2017 Golden Guitar finalists announced

November 29, 2016Leave a comment

THE COUNTRY Music Association of Australia (CMAA) and the Tamworth Regional Council have announced the finalists for the 2017 Country Music Awards of Australia – The Toyota Golden Guitar Awards.

This year, nominations for the awards increased by 20 percent on 2016 with the finalists demonstrating the great depth and variety of country music we have here in Australia.

“The finalists for the 2017 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards are a great mix of new faces and favourite country music artists,” CMAA chairman Dobe Newton said.
“And whilst it’s always good to see some familiar faces, the finalist’s announcement for 2017 has really opened up opportunities for our emerging artists and sets the stage for a very special evening in Tamworth on January 28 when the winners are announced.”

Nominated for six Golden Guitars, Travis Collins leads the finalist’s field with his album Hard Light. Travis is nominated for Album Of The Year, Male Artist Of The Year, Toyota Heritage Song Of The Year (Hometown Calling), CMC Video Clip Of The Year (Call Me Crazy), Single Of The Year (Just Another Girl) And APRA AMCOS Song Of The Year (Call Me Crazy).

Sara Storer leads the female finalists with five nominations including Album Of The Year, Female Artist Of The Year, Regional Australia Bank Vocal Collaboration Of The Year, Bush Ballad Of The Year And Toyota Heritage Song Of The Year. sara-storer

The 2017 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards sees debut nominations for artists including The Weeping Willows with four nominations from their sophomore album Before Darkness Comes A-Callin’. The self- proclaimed ‘Americana Sweethearts’ are up for Alternative Country Album Of The Year, Country Music Capital News Group Or Duo Of The Year, Bluegrass Recording Of The Year (River Of Gold) and Qantaslink New Talent Of The Year.

Joining them in the Alternative Country Album Of The Year category are two more newcomers, Katie Brianna with her album Victim Or The Heroine and The Wilson Pickers with their album You Can’t Catch Fish From a Train. Fanny Lumsden (Qantaslink New Talent Of The Year, APRA AMCOS Song Of The Year and Single Of The Year), Justin Standley (Qantaslink New Talent Of The Year), Michael Waugh (Qantaslink New Talent Of The Year) and Lindsay Waddington (Instrumental Of The Year) are also nominated for their very first time.

bbu With stellar individual careers and multiple Golden Guitar Awards between them, Bennett, Bowtell & Urquhart are a powerhouse combination and their self-titled album Bennett, Bowtell & Urquhart has also been nominated for five awards. The trio are hot contenders for Alternative Country Album Of The Year, Country Music Capital News Group Or Duo Of The Year, Toyota Hertiage Song Of The Year (Goulburn Valley Woman), Bluegrass Recording Of The Year (I Hear Them All), and APRA AMCOS Song Of The Year (Goulburn Valley Woman).

Kasey Chambers, Graeme Connors, Luke O’Shea and Kristy Cox have three finalist placings each. Chambers, with her song Ain’t No Little Girl and Connors with his song 60 Summers, will compete for APRA AMCOS Song Of The Year, CMC Video Clip Of The Year and Single Of The Year. Luke O’Shea is up For Album Of The Year (Caught Up In The Dreaming), Male Artist Of The Year Aad Toyota Heritage Song Of The Year (The Old Man’s Shed) and Cox will vie for Female Artist Of The Year, Alternative Country Album Of The Year and Bluegrass Recording Of The Year with her album Part Of Me that was produced by Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter Jerry Salley.

Allan Caswell, Troy Cassar-Daley, Amber Lawrence, O’Shea and The Wolfe Brothers, have each landed two nominations and rounding out the awards with a single entry each is Doug Bruce, Kirsty Lee Akers, Seleen McAlister, Sunny Cowgirls, Warren H Williams & Dani Young, Adam Harvey, Anne Kirkpatrick, Catherine Britt, Dean Perrett, Graham Roger, Jeff Brown, Roo Arcus, Michael Fix, Mickey Pye, Stuie French, The Hillbilly Goats, Caitlyn Shadbolt, Runaway Dixie and Simply Bushed.

NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres said the Tamworth Country Music Festival is recognised world-wide and attracts significant visitation to the state.

Toyota Australia executive director Tony Cramb said they were excited to be part of the awards again.
“The depth and calibre of the nominees, which includes a number of Toyota Star Makers is a great thing and we’re already looking forward to the big night,” he said.

The Golden Guitar Awards is the pinnacle event of the Toyota Country Music Festival in Tamworth and for the second year running fans can catch all the action live from Tamworth via http://www.tcmf.com.au/live.

The Tamworth Country Music Festival will be held from Friday, January 20 to Sunday, January 29 with the 45th Toyota Golden Guitar Awards on Saturday, January 28 at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Caught Up In The Dreaming – Luke O’Shea Producer: Luke O’Shea and Benjy Pocock
Silos – Sara Storer Producer: Matt Fell
This Crazy Life – The Wolfe Brothers Producer: Luke Wooten
Hard Light – Travis Collins Producer: Travis Collins
Things I Carry Around – Troy Cassar-Daley Producer: Troy Cassar-Daley

ALTERNATIVE COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Bennett, Bowtell and Urquhart – Bennett, Bowtell & Urquhart Producer: Glen Hannah
Victim Or The Heroine – Katie Brianna Producer: Shane Nicholson
Part Of Me – Kristy Cox Producer: Jerry Salley
Before Darkness Comes A-Callin – The Weeping Willows Producer: Laura Coates and Andrew Wrigglesworth
You Can’t Catch Fish From A Train – The Wilson Pickers Producer: The Wilson Pickers

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
50 Years In Oz – Allan Caswell
Unsung A tribute to the songs of Buddy Bruce – Doug Bruce
Caught Up In The Dreaming – Luke O’Shea
Hard Light – Travis Collins
Things I Carry Around – Troy Cassar-Daley

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Happy Ever After – Amber Lawrence
Burn Baby Burn – Kirsty Lee Akers
Part Of Me – Kristy Cox
Silos – Sara Storer
Follow The Journey – Seleen McAlister

COUNTRY MUSIC CAPITAL NEWS GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
Bennett, Bowtell and Urquhart – Bennett, Bowtell and Urquhart
Here We Go – Sunny Cowgirls
Before Darkness Comes A-Callin’ – The Weeping Willows
This Crazy Life – The Wolfe Brothers
Desert Water – Warren H Williams and Dani Young

REGIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK VOCAL COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR
Bartender Blues – Adam Harvey Performers: Adam Harvey and Lyn Bowtell
Cheers to the Girls – Amber Lawrence Performers: Amber Lawrence with Catherine Britt and Fanny Lumsden
Orchid Street – Anne Kirkpatrick Performers: Anne Kirkpatrick and Jeff Brown
F U Cancer – Catherine Britt Performers: Catherine Britt with Kasey Chambers, Beccy Cole, Lyn Bowtell, Josh Pyke, Wes Carr, and Wendy Matthews
My Diamond – Sara Storer Performers: Sara Storer and Greg Storer

BUSH BALLAD OF THE YEAR
A Truckie Up In Queensland – Allan Caswell Songwriters: Allan Caswell and Manfred Vijars
The Veteran – Dean Perrett Songwriters: Allan Caswell, Drew McAlister, Dean Perrett
Ghosts Of The Murranji – Graham Rodger Songwriter: Graham Rodger
God Given Rain – Jeff Brown Songwriter: Jeff Brown
Amazing Night – Sara Storer Songwriter: Sara Storer

TOYOTA HERITAGE SONG OF THE YEAR
Goulburn Valley Woman – Bennett, Bowtell and Urquhart Songwriter: Kevin Bennett
The Old Man’s Shed – Luke O’Shea Songwriters: Luke O’Shea and John Krsulja
Red, White and Blue – Roo Arcus Songwriter: Roo Arcus
Purple Cockies – Sara Storer Songwriter: Sara Storer
Hometown Calling – Travis Collins Songwriters: Travis Collins and Troy Kemp

INSTRUMENTAL OF THE YEAR
Twenty Five – Lindsay Waddington
Cosmopolitan Blues – Michael Fix
Buckle Up – Mickey Pye
Roundabout – Runaway Dixie
Song for Manaia – Stuie French

BLUEGRASS RECORDING OF THE YEAR
I Hear Them All – Bennett, Bowtell and Urquhart
Losing My Blues Tonight – Dean Perrett
Another Weary Mile – Kristy Cox
Cumberland Gap – The Hillbilly Goats
River Of Gold – The Weeping Willows

QANTASLINK NEW TALENT OF THE YEAR
Running In Circles – Caitlyn Shadbolt
Land Of Gold – Fanny Lumsden
Till The Buzzer Goes Off – Justin Standley
Heyfield Girl – Michael Waugh
River Of Gold – The Weeping Willows

APRA AMCOS SONG OF THE YEAR
Goulburn Valley Woman – Bennett, Bowtell and Urquhart Songwriter: Kevin Bennett
Land of Gold – Fanny Lumsden Songwriter: Fanny Lumsden
60 Summers – Graeme Connors Songwriter: Graeme Connors
Ain’t No Little Girl – Kasey Chambers Songwriter: Kasey Chambers
Call Me Crazy – Travis Collins Songwriters: Travis Collins and Damien Leith

CMC VIDEO CLIP OF THE YEAR
60 Summers – Graeme Connors Director: Ben Bishop, Tropical Exposure
Ain’t No Little Girl – Kasey Chambers Director: Duncan Toombs, Filmery
The Truth Walks Slowly (in the Countryside) – O’Shea Director: Mark O'Shea
Raise Your Glass – Simply Bushed Director: Duncan Toombs, Filmery
Call Me Crazy – Travis Collins Director: Duncan Toombs, Filmery

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Land of Gold – Fanny Lumsden
60 Summers – Graeme Connors
Ain’t No Little Girl – Kasey Chambers
The Truth Walks Slowly (in the Countryside) – O’Shea
Just Another Girl – Travis Collins

BREAKING: Gemma Kirby gets on her feet for dream tour

November 24, 2016Leave a comment

UPPING her fitness levels is on the agenda for Gemma Kirby as she prepares for the Get On Your Feet tour with Adam Brand. gemma
The semi precious opportunity for the rising country star to tour with Golden Guitar winner Adam came about after they met in Tamworth in January.
“I got the opportunity to co-host Festival FM and we got talking,” Gemma said.
“I’m a bit of a fangirl of Adam’s – he’s the only one in the industry that I get nervous around because I’ve pedestalled him my whole life. We got talking about truck driving and cars because I’m a bit of a rev head, too. Then a couple of months later I released Deceiving Eyes and he saw it. It’s a dream come true for me.”
Adam said she was an artist to watch.
“I met Gemma in Tamworth this year and after chatting to her I thought to myself, I’m gonna keep my eye on this one,” he said.
“There was just something so refreshing about her approach.”
Gemma said she was going to have work more on her muscle tone, though, because of how active Adam was on stage.
“We watched him at Eumundi Country Music Festival and he just bounces around all the time on stage,” she said.
“I’m going to be playing in a new band so I get to show off my side of music, but also my musical side again, so I’m doing charts again and will be playing alongside Adam.”
Gemma said they were a good match for a tour because they were both authentic artists and people.
“I’m really excited to share my music with people who love Adam,” she said.
“We are both honest and don’t have a very good filter – we say it like it is, and wear our hearts on our sleeves. I don’t have to be anyone other than myself – authentic Gemma and his fans love that.”
Gemma will return to the Tamworth Country Music Festival for her fourth time performing and will perform solo and with Adam on his January 28 show at Wests. gemma-kirby2
The tour announcement tops off a busy year for the rising country artist touring the Northern Territory and touring NSW this month. She will perform the Australian National Anthem at the PBR in Brisbane and Newcastle and will open Bindi Irwins’s school holiday shows at Australia Zoo next month.
Gemma will release a tour edition of her album Semi-Precious including a six-track DVD at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
She plays The Royal Hotel in Scone on Friday, November 25, PBR Newcastle on Saturday, November 26, Quirindi RSL on Sunday, November 27, and the Grand Hotel in Mount Morgan on December 9.

Innocent Eve set musical compass to Americana

November 23, 2016November 23, 20161 Comment

A CRUISE ship is not the usual venue for an EP launch, but it was perfect for the new offering from duo Innocent Eve as they change the direction of their musical compass. innocent-eve-pic
The new EP from sisters Rachel and Bec Olsson, True North, is a road sign to where their music is going. They said they felt they had tapped into their true north when making the EP and would follow it wherever it led.
Rachel said they recorded with Matt Fell for this project, and have started down the Americana path.
“Matt (Fell) was a very clear choice for us in doing that,” she said.
“We directed this a little bit more because we knew what we wanted.”
true-north-ep-sml For something unique, Innocent Eve launched the EP on Cruisin’ Country 6 on November 18, although Rachel said the cruise was really an eight-day launch.
“We are grateful that it’s our fifth year cruising and that they support and believe in us enough to have us back on,” Rachel said.
“For us to be back on there, releasing this was something really personal and special to us because Mick (Manov) has become like family to us. We love it because you’re on a ship with a bunch of country music fans – it doesn’t get much better than that.”
Each of the six songs on True North stems from a personal place – either from experience or observations.
“The songs we write always come from the heart from something we’ve seen or experienced,” Rachel said.
“If that’s something our listeners have enjoyed, then that’s something that hasn’t changed.”
The first single, Belly Blow, is all about when you’ve been through an experience that has left you feeling numb and you’re yearning to feel something, anything, again.
“It’s about wanting to get back out there and be a part of the world and not sitting on the sidelines,” Rachel said.
With the single out and about on radio, the sisters plan to play the new songs in every show they perform so that their fans get to know them.
“We’re going to be promoting the EP as much as we can,” Rachel said.
As well as showcasing their Americana style, Rachel said the new EP was a reflection of their sound and vibe that audiences got when they performed live.
“It really does give a bit of an insight into us,” she said.
“It’s an indication of the vibe and sound you would get from us if you saw us live. We are very excited about our sound. We certainly weren’t traditional country, but there’s a bit of alt country and folk country and pop country – we are a little bit eclectic.
“True North is a bit more rounded out and this is what we love and where we feel like we fit.”
Like other country artists across the nation, Innocent Eve have their Tamworth Country Music Festival planned.
“We are very excited with the line-up of where we are playing,” Rachel said.
“Because we are both from school teaching backgrounds, we do a children’s show as well as playing the Pig and Tinder Box and the Post Office Hotel.”
This is only their second year playing the festival as Innocent Eve, and Rachel described last year as a “whirlwind”.
“It’s a bit of a shock the first time, but now we know what to expect and this time we can really get in and enjoy it and immerse ourselves in everything it has to offer,” she said.

Country Music Cocktails announce full artist list

November 5, 2016November 5, 2016Leave a comment

IN AN exclusive, we can announce the more than 40 artists who will perform at Country Music Cocktails at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
kirsty-lee-akers
There aren’t many opportunities where you can rub shoulders with your favourite country artist while enjoying a drink together, but that’s what Country Music Cocktails offers those at the Tamworth Country Music Festival next year. The much-loved industry and fan get together is back in Tamworth in January at SSS BBQ Barn with more than 40 artists announced to perform.
allan-caswell

Organiser Perrin Finlay-Brown from Market The Music started the event to recreate the vibe of the Golden Guitar Awards after party, but for the fans.
After a year’s break, Perrin said he had, had plenty of messages begging him to bring it back.
“Next year’s event will focus on giving more young acts a go,” he said. “Young acts have come through that have gone onto bigger and better things and the punters get to know them more intimately, so we have a focus on one-third younger acts and two-thirds established acts. The event is a really valuable commodity from the networking point of view because people get to know the artists and then support them.”

There is a mix of traditional and contemporary styles and international visiting acts McKenna mckennafaith Faith from the US will only perform at the event in Tamworth, Mae Valley from New Zealand will perform at cocktails, the country music gala event and supporting Kirsty Lee Akers, fellow New Zealand artist Aly Cook will also be there, along with Canada’s Amy Nelson.
“There were 147 artists who applied to be on the show,” Perrin said. “This is the most I’ve ever had; both from the numbers who applied and for the ones I’ve tried to fit in.”

For the first time, Tamworth business, ATAC, is on board as naming rights sponsors, Anderson Productions is a secondary sponsor with Market The Music. Kix Country, Klik Productions, Pope Productions and SSS BBQ Barn, and Chris Watson Travel Partners are also sponsors of the event.

Country Music Cocktails is on Saturday, January 21 from 11am at SSS BBQ Barns with tickets available here.

Artists performing are (with surprises on the day):

Foundation Artists (performed every year)
8 Ball Aitken 8-ball-aitken
Aleyce Simmonds
Georgia Fall
Jade Holland
Jay Seeney Band
Kirsty Lee Akers
Kristy Cox
Liam Brew
Luke Dickens
Travis List

Main Acts
Ashleigh Dallas
Benn Gunn
Billy Bridge
Col Finley
Dan Murphy
Dana Hassall
Dani Young
Doug Bruce
Fanny Lumsden
Hayley Jensen ashleigh-dallas
Karrie Hayward
Lachlan Bryan
Matt Cornell
Mick Lindsey
Mickey Pye
NeillyRich
Rebecca Lee Nye
Seleen McAlister
The Weeping Willows

Legends
Allan Caswell
Marie Hodson
Warren H Williams

International Artists
Aly Cook (NZ)
Amy Nelson (Canada)
McKenna Faith (USA)
Mae Valley (NZ)

Future Stars liam-kennedyclark
Allison Forbes
Brooke Lambert
Cassi Hilbers
Emily Joy
Hayley Marsten
Jemma Beech
Kate Hindle
Kate Rose
Liam Kennedy-Clark
Natalie Pearson
Tori Forsyth

Jody Direen to Shake Up

November 3, 2016November 3, 2016Leave a comment

COUNTRY singer Jody Direen is keen to shake up the Australian and New Zealand country music scenes with her latest album, released today, November 4.

Jody Direen

Jody described the new offering, Shake Up, as her “greatest achievement yet” and said there were very few nerves with the release of this offering, because they were squashed by the level of her excitement
“I think, with this album. I really pushed the boundaries in terms of my sound direction,” she said.
“I’ve been so excited about all my albums but, with this one, I want to create a unique sound that’s mine and people can recognise me by it. There are a lot of pop and rock influences because I’m very influenced by what’s happening in the US country scene. People will be taken on a journey of my life for the last 12 months.”

shake-up The New Zealand singer-songwriter, who moved to Brisbane this year, said she was just a normal girl working hard at her dream, so plenty of listeners would related to the songs on Shake Up.
“They’ve got an upbeat, party anthem vibe and I’ve gone for a really big sound, so live, these songs are huge,” she said.
“There are some slower songs, as well. I can’t wait to hear what people think of it and can’t wait to play the whole album live. I feel like it’s my greatest achievement yet.”

Already the winner of New Zealand’s 2015 CMANZ Female Artist of the Year Award, VAC Female Vocalist of the Year and a NZCMA Best Album of the Year finalist, Jody has also had nominations for CMC awards and top 10 hits in Australia and New Zealand.

It’s been a whirlwind month for Jody after being part of the This Crazy Life tour with artists including Wolfe Brothers, Caitlyn Shadbolt and Canadian country superstar Gord Bamford and releasing the first single, Gimme The Beat.
“I had an absolute ball because it was my first Australian tour and I saw parts of Australia I hadn’t seen before,” she said.
“Australian fans are just amazing to perform to and it was a great opportunity to play some songs off the new album.
“I didn’t know anybody on the tour before I started and I was a little bit anxious with three girls, in the same industry trying to achieve the same thing, but there was nothing like that – everybody was in there together and we all just got on like a big happy family.” Photo: Tony Banks

Although she only recently made the move to Australia, the singer-songwriter said she felt welcomed by the country scene here and was keen to get more live shows under her belt, with her next major festival being the Tamworth Country Music Festival. She will also open for LeAnn Rimes and Scotty McCreery in New Zealand.

Shake Up is sure to make a mark on the Australia and New Zealand country music scenes with Jody having her sights set on Nashville, but said she wanted to nurture the local markets first.
“I’m very much living in the moment and always going to be aiming for that, but enjoying what’s happening now,” she said.

Gord Bamford’s first Australian tour

October 15, 2016November 3, 2016Leave a comment

By Rebecca Belt
AUSTRALIAN-BORN Canadian country artist Gord Bamford is embarking on his first tour of his country of birth, bringing his music to those still discovering the talent that he holds.

Gord Bamford Hori.jpg
Gord was in Australia in August for the Gympie Music Muster, returned to North America then jumped back on a plane and winged his way back to Australia for the This Crazy Life tour.
He was five when he moved to Canada with his musical Canadian mother, so has not been in Australia a lot since he was very young, having not had a relationship with his dad until the past five years. gord-bamford
The multi-award winner has dominated the charts for the last decade in Canada and he has won 23 Canadian Country Music Association Awards throughout his illustrious career. His recently released award-winning album Tin Roof hit #2 in Canada and the first two singles from it also went to #1. This tour will fulfill an important personal goal for Gord – he was born in Traralgon Victoria, his dad lives in Brisbane, and he has always wanted to bring his music to his birth country. He can now tick that box.
“It is a little bit tough on my family (returning so soon), but it was a great opportunity,” he said.
“I’ll be in Australia for the month and I’m looking forward to the shows and getting to see the country as well. I’m going to check out my old house. My dad is going to come to Melbourne and Traralgon and look around where I was until I was five years old and reconnect with all that.”
Gord said he was also looking forward to seeing what the reaction to his music was from his audience.
“I want to see if they like it,” he said.
“I love that the connection with the fans and the music. If it’s any indication, Breakfast Beer seemed to be very popular at Gympie.”
Now that Australia has discovered Gord’s music through his latest album, Tin Roof, there is a compilation of his earlier albums, similar to a greatest hits, planned for release Down Under.
He said people could relate to his music because he aimed to keep the songs simple.
“I write songs that everybody can relate to,” he said.
“A lot of my music tells people who I am, where I came from and they are songs about family. It is country music that people can really relate to and goes the same in Australia – it’s very similar.”
The singer-songwriter said he believed the market in Australia was easier than in the US which was “kinda locked down by major labels”.
“We are very fortunate to get our music out semi-independently and it’s easier in Australia because it’s smaller than Canada, but I think it would be the third biggest market in the world for country music and Australian fans are passionate; they are some of the most passionate I’ve ever seen.”
Gord said he appreciated that CDs were still popular in Australia and he was being asked to play songs off his albums that weren’t necessarily singles.
Gord said he planned to spend more time in Australia, now that he had reconnected with his dad and they had built a relationship.
“I want to really be involved in the music scene there,” he said.
“I’m willing to put the time and effort in to really connect with everybody and I look forward to that.”

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