie, who wrote the new song with Forest Glen Whitehead and Dan Fernandez, said the song had a message about taking every chance to wander, fall in love and enjoy the ride, because “we all know how quickly it can be taken away”.

“I wrote Run Out Of Road during my last trip to the USA in February 2020 just weeks before COVID hit Australia and they stopped all international flights.

"I’ve been so lucky to travel from Gold Coast to California, New Zealand to Memphis and everywhere in between for music. When the world came to a halt in 2020, this song took on a whole new meaning. This song is a reminder that life is fleeting and moments are precious.”

Weblink – www.melaniedyer.com.au.

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MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2021

Golden Guitar Awards 50th album set

The Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA), in conjunction with ABC Music, has announced the upcoming release the official CMAA 50th Anniversary The Winners albums set.

Available on November 12, the music releases will include a limited edition "deluxe" four album set in two volumes, each volume also available for sale separately both as CD and via digital partners.

"The tracklisting features a who’s who of Australian country music across the decades," said a CMAA spokesman, "including Slim Dusty, Buddy Williams, Col Joye, Jean Stafford, Smoky Dawson, Redgum, Graeme Connors, Keith Urban, James Blundell, Lee Kernaghan, Beccy Cole, The McClymonts, Kasey Chambers, The Wolfe Brothers, Fanny Lumsden, Morgan Evans and more!"

CMAA President Dobe Newton said: "The 50th anniversary of Australia's longest-running music awards show and festival will make the 2022 Toyota Country Music Festival and Golden Guitar Awards truly memorable.

"The CMAA is honoured to partner with Tamworth Regional Council and the ABC for this special edition of The Winners which catalogues the amazing contribution our writers and artists have made to our nation's music over the decades. The stories told and the voices that tell them are a wonderful reflection of our identity and culture and will be celebrated by fans across the nation and the world."

Festival Manager Barry Harley said: “2022 is a big year. Not only for the festival itself, but for its pinnacle event, the Golden Guitar Awards. This limited-edition set showcases and celebrates the cream of Australian country music from over the five decades and I couldn’t think of a better way to commemorate the 50-year milestone.”

Weblink – www.country.com.au.

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 20, 2021

New from Justin

Justin Landers has released his second album – Free Time And Money – with 10 self-penned, all-original songs in what he calls a variety of country music styles.

"Traditional country, country rock, bluegrass, blues & roots and honky-tonk are all covered.

“Making music takes dedication, commitment, hard work and, a lot of time and money," Justin said. "That’s why I named this album Free Time And Money. These two major ingredients I needed to find to make this project a reality."

When asked about the inspiration for the album, Justin said: “There was never meant to be any particular theme to the album. It’s just a bunch of songs I wrote about various events and things that have affected me emotionally over my life and especially over the last year or so.

"2020 was certainly a year of events, not just for me but for everyone”, Justin said. “I also wanted to showcase the country music styles that I most enjoy."

The album includes three pre-released singles, How 'Bout This Weather, A Campfire Waltz and Be A Little Kinder, all of which made top 10 positions on various country charts across Australia and were also credited with top f finalist positions in the TSA Songwriter Salute Awards.

Produced by Simon Johnson and the team at Hillbilly Hut Records, Justin said he is immensely proud of the album and the "incredible talent" of the musicians involved.

“Simon is just so patient, supportive and awesome to work with. The musicians at Hillbilly Hut are exceptional," Justin said. "Simon and the team added just the right colour to my songs and really bought them to life."

Free Time And Money is available from all leading digital media stores and is also direct on CD from Justin’s website; www.justinlandersmusic.com.

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021

International award nominees announced

The CMA (Country Music Association, America) has announced nominees for its 2021 international awards.

ABC Music & Events' Natalie Waller (pictured) is a finalist for the prestigious Jo Walker Meador International Award which recognises "outstanding achievement by an individual in advocating and supporting country music’s marketing development... outside the United States".

Natalie is up against Ilse DeLange (artist, founder of Spark Records, Firefly Publishing and Tuckerville Festival in The Netherlands), Tracy Martin (The Core Entertainment, Canada) and the UK's Chris York (SJM Concerts, Country to Country Festival UK).

The Wolfe Brothers (pictured) have been announced as finalists for the Jeff Walker Global Country Artist Award, recognising "outstanding achievements by a country music artist signed outside of the United States. The artist must have furthered the popularity of Country Music as well as brought attention to the country music format in their foreign based territory".

Other finalists are Jill Johnson (from Sweden), Brett Kissel (Canada) and The Shires (United Kingdom).

Promoter Michael Chugg is a finalist for the Rob Potts International Live Music Advancement Award, presented for "outstanding achievements by an individual who has made important contributions to the live music industry by extending performance opportunities and building live audiences for country music outside of United States".

Other finalists for this award are Sina Hall ( Semmel Concerts Entertainment, Germany), Nigel Hassler (CAA UK), Sigve Prestnes (Stageway Talent, Norway) and Troy Vollhoffer(Premier Global Production, Country Thunder Music Festivals and Big Valley Jamboree, Canada).

This is the first year for the Rob Potts (pictured) award which is named after the late Australian promoter recognised as a leading artist manager, promoter, CMA and CMAA (Country Music Association of Australia) Board member and advocate for country music.

Rob's career spanned more than 30 years, opening doors for Australian country artists including Tommy Emmanuel, Morgan Evans and Keith Urban.

Saniel Marriner of CMT Australia has been announced as a finalist for the Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award, recognising "outstanding achievements in the media as they relate to country music outside the United States". 

Saniel is up against Mathias Bridfelt (SVT, Sweden), Ricky Marshall (BBC Radio 2, UK), and Charlotte Thompson (Red Umbrella PR, Canada).

And Kix Country's Justin Thomson is a finalist for the International Country Broadcaster Award presented for outstanding achievement by a radio broadcaster or syndicated radio reporter outside the United States who has made important contributions for the development of country music in his/her country".

Justin's fellow finalists are Dayna Bourgoin (Pure Country Radio/Bell Media, Canada), Rita Jernquist (Sveriges Radio P4, Sweden) and Baylen Leonard (Absolute Radio Country/Bauer Radio Limited, UK).

“We are delighted to honour those in the industry who have been instrumental in carrying country music forward into territories outside of the United States as this year’s CMA International Awards nominees,” said CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern.

“And we are especially thrilled to be adding a new award to the slate this year recognising those specifically in the live music industry cultivating and growing country music’s reach. A true pioneer in the genre, few people exemplified this more than Rob Potts. He was a driving force in our efforts to expand country music internationally and I am excited we are able to honour those following in Rob’s footsteps.”

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MONDAY, AUGUST 14, 2021

Vale – Dean Trevaskis

Journalist and bush poet Dean Trevaskis has died, aged 53, from brain cancer which was diagnosed in November last year.

He passed away peacefully yesterday surrounded by family.

Dean grew up in Shepparton (Vic) and studied nursing at La Trobe University in Melbourne and then went into psych nursing. He did that for 20 years working in some of the biggest psychiatric hospitals in the world, including Broadmoor in England where he looked after people like Peter Sutcliffe, the "Yorkshire Ripper".

In 2009, Dean won Bush Poem of the Year at the Australian Bush Laureate Awards for "The Power Of Kokoda".

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