Kip Moore and Lee Brice wow Tamworth with Charlie Worsham

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Review: Rebecca Belt
Photos: Gareth Gardner

TAMWORTH has witnessed plenty of massive concerts and big name artists, and the crowds turned out again in April to welcome US country stars Kip Moore, Lee Brice and Charlie Worsham.

Thousands of people packed the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre for a night of country music celebration with three of the biggest names from the US, and they shared it with their fellow country lovers. It’s a night that left many with sore heads but, most of all, wonderful memories of witnessing moments that may never be repeated in the Country Music Capital.

With fans lined up hours prior to the show and others catching a glimpse and a selfie at the airport, excitement was high in the city. Continue reading →

Tom Curtain and Sara Storer Speak Up for bullying victims

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GOLDEN Guitar winners Tom Curtain and Sara Storer are taking a stand against bullying with their new duet, Speak Up.

Tom wrote the track to raise awareness of bullying, after victim Amy “Dolly” Everett ended her young life earlier this year with the track reaching No. 5 on the iTunes Country Songs Chart on release day, June 18.

Before she took her life, Dolly wrote the words, “Speak even if your voice shakes”, inspiring the song. Continue reading →

Nashville headed for Tamworth

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TOP selling country artist Kip Moore may be one of the biggest names in his home country, the USA, but Australia holds a special place in his heart.

He rekindles his relationship with his fans Down Under this week as he begins his Australian tour with a show in Winton with musical mates Lee Brice and Charlie Worsham.

As a special treat for regional fans, they will play shows in Winton, Queensland and Tamworth, NSW as well as city shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

“Australia has got a piece of my heart; it is special for me,” he said.

“I talk about it in all my interviews and this is something super unique for me and the band. I think the thing about Australia is that the fans have embraced me in a very special way and I have embraced them, so there is a lot of mutual love.” Continue reading →

Some Girls (Quite) Like Country Music – Lachlan Bryan and The Wildes

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LACHLAN Bryan and The Wildes return with an album that is sure to get your attention with the title as well as the tracks that hit all the right notes.

Some Girls (Quite) Like Country Music sees the band’s songs maturing and a more stripped back production, as they worked to capture their live sound on record.

“We wanted to make an adult-sounding country record,” Lachlan said.

“Thematically, that comes across in the songs and, as for our sound, we didn’t want to unnecessarily polish things and we didn’t want to underestimate the country music audience. Lot of people have complicated lives like we do, and we didn’t want to gloss over stuff. The lyrics in some of the songs are quite cutting and, if ever we had the thought of whether this was too risqué or close to the bone, our answer was always what the hell, we’re going to do it anyway.”

Continue reading →

GALLERY: CMC Music Awards winners announced

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COUNTRY headed to the coast, the Gold Coast that is, on Thursday, March 15 for the annual CMC Music Awards.

The cocktail function saw country music royalty dressed in their finest and fans of all ages soaked up the atmosphere at The Star Casino.

As well as mingling with their fans, country artists from the US, Canada and Australia performed at the awards function and were rewarded for their efforts over the year. Continue reading →

Dean Brody brings his Beautiful Freakshow to CMC Rocks Queensland

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AS DEAN Brody prepared to hit the stage at CMC Rocks Queensland, he reflected on how similar country fans were, no matter what side of the world they were on.

The Canadian country singer is no stranger to Australia and our country music fans.

“One of the thing that surprised me was that country music fans, whether we are in Europe, North America or Australia, people who grew up in the country are used to the rural way of life and we share this musical genre as well,” he said.

“You guys really enjoy your beer and wine, though, and one of my favourite wines is Shiraz.” Continue reading →

Tom Curtain continues WA tour with No. 1 album

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THE new album from Tom Curtain, Territory Time, has won the hearts of music lovers, debuting at No. 1 on the iTunes Country Albums Chart and No. 12 on the iTunes Albums Chart (all genres) on release on November 14.

The singer-songwriter has taken the album and his Katherine Outback Experience show on the road through Western Australia, continuing south through January, with Golden Guitar finalist spots under his wing.

Released on November 14, the Territory Time album is a reflection of Tom’s life living and working in the Northern Territory, running the Katherine Outback Experience tourist attraction and training dogs and horses.

“This album is a collection of stories I have experienced first-hand or heard while working in the outback over the past decade,” he said. “It celebrates the different way of life in the Top End. It includes stories of loss, hard work and never giving up, together with a few light-hearted fun songs.”

The country artist is taking the album and the Katherine Outback Experience show, on tour from Katherine, down through Western Australia until February. Continue reading →

Book Review: Six Ways to Sunday – Karly Lane

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KARLY Lane’s latest novel, Six Ways To Sunday, will take you on a rollercoaster ride through the life of Rilee Kincaid. This isn’t a will they, won’t they romance novel, as Rilee is already married to her knight is denim, Dan, but gives an insider’s look into life in a small town when you’re very much an outsider.

The main problem is Rilee is not only an outsider, she’s also married to one of the most eligible bachelors in the town and they got married quickly and secretly, not winning her any points with her parents-in-law, the formidable Jacob and Ellen.

Having known her husband for only a few short months before they were married, living with his parents who are openly hostile towards her and dealing with the vagaries of a small town who don’t welcome outside influence warmly, presents a multitude of problems for the city girl. Rilee’s somewhat alternative career also leaves the townsfolk of Pallaburra suspicious of the newcomer. Continue reading →

BREAKING: 2018 Toyota Golden Guitar finalists announced

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ALT COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
From The Bottom of A Well Brad Butcher Producer: Matt Fell
Real Class Act Fanny Lumsden Producer: Matt Fell
Queen of Boomtown Gretta Ziller Producer: Paul Ruske
Dragonfly Kasey Chambers Producers: Nash Chambers & Paul Kelly
Love and Blood Shane Nicholson Producer: Matt Fell
 

CONTEMPORARY COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Get On Your Feet Adam Brand Producers: Alex Kline & Erin Enderlin
Coming Your Way Drew McAlister Producer: Andy Mak
61-615 O’Shea Producer: Lindsey Jackson
Endless The McClymonts Producer: Andy Mak
Our Backyard Travis Collins & Amber Lawrence Producer: Matt Fell
 

TRADITIONAL COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Lighthouse Ashleigh Dallas Producer: Brett Dallas
The Wide Horizon Darren Coggan Producer: Ben Edgar
All You Need Is Music Davidson Brothers Producers: Mark Thornton & Larry Marrs
All Australian Girl Tania Kernaghan Producer: Stuart French
The Hungry Mile The Bushwackers Producer: Roger Corbett
 

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Get On Your Feet Adam Brand
From The Bottom of A Well Brad Butcher
The Wide Horizon Darren Coggan
My Soundtrack Matt Cornell
Love and Blood Shane Nicholson
 

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

More Than Meets The Eye Aleyce Simmonds
Lighthouse Ashleigh Dallas
Real Class Act Fanny Lumsden
Dragonfly Kasey Chambers
All Australian Girl Tania Kernaghan
 

COUNTRY MUSIC CAPITAL NEWS GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR

Better Day Carter & Carter
All You Need Is Music Davidson Brothers
61-615 O’Shea
The Hungry Mile The Bushwackers
Endless The McClymonts
 

REGIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK VOCAL COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR

Hey Kasey Chambers & Paul Kelly
Back in ’92 Lee Kernaghan & James Blundell
Waltzing Australia The Bushwackers with John Williamson, Sara Storer & The Bush Choir
When We Say It’s Forever The McClymonts & Ronan Keating
Our Backyard Travis Collins & Amber Lawrence
 

BUSH BALLAD OF THE YEAR

Just Like Your Dad Dale Duncan Songwriters: Allan Caswell & Manfred Vijars
Henbury Blues Dean Perrett Songwriter: Neville Anderson
Uncle Harry Dianne Lindsay Songwriter: Peter Simpson
Plains of Nappa Merrie Graham Rodger Songwriter: Graham Rodger
We Still Sing Three Rivers Hotel Ian Quinn Songwriter: Ian Quinn
 

TOYOTA HERITAGE SONG OF THE YEAR

Roll On Fanny Lumsden Songwriter: Fanny Lumsden
Outback Club Reunion Lee Kernaghan Songwriters: Garth Porter, Lee Kernaghan, Colin Buchanan
Dirt Under My Nails The Bushwackers Songwriter: Rich Davies
Never Never Land Tom Curtain feat Luke O’Shea Songwriters: Tom Curtain & Luke O’Shea
Our Backyard Travis Collins & Amber Lawrence Songwriters: Amber Lawrence, Travis Collins, Matt Scullion
 

COCA-COLA INSTRUMENTAL OF THE YEAR

Evelyn’s Kitchen Davidson Brothers
Pick Me! Michael Fix
Porch Pickin’ Mickey Pye
Easy Does It The Bushwackers
Eva Waits Tommy Emmanuel
 

BLUEGRASS RECORDING OF THE YEAR

Too Young, Too Cute, Too Pretty Carpenter Caswell
Back Where I Started Davidson Brothers
Southbound Train Runaway Dixie
Cumberland Plain The Morrisons
Long Way Over Wide Island

Continue reading →

Ali S. Kix it up with new single

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FRIDAY, November 3 is a special day for Queensland country singer-songwriter Ali S. as he premieres his next single and music video, Talking Bout Brooks and Dunn, on Kix Country.

“Kix Country has supported my first single, I Need A Beer, so it’s a privilege to have them premiering my new song, Talking Bout Brooks and Dunn,” Ali said. “They are great promoters of country music across Australia.”

Crossy will interview Ali and premiere the new single after 7.30am QLD time on Friday morning. Continue reading →