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.

All good country things…

November 20, 2016Leave a comment

THE time that I’ve dreaded for months has finally come – the last day of Cruisin’ Country 6 on board The Legend of the Seas. It has been a whirlwind mini-Tamworth Country Music Festival at sea and I’ve loved every minute of the music on offer.
Last night Adam Brand rocked the boat with his flavour of country and left the audiences wanting more after both his shows. Although he hadn’t been feeling the best with rough weather making the ship a little more rocky than we would like, Adam put on a show like no other. A few highlights included when he brought Drew McAlister and Travis Collins on and, together with his bass player Matt Cornell, The Outlaws performed a track from their album and the crowd stood as he performed The Anzac, which was a beautiful moment.
I’m a big boot fan, as anyone who knows me is well aware, and Adam had my favourite pair of boots on last night. The special thing about these boots is that they look white, but under stage lighting they become silver! I know, I get excited about small things, but I love those boots.
Today is bittersweet as we continue our journey back to Brisbane and back to real life. However, real life just means more country music for me these days, so it’s not that bad, is it? My husband has just informed me there is 4060metres of salt water between us and the bottom of the Coral Sea right this moment… that scares me just a little! Anyway, I digress (again).
So far we’ve enjoyed the sounds of Roo Arcus, Jasmine Rae, Tori Darke, Lyn Bowtell, Innocent Eve, Aleyce Simmonds, Luke O’Shea, Paul Costa and Beccy Cole. Yes, that’s just today! It’s only 3pm and we still have a plethora of shows to go including the massive finale with all the headliners and a heap of other artists doing a song each and then a huge song at the end of the show.
This will be my last entry from the ship, but I’ll do a wrap up either Monday or Tuesday when I return to reality in Tamworth, the country music capital. There is so much country music news about to hit that it’s going to be like a cyclone.
If there are any topics you’d like me to cover, please send me an email: rebecca@countryjourno.com.au or contact me on social media. Thanks for reading.

Making musical memories

November 19, 2016November 19, 2016Leave a comment

I DON’T want to bring the mood down, but would like to start by acknowledging the death of Hugh McDonald after his courageous battle with cancer. He passed today leaving a great musical legacy.
Another sea day for day seven has stretched before us after a night partying with Beccy Cole and other artists.
Beccy headlined day six with her show in the That’s Entertainment Theatre where she was joined by the Cruisin’ Country Orchestra or, as she renamed them for the night, Sexual Chocolate, featuring her partner Libby O’Donovan on piano. I haven’t laughed so much on board as I did last night. Beccy just knows how to put on a show. Her concerts are never just a country music concert; they offer something more and she pushes herself each time and you’re never going to get bored no matter how many times you see her perform. It featured plenty of wonderful country music, a duet with Melinda Schneider, show tunes in a musical face-off with Libby in her amazing boots (if they go missing on the cruise, I know nothing about it), and a healthy serving of humour and jokes. Laughter is the best medicine, after all, so we are all fit and healthy today after that helping of humour.
Today has been much smoother sailing which has meant I could get out and hear plenty of music. Paul Costa began the day in the Centrum with six decks of fans watching him. There was a massive line-up for the autograph session with all the artists this morning with fans meeting their favourite artists for two hours in the main restaurant. Following that I interviewed 8 Ball Aitken, The Hillbilly Goats, Lyn Bowtell, and Roo Arcus about the cruise and what they’ve got planned for the Tamworth Country Music Festival and beyond for 2017.
8 Ball then played the Centrum, which was packed and Jasmine Rae performed at the same time on the Pool Deck, which was bathed in sunshine today and the perfect setting for a show at sea. A walk-up show uncovered plenty of wannabe artists and poets during the day in the Centrum and Libby O’Donovan took her powerhouse vocals to the Pool Deck for the afternoon.
Roo Arcus then provided the pre-dinner tunes in the Centrum and Adam Brand is headlining tonight as the end of the cruise draws closer and our thoughts turn to reality and life back on dry land… we are all going to miss our country music family.

Surprise sea day and large swells

November 18, 2016November 18, 2016Leave a comment

CRUISIN’ Country is throwing up plenty of surprises and one of the aspects of cruising is that so much depends on the weather. So, imagine our surprise this morning when we woke not to Isle of Pines, but to the sight of Noumea… again. I like to think of myself as a glass half full kind of person (goes against all laws of journalism), so I got to thinking how good it would be to hit up the patisserie in town that I missed last time and taste test their macarons. It would merely be for research purposes, of course. Unfortunately we just dropped anchor in the bay and didn’t dock for the day. Bad weather meant large swells at Isle of Pines and we couldn’t proceed there safely, so we waited to Adam Brand to hop on board, via a small boat transfer, and off we went again for an extra sea day.
Now, I’m not the biggest fan of sea days, but when you’re living in a country music festival at sea for eight days, who cares, right? They just increased the entertainment on board for the day. However, I missed most of it due to the large swells not making me feel the best, so I saw the cabin for the most of the day, but all sorted now thanks to my ever-patient husband getting some magic tablets from the shop and the Simmonds family from Tamworth supplying me with some magic essential oil to dab on. It all seems to have worked and it’s back to partying. Oh, and thank you to those who asked about my earache – the perfect cure is a blue margarita, if you’re wondering. Fixed it overnight! Anyway, I digress, lets talk country.
Last night brought Melinda Schneider headlining the That’s Entertainment Theatre. She packed both shows with standing room only. Beccy Cole joined her for a song, as did her partner, Mark Gable of The Choirboys.
Today I caught up with Amber Lawrence and Aleyce Simmonds for chats about what they’re up to on the cruise and what they’ve got planned for the Tamworth Country Music Festival and beyond. I thought I’d put the extra sea day to good use and get some interviews in the bag for a new online TCMF project I’m working on… stay tuned.
I didn’t catch a lot of live country music today, but heard that Matt Cornell entertained those on the pool deck and was joined by his good mate, Adam Brand for a song and then he jumped behind the drum kit and supplied the beat. Adam headlines tomorrow night.
Beccy Cole headlined tonight and had the audience laughing until they cried – more on that tomorrow.
Tomorrow is our second last day at sea and there is a mass autograph session with all the artists and I’m catching up with Lyn Bowtell for a chat about all things country music including the cruise, Tamworth and the CMAA Academy of Country Music. Until then, we will continue to sail the Pacific and hope the rocking stops; it’s a country music cruise after all. I promise to bring you moe news and photos tomorrow and sorry about only supplying two today.

Mysteries and music

November 17, 2016Leave a comment

Day five, November 17, was all about mystery… well, Mystery Island, anyway. I love the laidback lifestyle of the Ni-Vanuatu people and I think it’s something we could all learn a lot from. Many of us on the island also got to experience the ‘security’ of Mystery Island Airport this morning when a small Air Vanuatu aircraft came in to land with little warning and then took off straight over the top of us. Got our hearts racing, that’s for sure. I tried to capture the full take-off, but chickened out when the plane was nearly on top of me… better luck next time.
The music has also had our hearts racing on board the Legend of the Seas. Cruisin’ Country has lived up to every expectation I’ve had and my only complaint is that I haven’t had time to finish my book because there’s been too much great music to catch.
Last night Shane Nicholson headlined the main theatre with an amazing show during which he was joined by Felicity Urquhart for Rattlin’ Bones. If you haven’t caught a Shane Nicholson show, you need to put it on your ‘to-do’ list. He takes you from all shades of light to dark and everywhere in between. He’s one of our top singer-songwriters and producers, so there’s not much he can’t do, really. His show was a highlight for me last night. Today has been all about Mystery Island so far where everyone who went ashore enjoyed hours of snorkeling, shopping and/or swimming. This afternoon Simply Bushed and Aleyce Simmonds have both entertained and tonight Melinda Schneider headlines the That’s Entertainment Theatre and Paul Costa, Innocent Eve, Kristy Cox and Jasmine Rae perform through to the early hours… we’ll be keeping it country until we meet again on this blog tomorrow.

Mare and music on day four of Cruisin’ Country

November 16, 2016Leave a comment

Day four brought a few hours at Mare, New Caledonia. This is a small island that features a beach you can get a paid transfer to and a lot of beautiful residents. We stayed close to the pier and explored the market stalls.
Back on board the music never stops and that’s the reason we’re here, although I am very much looking forward to getting to Mystery Island tomorrow morning and seeing Vanuatu which, as anyone who knows me well knows, is a country I love and could easily make my home – they just need to improve their country music scene. Their country population will significantly increase for a few hours tomorrow.
Anyway, back to the music on board. Last night, November 15, we had a double bill of Drew McAlister and Luke O’Shea. It was HUGE! Seriously, no words could describe how these two singer-songwriters moved the audience. I saw people wiping tears from their eyes and people laughing – they covered the whole gamut of emotions through their stories and songs. That is truly what music is about; moving people. If you’re not feeling anything when listening to someone perform, they’re not doing it right. Again, we are so lucky in Australian country music to have the calibre of performers that we do. Luke and Drew are just two of them. The amazing Lyn Bowtell joined Drew for a song and Amber Lawrence joined Luke O’Shea for their duet, Catch You.
The cruise reminds me of Tamworth so much in that way as people stage hop around the ship and you’re never sure who’s going to appear at someone else’s show.
Before heading to bed, I caught the sounds of Travis Collins coming from Anchors Aweigh, so dropped in for a few songs and he had the room rocking with his brand of country.
Today I caught up with Paul Costa for a ‘quick’ interview that wrapped up two hours later as we caught up on what he’d been up to. It’s been a bit of a quiet music day for me as I’m struggling with an ear ache, certainly not brought on by the music. I’m using music and some medicinal alcohol to treat it, so should be back stronger than ever tomorrow 🙂
Tonight I wrapped up the oceanic festival with the immensely talented Shane Nicholson. Photos and concert report to come tomorrow after we explore Mystery Island.
If there’s anything I’m missing out or you’d like to know more about in these short blog entries, be sure to let me know.

Noumea goes country

November 15, 2016Leave a comment

DAY three on Cruisin’ Country and the music continues. We’ve been in Noumea for the day, but that hasn’t stopped the entertainment on board. amber-cropped
Last night Amber Lawrence lit up the main theatre with her show where she was joined by Amber Joy Poulton and Aleyce Simmonds for Cheers To The Girls. That was a special moment among so many special moments on this cruise so far. girls-cropped Amber is the ambassador for Cruisin’ Country and her love for the role shines through as she introduces the main acts each night. Monday night demonstrated why she’s a Golden Guitar winner and at the top of the country music game in Australia. As well as Cheers To The Girls, The Man Across the Street was an absolute highlight of the night for me and left few dry eyes in the theatre as she told the story of the war veteran who suffered PTSD and was forgotten by society, but saved her life.
Prior to Amber’s performance, I caught singer-songwriter and musician, Matt Cornell, in the Schooner Bar. It was packed to the rafters by an appreciative audience who hung on hi every word and soaked up Matt’s stories and songs.
I finished off the night with something a little different in the form of The Hillbilly Goats. If you have not seen this group perform, you must. Their shows are a little trip to the mountains of Tennessee through bluegrass and Appalachian music.
Today, most people got a taste of dry land again for a few hours, but back on the Legend of the Seas, it was all about the country music. We had Aleyce Simmonds on the pool deck until her show was rained out and I caught up with Jasmine Rae who is also on her first Cruisin’ Country and loving it as much as the rest of us. Aleyce wowed the outdoor audience with her powerhouse vocals and showed what talent Tamworth and Australian country music produces.
Inside, out of the elements, Bob Corbett and band were whipping the crowd into a frenzy with their music and a certain other country music artist was spotted ripping up the dance floor… she looked a lot like Felicity Urquhart, sources claimed.

corbett-cropped
Tonight’s main show was Drew McAlister and Luke O’Shea, which I followed with Travis Collins, but more on them tomorrow. We are headed to Mare tomorrow and I’m just getting this blog published before the ship’s clocks strike midnight.

Day Two: Cruisin’ Country 2016

November 14, 2016November 14, 20161 Comment

IT’S only day two on Cruisin’ Country and the music is heating up, along with the weather as we sail towards Noumea. The itinerary has been changed and we are hitting up Noumea for our first island visit followed by the smaller islands of New Caledonia and Mystery Island, Vanuatu.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I was encouraged to book on Cruisin’ Country 6, except I knew it would be good. Well, for me, this cruise has been like a small taste of the Tamworth Country Music Festival without the dry heat (it’s so humid outside, although not too hot today) and the frantic busy-ness.
It was a damp sail away party as a massive storm ripped through Brisbane on our departure, bringing the Hillbilly Goats’ performance to an early close. And, yes, the goat is on board with us much to my children’s delight.
Last night I caught the ever lovely and amazingly talented Felicity Urquhart whose voice continues to amaze. I have been watching her perform since she was… well, in school (which was only a few years ago, of course) and she just keeps getting better. Felicity headlined the first ‘Showtime’ performance in the That’s Entertainment Theatre with the Cruisin’ Country Orchestra comprised of Brendan Radford, Glen Hannah, Clare O’Meara, Jeff McCormack, Steve Fearnley, and Vaughan Jones. She even performed a few new songs that we might just see on her next album… I’ve been pushing her for years for a new offering, but her BBU album is still hitting all the right notes.
Felicity wrapped up a wonderful first day on the Legend of the Sea.
Today, Monday, November 14, has brought with it bush ballads from Dean Perrett and Jeff Brown, and a songwriting workshop with Lyn Bowtell, her BBU colleague, Felicity Urquhart, Drew McAlister and Shane Nicholson (who was a little late due to the time change between Brisbane and now, as we are back on Sydney time, which is Noumea time).
Those enjoying the pool in the windy weather had Libby O’Donovan to entertain them, along with Aleyce Simmonds and we’ve still got Amber Joy Poulton and the Holy Men, Matt Cornell and Amber Lawrence in the main theatre to come.
Exhausted yet? Yeah, me too, but no time to stop as there is much to enjoy. And a tip for those families thinking of coming in the form of two words – Kids Club. Best thing ever and my children are getting to know the children of my musical mates which is just a wonderful thing to witness.
Until tomorrow, enjoy and I hope you can live through these photos and feel like you’re on board with us.