Aaron Jurd – Electronic Press Kit

Bios
Short Bio
Lake Macquarie singer-songwriter Aaron Jurd has kicked plenty of goals in the last 18 months, having opened the Tamworth Country Music Festival and performed at the Golden Guitars, written with award-winning artists and enjoyed chart success.
Jurd released his third original single, Changed, in August 2019, charting in the iTunes Top 10, following on from the success of his debut single, Set Me On Fire, that hit No. 5, on release in September 2018 and his second single, Hard To Breathe, which hit the iTunes top 20 in April this year.
The talented artist graduated from the 2018 CMAA Academy of Country Music and, with his fellow graduates, performed at the Official Opening Concert of the Tamworth Country Music Festival and was selected to perform at the 2018 Golden Guitar Awards with O’Shea. Jurd will play the Deni Ute Muster in October 2019.
Jurd has worked with Amber Lawrence, Fanny Lumsden, Kasey Chambers, Kevin Bennett and written a song with seven-time Golden Guitar winner Allan Caswell.
His strong vocal abilities saw him named a finalist in 2013 and 2014 in Today’s Country 94one Brand New Star Competition and co-write a song with country music star Gina Jeffreys.
Jurd’s influences range from Lee Kernaghan to Tim McGraw and Brad Paisley to The McClymonts and he performs regularly with The Banned.
Long Bio
FROM opening the Tamworth Country Music Festival and being announced for other major festival appearances, to writing with award-winning artists and releasing charting singles to radio, Aaron Jurd has achieved it all in a few short years.
The Lake Macquarie singer-songwriter releases his third single, Changed, on August 2, charting at No. 8 on iTunes, following on from Hard To Breathe, which hit the top 20 of iTunes celebrating all those feelings of new love. His debut single, Set Me On Fire, reached the top 5 of the iTunes Country Song Charts and tells of the emotional struggles that come with reaching the lowest point in your life, but knowing there is a way out, although you haven’t found it yet.
His new single, Changed, on the other hand, is the next chapter from Set Me On Fire, and celebrates the silver lining after the storm.
The talented artist has spent years playing gigs in cover bands and duos, but is now performing his originals with his band, The Banned, and this year, so far, they’ve played the Bluewater Country Music Festival and Off to Country Festival with the Deni Ute Muster.
Aaron graduated from the 2018 CMAA Academy of Country Music in January 2018 and, with his fellow graduates, performed at the Official Opening Concert of the Tamworth Country Music Festival and was selected to perform at the 2018 Golden Guitar Awards with O’Shea. During his time at The Academy, he worked with Amber Lawrence, Fanny Lumsden, Kasey Chambers, and Kevin Bennett. Aaron also co-wrote a song with seven-time Golden Guitar winner Allan Caswell.
“I have spent years writing my own music,” he said.
“But, I’m such a perfectionist that none of my songs were ever heard because I was scared of the reception they would get. Releasing Set Me On Fire and people’s reaction to it, had me in a state of euphoria. I have been listening to talented artists releasing their own material for so long and I need to pinch myself to believe that my song is being played on the same radio stations as the artists I look up to.”
With his strong vocal abilities, 2013 and 2014 saw Aaron named a finalist in Today’s Country 94one Brand New Star Competition. His success in 2014 meant he was selected to join 10 other artists for a song workshop with country music artist Gina Jeffreys where he co-wrote a song with the star.
Aaron’s influences weren’t always country music – he grew up in a small town in the Hunter Valley and soon found music to be an avenue to escape family struggles. Although largely influenced by his parents’ taste in popular rock music up until the age of 16, it was when he heard Brad Paisley’s Welcome to the Future, on CMC that his future musical path was set. Aaron realised he had found his niche and wanted to pursue a career in the country music industry. Since then he has broadened his influences to a range of American and Australian country music artists including Chris Stapleton, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert and The McClymonts.
“Since I heard that first song, I have felt drawn to country music,” he said.
“It remains faithful to what music is supposed to be about: the storytelling, emotion, and real-life issues are all expressed and relatable in country music and it captures them in a way that very few other genres can.”
With the release of three consecutive top 20 charting singles, Aaron is making his mark on the Australian country music industry with plans to release more original material to further cement his place in the genre.
Photos
Individual photos: Tiana Lockwood
Download High Res Download High Res Download High Res Aaron Jurd and The Banned Download High Res Download High Res
Music
Media Coverage
Aaron Jurd live on ABC Illawarra with Lindsay McDougall
– ABC Illawarra | September 6, 2019
Aaron Jurd’s debut in Bundanoon
– Southern Highlands News | August 14, 2019
Lake Macquarie singer-songwriter Aaron Jurd celebrates new chapter with single, Changed
– Newcastle Star | August 4, 2019
Online interview – Country Kickback
– August 1, 2019
Radio interview – Saturday Night Country
– ABC National | July 20, 2019
Radio interview – 2TM Tamworth
– July 13, 2019
Photos from Aaron Jurd and The Banned’s gig at Shoal Bay Country Club
– Port Stephens Examiner | June 11, 2019
Radio interview – KIX Country
– June 5, 2019
Aaron Jurd and The Banned to perform at Hats Off to Country Music festival in July
– The Northern Daily Leader | May 29, 2019
Aaron Jurd and The Banned ‘stoked’ to debut at 2019 Bluewater Country Music Festival
– Port Stephens Examiner | May 20, 2019
Muster’s musical addition ecstatic
– Deni Pastoral Times | May 18, 2019
Toronto singer Aaron Jurd’s Deni Ute Muster dream comes true
– The Newcastle Herald | May 16, 2019
Radio interview – Tracy and the Big D
– May 15, 2019
Radio interview – Country Thunder
– May 1, 2019
Online interview – Country Kickback
– April 29, 2019
Interview with Aaron Jurd
– AMNplify | April 26, 2019
Aaron Jurd to perform at Hotel Cessnock
– The Advertiser | March 26, 2019
Achievements
Festival Appearances
- Deni Ute Muster – October 2019
- Hats Off to Country Festival, Tamworth – July 2019
- Bluewater Country Music Festival, Shoal Bay – June 2019
- Tamworth Country Music Festival – January 2019
Chart Success
- No. 8 iTunes Country Songs Chart – Changed
August 2, 2019 - Changed added to Fresh Country playlist on Spotify
August 2, 2019 - No. 1 Country Thunder Chart – Hard To Breathe
June 2, 2019 - No. 18 KIX Country Chart – Hard To Breathe
May 20, 2019 - No. 17 88.9FM Tamworth Radio Chart – Hard To Breathe
May 17, 2019 - No. 8 AMRAP AirIt Regional Chart – Hard To Breathe
April 22, 2019 - No. 16 iTunes Country Songs Chart – Hard To Breathe
April 12, 2019 - No. 1 Oz Country Downunder Chart – Set Me On Fire
January 8, 2019 - Oz Country Downunder Song of the Week – Set Me On Fire
December 26, 2018 - No. 5 iTunes Country Songs Chart – Set Me On Fire
September 21, 2018
Contact Information
Management and Publicity
Rebecca Gracie, The Country Journo
rebecca@countryjourno.com.au | 0427 232591
