Country Music Capital News - May 2018 Volume 43 No 4 by Country Music Capital News

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MAY 2018 VOL. 43 NO.4

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KASEY CHAMBERS

FEELS LIKE HOME BRAD COX

RIGHT FIRST TIME years of bringing you the music 1975â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2018

THE WOLFE CMC BROTHERS ROCKS HOW THEY SURVIVE

QLD

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years of bringing you the music 1975â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2018

T he new album fe aturing Alan Pigram, Bill Chambers and Brandon D o d d, w it h s p ec i a l gu es t E m my lou Har r is

6174+0) go to kaseychambers.com for detai ls

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FEATURING THE SINGLE ALL ON ME 10 NEW COUNTRY ARTISTS YOU NEED TO KNOW “...TAKE[S] A SOULFUL DETOUR FROM THE TYPICAL COUNTRY PROGRESSION.” “18 FOR 2018” LISTEN UP ARTIST

AVAILABLE NOW years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

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All Country 'GOLDEN HOUR' KACEY MUSGRAVES

'ADAM & BROOKE' ADAM ECKERSLEY aBROOKE MCCLYMONT

'RESTORATION' VARIOUS ARTISTS

'NASHVILLE IN CONCERT' THE NASHVILLE CAST

'ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE' THE SHIRES

'COLLIDE' IMOGEN CLARK

THE LATEST NEW RELEASES FROM t BEST IN COUNTRY 4

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“

Australian country music is ready for Brad Cox, he’s captivating to watch live, a unique voice, his music sounds great on radio, and he’s a genuine great guy. Brad Cox is a standout.

”

JUSTIN THOMSON KIX Country Network program/content director

DEBUT SELF-TITLED ALBUM BRAD COX OUT MAY 4 PRE-ORDER NOW THROUGH ITUNES LAKE HOUSE THE BEAUTIFUL NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO OUT NOW

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY

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FROM THE EDITOR

INSIDE THE MAY ISSUE LAST MONTH WE ACKNOWLEDGED THE ELEVATION TO THE ROLL OF RENOWN OF KASEY CHAMBERS AND THIS MONTH SHE IS OUR COVER STORY.

Cheryl with Kasey Chambers at the 2008 ARIAs

he new album Campfire is a body of work that Kasey has wanted to make all of her life and it was recorded live, and features her dad Bill Chambers, Alan Pigram and Brandon Dodd. I was fortunate to be part of a listening audience at the office of Warner Music in Sydney where Kasey, together with Bill, and also Brandon exposed some of the album for the first time. As Susan Jarvis writes in the editorial, it is â&#x20AC;&#x153;exquisiteâ&#x20AC;? and the traditional country sounds take me to my childhood. The first single, Campfire, reminds me of the songs of the late Rick & Thel Carey and the powerful Abraham is currently my favourite. Most of our stories this month cover the alt country genre including Kasey, Lachlan Bryan, Imogen Clark, Tori Forsyth and Jen Mize and Mark Sholtez. It just happened, and I hope you find it a good way to meet them and learn some more about these truly talented artists, as I did. As well as the alt country scene, we caught up with The Wolfe Brothers, and 2018 Toyota Star Maker winner Brad Cox whose debut album is released this month. In the One To Watch series meet Star Maker grand finalist Tanya Cornish and view images of the wedding of Beccy Cole and Libby Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Donovan. We also bring you a taste of CMC Rocks Qld and Crossroads In The Vines to whet your appetite. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve changed the name of the gig guide to Live Music Scene and moved it to the centre so you can pull it out and hope it continues to be helpful. Please enjoy the read and send me a note should you have any suggestions. Cheryl Byrnes Cheryl@tamworthcountrymusic.com.au

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M A Y

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FEATURES KASEY CHAMBERS

THE WOLFE BROTHERS

BRAD COX

IMOGEN CLARK

LACHLAN BRYAN

EDITOR Cheryl Byrnes P: 0407 106 966 E: cheryl@tamworthcountrymusic.com.au ADVERTISING Joanne Maiden P: 0429 784 860 E: joanne@tamworthcountrymusic.com.au SUBSCRIPTIONS Linda Bridges P: 02 6767 5555 CONTRIBUTORS Allan Caswell, Anna Rose, Bec Belt, C7Even Communications, David Dawson, Jon Wolfe, Lorraine Pfitzner, Peter Coad, Susan Jarvis, Tom Inglis, and our great mates in publicity and record companies nationally and internationally. PHOTOGRAPHERS Greg Sylvia, Robin Reidy and our friends who supply the many photos we are able to use.

& THE WILDES

MARK SCHOLTEZ & JEN MIZE

TORI FORSYTH

CM HALL OF FAME

BECCY’S & LIBBY’S WEDDING

REGULARS NEWS NASHVILLE NEWS LIVE MUSIC SCENE HEAR & THERE ONE TO WATCH – TANYA CORNISH

TRC TEAM Jess Fitzsimmons, Karlee Cole, Eleanor Turnbull.

FESTIVALS

ART AND DESIGN Sam Woods

SOUND ADVICE

NEXT DEADLINE: June: May 10, 2018

COUNTRY CHARTS BUSH BALLADS DOWN MEMORY LANE

PUBLISHER Tamworth Regional Council 437 Peel Street, Tamworth NSW 2340 P: 02 6767 5555

WRITING GREAT SONGS COMING EVENTS

8 9 31 38 43 44 56 58 60 61 62 63

Country Music Capital News is compiled and published monthly by Tamworth Regional Council, 437 Peel Street, Tamworth NSW 2340. The views and opinions expressed in Capital News are not necessarily those of the publisher. Copyright 2017 Tamworth Regional Council, ABN 52631074450. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part by any manner or method whatsoever without the written permission is prohibited. All statements made in advertising are the sole responsibility of the advertiser in respect of legal and industrial relations. Printed by Fairfax Printing, 159 Bells Line of Road, North Richmond. 2754. ISSN 1440-995X years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

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NEWS

APRA AWARDS THE 2018 APRA MUSIC AWARDS WERE HELD ON TUESDAY, APRIL 10 AT THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION IN SYDNEY.

Archie Roach

ARCHIE ROACH TO BE HONOURED

upport Act’s annual “Music In The House” will be held on Wednesday, May 16 from noon to 3pm in The Ivy Ballroom, Sydney to honour artist, storyteller and singer-songwriter, Archie Roach. Archie will be presented with the Excellence in the Community Award in recognition of his powerful contribution to the voice of First Nations’ people and all Australians. Event and raffle tickets are available via www.supportact.org.au and event tickets ($180 single ticket / $1,600 per table of 10 includes all booking fees, performances, a two course meal, drinks and coffee) must be paid for in advance and can be booked until 5pm on Friday, May 11. Tickets will not be available on the day.

PHOTO: TONY MOTT

he APRAs celebrate talented songwriters and music publishers who have achieved outstanding success in the past year. The Overseas Recognition Award was presented to both Kylie Sackley and Ben Abraham, both having huge success internationally. Kylie has been blazing a trail since her arrival in Music City in the early 2000s. She wrote Leann Rimes’ country comeback smash Nothin’ ‘bout Love Makes Sense and co-wrote Faith Hill’s Sunshine and Summertime (both of which went Top 5 on the US Billboard Country Chart). Most recently, Kylie co-wrote country-pop song You Broke Up With Me, for Walker Hayes which ended the year in the US top 100 most played country songs of 2017 and certified Platinum in the US. Country Work of the Year was awarded to Kiss Somebody written by Morgan Evans, Chris De Stefano and Josh Osborne and performed by Morgan, who Billboard nominated as one of 15 country artists to watch in 2018.

Kylie Sackley

Busby Marou’s song Best Part of Me written by Thomas Busby, Jeremy Marou and Jon Hume is the Blues & Roots Work of the Year winner. Firewood and Candles, co-written by Australian songwriting treasure Paul Kelly and Melbourne music all-rounder Billy Miller (The Ferrets) has taken out the coveted peer-voted APRA Song of the Year with hip hop duo A.B. Original (Briggs and Trials) taking out the 2018 Songwriter of the Year award. Legendary rock group Midnight Oil accepted the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music. Finally, APRA Chair Jenny Morris delivered a moving tribute to much respected, outgoing APRA AMCOS CEO, Brett Cottle who leaves with more than 40 years’ service to APRA AMCOS, and 28 of those years as its Chief Executive. The 2018 APRA Music Awards were hosted by Julia Zemiro while Robert Conley programmed a stellar list of performances for his final turn as Musical Director.

ROLL OF RENOWN

he Roll Of Renown honours famous Australians and New Zealanders who have made a significant and lasting contribution to country music. The independent selection panel of the Australasian Country Music Roll Of

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Renown is currently considering nominations for this prestigious award. To propose someone who fulfils the criteria, email rollofrenown@tcmf.com.au before June 30. The 42nd Roll of Renown will be announced at the Country Music Awards of Australia in January 2019 and unveiled the following day. You can see the full list of recipients at tcmf.com. au/What-s-On/Roll-of-Renown/

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NASHVILLE NEWS

53RD ACADEMY AWARDS WINNERS WINNERS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED FOR THE 53RD ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS™ WITH JASON ALDEAN NAMED AS ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR, FOR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR.

Jason Aldean

he list of winners include: Miranda Lambert – Female Vocalist of the Year for the ninth consecutive year, Song of the Year for Tin Man along with cowriters Jack Ingram and Jon Randall, receiving two awards, both as artist and songwriter; Chris Stapleton – Male Vocalist of the Year and an additional two awards as both artist and producer in the Album of the Year category for From A Room: Volume 1; Brothers Osborne – Vocal Duo of the Year for the second consecutive year as well as Video of the Year for It Ain’t My Fault; Lauren Alaina – New Female Vocalist of the Year; Midland – New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year; Brett Young – New Male Vocalist of the Year; Old Dominion – Vocal Group of the Year Award; Rhett Akins – Songwriter of the Year Award.

The awards telecast honoured three of country music’s hit songs from 1993 with the “ACM Flashbacks” segments, with Toby Keith and Blake Shelton performing Keith’s celebrated #1 debut single Should’ve Been a Cowboy, Alan Jackson and Jon Pardi performing Jackson’s ACM Awardwinning hit Chattahoochee and Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson performing Reba’s GRAMMY® Award-winning hit Does He Love You. Additional collaborations included Kane Brown and Lauren Alaina performing the multiplatinum, #1 hit What Ifs, Bebe Rexha with Florida Georgia Line performing Meant to Be and Vocal Event of the Year winner Keith Urban and Julia Michaels performing Urban’s new single Coming Home. The event was hosted by multimedia superstar Reba McEntire.

rand Ole Opry member Blake Shelton and Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc are set to open a third Ole Red entertainment venue in the heart of Gatlinburg, Tennessee with a planned opening in spring 2019. Ole Red Gatlinburg will be a $9m, multi-level 16,000-squarefoot entertainment venue with a two-story bar and restaurant, retail area, performance space, dance floor and exterior terrace. It is designed to embody the spirit of Shelton’s clever, irreverent hit Ol’ Red. Its chef-driven, Shelton-inspired menu will feature a few Nashville classics like hot chicken and waffles as well as BBQ, burgers and additional Southern favourites. Ole Red Nashville, a multi-level 26,000-square-foot entertainment venue in the heart of Nashville’s famed Lower Broadway, is expected to open this month. years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

WOMEN OF INFLUENCE

oman Walk The Line: How The Women of Country Music Changed Our Lives is a personal collection of essays from some of America’s most intriguing women writers and contains 27 essays spanning writers and artists of all ages, races, occupations, orientations and perspectives. From Maybelle Carter to Dolly Parton, k.d. lang to Taylor Swift—the artists provided pivot points, truths, and doses of courage for women writers at every stage of their lives. Whether it’s Rosanne Cash eulogising June Carter Cash or a 17-year-old Taylor Swift considering the golden glimmer of another precocious superstar, Brenda Lee, it’s the humanity beneath the music that resonates. Part history, part confessional, and part celebration of country, Americana, and bluegrass and the women who make them.

OLE RED VENUE TO OPEN

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s l e e F

LIKE HOME BY SUSAN JARVIS

IT WAS DURING A TRIP TO THE ABORIGINAL SETTLEMENT OF DOOMADGEE IN WESTERN QUEENSLAND THAT KASEY CHAMBERS HAD THE PROFOUND REALISATION THAT LED TO HER EXQUISITE LATEST ALBUM, CAMPFIRE.

he album will come as a revelation to many country fans. It is pure, sweet traditional country – and it is absolutely extraordinary. “Last year was crazy – my last album, Dragonfly, had been a lifechanging album. It was number one on the ARIA Albums chart, it was really well received critically and it led to me touring the US

four times,” Kasey said. “Everything was bigger and faster and more successful than I’d even imagined it would be, and while that was amazing, it was starting to feel like I was so caught up in this crazy ride that I was actually missing what it was about. I was living the dream, but didn’t have time to stop and appreciate it. “I got back to Australia and was asked to perform in this little town in Western Queensland, and I just had a really profound feeling that I was being told to slow down. “I felt really earthed, really in touch

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with what mattered. So I decided to get right back to fundamentals – to the campfire I remembered sitting around as a child, and everything that meant to me.” Kasey’s the first to admit that she’s never played it safe, and Campfire is no exception. It has taken her from one extreme of her music to the other. “I just follow my heart with what I do. I don’t try to make statements, or do what I think other people want or expect of me. “This album might seem like a radical shift of direction, but in fact it’s always been there inside me. “I’ve talked about doing an album called The Campfire Sessions for a really long time, and in fact it was only at the

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very last moment that I decided to change the title to just Campfire. “It wasn’t the most obvious step to take – after having Paul Kelly produce Dragonfly and dueting with Ed Sheeran on it – to do an album with my dad and an Aboriginal Elder from Broome. But I’ve always followed my heart and my gut, and that’s what I did this time too.” While Dragonfly bombarded the senses with its music and complex ideas, Campfire is stripped back, ultra traditional, pure and sparse.

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Much of the album was recorded live, with the band Kasey put together for the project consisting of her father, Bill Chambers, Alan Pigram (of the legendary Pigram Brothers) and Brandon Dodd from Grizzlee Train, who tours and writes with Kasey regularly. Before she recorded the album, Kasey says she took some time out to hang out at home with Alan Pigram, her children – Talon, Arlo and Poet – and the rest of her large musical family and friends. “I just hung out, baked, went fishing, sat around the campfire and remembered how to be and how to focus again,” she said. She said writing the songs for the album was easy –

although quite different from anything she’d created in the past. “We – dad, Brandon, Al and I – pretty much wrote them all together,” she said. “They really just fell out – almost fully formed. The album’s about sounds and feelings, much more than it is about lyrics. “There was a really organic process that happened, and there was a lot of experimenting with

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sounds. Mostly, the lyrics just went where they wanted.” An example is the gorgeous Orphan Heart, which she wrote with Brandon. Another is Go On Your Way, a spine-tingling a-capella song. These songs – and many of the others – take the album to a level that few recordings reach. This is a world-class, transcendent album that could well prove to be Kasey’s most lasting musical contribution. The one song that is very definitely lyrically based is the title track and first single, Campfire. “It was crafted to elicit specific memories – of particular places and times and experiences. The idea was to take people to that place, so they could feel what it was like. These are my childhood memories, and they are what created me, so it’s a really important song,” Kasey said. “When I grew up on the Nullarbor Plain, the campfire was the heart of our existence – for survival, creativity, inspiration. We hunted our own food and cooked it on the campfire. My brother Nash and I did our schooling by correspondence around the campfire. We used it for warmth and light. And we gathered around it at night to play songs together as a family. “Our connection to music and the land has developed through and around the campfire since I was born, so it’s always stayed with me as a special part of my life.” Nowhere is the traditional sound of this album more evident than on Goliath Is Death, a gospel-infused offering that is absolutely captivating. And Kasey describes the sublime Abraham as her proudest moment on the album. “I wrote that song on my own. It is a very personal message,” she said.

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“I was talking to my friend Bernadette about how the three main religious traditions in the world all share many of the same beliefs and morals, yet there is so much conflict between them. “Then the song just took on a life of its own. I’m not particularly religious anymore, despite being brought up that way. I believe in human kindness. I think most people are good, and we all want the same things – it’s just that the lines get blurred when it comes to how we should get there. We’re all guilty. “Back in 2001 when I recorded Barricades And Brickwalls, I included a ghost track called Ignorance, which people still ask me about. Abraham really follows on from that.” One of the most memorable tracks on Campfire is Kasey’s duet with the legendary Emmylou Harris, The Harvest & The Seed. For Kasey, it was a sweet moment of synchronicity.

“I took a completely different approach to writing and singing on this song – as I did on the whole album. It’s very organic and very heartfelt, and somehow that comes through really strongly.” There are some lighter moments on this album, though, and one of the most joyful is Happy, featuring The Little Pilgrims – Kasey’s two youngest children, Arlo and Poet, her little brother Tyler (Bill’s son), and Townes and Banjo, the children of close friends Worm and Bernadette. Kasey’s eldest son Talon played guitar. Bill Chambers features on This Little Chicken and there’s a wonderful camaraderie between the band members on the very funky Big Fish. And Kasey’s channeled her subconscious on the cute and quirky Fox & The Bird, which

“WHEN I GREW UP ON THE NULLARBOR PLAIN, THE CAMPFIRE WAS THE HEART OF OUR EXISTENCE – FOR SURVIVAL, CREATIVITY, INSPIRATION. WE HUNTED OUR OWN FOOD AND COOKED IT ON THE CAMPFIRE .... WE USED IT FOR WARMTH AND LIGHT. AND WE GATHERED AROUND IT AT NIGHT TO PLAY SONGS TOGETHER AS A FAMILY.” “Emmylou was so much part of the campfire days of my childhood – it was her I listened to coming out of the car cassette player. So she was already part of this album, because she really was the inspiration for it,” Kasey said. Kasey had worked with Emmylou before, but last year encountered her again when the two performed together at Nashville’s iconic Bluebird Café. “Emmylou sang If I Needed You – it wasn’t long after Don Williams’ death – and it took me straight back to the Nullarbor. “Afterwards, she said she’d love to work with me again, because she’d really enjoyed it, and when Brandon and I wrote The Harvest & The Seed, we just thought, ‘How good would Emmylou sound on this!’ “So we sent her the song, she loved it, and she became part of the album. It was an amazing thing to happen.” Other stunning moments on this album include the sweet, delicate Early Grave and the powerful heartbreak song Now That You’ve Gone. The depth of emotion in Now That You’ve Gone is palpable. “It’s a song about how powerful the heart can be. When you’re devastated about one thing, it can colour everything. It changes your perspective on everything,” Kasey said.

she says “fell out one day”. “I wrote it on the banjolele – a combination of a banjo and a ukulele – which I can’t really play. It really just wrote itself,” she said. Having enjoyed some down time prior to recording this album, things are about to ramp up for Kasey, who begins an extensive tour to promote the new album this month. It kicks off in Northern NSW in late May, and will take her everywhere from Sydney to Alice Springs and Coober Pedy, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Cairns – and pretty much everywhere in between. For Kasey, this album feels a lot like coming home. “Campfire is no more or less me than Dragonfly or any of my other albums – it’s just a different part of me. It’s where I need to be right now, and in a lot of ways it’s a really life-changing album,” Kasey said. “If it touches people, and if it’s successful, then that’s a bonus – because all I’ve tried to do is create an authentic album. “I just know that it feels as right to me as any record ever has.”

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BY DAVID DAWSON

Round here we get high on that Cascade Blue start throwing them back when there ain’t much to do everyone round here knows my last name yeah it’s written on the road sign and written on the gate. AIN’T SEEN IT YET - NICK WOLFE/TOM WOLFE/BRODIE RAINBIRD/ERIK DYLAN.

hen the Tasmanian Tourist Bureau searches for a new musical promotional vehicle it won’t have to look far. The chart-topping The Wolfe Brothers have it all covered in a song and video for latest single Ain’t Seen It Yet. There, in cinematic splendour, is the trio performing on the family berry farm at Neika, population 217, in the deep south of the island state. “Yes, we’re open to helping promote our home state and berry farm,” bassist Tom Wolfe, 28, revealed to Capital News on the day of elder brother and fellow singersongwriter Nick’s wedding. “Every bit of that was shot at home; it’s very much us as we are in real life. We’re farmers and musicians.” The Bureau may not have filmed the wedding of Nick, 33, but band benefactor - 2008 Australian Of The Year Lee Kernaghan OAM - was a guest. Kernaghan gave The Wolfe Brothers their break as support act and backing band in 2012 after they played Australia’s Got Talent. They will join him on tour to promote their fourth album Country Heart. Releasing Ain’t Seen It Yet, with a vivid video, as first single was smart marketing. It shot the album into the ARIA Top 10 charts and triggered an avalanche of customers to The Wolfe Brothers berry farm, Fairy Glen. When not touring and recording, Tom and Nick work on their fourth generation island in the mainstream that was bought in 1899 by their great-grandfather. Despite the 2016 death of Tom and Nick’s drummer dad Malcolm, the family defied encroachment of neighbouring houses in the fields to keep growing and selling berries. Their family farming and musical longevity has not gone unnoticed on the mainland. It was featured on ABC-TV show Landline. It depicted Nick’s and Tom’s mum Leigh, and uncle Tony, keeping the fruit fertilised and healthy while the band, featuring original guitarist Brodie Rainbird, kept the dingoes from the door with a different style of picking. They name-checked local beer Cascade Blue in Ain’t

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Seen It Yet, written in Nashville with fourth generation Kansas farmer Erik Dylan, and are open to brewery sponsorship. “The door is always open, we have reached out to them and would hopefully love to do something together with them,” Tom confessed. Although they reference Cabernet in another new song Storm Rolling In there are no plans to revert to planting grape vines among their raspberries, black currants, red currants, gooseberries, loganberries, josterberries and Kentish cherries. “There’s probably a lot more work than what we need at the moment. Dad tried that once but it didn’t work out,” Tom confessed. “Dad had a go at making wine with raspberries, gooseberries, black currants and Kentish cherries into gooseberry and raspberry wine. It was possibly the most awful thing I’ve ever tasted in my life. He tried to make dessert wines but they were just terrible. It was like vinegar.” The band injects songs with product names diverse as Chevrolet, Ford, John Deere, Goodyear and Detroit Steel. They reference grandfather Ernie’s 1968 Ford, featured in the video for Ain’t See It Yet, and his war stories in their next single Country Heart. “We like mentioning that stuff because it’s real and it helps paint a picture within a

song,” Tom explained. “Songs like Country Heart. Talking about John Deere and old war stories from grandpa. That’s us talking about our pop who served in Korea. Trying to be half the man our dad was, that’s talking about our dad.” So who created the Wolfe Family Orchestra that dated back to days of yore in vaudeville small town hall shows? “Grand-dad Ernie Wolfe had this orchestra and bus he would take to bookings in halls down in Franklin and the Huon Valley,” Tom revealed. “He was a businessman, he would pick people up on the way and charge them to

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HOW THE WOLFE BROTHERS SURVIVE get on the bus and charge them to get into the gig. Then he would charge them to get home and would have some homemade moonshine in the bus. He wasn’t an idiot – he loved his music. We never got to meet him. He passed before we came around. Dad always talked so much about him. He loved music.” But it was a different war that inspired another new song Hey Brother. “We did the Spirit Of The Anzac tour with Lee Kernaghan and were amazed with some of the veterans we got to meet and the hard times they were having,” Tom recalled. “They had gone over there and risked their lives. They returned and tried to settle back into society but couldn’t. They really struggled. We wrote the song out of respect for

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them. We hoped we could reach out to these men and women a little better down the track. It was also inspired by a mate we went to school with. It was one of Brodie’s friends who served in Iraq.” The Wolfe Brothers employed salient sequencing on their album, produced by Matt Fell, and successor to This Crazy Life that they recorded in Nashville with Luke Wooten and a cameo by Brad Paisley. The first four tunes celebrate

home and segue into love songs, Starts With A Girl, No Sad Song and We Got Close. It finishes with another trio of bush requiems We Ain’t Going Nowhere, We Got Wheels and Tail Lights. “We’re really proud of who we are and where we’re from in our songs,” Wolfe declared, “we try to live life to the fullest and take every opportunity we get and be really positive about it. You’ve got to grab life by the horns and do your best with it.” The Neika post office may have closed in 1969 but Wolfe Brothers keep the home fires burning with little danger of Tom being mistaken for his novelist namesakes.

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“I DECIDED I WANTED TO BE THE BEST; I DON’T WANT TO BE NUMBER TWO. THERE’S NO POINT AIMING FOR LESS THAN THE BEST.“

hen he was selected as a finalist for Toyota Star Maker, he refined his set list to showcase those songs that would deliver a knock-out blow to the audience and, most importantly, the judges, of the prestigious talent search. The 22-year-old succeeded in impressing one and all, to claim the 39th Toyota Star Maker crown. Manager Steve White (Lee Kernaghan, The Wolfe Brothers) is right on board the Brad Cox express, saying: “Brad impressed me the first time I saw him perform in Tamworth this year. He has a great voice and is writing good songs. I think he is the real deal and I look forward to watching him develop.” Troy Cassar-Daley’s manager, Roxanne Brown feels Brad has that something different in his approach: “Brad Cox is a great writer and connects with his audience. His southern rock sound sets him apart.” KIX Country Network program/content director Justin Thomson is an unashamed Brad Cox fan: “Australian country music is ready for Brad Cox. He’s captivating to watch live, a unique voice, his music sounds great on radio, and he’s a genuine great guy. Brad Cox is a standout.” With those words echoing in his ears, Brad began his Star Maker year ensuring it was all systems go for the release of his album, which he’d recorded with Golden Guitar-winning producer Matt Fell.

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Toyota Star Maker organisers, Tamworth Regional Council, decided that although the prize was a four-track EP, as he’d come to the competition with a 12-track disc recorded by the multiple Golden Guitar winner, the songs and production of the album won out. He had already released the first single from the album in April 2017, Too Drunk To Drive, and followed it up in July with Towels. After his victory in January at the prestigious event, Star Maker re-released Too Drunk To Drive on Australia Day, which saw an unprecedented rise on the country charts of a previously released song, with KIX Country taking it to #1 where it remained for two weeks. So how does this kid from Jindabyne come to Tamworth and leave all others in his wake? Certainly not because he was born and raised on country music – it was almost the opposite.

Brad’s parents, swimming coaches from Jindabyne, were not at all musical, but Brad recalls a fair bit of rock’n’roll and blues played around the house as he was growing up with an older sister and younger brother. Weekends were spent driving to swimming carnivals and Brad would sing in the car to help while away the miles. His parents soon realised they had a son with a gift for music, so enrolled him in piano lessons when he was about seven. Brad first picked up a guitar during his early teens and began playing in a school band. At 14, he began playing cover gigs in pubs in his home town and at 16, he graduated from the NSW Talent Development Project, where he met some blokes who would play a key role in his future – his band. Through his fellow TDP graduates and from hanging out with several mates on farms, Brad was exposed to country music for the first time in his life. “I went to the Northern Territory where I’ve worked on properties, mustering, for the past four years and got more and more into country music,” Brad said. It was here he did most of the “research”

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

RIGHT FIRST TIME BY ANNA ROSE

JINDABYNE-BORN SINGER-SONGWRITER BRAD COX IS WELL AWARE THAT FIRST IMPRESSIONS COUNT – AND HE WAS WELL AND TRULY PREPARED TO DIP HIS TOES INTO THE WATER AT THE 2018 TOYOTA COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL TAMWORTH – HIS DEBUT PERFORMANCE THERE. for his debut album – hanging out with mates, drinking, partying and chasing girls. Brad decided on Matt Fell as his producer several years ago and took his time making the recording, wanting to do it right the first time. That pretty much sums up the work ethic of this young man who got his talent from goodness knows where – but it’s plain for all to see and he’s more than happy to shoot for the stars in his musical quest. “In my mind there’s no point in aiming for contentment,” Brad said. “I decided I wanted to be the best; I don’t want to be number two. There’s no point aiming for less than the best. “Internationally, I won’t settle for second best either. I would like to get my start here in Australia and then pretty much conquer the world!”

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He’s already been to America three times and eyes a move to the States as a long-term goal for his future in the music business. While the first part of this year has been one of few gigs, lots of planning and getting things organised, the second half is going to fly for the young man who takes his influence from American country music – artists such as Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson and Luke Combs, the latter to whom he bears a striking resemblance. And the album – did he do it right first time? You bet he did. Listening to the songs, you could draw the conclusion this young man has a drinking problem, but according to Brad, it’s no problem – it’s just something he’s quite good at! “I write about drinking because I like drinking, it’s quite relevant for people my age – and for me,” Brad said. “It was fantastic making the album with Matt Fell. He

turned my shells of songs into something so much better than I ever imagined possible. “In taking our time doing it, we came to understand the songs more in the process and in the end, we were pretty happy with it.” The singles Too Drunk To Drive and Towels, are followed by Lake House, a softer side to the young bloke who likes to get away from it all when he’s not partying with friends. The lake house is where he wrote many of the songs for the album. It’s a friend’s getaway place where there’s no phone reception to be a distraction from the task at hand – either fishing, relaxing, writing songs or drinking, whatever the muse dictates. He’s looking forward to showcasing the songs from his album as he loads up and begins touring with Brooke McClymont and Adam Eckersley in May-June, and in JulyAugust-September, for his album tour. And he intends to work hard for the remainder of his Star Maker year, making the most of every opportunity that comes his way, before he’s let loose without the Star Maker support team. “I like to push the boundaries, but stay true to my country roots,” Brad said.

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SETTIN BY SUSAN JARVIS

KASEY CHAMBERS SUMMED IT UP PERFECTLY WHEN SHE DESCRIBED HER FRIEND AND SINGER SONGWRITER IMOGEN CLARK’S NEW ALBUM: “IMOGEN IS A SONGWRITER WELL BEYOND HER YEARS WITH A FLAWLESS VOICE THAT IS MESMERIZING. AT JUST 23, SHE IS ALREADY AN OLD SOUL.” 18

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OALS

ndeed, listening to the songs on Imogen’s second album, Collide, it seems she’s lived a lifetime of love, loss and understanding. Imogen Clark is rapidly emerging as the year’s hottest new country talent, and the release of Collide will only serve to enhance her reputation. Despite appearing to have come out of left field, however, Imogen’s done the requisite decade of hard slog to get where she is now – albeit with a couple of lucky breaks thrown in. “I’ve done years of playing in pubs and cafes, often to the back of people’s heads, or trying to be heard above the talking, she said. I started lugging my PA to gigs around

my home at the foot of the Blue Mountains [west of Sydney in NSW] when I was 13, and I was determined so I just kept doing it.” Imogen’s first break came when she audaciously entered the Telstra Road to Tamworth competition at the tender age of 14. She reached the grand final, and says it gave her the confidence boost that she needed. “Suddenly people believed in me. Some of the most respected people in the country music industry were encouraging

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“IT’S ABOUT HOW PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT LEVELS OF SENSITIVITY EXPERIENCE LIFE VERY DIFFERENTLY. SHE USED AN ANALOGY THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE WADING IN THE SHALLOWS AND OTHERS ARE DROWNING IN THE DEEP END, BUT IT’S ALL THE SAME OCEAN.”

me and making suggestions. Being in the Road to Tamworth also gave me some great contacts,” she said. “So even at that age I set myself some goals – and I’m so pleased that I’ve already achieved quite a few of them.” Imogen’s talent brought her another lucky break when she was performing with Mike McClellan at The Basement in Sydney one night. “Two of the directors of Universal Music were in the audience, and they asked me to send them a copy of my songs,” she said. “I had a very stripped back, live acoustic album that I’d recorded at Harry Hookey’s studio, and I was blown away when they actually offered me a record deal. They were

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putting together a roster to launch the Lost Highway label in Australia, so I got to be included in the startup with some amazing people – including Shane Nicholson and Adam Eckersley.” That resulted in the release of Imogen’s debut album, Love & Lovely Lies in 2016. The album charted at #15 on the iTunes Singer-Songwriter Chart, and at #15 on the ARIA Country Albums Chart. The album spawned three successful singles, You’ll Only Break My Heart, Drawing Hearts and Take Me For A Ride, which all charted on the various radio airplay charts and the CMC chart. A second album is always a risk for an artist, but Imogen has more than risen to the occasion with Collide. She says this album reflects who she’s become over the past few years – and that writing the songs has given her an even deeper understanding of herself. “The album is quite positive, but with dark undertones. I guess it captures the joys and challenges of entering adulthood – and the understanding that while you have more freedom, the world isn’t quite as simple and happy as it may once have seemed,” she said. “You learn what you don’t know, and you also learn that not everyone is trustworthy – you become less naïve.” That’s the subject of one of the album tracks, Left Behind, which she describes as her “punk” moment on the album. “It’s an amalgamation of different experiences – life and the music industry, but essentially it’s about knowing when to let go of people who make you feel you’re not worthwhile. You don’t need that in your life,” Imogen said. The mesmerizing High Tide was inspired by a poem written by Imogen’s mother, who instilled a love of poetry in her children. “It’s about how people with different levels of sensitivity experience life very differently. She used an analogy that some people are wading in the shallows and others are drowning in the deep end, but it’s all the same ocean,” Imogen said. “This is probably my proudest moment on the album. It’s my first foray into stream of consciousness songwriting.” The song also explores aspects of mental illness – depression and anxiety – a theme to which she returns in Oblivion, which explores the need to sometimes escape the noise in your head. Other album highlights include the first single, the powerful Collide, and her latest release, Your Anything At All, a feisty song about a breakup. Both tracks are the subject of stunning video clips produced by the talented Jeremy Dylan. The clip for Your Anything At All, features a familiar face – Imogen’s partner Shaun Ryan (a member of Lachlan Bryan and the Wildes), who she met when he appeared in a clip for her first album, ironically titled You’ll

Only Break My Heart. Collide was produced by Mark Lizotte – aka Diesel. Imogen met him when she did a few support spots on one of his tours in regional NSW in 2016, and they became friends. She’s now touring extensively with him. “He said he’d really like to work more with me and my music, and offered to produce this album – so I accepted enthusiastically,” Imogen said. Mark has brought his years of musical skill and experience to the album, and has done a stunning job with the production, weaving this diverse collection of songs into a coherent, captivating whole. Imogen is reluctant to pigeonhole the album, saying that she prefers the term “singersongwriter”. “I grew up with so many musical influences, and I really wanted to combine them all on this album,” she said. “The great thing about the Lost Highway label is that you don’t have to be in a box – you’re free to be a renegade, and to create music the way you think it should sound.” In addition to her own albums, Imogen cowrote two tracks included on Kasey Chambers’ hugely successful Dragonfly album – the powerful a-capella song Shackle and Chain and Hey, which was recorded as a duet with the album’s producer, Paul Kelly. She also sang backing vocals on Shane Nicholson’s latest album, Love & Blood. With a bright future ahead of her, Imogen is determined to stay focused on what matters: the music. “For me, songwriting has to be authentic – it’s the only way I can do justice to the song. That will always be at the heart of everything I do,” she said.

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ALT COUNTRY TO THE CORE 20

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BY JON WOLFE

ith the release of Some Girls (Quite) Like Country Music, the band distils the essence, the rawness and emotion inherent in alt country and the storytelling that behoves traditional country as it has been handed down over the last century. Lachlan Bryan has shown both sides of the alt country coin in his and the band’s music over the past eight or so years and with the release of the new, and fourth album, he cuts to the quick with songs that show a deeper understanding of life – his and in general – than ever before. “We made a decision, and I made a decision about the writing …. that I was gonna wait ’til I had some songs that were really meaningful and that I was just busting to record and play for people,” Lachlan said. “I think in your 20s you can kind of get away with your stories not being as fleshed out, or as thoughtful, but as you get older you really have to stand behind your work, so I feel this is a collection of songs that reflect being a bit more grown up. “We’re all feeling the weight of being grown-ups now and it feels natural to write about grown up things. The subject matter changed and it happened without us even noticing it at first.” Lachlan said that for the first time they went into the studio and recorded more songs than they ended up using on the album.

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IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR AN AUSTRALIAN DEFINITION OF THE TERM AND THE MUSIC ‘ALT COUNTRY’, LOOK NO FURTHER THAN LACHLAN BRYAN & THE WILDES.

“We were very brutal with our song selection,” he said. “I would analyse a song after we recorded it and I’d listen to it and I’d go ‘Do I really care about this, is there a reason for people to really care about this song, is it saying something interesting, is there a real story, is it hard-hitting enough?’ “We were a lot tougher with ourselves, and I was a lot tougher with myself as a writer than I’ve been before, so the end result is 11 songs that are meaningful and that I could stand behind.” The opening track, I Hope I’m Wrong, sets the tone for much of Some Girls (Quite) Like Country Music, with a reflection on humanity’s selfishness and irresponsibility set against a sparse arrangement that segues into A Portrait Of The Artist As A Middle Aged Man – a scathing attack of an older man chasing a younger girl.

Once there’s an upright piano right in the middle in the hallway of a house, it’s easier to sit down at the piano than it is to pick up a guitar. “I would say that one of the strongest facets of my working life as a musician is laziness, so having the instrument right in front of me; that suits my style perfectly.” One song on the album that the piano does suit perfectly is Sweet Bird Of Youth, which you could easily imagine being played in a late-night smoky bar, maybe in Casablanca, if not in Melbourne. Lachlan said he started the song when the band was making its first album (Ballad Of A Young Married Man). “I’ve re-written it four times over the past eight years,” he said. “I think it makes more sense than it did when I was in my 20s – I’m glad I took my time.” Perhaps the closest the band gets to a traditional country track is The Basics Of Love, a tour-de-force featuring Shanley Del that was embraced by country radio

“WE WERE A LOT TOUGHER WITH OURSELVES, AND I WAS A LOT TOUGHER WITH MYSELF AS A WRITER THAN I’VE BEEN BEFORE, SO THE END RESULT IS 11 SONGS THAT ARE MEANINGFUL AND THAT I COULD STAND BEHIND.” “I tried to write that song without judgement,” Lachlan said, “but it was hard. The guy, the character, is floundering … he’s starting to realise that everything about it is wrong ... but by this point he’s gone too far … he can’t dig himself out.” The album brings the piano to the forefront of many of the songs, something that hasn’t been a major feature of previous albums. “A big part of that was that I moved into a new house a few years ago and we had the chance to inherit a piano and it was the first time since I was a kid that we had one in the house and it just became my go-to instrument,” Lachlan said. “Whenever I’d been out, I’d come in and sit down and play the piano, which was exactly what I did as a teenager… but I wasn’t writing songs as a teenager.

as the first single from the album. The album features a number of co-writes, including the rockabilly-infused It Tears Me Up (Every Time You Turn Me Down) with US songwriter/singer/producer Jerry Salley and Stolen Again with Wildes band member Damian Cafarella, who also produced the album. “Stolen Again, it’s another of those bar room piano things and it was started by Damian, but I’m responsible for the twist!” Lachlan said. The album presents a great selection of songs that show the dark and the lighter side of the artists as a cohesive band of musicians and songwriters and there is a rawness that enables the songs to sink much more deeply into one’s consciousness than most of the country-pop flavoured offerings that choke up country radio airwaves. “We really enjoyed leaving the dirt on,” Lachlan said. “We didn’t want to round off the edges too much and we always chose the most meaningful take – which is almost never the most musically perfect.”

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A SENSE OF

Nostalgia 22

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BY LACHLAN BRYAN

wilight On The Trail is a concept album – a unique collaboration between Australian jazz musician Mark Sholtez and Jen Mize – the American born-and-bred songstress who has already won over the hearts of many Australian country music fans thanks to her Shane Nicholsonproduced 2016 album Warnings and Wisdom. Jen and Mark met some years ago, not long after Jen first moved to Queensland with Australian husband Ash. “Clare Reynolds, myself and Mark started ‘The Round’ – a series of songwriters’ shows featuring touring acts like Jordie Lane and highlighting Brisbane songwriters also,” says Jen. “On the first night, I saw Mark play for the first time, and I was immediately captivated by his playing and his writing – he was so subtle and succinct. “We were scheduled to play together later in the series,” she continues, “and I took it upon myself to learn all of his tunes and sing backing vocals without warning him. We set up a cowrite immediately and since then he’s been the guy I bounce all my new songs off and viceversa.” While Mark may not be well-known in country circles, he has a formidable list of achievements including an APRA award and ARIA nominations. “Mark’s music is Chet Baker

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FROM ITS FIRST, TO ITS FINAL NOTE, TWILIGHT ON THE TRAIL IS ONE OF THOSE RECORDS THAT TAKES THE LISTENER TO ANOTHER PLACE AND TIME.

meets Chet Atkins”, says Jen, “he has a minimalist way of singing. It’s all the notes, but it’s intimate – in the same way as James Taylor, Paul Simon or Lyle Lovett.” That’s high praise from Jen, who knows a thing or two about great artistry. Her rise to the forefront of Australia’s country and Americana scene comes via a long and distinguished career in her home country, where she performed professionally as a jazz singer as well in musical theatre and cabaret. Her own debut album Fear, Pride And A Few Stubborn Angels charted in the official Americana Top 100 in the US. The idea to collaborate on a set of old American cowboy tunes came from Mark, but Jen didn’t need much convincing. “My dad is a straight-up cowboy so I had history with these songs,” she said. “Right away it seemed like a great idea. We spent about three months researching the songs – there were only a couple I didn’t already know or grow up with. These songs are sort of like an alternative ‘Great American Songbook’ – the chord progressions and harmony are similar to those great jazz standards – they’re from the same era and lend themselves to the same kind of treatment. We spent a lot of time on the vocal arrangements and we were true to the era, but we wanted to make it fresh as well as nostalgic – kind of like old country tunes meets (the famed T-Bone Burnettproduced collaboration between Robert Plant and Allison Krauss) Raising Sands.” Listeners will surely agree that Jen and Mark met – or perhaps exceeded – their objective. Twilight On The Trail is a truly beautiful record – a collection of tried and tested (but largely forgotten) songs expertly arranged and performed by two great singers and a great set of musicians from both the jazz and country worlds. “We kinda let the jazz guys be the jazz guys and the country guys be the country

“WE KINDA LET THE JAZZ GUYS BE THE JAZZ GUYS AND THE COUNTRY GUYS BE THE COUNTRY GUYS. THEY PLAYED GREAT TOGETHER AND EASILY FOUND THEIR WAY AROUND WHAT EACH OTHER WERE DOING.”

guys,” says Jen, “they played great together and easily found their way around what each other were doing.” Whilst Twilight On The Trail is, for the most part, faithful to the original lyrics and melodies of the songs, one important change was made to The Black Hills Of Dakota – a song generally associated with Doris Day. “I wasn’t completely comfortable with the lyric to that song, with the nostalgic reference from a Caucasian perspective about a land that was brutally taken from the Native American people,” explains Jen, who herself is a descendent of the Lumbee tribe. “But by changing the word ‘love’ to ‘loved’ we were able to change the meaning to something I was much more comfortable with. Something I could sing from a different perspective by putting the key phrase in past tense.” One of the most attractive things about Twilight On The Trail is the sense that these two artists have put the audience first. In an age where, sadly, many production and song selection decisions are made on the basis of ego and (even worse) award-eligibility, Mize and Sholtez have made a record that is nostalgic, heart-warming and, above all-else, entertaining. Most of the songwriters, and even the original singers, of these songs are long gone, and the films and theatre shows from which these songs originated are now rarely seen. But these songs have been brought lovingly to life by the hands of experts’ great skill, sensitivity and imagination.

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BY LACHLAN BRYAN

hilst you could argue that this type of music has always been around, and some might go as far as to say the classic country of the 1960s and ‘70s would probably be categorised ‘alt’ by today’s measure, there’s no doubt that a

THE GROWTH OF ALT-COUNTRY/AMERICANA IN THIS COUNTRY OVER THE PAST DECADE HAS MIRRORED ITS EMERGENCE IN THE USA. particularly left-of-centre sound has become more and more popular in recent years. In America, the worlds of ‘alt’ and contemporary country have had a strained relationship, but here in Australia the existence of the two seems a lot more

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symbiotic. Young NSW artist Tori Forsyth is case in point. Managed by contemporary artist (and in fact 2018 Female Artist of the Year Golden Guitar winner) Aleyce Simmonds, Tori is a fine example of how the Australian country music world can embrace an artist that’s a little bit different. “I sometimes hear the songs on (country) radio and think ‘wow I sound nothing like this’, but I’ve always felt

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OF CENTRE welcome and supported,” Tori said. “The first time I heard Tori sing,” said Aleyce, who has long championed a broad and inclusive country music scene, “I knew she was super special and I just had to try and help her in any way that I could. There is nothing at all contrived about her.” It’s that kind of authenticity that defines the best artists of the alt-country/Americana movement – and it’s why, in the USA particularly, this music has emerged almost as an antidote to the manufactured stardom and committee-written songs that (for a while at least) dominated Music Row. When I spoke to Tori she had just returned

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from an American sojourn, albeit one that took her a little further south and west than Nashville. She’d been in Austin, Texas, where she’d accepted an invitation to showcase at the South by South West Festival. For those not in the know, SxSW is the event for cutting edge filmmakers as music industry personnel. It’s where managers attempt to ‘break’ new artists and agents, labels and critics search for ‘the next big thing’. An invitation is a big deal, but it’s also only the beginning.

“There was just so much great music and film going on – it was a really inspiring thing to be part of,” says Forsyth, “and it was all kinds of music, from country to hip-hop – so I didn’t feel like anyone really cared about genre at all. “I took a band with me – including obviously my boyfriend Murph (Ben Murphy), Reece Baines and Zachary Miller, and we all had an amazing experience. We’d get up early and watch music all day – we’d get to 11 or midnight and we’d be exhausted.” Whilst the enthusiastic response to Forsyth’s Texas appearances point to a promising future in the strong US Americana market, she’s grateful for the support of the country crowd here at home. She seems comfortable blurring musical boundaries, and for that she owes a debt to her parents, who exposed young Tori to a broad palette of music influences. “I loved Stevie Nicks and Melanie Safka,” she declares (a fact that will surprise few who have seen Tori play live or heard her recordings), “but my parents also played a lot of modern country music – and I loved that too.” But whilst Tori’s debut record Dawn Of The Dark will undoubtedly find a country home, her song-writing style, along with Shane Nicholson’s production, place it in the dreamy ‘70s-pop realm that listeners might associate with Fleetwood Mac or even her local contemporary, Katie Brianna. New single In The Morning, a last-minute addition to the record, is the perfect introduction to Forsyth’s esoteric lyricism and the above-mentioned dreamy musical landscape; “The song has a few different meanings to me,” she said. “It was written in a darker time of my life and there’s definitely that theme to the song, but I think it’s also a song that basically rides on gender equality, the idea that a woman can do everything a man can.” Tori’s ability to articulate such a message without relying on direct narrative storytelling shows a mature head on young shoulders, but also indicates her innate songwriter’s gift. It’s hard to believe that we first heard from Tori just two years ago. She herself notes that Johnny And June (the first original song that she considered ‘good enough’ for others to hear), had “absolutely no structure to it, because I didn’t know what I was doing”. “I feel like I had a very naïve start to music,” she continues, “which I think was really good, because I didn’t have any real expectations.” Now, of course, expectations abound. On the eve of her debut album release through Lost Highway/Universal, with a sold-out Tamworth show behind her and a post South by South West buzz, Forsyth has the industry watching her. Fortunately, Dawn Of The Dark is a very solid debut that balances the artist’s left-of-centre leanings with the producer’s pop sensibility.

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PHOTO: JOHN RUSSELL/CMA

Pictured L-R: Don Schlitz, Trisha Yearwood, Oak Ridge Boys’ William Lee Golden, Bobby Bare, Oak Ridge Boys’ members Duane Allen, Richard Sterban and Joseph Bonsall, Tess Frizzell Bishop, granddaughter of Dottie West; Ricky Skaggs, 2018 Country Music Hall of Fame Inductee; Jeannie Seely, singer and longtime friend of West; Cyndy Gimble, daughter of Johnny Gimble; Kerry West, son of Dottie West; Emily Gimble, granddaughter of Johnny Gimble; Dick Gimble, son of Johnny Gimble; Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; Garth Brooks.

CM HALL OF FAME JOHNNY GIMBLE, RICKY SKAGGS AND DOTTIE WEST WILL BE INDUCTED INTO THE COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME LATER THIS YEAR TAKING THE MEMBERSHIP TO 136.

he announcement was made at a press conference held on March 27 hosted by Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood and included Hall of Fame members Bobby Bare, Don Schlitz and The Oak Ridge Boys on the guest list. Johnny will be inducted into the recording and/or touring musician category, which is awarded every third year in rotation with the ‘songwriter’ and ‘non-performer’ categories. Ricky Skaggs will be inducted in the ‘modern era artist’ category, and Dottie West will be inducted in the ‘veterans era artist’ category. “This honour is the highest

achievement in our industry, and each of this year’s inductees has helped define country music throughout the decades,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA chief executive officer. CMA created the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1961 to recognise noteworthy individuals for their outstanding contributions to the format with country music’s highest honour. “This year’s class of inductees is notable not only for their indelible individual achievements, but also for the extent to which they have aided other artists’ greatness,” said Kyle Young, Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum Chief Executive Officer. “Ricky Skaggs, Dottie West, and Johnny Gimble are revered for their open-minded approaches to music, but beloved because of their open-hearted approaches to life.”

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JOHNNY GIMBLE O

ne common thread between the music of Jimmie Davis, Bob Wills, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, and George Strait is that each man’s musical odyssey would eventually carry them to the rotunda of the Country Music Hall of Fame. A key ingredient in each of those iconic artists’ musical paths was the fiddle playing of Johnny Gimble. Now, the legendary musician will be represented alongside them. Johnny was born May 30, 1926 in Tyler, Texas. The music bug bit him early, as he was playing the fiddle by age 10. Before the 1940s, he was playing professionally as a member of a band called the Rose City Swingsters

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alongside his brothers. One of his early gigs was playing music during Jimmie Davis’ campaign for Governor in Louisiana. After serving his country in World War II, he returned to his native Lone Star State and performed on local radio shows. His musicianship would merit the attention of Bob Wills, who hired him to be a member of his Texas Playboys in 1949, an association that would last on and off through the 1960s. His fiddle work would be heard on hundreds of classic hit recordings over the years, with Marty Robbins’ 1952 charttopper I’ll Go On Alone being one early example. His tasty licks would grace classic hits from Connie Smith and Conway Twitty. In 1970, Johnny added his touch to Merle Haggard’s seminal A Tribute to the Best Damn Fiddle Player in the World (or, My Salute to Bob Wills). Over the years, his work was heard on television series such as Hee Haw (where he was a member of the Million Dollar Band) and “Austin City Limits.” He was also a key element of the 1973 disc Superpickers from Chet Atkins, which featured (in addition to Atkins) Country Music Hall of

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Fame members Hargus “Pig” Robbins and Charlie McCoy. In 1979, Gimble once again took on the role of a road musician, with a two-year stint in Willie Nelson’s band – also appearing in the singer’s Honeysuckle Rose film. In 1982, he went in front of the camera to portray the man who gave him his first major musical break – Bob Wills – in the Clint Eastwood theatrical release Honkytonk Man. All along the way, Johnny continued to make melodies with his fiddle that found their way into the hearts of millions of country music fans around the world. In 1983, a rising young artist, who grew up enamoured by the music of Wills, named George Strait utilised Johnny’s magic on his Right Or Wrong album. This working relationship would prove to be one of the longest associations of his career. He would appear on 10 of Strait’s albums through 1992, becoming a key part of Strait’s early sound on such hits as Baby’s Gotten Good At Goodbye and All My Ex’s Live In Texas. Johnny’s work earned him 15 CMA Awards nominations, including 14 nominations for Instrumentalist/Musician of the Year from 1975 through 1990. He won five times, in 1975, as well as 1986-87, and 1989-90. Along the way, he also tallied two Grammy trophies. Johnny Gimble died on May 9, 2015 at the age of 88. He was remembered by his daughter Cyndy Gimble, and also son Dick Gimble, and granddaughter Emily Gimble who paid tribute with a performance of Under The X In Texas.

RICKY SKAGGS R

icky said: “I was totally shocked and I burst into tears when I heard that I was going to be the newest inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame. When I came to Nashville in 1980, I came to play music and hopefully get a record deal. All of that happened, but I never dreamed that I’d ever be a member of this hallowed hall. ‘Why me? And why now?’ was going through my mind. There are so many others that have inspired me, encouraged me, ones that I’ve truly learned from, and ones that have made such great contributions to country and bluegrass music. I’m humbled and very grateful to soon be listed among my many heroes.” Born July 18, 1954 in the hills of Eastern Kentucky, Ricky Skaggs was influenced by a wide variety of sounds and artists. The bluegrass music of his region set him on his musical trek early, playing a mandolin given to him by his father, Hobert, at age five. By the age of 10, he had already shared the stage with heroes Bill Monroe and Flatt & Scruggs, honing his skills as a player and as a singer in many bands around the area in the years that followed. It was in one of those bands where Ricky met Keith Whitley and the two formed a lifelong friendship. Their musical chemistry together impressed Ralph Stanley, who selected the two teenagers to play and sing in his Clinch Mountain Boys band. Throughout the 1970s, he continued to develop his chops, playing with The Country Gentlemen and JD Crowe before launching his own musical troupe, Boone Creek (which featured Jerry Douglas and future

C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S M AY 2 0 1 8

PHOTO: HUNTER BARRY/CMA

2018 Country Music Hall of Fame Inductee Ricky Skaggs is joined by CMA Artist members during the 15th Annual CMA Artist Luncheon at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum in Nashville, TN.

2018 Country Music Hall of Fame Inductee Ricky Skaggs chats with WSM Radio’s Bill Cody during the 15th Annual CMA Artist Luncheon at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum in Nashville, TN.

Country Music Hall of Fame member Vince Gill). He then came to the attention of Emmylou Harris, who invited him to join her Hot Band – where his musical talents continued to gain a following. In the early 1980s, he set out on his own solo journey, signing with Epic Records in Nashville. His first single, Don’t Get Above Your Raising, was a remake of a Flatt & Scruggs classic. Released during the peak of the Urban Cowboy movement, the record made it to #16 on the Billboard Country singles chart. His third single, a stone-cold country performance of another Flatt & Scruggs single – Crying My Heart Out Over You – topped the chart in April 1982.

C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S M AY 2 0 1 8

Whether it was making classic country sounds by Ray Price or Webb Pierce cool to younger generations, or releasing such musically exhilarating sets as Highways And Heartaches or Country Boy, Skaggs became a musical tour de force in the 1980s. He racked up awards just as quick, from the CMA Awards Male Vocalist of the Year as well as the Horizon Award in 1982 to

the Entertainer of the Year trophy just three years later. As trend-setting as he was as a recording artist, where Ricky dazzled the most was on the stage. Whether at the Grand Ole Opry (where he became a member in 1982) or across the pond (site of his landmark 1985 Live In London disc), his performances are truly magical. He also demonstrates wizardry in the studio, producing not only his records but sets from acts such as The Whites and Dolly Parton, as well as the recent Love Remains disc from Hillary Scott & The Scott Family. In the mid-1990s, he made a promise to Bill Monroe, as “The Father of Bluegrass Music” was nearing the end of his life that he would help to keep the flame of the music that Monroe created alive. Beginning in 1997 with the formation of Skaggs Family Records, he did just that with albums that introduced those sounds that impressed him as a youngster to a new and receptive audience. Chart numbers – though plentiful in the 1980s – simply don’t do the Skaggs story justice. Neither does the eight CMA Awards wins, 15 Grammys, and 13 IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Awards trophies. One need only look at the sheer magnitude of the artists that Skaggs has shared a microphone with over the years – ranging from Flatt & Scruggs to Bruce Hornsby to modern-day superstars such as Keith Urban – to see the evolution and musical genius of Ricky Skaggs, from teenage prodigy to the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, and now, his fitting induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

DOTTIE WEST D

ottie’s daughter, Shelly West said “The whole West family is full of emotion.When I got the news that Dottie was being inducted, I don’t remember if I was laughing or crying louder! My heart just swelled as I knew that mum’s fans would soon hear this sweet news.” If ever there was an example of a country music artist rising above the odds to achieve stardom, it would be Dottie West. The events of her life flowed like the lyrics of the songs that became favourites of fans around the world. Her penchant for composing – as well as identifying – lyrics that struck a chord with listeners carried her on a journey that includes the Grand Ole Opry, television stardom, and now, her induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Born Dorothy Marie Marsh on October 11, 1932 near McMinnville, Tennessee, she endured an abusive childhood at the hands of her father while working as a teenager in her mother’s restaurant. Music became her outlet to escape the real world, as she began playing guitar with a local band while in high school. After graduation, she continued her education with a music scholarship at Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville. It was there she would meet Bill West, whom

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

she would marry. The young couple moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where she began to appear on a local television program. All the while, West continued to keep her heart and mind focused on that musical mecca just a few miles up the road from her hometown – Nashville. She made repeated trips to Music City in hopes of getting her songs heard throughout the 1950s. By 1959, she achieved her goal – a recording contract with Starday Records. Though recording success would elude her there, her compositions began to be heard around town, as she toured and became friends with such performers as Patsy Cline. In 1963, superstar Jim Reeves recorded her song Is This Me?

and the song became a #3 record on the Billboard Country singles chart. She soon signed with RCA Victor, where she recorded with Reeves on Love Is No Excuse and then hit solo stardom with the self-penned Here Comes My Baby. The song helped Dottie become the first female artist in country music history to win a Grammy and launched a run of hits that included Would You Hold It Against Me and Paper Mansions. Two of Dottie’s hits for RCA Victor – Country Girl and Country Sunshine – were featured in television campaigns for Coca-Cola, with the latter winning a coveted Clio award for television advertising. In 1976, she signed with United Artists Records, where she found an immediate hit with When It’s Just You And Me. Not long after, she was finishing up a recording session one afternoon when the next artist who happened to show up early was Kenny Rogers. The two began to harmonise on a song that she was going to record, and the rest was history. That record, Every Time Two Fools Collide, topped the charts in short order and served as the catalyst for a pair of Gold-selling albums, back-to-back CMA Awards for Vocal Duo of the Year, and one of the most successful tours in country music history. The duets with Rogers also propelled West’s solo career to new heights, with songs such as Are You Happy Baby? and A Lesson In Leavin’ becoming fan favourites. In addition to her own recorded work, she was instrumental in the careers of several other artists, musicians, and songwriters including Grand Ole Opry members Larry Gatlin, Jeannie Seely, and Steve Wariner. As she entered her 50s – an era where women in the format typically slowed down – she continued to plow ahead in new creative fields including film and theatre. On her way to an appearance on the Grand Ole Opry in August of 1991, Dottie was involved in an automobile accident. Despite three surgeries, and a valiant fight for her life, she succumbed to her injuries at the age of 58. Now, the career trajectory of Dottie West places her in the same destination that her previous duet partners of Jim Reeves, Kenny Rogers, Don Gibson, and Jimmy Dean have landed – the Country Music Hall of Fame. Dottie died in 1991 and, during the press conference, was remembered by son Kerry West, granddaughter Tess Frizzell Bishop and long-time friend and country music legend Jeannie Seely.

C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S M AY 2 0 1 8

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C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S M AY 2 0 1 8

years of bringing you the music 1975â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2018

LIVE MUSIC SCENE

LIFT OUT

Please note all show venues & times are correct at time of printing. Capital News recommends you check with the venue prior to attending. JUNE 03 The Palace Hotel, Nanango Qld 08-10 Kenmore Park Music Muster, Lower Wonga Qld 24 The Palace Hotel, Nanango Qld

AMBER LAWRENCE

ADAM ECKERSLEY AND BROOKE MCCLYMONT

MAY 11 Brothers Leagues, Cairns Qld 12 Dalrymple Hotel, Townsville Qld 13 Mt Pleasant Tavern, Mackay Qld 15 Glenmore Tavern, Rockhampton Qld 16 Hervey Road Tavern, Gladstone Qld 17 Melbourne Hotel, Bundaberg Qld 18 Caloundra RSL Qld 19 Highfields Tavern, Toowoomba Qld 31 Coomealla Club, Dareton NSW* JUNE 01 Wheatsheaf Hotel, Adelaide SA* 03 Boston Bay Wines, Port Lincoln SA* 06 Ceduna Memorial Hall SA* 10 Mumballup Tavern, Donnybrook WA* 14 Settler’s Tavern, Margaret River WA* 15 Prince Of Wales Hotel, Bunbury WA* 16 Odd Fellow, Fremantle WA* 19 Kalgoorlie Hotel WA* 22 Musicians Club, Broken Hill NSW* 23 Cobar Bowling & Golf Club NSW* 29 Woodburn Evans Head RSL, Evans Head NSW 30 Bush To Bay Music Festival, Hervey Bay Qld JULY 07 Dubbo RSL NSW

ALEYCE SIMMONDS

JULY 14 The Welder’s Dog, Tamworth NSW 21 Muswellbrook RSL, Muswellbrook NSW 22 Lizottes, New Lambton NSW

ALICE BENFER

MAY 13 Nanango RSL Qld 27 Grandchester Community Hall Qld years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

*w Travis Collins # w Christie Lamb & Mickey Pye **w Mickey Pye MAY 17 Malanda RSL Qld* 18 Reef Hotel Casino, Cairns Qld* 19 Dalrymple Hotel, Garrett Qld* 23 Bowen Cinemas Qld 24 McGuires CBD Hotel, Mackay Qld 26 Bottle Tree Hotel, Ipswich Qld* 27 Casino RSM NSW* 31 Settlers Tavern, Margaret River WA* JUNE 01 Charles Hotel, Perth WA* 02 Mullewa Muster, Perth WA* 03 Ravenswood Tavern, Mandurah WA* 14 TheSkylark Room, Upwey Vic # 15 The Cabaret Club, Ballarat Vic# 16 Noojee Hotel Vic # 17 MEMO Music Hall, St Kilda RSL Vic# 22 Lizottes, Newcastle NSW** 29 Rooty Hill RSL NSW#

CHARLIE LANDSBOROUGH (UK)

BRAD COX

MAY 04 Goulburn Workers Club NSW 11 Dubbo Show NSW 17 Leadbelly, Newtown NSW 20 Tattersall Hotel, Goulburn NSW

*Adam Eckersley & Brooke McClymont Tour **Guest of Adam Harvey MAY 31 Coomealla Club, Dareton NSW* JUNE 01 Wheatsheaf Hotel, Adelaide SA* 03 Boston Bay Wines, Port Lincoln SA* 06 Ceduna Memorial Hall SA* 10 Mumballup Tavern, Donnybrook WA* 14 Settler’s Tavern, Margaret River WA* 15 Prince Of Wales Hotel, Bunbury WA* 16 Odd Fellow, Fremantle WA* 19 Kalgoorlie Hotel WA* 22 Musicians Club, Broken Hill NSW* 23 Cobar Bowling & Golf Club NSW* JULY 14 Toyota Hats Off To Country, West Tamworth LC NSW**8pm 14&15 Toyota Hats Off To Country, The Albert, Tamworth NSW 27 Groundwater CMF, Broadbeach Qld AUGUST 2018 17 Concert For Dolly, Katherine NT NOVEMBER 2018 10 Dunedoo Tunes On The Turf, Dunedoo Sports Club NSW

BILLY BRIDGE

BOB HOWE

ANDREW SWIFT

*w Matt Scullion & Allan Caswell #Guest of Shannon Noll MAY 02 Scullion Sessions, The Stag & Hunter Hotel, Mayfield NSW 05 Dapto LC NSW# 12 Max Watts, Melbourne Vic# 19 The Triffid, Brisbane Qld#

ANGELA EASSON

MAY 27 The Surf Club, Mooloolaba Qld JUNE 17 Taps Mooloolaba Qld JULY 13 Taps Mooloolaba Qld NOVEMBER 04 Adelaide CMC, Dudley Park, SA

BEN RANSOM

MAY 18 Porters Plainlands Hotel Qld 25 Rising Sun Hotel, Rosewood Qld JUNE 08 Porters Plainlands Hotel Qld JULY 13 Rising Sun Hotel, Rosewood Qld 27 & 28 Groundwater CMF, Broadbeach Qld

MAY 10 Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL, Sydney NSW

BRENDAN NAWROCKI MAY 04 Two Goats Cafe and Baa, Armidale, NSW

MAY 04 Twin Towns SC, Tweed Heads NSW 05 Empire Theatre, Toowoomba Qld 06 Caloundra RSL Club Qld 08 Brolga Theatre, Maryborough Qld 10 St Mary’s Hall, Rockhampton Qld 11 Brothers Sports Club, Bundaberg Qld 13 Ulmarra, via Grafton NSW 15 Laurieton United SC NSW 16 West Tamworth League Club NSW 17 Young SC NSW 18 Commercial Club, Albury NS 19 Kyabram Bocce Club Vic 20 Victoria BC, Ballarat Vic 23 Sphinx Hotel, North Geelong Vic 25 Burnie Civic Centre Tas 26 Wrest Point Casino, Hobart Tas 27 Launceston Country Club Tas 29 City Memorial BC, Warrnambool Vic 30 Millicent and District Community Club SA JUNE 01 Coomealla Memorial Sporting Club Vic 03 Morwell Club Vic 07 Batemans Bay Soldiers Club NSW 08 Goulburn Workers’ Club NSW 09 Weston Workers’ Club NSW 10 Blacktown RSL Club NSW

CHRISTIE LAMB

#Guest of Amber Lawrence w Mickey Pye MAY 05 The Colonial Hotel, Werrington NSW 26 0Park Beach BC, Coffs Harbour NSW JUNE 01 Goulburn Workers Club NSW 02 Majors Creek Hall NSW 03 Hawkesbury Hotel NSW 09 Kiama Leagues Club NSW 10 George Harcourt Inn ACT 14 Memo Music Hall, St Kilda Vic#

C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S M AY 2 0 1 8

LIVE MUSIC SCENE CHRISTIE LAMB cont. 15 Skylark Room Upwey Vic# 16 Noojey Hotel Vic# 17 Sphinx Hotel Geelong Vic# 22 Boorowa Ex SC NSW 23 Captains Flat Pub NSW 29 Rooty Hill RSL NSW#

DEAN PERRETT 26&27 Wyper Park Scout Camp, Bundaberg Qld

HURRICANE FALL

JUNE 08-10 44 Hayes Road, Lower Wonga Qld

CRAIG GILES

MAY 04 Victoria BC, Ballarat Vic 05 Barham SC NSW 08 Shepparton RSL Club Vic 11 Wagga Aussie Rules Club, Wagga Wagga NSW 13 Temora ExSC NSW 30 Kedron Wavel SC, Chermside Qld 31 Toowoomba City GC Qld JUNE 08 Beenleigh BC Qld 10 Wynnum Municipal Hall Qld 11 Blue Fin Fishing Club, Inala Qld 13&14 Across The Waves Sports Club, Bundaberg Qld 15 Ipswich Showgrounds Hall Qld 19&20 Redlands Sports Club, Ipswich Qld 22 Twin Towns Services Club, Tweed Heads NSW 24 Sawtell RSL NSW 27 Halekulani BC, Budgewoi NSW

DALE HOOPER

JULY 13 Dubbo RSL Club Resort NSW 14 Bathurst RSL Club NSW

SEPTEMBER 07-09 Nanango Showgrounds Qld

DIANNE LINDSAY MAY 19 Bouldercombe Showground Qld 24 Casino NSW 27 Mona Vale RSL NSW JULY 07 St George Qld

EMMA JENE MAY 20 Yass Senior Citizens Hall NSW 27 Angles Bayside Cafe, Huskisson NSW JUNE 17 Corowa RSL NSW

GEORGIA FALL MAY 05 Caboolture Showground Qld

GRETTA ZILLER MAY 19 Paynesville Wine Bar Vic 20 Blue Gables Vineyard, Maffra West Upper Vic 25 SS&A Club, Albury NSW 27 Hardy’s Bay Club NSW JUNE 01 The Royal Hotel, Gympie Qld 02 The Triffid, Brisbane Qld

DAN SULTAN

30 Bush to Bay Festival, Hervey Bay Qld JULY 27 Groundwater CMF, Broadbeach Qld

MAY

07 The Pig & Tinderbox, Tamworth

JUNE 21 Capitol Theatre, Tamworth NSW

NSW 08 The Fox Den, Gloucester NSW

HAYLEY JENSEN

MAY 11 Harmonie German Club, Canberra ACT 12 Kinross Woolshed, Albury NSW 13 The Toff in Town, Melbourne, Vic 17 The Leadbelly, Newtown, Sydney NSW JUNE 24 Buckle & Boots Festival, Manchester, UK OCTOBER 27 Rock Edge CMF, VDMFest, Biloela Showground, Qld

MAY 04 Gunnedah Services and BC NSW 05 Manilla RSL NSW 11 Halekulani BC NSW 12 Rooty Hill RSL NSW JUNE 01&02 Reef Hotel Casino, Cairns Qld 09 Wests Nelson Bay Diggers NSW 10 Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney NSW 30 Hotel Cessnock NSW JULY 13&14 Hats Off To Country, Longyard Hotel, Tamworth NSW 27&28 Broadbeach Qld

HAYLEY MARSTEN

MAY 05 City Sounds, Brisbane Qld 13 Steampunk, Surfers Paradise Qld JUNE 03 Steampunk, Surfers Paradise Qld 10 Canvas, Woollongabba Qld 13 The Brightside, Fortitude Valley Qld

HILLBILLY GOATS

MAY 01 Leap Hotel, The Leap (ex Mackay) Qld 05 Herberton Historic Village, Atherton Tablelands Qld 07 Yorkeys Knob Boat Club, Cairns Qld 19 White Cliffs Festival NSW 25 Gympie RSL Qld 26 The Shared, Yandina Qld 27 Peregian Beach Hotel Qld JUNE 03 Fisherman’s Wharf, Gold Coast Qld 16&17 Yorkeys Knob Boat Club, Cairns Qld

IMOGEN CLARK

MAY 04 Gateway Hotel, Geelong Vic 05 Matthew Flinders Hotel, Chadstone Vic 10 Slug And Lettuce, Parafield Gardens SA 11 Norwood Hotel SA 12 Victoria Hotel, O’Halloran SA 18 Shoalhaven Bowls NSW 19 Club Sapphire, Merimbula NSW 25 Central Hotel, Shellharbour NSW 26 Young Ex Services NSW

JASON OWEN

*Sings John Denver JUNE 08 Macksville Ex Services NSW 09 Grafton Ex Services NSW 10 Laurieton United Services NSW 15 Centro CBD, Wollongong NSW

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C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S M AY 2 0 1 8

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

LIFT OUT

Please note all show venues & times are correct at time of printing. Capital News recommends you check with the venue prior to attending.

16 Harmonie German Club ACT 30 Art House, Wyong NSW JULY 14 Orange Ex Services NSW 21 CEx, Coffs Harbour NSW

KIDDNKELLY GANG

MAY 06 Timewarp Festival, Palmwoods Qld

KYLIE ADAMSCOLLIER

KASEY CHAMBERS

JEN MIZE AND MARK SHOLTEZ *Twilight on the Trail MAY 04 USQ Little Village Sessions, Toowoomba Qld

JOHN FLANAGAN TRIO MAY 03 Toff in Town, Melbourne Vic JUNE 28 Django @ Camelot, Marrickville, Sydney NSW JULY 05 Junk Bar, Ashgrove, Brisbane Qld

JOHNNY GREENWOOD MAY 05 Caboolture Showgrounds Qld

Campfire Tour MAY 23 Casino RSM NSW 24 C Ex-Services Club, Coffs Harbour NSW 25 Club Forster NSW 26 Laurieton United SC NSW 31 Griffith Regional Theatre NSW JUNE 01 Civic Theatre, Wagga Wagga NSW 02 Swan PACC, Swan Hill NSW 03 Mildura MAC, Vic 14 Mingara Recreation Club, Tumbi Umbi NSW 15 The Cube, Campbelltown NSW 16 Rooty Hill RSL NSW 17 Ulladulla Services Club NSW 21 Seymour Centre, Sydney NSW 22 Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul NSW 23 Panthers, Bathurst NSW 24 Canberra Playhouse Theatre ACT 28 The Event Centre, Caloundra Qld 29 Twin Towns, Tweed Heads NSW

JOSHUA HEDLEY (USA)

JULY 22 Country Heritage Association of Qld Inc, Grandchester Qld SEPTEMBER 14-24 10-day tour Emerald, Alpha, Longreach, Winton, Charters Towers, Greenvale, Ayr, Mackay, Rockhampton, Qld

LACHLAN BRYAN AND THE WILDES **w Not Good With Horses *w Luke O’Shea & Lachlan Bryan solo MAY 18 Billy Roy’s Blues Bar, Bendigo Vic 20 Songwriters In The Round, Wentworthville LC NSW* JUNE 01 Music On The Hill, Red Hill Vic 07 The Sly Fox, Sydney, NSW** 08 The Tamworth Hotel NSW 10 Quarterdeck, Narooma NSW AUGUST 23-26 Gympie Muster Qld

W Band & Guest LILLIE MAE JULY 19 Leadbelly, Sydney, NSW 20 Marrickville BC NSW 21 Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine NSW 22 Northcote Social Club Vic 26 Caravan Music Club, Melbourne, Vic 27-29 Groundwater CMF, Broadbeach Qld

KALESTI BUTLER MAY 27 The Irish Village, Emerald Qld JUNE 03 The Irish Village, Emerald Qld JULY 01 The Irish Village, Emerald Qld 12 Hats Off To Country, Tamworth NSW 29 The Irish Village, Emerald Qld years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

09 Macs Hotel, Melton Vic 10 Chelsea Heights Hotel Vic

LILLIE MAE

Guest of JOSHUA HEDLEY (USA) JULY 19 Leadbelly, Sydney, NSW 20 Marrickville BC NSW 21 Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine NSW 22 Northcote Social Club Vic 26 Caravan Music Club, Melbourne, Vic 27-29 Groundwater CMF, Broadbeach Qld

LINDSAY BUTLER & SHAZA LEIGH WITH THE BUTLER SHOWBAND

MAY 05 Caboolture Showgrounds Qld 19 West Tamworth LC NSW JUNE 29 West Tamworth LC NSW

MERILYN STEELE

MAY 13 Merrylands BC NSW 19 Paddington RSL Club NSW JUNE 16 Guildford BC NSW

MICKEY PYE

#Guest of Amber Lawrence w Christie Lamb **w Mickey Pye JUNE 14 TheSkylark Room, Upwey Vic # 15 The Cabaret Club, Ballarat Vic# 16 Noojee Hotel Vic # 17 MEMO Music Hall, St Kilda RSL Vic# 22 Lizottes, Newcastle NSW** 29 Rooty Hill RSL NSW#

KEL-ANNE BRANDT

MAY 02 The Juniors, Kingsford NSW 20 Sawtell RSL Club NSW JUNE 06 Belmont 16ft Sailing Club NSW 21 Wallarah Bay Recreation Club, Gorokan NSW 28 Everglades Country Club, Woy Woy NSW

MURPHY’S PIGS LEE KERNAGHAN

MAY 19 Ord Valley Muster, Kununurra NT JUNE 07 Costa Hall, Geelong Vic 08 Shoppingtown Hotel, Doncaster Vic

MAY 04 Glen Innes SC NSW

C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S M AY 2 0 1 8

LIVE MUSIC SCENE NORMA O’HARA MURPHY MAY 26 Ma Ma Creek Community Hall Qld JUNE 01 Toowoomba South BC Qld 08 Kenmore Park Festival, near Gympie Qld 15 Playford Hall, Adelaide SA

PETE SMITH

*Variety Show MAY 01 Vic BC, Ballarat Vic 02 Horsham BC Vic 21 Ballarat Seniors, Barham NSW 25 Barham CMF NSW JUNE 03 Maryborough CMC BC Vic 09 Rendalsham South Vic 17 St Arnaud CMC Vic 22 Albury BC NSW 23 Yass Seniors Citizen Hall NSW

RODNEY VINCENT MAY 18 Commercial Club, Wagga Wagga NSW

ROSS MCGREGOR

MAY 04 Diggers Club, The Entrance NSW 05 Swansea Workers Club NSW JULY 27 Diggers Club, The Entrance NSW

SHELLEY MINSON

MAY 12 West Tamworth League Club NSW 25 Blazes, West Tamworth League Club NSW 27 Oasis Hotel, Tamworth NSW JUNE 10 Twin Towns, Tweed Heads NSW 15 West Tamworth League Club NSW 24 Oasis Hotel, Tamworth NSW

SEPTEMBER 01 Casino RSM NSW 07 Canberra Southern Cross Club ACT 08 Forbes Services MC NSW 21 Wests New Lambton NSW 22 Evan Theatre, Panthers, Penrith NSW OCTOBER 05 Club Old Bar NSW 06 The Cube, Campbelltown NSW 19 Norths LC, Kallangur Qld 20 Mackay EC Qld NOVEMBER 02 Alexandra Hills Hotel Qld 03 Aussie World, The Shed, Sunshine Coast Qld 09 Old Mill Hotel, Hahndorf SA 23 Wee Waa BC NSW 24 Lightning Ridge BC NSW DECEMBER 07 York On Lilydale, Mt Evelyn Vic 08 West Gippsland AC, Warragul Vic

TAYLOR PFEIFFER

MAY 06 Kodamonchi Japanese Festival, Thebarton SA

TROY CASSAR-DALEY MAY 25 Norfolk Island

WAL NEILSEN MAY 05 Woodgate Beach Hotel Qld 05 Federal Hotel, Childers Qld 06 Eidsvold Show Qld 11 Lighthouse Hotel, Burnett Heads Qld 19 Burrum Heads Adventure Park Qld 19 Hoolihans, Hervey Bay Qld 27 71 Wharf, Maryborough Qld

WAYNE HORSBURGH TRAVIS COLLINS RACHAEL FAHIM MAY 05 Ogilvie Street, Denman NSW

REBECCA LEE NYE MAY 06 Rising Sun Hotel, Rosewood Qld JUNE 15 Rising Sun Hotel, Rosewood Qld JULY 01 Rising Sun Hotel, Rosewood Qld 06 The Events Centre, Caloundra Qld 07 Star Casino, Gold Coast Qld

THE MCCLYMONTS

JULY 27 Shoalhaven Heads BC NSW 28 Groundwater CMF, Broadbeach Qld AUGUST 11 Mt Isa Mines Rotary Rodeo Qld 24 Gateway Hotel, Geelong Vic 25 The Palms At Crown, Melbourne Vic 31 Inverell RSM NSW

*w Amber Lawrence MAY 02 Moonshiners Honkytonk Bar, Family Hotel, Tamworth 17 Malanda RSL Qld* 18 Reef Hotel Casino, Cairns Qld* 19 Dalrymple Hotel, Garrett Qld* 26 Bottle Tree Hotel, Ipswich Qld* 27 Casino RSM NSW* 31 Settlers Tavern, Margaret River WA* JUNE 01 Charles Hotel, Perth WA* 02 Mullewa Muster, Perth WA* 03 Ravenswood Tavern, Mandurah WA*

MAY 05 Bellbird Workers Club NSW 09 Belmont 16FT Sailing Club NSW 17 Wallarah Bay Club NSW 22 Warrnambool City Memorial BC Vic 25 Wangaratta Park Lane BC Vic 26 Moyhu Hall Vic 27 Wagga Wagga Commercial Club NSW 28 Young BC NSW JUNE 05 Maitland City BC NSW 20 Cowra SC NSW 24 Yamba BC NSW

Visiting Tamworth?

See Star Maker’s amazing journey at the Star Maker Café at Diggers, Kable Ave, Tamworth

1979 34

THE LEGEND CONTINUES C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S M AY 2 0 1 8

2018 years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

years of bringing you the music 1975â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2018

C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S M AY 2 0 1 8

Gina Jeffreys congratulates Beccy

Beccy + Libby BECCY COLE MARRIED LIBBY O’DONOVAN JUST ONE WEEK AFTER THIS YEAR’S TAMWORTH COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL.

n February 2, the brides’ families and friends gathered at the Howard Vineyard boutique winery, located in the gorgeous Adelaide Hills. Libby, dressed in a custommade regal green and purple gown and floor-length feature jacket made by Anne Williams, was driven to the ceremony, by her brother BJ, in a red Mustang. Beccy’s brother Matt drove her to the ceremony in a silver Audi R8. She wore a gown of black floral lace, designed and hand-sewn by Amanda Cooper from the Adelaide Hills. In one of the only traditional gestures of the day,

the brides saw each other’s dresses for the first time just before they walked down the aisle together. As they walked hand-in-hand towards their beaming celebrant, Tania Kernaghan, Lyn Bowtell and Chris E Thomas belted out Etta James’ song At Last and the applause, usually kept for the end of the service, erupted early and tears and cheers validated this long-awaited event. Beccy’s childhood friend, Grammynominated artist, Kym Warner made the journey from Texas to be a part of the special day and together with Kasey Chambers, Adam Harvey, Sara Storer, Gina Jeffreys, and Duncan Toombs sang for the brides. Libby’s 8-year-old daughter Maisy was both flower girl and ring bearer and Beccy’s son Ricky was witness alongside Libby’s sister, Estelle. The matching rings were custom-made

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by Kate Sutherland in Adelaide and symbolise the South Australian floral emblem (and Libby’s favourite flower), the Sturt Desert Pea. Libby’s parents, both Anglican priests, performed blessings during the ceremony which was enthusiastically attended by both Beccy’s 98-year-old grandma Gloria and Libby’s 88-yearold Nana, Estelle, who flew all the way from Massachusetts because she simply “wouldn’t have missed it for the world.” The highly-emotional ceremony was followed by a celebration and an endless stream of guests-turned entertainers including Gina Timms, Kelly Brouhaha, Hussy Hicks, Sean Rudd, Ali Foster, Bec Willis, Trev Warner, Ricky Albeck and of course, Beccy’s Mum, Carole Sturtzel. The brides themselves sang too and the event was hailed by many as the ‘best wedding ever!’ Mrs & Mrs O’Donovan left for a tour of Tasmania the day after the wedding and it remained a tightlipped secret until the April issue of the Australian Women’s Weekly was released.

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

Duncan Toombs, Lyn Bowtell, Chris E Thomas and Gina Jeffreys

Duncan Toombs, Kym Warner, Kasey Chambers and Adam Harvey years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

Duncan Toombs and Sara Storer

Mrs & Mrs O’Donovan with celebrant Tania Kernaghan C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S M AY 2 0 1 8

HEAR+THERE ADAMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ARCHIBALD ENTRY BY ANNA ROSE

NORFOLK ISLAND WEATHERMAN AND ARTIST ADAM JAUCZIUS (PRONOUNCED YOW-CHUS) HAS COMPLETED HIS ENTRY FOR THE 2018 ARCHIBALD PORTRAIT PRIZE AND THE PAINTING â&#x20AC;&#x201C; OF COUNTRY PERFORMER, WARREN H WILLIAMS.

n Friday, April 6 Adam left his island home to fly with the portrait to Sydney for the prestigious competition, where he hopes it will be one of the chosen few to be hung. Adam wanted to paint Warren after meeting him at Norfolkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Country Music Festival last May. They later spent time together in Alice Springs and Hermannsburg â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Warrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home place â&#x20AC;&#x201C; doing sittings, an extensive photo shoot and getting to know each other better. Journeying to Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heartland, and seeing the harsh, desert country which inspired Albert Namatjira (also from Hermannsburg) was an amazing experience for Adam.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;At school they had lots of Namatjira prints on the walls, and their colour and intensity fascinated me,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been with the Weather Bureau for many years, and lived in starkly beautiful, remote outback places, so I really related to Warrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s obvious love, and respect, for his land and culture. His passion for music is similar, too, to the way I feel about painting.â&#x20AC;? After visiting Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heart, Adam returned to Norfolk wanting to convey something of Warrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spirit and soul, not simply a likeness, in the portrait and worked on the large piece (1m x 1.5m) for three months. Feels Like Home depicts Warren, at peace, sitting in front of the old Mission Church at Hermannsburg; just before sunset. The Archibald Portrait Prize is awarded annually and is one of the most prestigious art competitions in Australia. In 2017 it attracted more than 800 entries, and Adam knows that his work may not even be selected; only 40-50 paintings are hung each year, but he truly doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mind. When Adam showed Warren the portrait the response was all heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d hoped for. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He was overwhelmed and just said â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Wow!â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Painting a portrait is no easy thing; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a promise, and I take it seriously,â&#x20AC;? Adam said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I promise to try and show who you are and put that down on canvas. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m happy with the picture ... and Warren likes it, so anything else that happens will just be icing on the cake.â&#x20AC;?

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years of bringing you the music 1975â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2018

H+T MY VOICE SHATTERS THE SILENCE MULTI-AWARD WINNING SINGER-SONGWRITER MELINDA SCHNEIDER IS DOING WHAT SHE CAN TO SHATTER THE SILENCE BY RELEASING HER LATEST SINGLE MY VOICE.

nspired by the #MeToo and #TimesUp movement, the song is an anthem for this time and a cathartic, healing experience for people who feel isolated or silenced. Embraced by passionate women’s advocate Tracey Spicer, Melinda released the song in time for the launch of Now Australia, Tracy’s not-for-profit initiative to combat sexual harassment in the workplace. Profits from My Voice downloads will help fund safe workplace programs. Melinda said; “I hope my song will help end the conspiracy of silence,” said Melinda, who co-wrote the song with fellow Australian country artist Tamara Stewart and Nashville songwriter Clay Mills almost two years ago. My Voice will strike a chord with anyone in pain: from victims of domestic violence, sexual or emotional abuse and bullying, to people battling mental health issues and eating disorders or minority groups, including the aged, homeless, LGBTQI and racially vilified. Over more than two decades, Melinda has become one of Australia’s most sublime singers and popular live performers keeping the family tradition alive. But

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

SINCERE GRATITUDE it is through her assured and accomplished songwriting that she has really discovered her true voice. In recent years, Melinda has enjoyed outstanding success with her Doris Day project Melinda Does Doris: A Tribute To Doris Day. Download or stream My Voice on iTunes, Spotify or melindaschneider.com

ong-time radio presenter and former contributor to Capital News, Tubby Dyer has expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all of the artists and affiliated members of the Australian and American country music family and staff and listeners of Todays Country 94.1 for their kindness following the loss of his wife. Rosemary died on March 26 following a series of illnesses.

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& ] â&#x20AC;&#x153;Help Me Make It Through The Nightâ&#x20AC;?

Album Release

Free Spiritaitl meeddia, Out now on dig cd and streaming. With single:

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National Top 40 Country Tracks Australia

Musical Journey On CRS Vol 206

EP â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s The Way Love Goesâ&#x20AC;? Available Now! Key2 Artist Promotion key2artistpromotion.com.au/store Radio Distribution CRS Publicity Email: tracey@alanandtrace.com Website: www.alanandtrace.com Facebook: alanandtrace

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PSM300 Stereo Personal Monitor System with SE112 Earphones

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O N E T O WAT C H

LONELY NO MORE BY SUSAN JARVIS

GROWING UP IN RURAL SOUTH AUSTRALIA, TANYA CORNISH FELT LIKE HER QUEST FOR COUNTRY MUSIC STARDOM WOULD BE A LONELY ENDEAVOUR.

ut over the past couple of years, the 25-yearold primary school teacher has realised there’s a whole community of people out there wanting to help her succeed. They include the students in her class, who’ve been incredibly supportive, and the country music industry, which is increasingly recognising Tanya and her talent as a force to be reckoned with. A passionate songwriter, who’s inspired by everything and everyone around her, Tanya first glimpsed her future when she visited the Tamworth Country Music Festival seven years ago. “I watched Toyota Star Maker – the finals were in the town hall back then – and it became my dream to be part of Star Maker,” she said. This year, that dream became reality, when Tanya was selected from a huge field to be one of just 10 Star Maker grand finalists, to perform at Bicentennial Park before a huge crowd, singing her own songs. Along the way, she managed to kick a few major goals. In 2016 she became the South Australian Champion of Champions – the ultimate talent quest accolade in her home state – then went on to travel to Norfolk Island and take out the Trans-Tasman Entertainer of the Year title,

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

previously won by the likes of Kylie Sackley and Darren Coggan. Tanya also made the decision to hone her songwriting skills by participating in the highly regarded The DAG Songwriting Retreat at Nundle, near Tamworth, in both 2015 and 2016, where she met her songwriting idol Kevin Bennett. She also attended the 2016 Academy of Country Music in Tamworth, and says the Academy and the songwriting retreat changed her life. “I got so much out of the songwriting retreats and particularly the academy. The chance to meet and make connections with so many amazing people – both the tutors and my fellow students – was really important to me,” she said. “I suddenly realised that there

were other people who shared my view of the world, who were just as much into music as I was. I’ve stayed in touch with so many of them, and we all have each other’s back. Star Maker took that feeling to a whole new level. “Apart from the surreal feeling of performing to all those people, and just being part of such a prestigious event, the opportunities it has given me and the people I’ve met have been priceless,” Tanya said. Tanya hopes to enter Star Maker again in the next couple of years, but meanwhile she’s focused on the release this month of her debut EP, Paper Hurricane, which she recorded with Shane Nicholson. The EP features five original tracks, cowritten with Roger Corbett, Jason Kearney and her brother, Ryan Cornish. The first single, I’m Coming Home was penned at the DAG. It is about knowing where you belong – even when more exciting possibilities beckon. “Even if you’re living the dream, there’s nothing like coming home,” Tanya said. The title track, Paper Hurricane, is a song about love and the tough times. “It’s about getting through them by realising that love is a fragile thing, and needs to be treated with care, even when things aren’t easy and it feels like a whirlwind around you,” Tanya said. The other three tracks on the EP are diverse: Keeping Score – inspired by someone real who Tanya would rather forget – is an altcountry track, while Missing You is a stripped back acoustic offering. The final song, Somewhere To Lay My Head, co-written with Roger Corbett, captures Tanya’s realisation that she no longer had to struggle in the music industry on her own, but that she belonged somewhere, and she was able to express the music in her heart. “I see myself as a storyteller, and I want to reach people with my songs – for me, music has to come from the heart, and to touch those who hear it,” Tanya said. Based in Coomandook, an hour and a half outside Adelaide, Tanya loves her life of teaching children during the week – she’s about to start a music program at her school – and performing locally and in Adelaide at weekends. She’ll be performing at the Riverland Country Music Festival next month, and at the Royal Adelaide Show in September, and is keen to do as many shows as possible.

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PHOTOS: GREG SYLVIA

Troy Kemp

Casey Barnes

Darius Rucker

CMC ROCKS! CMC ROCKS QLD, THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE’S PREMIERE COUNTRY AND ROOTS MUSIC FESTIVAL DELIVERED A SECOND-TO-NONE WEEKEND OF LIVE MUSIC TO A RECORD-BREAKING AUDIENCE OF 20,000 PASSIONATE FANS ON THE WEEKEND MARCH 15 TO 18.

howcasing some of the world’s best local and international country music stars, the event, now in its eleventh year, completely sold out in record time to an increased capacity of 20,000, up from 15,000 in previous years. Festival first-timer Darius Rucker (USA) lived up to the hype, laying down a sizzling set that kicked off with

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This and throwing in a couple of Australian covers including Midnight Oil’s Beds Are Burning and Men At Work’s Overkill. Much-loved festival alumni Kelsea Ballerini (USA), Dean Brody (CAN), Travis Collins

(AUS) and Busby Marou (AUS) delivered multiple festival performances to capacity crowds across the weekend, showcasing the diversity of local and international country music. Local star Morgan Evans surprised fans on Saturday evening, joining his new wife Kelsea Ballerini on-stage during her headline set to perform Dance With Me, one of Evans’ as-yet unreleased tracks. On Sunday evening, following a moving tribute to late CMC Rocks festival co-founder Rob Potts, who tragically passed at the end of 2017, two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year and country music megastar, Luke Bryan (USA), hit the stage to deliver the most anticipated performance of the weekend. Surprise artist cameos came across the

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

PHOTO: LACHLAN DOUGLAS

Old Dominion

Ryan Follese

Sunny Cowgirls

Luke Combs

course of the weekend, like Brothers Osborne (USA) jumping up to jam with Randy Houser (USA) during his electrifying set, and in the process cementing themselves as a firm festival standout. Luke Combs (USA), Old Dominion (USA), Dan + Shay (USA), High Valley (CAN) and more made their Australian debuts to charged crowds, and with an extended artist program kicking off on Thursday afternoon at the Jack Daniel’s White Rabbit Saloon, exclusively for campers, CMC Rocks QLD 2018 was without doubt the biggest and best yet! “Four days of perfect weather, incredible performances and good vibes from beginning to end; what more could you ask for?,” said festival director Jeremy Dylan.

Jon Osborne

Jody Direen

Randy Houser

Dan + Shay

Promoter, Michael Chugg added “As a promoter, to be able to say I just went through a three-day festival without a single drama, without any stress, and with a three-day grin on my face sounds like total rubbish. But hey, it’s true! “What an amazing weekend. We had sunshine, 20,000 happy people each day, and some of the best music in the world. International superstars were thanking us for asking them to play the festival, while Australian artists were blowing audiences away. Old Dominion

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Michael Chugg, Jeremy Dylan, and Storme Warren salute the late Rob Potts

Luke Bryan

Jeremy Marou

Dustin Lynch

Brett Young

Dean Brody 46

PJ Osborne C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S M AY 2 0 1 8

Travis Collins

Christie Lamb years of bringing you the music 1975â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2018

PHOTOS: GREG SYLVIA

CMC ROCKS

PHOTO: ROBIN REIDY

Gord Bamford

High Valley

Thomas Busby

Melanie Dyer

PHOTO: ROBIN REIDY

Kelsea Ballerini

PHOTO: ROBIN REIDY

Luke Combs Band

Missy Lancaster

Amber Lawrence with Davisson Brothers

Kaylee Bell

Brett Young years of bringing you the music 1975â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2018

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PHOTO: DUSTY DRAPER/CMA

Fans sing along during a surprise performance by reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Garth Brooks inside a sold-out Nissan Stadium during CMA Fest in Nashville in 2017. The performance marked Brooks’ first CMA Fest appearance in nearly 20 years.

NASHVILLE’S ULTIMATE FAN EXPERIENCE

THE ULTIMATE COUNTRY MUSIC FAN EXPERIENCE TAKES OVER NASHVILLE JUNE 7-10 WITH HUNDREDS OF ARTISTS PERFORMING ON 11 STAGES.

he Country Music Association has revealed the initial artist line-up for this year’s CMA Fest. Now in its 47th year, CMA Fest boasts an exceptional bill of hundreds of artists performing on 11 stages throughout downtown Nashville for four days, from Thursday through to Sunday, June 7-10. Billboard named CMA Fest its #1 country music festival in the US in 2017, raving, “When it comes to great country music festivals, this one has been – and is – the gold standard.” Last 48

year’s CMA Fest drew sold-out crowds and the largest fan engagement by country music fans in the event’s history from visitors from all 50 states and nearly 20 international countries. CMA Fest is the longest-running country music festival in the world with proceeds going directly to helping enrich and sustain music education programs across the country through CMA’s non-profit arm, the CMA Foundation, thanks to every artist at the festival donating their time. Taking the nightly Nissan Stadium stage this year are country music superstars Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne, Luke Bryan, Brett Eldredge, Charles Esten and friends, Florida Georgia Line, Dustin Lynch, Charley Pride, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Ricky Skaggs, Chris Stapleton, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and Lee Ann Womack. Several acts join this year’s Nissan Stadium line-up for the first time with full sets and special performances

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including Kane Brown, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Old Dominion, Jon Pardi, Carly Pearce and Brett Young. In addition, Lauren Alaina and Bebe Rexha will make guest appearances. The Riverfront Stage line-up includes reigning CMA New Artist of the Year Jon Pardi, A Thousand Horses, Lauren Alaina, Frankie Ballard, Lee Brice, Chase Bryant, Cam, Craig Campbell, Easton Corbin, Jordan Davis, Devin Dawson, Gavin DeGraw, Russell Dickerson, Drake White and The Big Fire, Lindsay Ell, Tyler Farr, Hunter Hayes, Walker Hayes, High Valley, Home Free, LANCO, Chris Lane, LOCASH, Maddie & Tae, Scotty McCreery, William Michael Morgan, Parmalee, Eric Paslay, Carly Pearce, Cassadee Pope, RaeLynn, Michael Ray, Dylan Scott, Canaan Smith, Corey Smith, Granger Smith, The Cadillac Three, Morgan Wallen, and Aaron Watson. The Breakout Stage, located in Walk of Fame Park, has performances by Jimmie Allen, Abby Anderson, Kassi Ashton, Drew Baldridge, Chris Bandi, Big Smo, Ashley Campbell, Crowder, Jacob Davis, Delta Rae, Cale Dodds, years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

FESTIVALS

PHOTO: JIM WRIGHT

PHOTO: DUSTY DRAPER/CMA

CMA FEST

Vince Gill

Chevrolet Riverfront Stage attracts record-setting capacity crowds during CMA Fest in Nashville in 2017

Adam Doleac, Clare Dunn, Brooke Eden, Riley Green, Trent Harmon, Sundance Head, James Barker Band, Jillian Jacqueline, Krystal Keith and Lance Carpenter, Jon Langston, Love and Theft, Ashley McBryde, Logan Mize, Steve Moakler, Muscadine Bloodline, Jerrod Niemann, Luke Pell, Josh Phillips, Radio Romance, Maggie Rose, Runaway June, Dylan Schneider, Sister Hazel, SmithField, The Wild Feathers, Michael Tyler, Walker McGuire, Waterloo Revival, and Charlie Worsham. Book any number of tours to Nashville including with Capital News partner Chris Watson Travel. The Budweiser Forever Country Stage features acts from recent decades including Keith Anderson, David Ball, John Berry, BlackHawk, Terri Clark, Mark Collie, Billy Dean, Joe Diffie, Exile, ‘Forever Country, Never Forgotten: A Tribute to Those Lost from Country Music’, Andy Griggs, Wade Hayes, Ty Herndon, Honky Tonkin’ with Tracy Lawrence (and special guests), Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, Little Texas, years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

Don Schlitz

Lonestar, Mila Mason, Terry McBride, Lorrie Morgan, Heidi Newfield, Jamie O’Neal, Lee Roy Parnell, Restless Heart, Shenandoah, Doug Supernaw, The Bellamy Brothers, Mark Wills, Darryl Worley, and Michelle Wright. Outdoor daytime performances at Budweiser Forever Country, Riverfront and Breakout stages are free and open to the public. In addition to the official four days of CMA, on Wednesday, June 6 the CMA Songwriters Series presented by US Bank will host a performance from 7pm at the CMA Theatre featuring Mary Chapin Carpenter, Vince Gill, Mac McAnally and Don Schlitz. Additional stage line-ups, Fan Fair X activities, and more are yet to be announced.

PHOTO: COURTESY SHOCK INK

Mary Chapin Carpenter

Mac McAnally C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S M AY 2 0 1 8

C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S M AY 2 0 1 8

years of bringing you the music 1975â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2018

FESTIVALS

HATS OFF

COWBOY UP AT HATS OFF John Pyke

Adam Harvey

Hurricane Fall

THE TOYOTA HATS OFF TO COUNTRY FESTIVAL IS SET DOWN FOR JULY 12 TO 15 WITH THE CMAA JUNIOR ACADEMY COMMENCING FROM JULY 7 PRIOR TO THE FOUR-DAY FESTIVITIES AND THE DAG SINGER-SONGWRITERS’ RETREAT FROM JULY 12 TO 17.

he mid-winter festival has become a popular time of year to visit Tamworth with the cooler climate favourable to many compared to the extreme of the January heat wave, particularly this year. Headline artist multi-Golden Guitar winner Adam Harvey returns to Blazes at Wests and has chosen 2018 Toyota Star Maker Brad Cox as his support. Tickets are on sale at the club. The CMAA Junior Academy will hold their graduation concert on Friday, July 13 at the Calrossy School Hall with an incredible FREE admission. You can support the academy by donating at the door or purchasing raffle tickets on the night. All of these artists keep coming back so why not join them with Luke O’Shea, Shane Nicholson, Kevin Bennett, Jeremy Edwards, Anthony Taylor, Alby Pool, Sandra Humphries, Hurricane Fall, Simply Bushed and many others returning to perform at these popular regional venues The DAG Sheep Station, South years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

Tamworth Bowling Club, The Servies Group and The Pub Group. Now in its 19th year, Hats Off To Country will feature more than 100 individual country artists and dozens of events and activities over four big days and nights, with live music and shows on offer. With Tamworth City Toyota as the supporting sponsor, Hats Off will see both last year’s, and the current winner of Toyota Star Maker, perform at the mid-year festival. Rachael Fahim and this year’s winner Brad Cox will both appear at The Albert Hotel on Friday and Saturday night. New to the program last year, the Cowboy Crawl will take crawlers on a fun-filled tour with an hour at participating venues – so sit back and enjoy the ride. Tickets for the crawl are on sale now. Make tracks for Tamworth in July for Toyota Hats Off to Country 2018. For further information and current Toyota Hats Off to Country program – Tamworth’s cool, midyear festival, visit hatsofftocountry.com

38TH REDLANDS QUEST

he 38th annual Redlands Country Music Club Talent Quest will be held from May 4 to 6. Over the weekend the competition will include junior, senior, golden oldies, groups, duets as well as instrumental performances. Organisers expect a big turnout of amateur country music entertainers from Brisbane and regional areas who will compete for trophies and prizes. A highlight is the “Anything Goes” section that attracts a great deal of variety from around the Redlands. At the end of the program on Sunday there will be a performance from last year’s best overall junior winner Jacinta Byrne and overall senior winner John Pyke. The venue is Redlands Modern Country Music clubhouse located at Pinklands Sports Reserve, Cleveland Redlands Bay Rd, Thornlands Qld. Catering is provided on site with BBQ lunch both days as well as a licensed bar bar, as well as a coffee and cake stall. For more information on the festival call Dawn on 07 3206 4305 or the website redlandscountry.asn.au

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FESTIVALS

Beccy Cole

Amber Lawrence

Tailgate Drive’s Troy Kemp & Damien Baguley

Sara Storer

Brooke McClymont

O’Shea

Travis Collins 52

Billy Ray Cyrus C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S M AY 2 0 1 8

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

Caitlyn Shadbolt

Adam Eckersley

Travis Collins

AUSSIES SHINE IN THE VINES THE INAUGURAL CROSSROADS IN THE VINES COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL HAS DELIVERED WITH OVER 5,000 COUNTRY MUSIC FANS CONVERGING ON THE PICTURESQUE ROCHE ESTATE IN NSW’S HUNTER VALLEY ON SATURDAY.

eadlined by none other than Billy Ray Cyrus, who was in Australia touring with his new album and celebrating 26 years since his hit single Achy Breaky Heart, Crossroads boasted a world-class line-up of country music artists performing their hit songs. The day kicked off with the Viper Creek Band’s high energy and boundless enthusiasm that fans have come to expect and the tempo didn’t fade with Caitlyn Shadbolt, Adam Eckersley Band, Travis Collins and The Wolfe Brothers all bringing it home, keeping fans wanting more. Australia’s favourite country music trio, The McClymonts, didn’t disappoint

performing songs from their albums and a few favourite covers; the crowd couldn’t get enough. It was standing room only when the legendary John Williamson took the stage. Fans sang along as he performed his famous songs and cheered for an encore performance, and he obliged with Waltzing Matilda. The day kept getting better with the who’s who of Australian country music Shane Nicholson, Kasey Chambers, Adam Harvey, Lee Kernaghan and Beccy Cole all exciting fans and enchanting the crowd. Roche Group managing director Dominic Roche said: “We’re so proud to have showcased such an incredible line-up of award-winning talent to thousands of country music fans.”

Reuben Andrew years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

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FESTIVALS

GYMPIE

MUSIC FOR THE COMMUNITY

THE GYMPIE MUSIC MUSTER HAS HELPED GENERATE MORE THAN $15 MILLION IN DONATIONS TO CHARITY AND COMMUNITY GROUPS SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1982.

his year, the muster will be raising money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. In doing so, the muster will also host the Biggest Ever Blokes’ Lunch on Friday, August 24. The lunch will include a two-course sit down meal, guest speeches from John Williamson and Tim Gaze (who will also be performing), and an auction, with all proceeds going direct to PCFA. Tickets are $55, and are available for pre-purchase at muster.com.au Muster performer Tim Gaze has been affected by the disease and credits Angry Anderson for ‘saving his life’ (mandate.org.au/ tim-gaze). A valued part of the muster line-up over

many years, Tim is a fixture at the festival’s guitar jam. “Prostate cancer awareness is one of the most important things we can promote regarding the health and well-being of our loved ones, and I am proud to be able to contribute my support along with many others – many thanks, and see you at the Muster.” Tim said. The muster is held in the Amamoor Creek State Forest in the beautiful Sunshine Coast Hinterland, two hours north of Brisbane and 40 minutes from Noosa. A one-ticket price gives

T AMERICANA MUSIC PRIZE OF AUSTRALIA 54

he winner of the inaugural Americana Music Prize of Australia was awarded to independent singer-songwriter Andy Golledge. Andy submitted his song 1170 which stood out from the 15 finalists. A joint initiative of Shane Nicholson/The Sound Hole, Forbes Street Studios and Lost Highway Australia, the competition is an annual grant to support up-and-coming artists in the genre. Shane Nicholson said; “Andy epitomises what the award represents. He is a hard-working songwriter in the Americana

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Tim Gaze

muster goers free camping and multi-venue access to all performances, and to experience everything Australia’s biggest country music celebration has to offer. This year’s line-up includes Lee Kernaghan, Troy CassarDaley, John Williamson, Ian Moss, Beccy Cole, Sara Storer, The Wolfe Brothers, Shane Nicholson, The Pigs, Hat Fitz & Cara, Fiona Boyes, Lloyd Spiegel, Blue Eyes Cry and 2018 Toyota Star Maker Brad Cox. The muster runs from Thursday August 23 to Sunday August 26. genre and has forged a path following his passion and dreams. We look forward to supporting Andy’s career through the services offered within this unique prize.” Andy will receive a career-boosting $10,000 prize pack consisting of recording and production of an EP at Forbes Street Studios (1 day) and The Sound Hole (2 days) produced, recorded and mixed by Shane Nicholson; mastering by Jeff McCormack at Music Cellar; Professional Photo Shoot with Glen Hannah; Artwork design and collaboration by Goonga Design; Professionally filmed and edited EPK with MC Imaging; Artist bio written by Michael Dwyer; Management consultation/career advice session with Graham Thompson Management; Touring/Promoter consultation session with Zenon Els of Artist Network; Specific press opportunities, including a piece in Rythyms; and an offer from Lost Highway Australia/Universal Music for distribution of the EP.

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

years of bringing you the music 1975â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2018

C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S M AY 2 0 1 8

SOUNDADVICE GOLDEN HOUR KACEY MUSGRAVES MCA-UNIVERSAL Texan troubadour Kacey Musgraves has a sonic detour on her seventh album but remains true to her ever expanding genre’s roots. Kacey honours maternal ancestors in evocative Mother - a lonesome lament - and late grandma Barbara in piano primed Rainbow. She mines more melancholia in road retreat requiem Lonely Weekend as Slow Burn depicts career and life goals reached at her own pace. But Kacey leaps two generations for romantic inspiration from Texan singing spouse Ruston Kelly in the title track and Butterflies. She also injects Velvet Elvis with hook heavy happiness akin to positive passion in vocoder adorned Oh What A World. There’s no love for male villains in steel drenched Space Cowboy and synth laced High Horse - vast contrasts to love for the male lead in another cinematic song Superwoman. Kacey exudes vulnerability in Happy & Sad with fear of happiness being replaced by sorrow. Kacey parodies Trump era politics in Love Is A Wild Thing - “there’s no way to stop love but they’ll try to”. Another gem. B002792102 DAVID DAWSON

RESTORATION THE SONGS OF ELTON JOHN AND BERNIE TAUPIN

VARIOUS

MY SONG ISN’T WRITTEN YET

CHALKIE WHITE SOCIAL FAMILY RECORDS

UNIVERSAL MUSIC AUSTRALIA

Country artists have interpreted 13 songs from Elton John’s and Bernie Taupin’s enormous catalogue of hits. Each artist and track has been well selected for the stunning collection. It includes Dierks Bentley singing Sad Songs (Say So Much) from the 1984 Breaking Hearts album, Rosanne Cash and Emmylou Harris on This Train Don’t Stop, Miley Cyrus (The Bitch Is Back), Brothers Osborne’s Take Me To The Pilot and ACM history-maker Miranda Lambert sings My Father ’s Gun. Kacey Musgraves’ version of Roy Rogers is divine, Little Big Town kick the 1972 hit Rocket Man and Maren Morris sings Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters with passion. The music giants have taken these songs into a new direction and nailed them all – Willie Nelson’s Border Song, Chris Stapleton’s I Want Love, Vince Gill and Don Henley harmonise beautifully on Sacrifice, a great bluegrass version of Please by Rhonda Vincent and Dolly Parton and the funky 1972 hit Honky Cat by Lee Ann Womack.

Chalkie White is no stranger to the country music industry, but it’s taken nearly three decades for him to get into the studio and record My Song Isn’t Written Yet. It’s been worth the wait with eight tracks that fit beautifully together with a positive thread running through them all, even the heartbreak songs. Let’s face it, it’s not a country album without some heartbreak – it is about real life, after all. These songs are all snippets from Chalkie’s life, except the second single, Gingerbread Man, which comes from the pen of Vernon Rust, but is still relevant to Chalkie’s life. Standout tracks for me are Does It Take You Home, Do You Feel It Too and New Day, while Gingerbread Man and BYO will have you up and moving. My Song Isn’t Written Yet is a standout album with top notch production, songwriting and musicianship. It’s the kind of album that is best enjoyed as you sit and listen to the words. SFR CWCD001 BEC BELT

YESTERDAY’S SONGS

GIVE BACK THE NIGHT

INDEPENDENT

The Paddock is essentially Stephen Richards who wrote and sang on the eight tracks featured here. Contemporary countrystyle songs of the land and life, and going home, as featured in Walkabout – [Give me an apartment on wheels/Then I’ll head for the hills] - or Warmth Of Home – [I remember where I grew up/…I’m so tired of being cold and alone]. The songs are redolent of times past and memories of what used to be – Waters Of The Murray, Yesterday’s Songs and Charlie – and there’s heartbreak/ love lost songs – Thunder On The Mountain and Catch Me Crying. Richards has a confident voice and a strong delivery helped in no small measure by the production by Steve Vertigan at Soggy Dog Studios in Melbourne, and the musicians, including Gerry Hale on violin, Dobro, banjo and mandolin, the guitars of Brett Kingsman and the pedal steel of Mick Wilson.

Michael Rose cut his musical teeth in the live pub rock scene in the ‘70s and this debut album from the singer-songwriter explores a rich ground of personal issues and moments close to his heart. The songs cover a range of emotions and styles that can broadly be accepted as country, and the subjects covered include cowardice (You Asshole), ageing and the fleetingness of life (Fifty (More Than This)), reoccurring heartbreak (Falling Down), fear (I Heard A Voice) bullying (FLB (Fat Little Boy)) and the title track, Give Back The Night, perhaps the most passionate condemnation of domestic violence. It seems fitting that the album was produced by Herm Kovac, he of The Ted Mulry Gang, who, along with an A-list of musicians, has made the songs growl with an honesty and integrity befitting the lyrics and passion that Michael delivers in spades. Be warned that this comes with a fair dose of anger and hurt served up as music – but it is well worth exploring.

THE PADDOCK

INDEPENDENT JON WOLFE

MICHAEL ROSE

Michaelrosemusic.net JON WOLFE

UMA 6740919 Cheryl Byrnes 56

C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S M AY 2 0 1 8

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

SOUND ADVICE - album reviews are the reviewers’ own opinions and do not necessarily reflect the view of Capital News or the publisher. Sound Advice will accept unsolicited albums for consideration, but cannot guarantee published reviews. Sound Advice does not review singles. Send 2 CDs together with biography or media release to Capital News, PO Box 555, Tamworth NSW 2340 and email a jpg of the cover to c.byrnes@tamworth.nsw.gov.au CALL OUT FOR THE CAVALRY ANDREW SWIFT SOCIAL FAMILY RECORDS I’ve been loudly proclaiming Andrew Swift’s talents to the world for the past year or so, and this album completely validates all the noise I’ve been making. Call Out for the Cavalry is full of amazing songs, the performances are stellar and the album as a whole is absolutely stunning. Highlights include Reckless Desires, about wanting too much and losing everything, and Runaway Train, which explores commitment issues. I loved the moving King Of The Sky, about Andrew’s uncle, who passed away in a plane crash. Also memorable is his duet with Catherine Britt on Fire And Ice. There are two well-chosen covers, Ball & Chain, written by Cathy Dobson, and a spine-tingling version of Gretta Ziller’s Unforgiven Sins. Gretta also co-wrote Blood Moon High. Other great tracks include the saucy Jezebel, Georgia and The Devil and His Sin, a song of regret. If you haven’t already discovered Andrew Swift, this album is a must – it marks the debut of a brilliant country artist, who’ll only go on to achieve greater things in the coming years. SFR/UMA SFR0065 SUSAN JARVIS

PLAYING WITH FIRE

SHOW BOAT KALANG

THE GOOD LIFE

DARK HORSE

INDEPENDENT

ATLANTIC/WARNER MUSIC NASHVILLE

Many of us who have been around for a while have had the pleasure of seeing this performer mature from talent quests at a tender age, to womanhood and this second album showcases a singer/ songwriter well deserving of the many accolades that have come her way. This album features seven of her own compositions, one by her father and two covers. Most of the originals are easily classified as contemporary country and show a leaning towards love and/ or heartbreak – Playing With Fire, I Don’t Love You Anymore, If I Didn’t Have A Heart, Take A Chance On Me - while Pretty Baby Blues, delivers a standard blues riff. Father ’s Day comes with a little twist that many may not expect, Murray Stole My Darling is a clever piece of word play delivered in a distinct Aussie style and Kiara excels on the two covers – Orbison’s Crying and the alternate Australian anthem I Am Australian. Produced by Robert Mackay, with a decided emphasis on bringing out the best in Kiara’s voice.

Rex Dallas’s latest CD, Show Boat Kalang, is a great addition to his already rich catalogue. Like a fine wine Rex just gets better with age. There is a lot of nostalgia within this album, yet it is done in a very contemporary fashion and with great feeling. It is this ability to move with the times that has allowed Rex to remain a firm favourite with country music fans over 60+ years. The title track is about a ferry, which functioned on Sydney Harbour as a show boat. Rex brings alive great memories of those halcyon days. Lady Of The Road is a beautiful tribute to his wife Adrienne, and Zig Zag Railway Line, well like many of us Rex has a thing about trains. Rock N Roll Yodeller is very catchy. His son Brett and granddaughter Ashleigh, second and third generation Golden Guitar winners, support Rex on this great project and Borroloola Elder features didgeridoo from his late son Jeff. A top shelf album with 10 great songs from one of Aussie’s very finest.

Casey Barnes has hit upon a distinctive style and sound with this album, which marks him as an artist to be reckoned with. The sizzling first single, Just Like Magic, explodes through the speakers to herald an album packed with wonderful songs, sung superbly by a very talented vocalist. The Way We Ride, Casey’s second single, is just as good – which is why it carried him into the finals of this year’s Golden Guitar Awards. The album has a positive message, reflected in its title: it’s about making the most of every moment, and appreciating all you have in life. Songs like the heartfelt Be Mine, the catchy Keep Me Coming Back, and the album’s title track, Better Days are all feelgood tracks that hit you right in the heart. But it is the poignant Set Sail that is the album’s finest moment. The song is a tribute to Casey’s late father-in-law, who passed away in 2016. It is a heartfelt, moving song that will bring tears to listeners’ eyes. This album confirms that Casey Barnes is a world-class performer with an amazing voice who should be extremely proud of what he has achieved.

The first notes of Devin Dawson’s debut album, Dark Horse, may raise the eyebrows of country music purists, but give this bloke’s offering a listen and you’ll soon be immersed in the lyrics that have poured from his heart and out onto this record. With influences including Johnny Cash and John Mayer, Dawson wears his heart on his sleeve and anyone who’s been through heartbreak will be struck by the vulnerability in many of these tracks. The title track was written after the album was completed, but as the closer, it sums up Dawson like no other song and gives closure to this masterpiece of an album. I can’t stop listening to it, and anyone who appreciates honesty, vulnerability, and top-class guitar playing is sure to love this first offering from Devin Dawson. I also hope for an Australian tour announcement in the near future.

KIARA RODRIGUES

kiararodriguesmusic.com JON WOLFE

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

REX DALLAS

BRIAR RECORDS 3300312 GARRY COXHEAD

CASEY BARNES

DEVIN DAWSON

WARNER 9362491060 BEC BELT

INDEPENDENT CBS801 SUSAN JARVIS

C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S M AY 2 0 1 8

COUNTRYCHARTS ARIA TOP 20 AUSTRALIAN COUNTRY ALBUMS Week Commencing 16 April 2018 TW

TITLE

ARTIST

1 2 101 1 Ripcord

KEITH URBAN

2 1 3 1 Country Heart

THE WOLFE BROTHERS

3 R/E 11 1 From Where I Stand

DANNY PHEGAN

4 3

540 1

5 5

309 1

1000 1

7 10 9 1 8 NEW 1

9 7 149 1 10 14 50 1 11 12 199 1 12 8 86 1 13 11 235 1 14 6 40 4 15 9 55 1 16 18 341 1 17 15 235 2 18 17 229 2 19 R/E 51 1 20 16 65 1

Greatest Hits: 18 Kids The Story So Far The Very Best Of Slim Dusty Adam & Brooke Lost And Found Spirit Of The Anzacs The Great Country Songbook Vol. II Fuse His Favourite Collection The Great Country Songbook Hit Country Australia The 25th Anniversary Album Ultimate Hits A Hell Of A Career! Anthems - A Celebration Of Australia Adam Brand And The Outlaws Endless

CAP/EMI ABC/UMA KOB

KEITH URBAN

CAP/EMI

KEITH URBAN

CAP/EMI

SLIM DUSTY

EMI

ADAM ECKERSLEY & BROOKE MCCLYMONT TROY CASSAR-DALEY

LHAU/UMA BDL/LIB

LEE KERNAGHAN

ABC/UMA

ADAM HARVEY & BECCY COLE

SME

KEITH URBAN

CAP/EMI

JOHN WILLIAMSON

WAR

TROY CASSAR-DALEY & ADAM HARVEY

SME

VARIOUS

ABC/UMA

LEE KERNAGHAN

ABC/UMA

LEE KERNAGHAN

ABC/UMA

JOHN WILLIAMSON

WAR

JOHN WILLIAMSON

WAR

ADAM BRAND AND THE OUTLAWS THE MCCLYMONTS

ABC/UMA ISL/UMA

OFFICIAL AUSTRALIAN AIRPLAY COUNTRY TOP 20 Week commencing 16 April , 2018. TW

ARTIST

TITLE

LABEL

1 1 11 1 KEITH URBAN

Parallel Line

2 2 10 2 MISSY LANCASTER

Heatwave

SME

3 3 9 3 BRAD BUTCHER

Crawl Beg & Cry

IND

4 4 15 2 DAVISSON BROTHERS BAND

Po’ Boyz

5 6 7 5 LUKE BRYAN

Most People Are Good

6 7 6 6 RACHEL FAHIM

Brake Lights

7 10 22 3 SAM HUNT

Take Your Time

8 9 13 8 JOHN WILLIAMSON

Love Is The Word

9 11 27 4 CAITLYN SHADBOLT

Bad

10 12 18 10 KALESTI BUTLER

Just Down The Hall

11 15 17 6 GORD BAMFORD

Livin’ On Summertime

12 17 10 12 OLD DOMINION

Written In The Sand

13 18 8 13 THE WOLFE BROTHERS

Ain’t Seen It Yet

ABC/UMA

14 27 2 14 ANDREW SWIFT

Runaway Train

SFR/UMA

15 14 8 14 CHRISTIE LAMB

Loaded

ABC/UMA

16 19 19 16 LUKE BRYAN

Light It Up

17 20 21 7 TIM MCGRAW & FAITH HILL

The Rest Of Our Life

SME

18 21 34 16 COLE SWINDELL

You Should Be Here

WMA

19 16 32 1 MORGAN EVANS

Kiss Somebody

WMA

20 23 7 20 MELANIE DYER

Dreamcatchers

UMA

C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S M AY 2 0 1 8

CAP/EMI

SME CAP/EMI IND MCA/UMA WMA ABC/UMA CLS ABC/UMA SME

CAP/EMI

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

COUNTRY TRACKS Week commencing 23 April 2018. This chart is published by Country Music Services and updated weekly at countrytrackschart.com.au POS LW

TRACK TITLE

ARTIST

1 3 8 1(1) Station Minderoo

DALE DUNCAN

2 14 4 2(1) Spitfire

JODY DIREEN

3 4 2 3(1) Like We Used To

THE MCCLYMONTS

4 22 7 4(1) Coming Down With Something

KRIS CUMMINS

5 15 3 5(1) Not Foolin’ Around

AMBER JOY POULTON

6 38 2 6(1) If It Ain’t Broke

ERNIE CONSTANCE

7 2 8 1(2) Love Is A Fool Time Job

ALY COOK

8 11 3 8(1) Country Recognised

TONY COOK

9 1 9 1(1) Ain’t Seen It Yet

THE WOLFE BROTHERS

10 10 5 3(1) Heatwave

MISSY LANCASTER

11 29 3 11(1) All My Life

LYN BOWTELL

12 6 8 4(1) Livin’ In The Bush

TOM CURTAIN

13 8 8 5(1) Rollercoaster Ride

PHOEBE JAY

14 20 3 14(1) Lake House

BRAD COX

15 35 3 15(1) Musical Journey

SUSAN LILY

16 0 1 16(1) Lay Me Down

DESTINY

17 16 5 8(1) Neon Smoke

GORD BAMFORD

18 17 6 10(1) Electric Waistband

FANNY LUMSDEN

19 26 2 19(1) One Phone Call Every Year

LLOYD BACK

20 5 5 5(1)

ANGUS GILL

Hands Are Clean

CMC CHART W/c 21 April 2018. This chart is updated weekly at countrymusicchannel.com.au or tune into CMC. # TITLE

ARTIST

1 Your Anything At All

IMOGEN CLARK

2 Ain’t Seen It Yet

THE WOLFE BROTHERS

3 Heatwave

MISSY LANCASTER

4 Brake Lights

RACHAEL FAHIM

5 One Number Away

LUKE COMBS

6 Elastic Waistband

FANNY LUMSDEN

7 Shoot Me Straight

BROTHERS OSBORNE

EMI

8 Heart Break

LADY ANTEBELLUM

EMI

9 Heaven

KANE BROWN

10 Loaded

CHRISTIE LAMB

LABEL LOST HIGHWAY ABC

# TITLE

ARTIST

26 Mr. Wrong

NATALIE PEARSON CHECKED LABEL SERVICES

27 Crawl, Beg & Cry

BRAD BUTCHER

INDEPENDENT

SONY

28 Wasco

JAIME WYATT

FORTY BELOW

INDEPENDENT

29 Mercy

BRETT YOUNG

BIG MACHINE/UMA

30 For The First Time

DARIUS RUCKER

31 Calamity

JAYNE DENHAM CHECKED LABEL SERVICES

32 Broke & Single

ARNA GEORGIA

33 Hot Country Girl

BROOKE CHIVELL CHECKED LABEL SERVICES

34 Mr Jukebox

JOSHUA HEDLEY JODY DIREEN

SONY RED DIRT RECORDS

SONY ABC

11 Po’ Boyz

THE DAVISSON BROTHERS DREAMLINED/SONY

35 Spitfire

12 You Make It Easy

JASON ALDEAN

13 100 Year Handshake

AMBER LAWRENCE

15 Drive ‘Til The Wheels Fall Off KIRSTY LEE AKERS 16 Like We Used To

THE MCCLYMONTS

17 Get To You

MICHAEL RAY

18 Beautiful Freakshow

DEAN BRODY

FT. SHEVY PRICE

36 She’s With Me

HIGH VALLEY

ABC

37 If We Said Goodbye

NATALIE HENRY

EMI

BROKEN BOW/SONY

14 Most People Are Good LUKE BRYAN

LABEL

EMI

INDEPENDENT

THIRD MAN ABC WARNER INDEPENDENT

38 Alright With Me

GRETTA ZILLER

CHECKED

39 She Ain’t In It

JON PARDI

UMA

40 Neon Smoke

GORD BAMFORD

41 Country Recognised

TONY COOK

42 Hangin’ On

CHRIS YOUNG

SONY

43 Karaoke & Corona

O’SHEA

SONY

44 Wild West

RUNAWAY JUNE

45 I Got This

JERROD NIEMANN

WARNER

OPEN ROAD/ABC

19 The Campfire Song

KASEY CHAMBERS

20 Hooked

DYLAN SCOTT

21 I Lived It

BLAKE SHELTON

WARNER

22 Runaway Train

ANDREW SWIFT

SOCIAL FAMILY RECORDS

23 All On Me

DEVIN DAWSON

WARNER CURB/SONY

WARNER

SOCIAL FAMILY RECORDS EMI ABC INDEPENDENT

WHEELHOUSE CURB/SONY

46 All You Need Is Music THE DAVIDSON BROTHERS INDEPENDENT 47 Australian Heartbeat DREW MCALISTER

ABC

24 So Smooth

ADAM ECKERSLEY &

48 Saturday Night

HAYLEY JENSEN

BROOKE MCCLYMONT UMA

49 In The Morning

TORI FORSYTH

LOST HIGHWAY

MARGO PRICE

50 Written In The Sand

OLD DOMINION

SONY

25 A Little Pain

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

THIRD MAN

SOCIAL FAMILY RECORDS

C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S M AY 2 0 1 8

BUSH BALLADS

GOLDEN GUITAR WINNERS FEATURE AT FESTIVALS BY PETER COAD OAM WWW.BUSHBALLADEERS.COM.AU

TAG-A-LONG WITH GRAHAM

Norma O’Hara Murphy

mong the list of artists featured in upcoming musters and festivals are a number of Golden Guitar winners including Norma O’Hara Murphy, Reg Poole, Dean Perrett, Jeff Brown, Graham Rodger and Keith Jamieson. Norma will be at both the Kenmore Park Muster and Phil & Chris Coad’s Muster, and the latter all gearing up for some great shows.

KENMORE PARK SET TO MUSTER Encouragement and positive feedback from fellow artists, friends and the public, led to Glen Albrecht’s decision to organise the inaugural Kenmore Park Country Music Muster, at his property ‘Kenmore Park’, just off the Wide Bay Highway near Gympie. The event will be held from June 4 to 10 and will feature traditional, bush ballads, and country music, Norma O’Hara Murphy along with Dean Perrett, Glen Albrecht, Sandie Dodd, Jeff Brown, Errol Gray, Amanda Faulkner, Anita Ree, Keith Jamieson, Caitlyn Jamieson, Alisha Smith, Larry Cann, Laura Downing, Marie Hodson, Rob Breese, Vanessa Sanger, and Tony Wagner will be some of the top-line artists appearing on the event. 60

C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S M AY 2 0 1 8

Graham Rodger heads out on the road from May 18 to June 11 with his fifth annual Tag-A-Long tour from Miles via the Gulf of Carpentaria, to Cooktown. One-hundred-andtwenty supporters and lovers of Australian country music will join Graham on the tour. Graham Rodger, Laurel Calvert and Rob Hopkins will provide the entertainment, plus local guest artists on various shows. These tours not only bring great entertainment to the outback areas, it has been estimated over $50,000 was injected into the local communities they travelled through last year.

BALLADEERS & COUNTRY AT BARHAM Barham Balladeers & Country Music Festival will be held from Thursday to Sunday, May 24 to 27 at the Club Barham in Barham NSW. Artists this year include Brian Letton, Sharon Heaslip, Keith Jamieson & Alisha Smith, Tom Maxwell, Peter Coad & The Coad Sisters, Pete Smith, Johnny Greenwood, Ernie Constance, Dale Duncan, Jeff Brown and Neil McArthur.

ABBA COMPILATION VOL 20 The Australian Bush Balladeers Association will release its 20th compilation Balladeers Vol 20 late May. This annual release features a wide selection of balladeer artists’ singles. The albums are available

to the radio world by contacting the ABBA, and for sale via the ABBA website and from the individual artists themselves. Artists wishing to be part of Volume 21 should contact the ABBA to put their name forward for inclusion. More information about the compilation album can be obtained via the ABBA website.

PHIL & CHRIS COAD’S COUNTRY MUSTER Phil and Christine Coad will again stage their annual country muster, from Tuesday to Sunday, May 22 to 27 at Wyper Park, Bundaberg. Artists on the list include Dean Perrett, Greg Bain, Ashley Cook, Trevor Tolton, Ged & Trudy Hintz, Kate Hindle, Justin Standley, Laura Downing, Anita Ree, Gottani Sisters, Reg Poole (OAM), Norma O’Hara Murphy, Bill Bedford. More information about the three musters Phil and Christine Coad organise through the year can be found via philandchriscoadmusters.com

BOULDY BUSH BALLAD BASH The Bouldy Bash will be held at the Progress Association Complex at Bouldercombe, Queensland (25km, on Mt Morgan Road from Rockhampton) from May 14 to 20. With Reg Poole OAM, Dianne Lindsay, Peter Simpson, Chad Morgan, Gary Fogarty, Paul McCloud, Bruce Lavender, Ray Essery, Tony McKenna, Col Edmonds, Caitlyn Jamieson, Noel Pohlmann, Sharon Heaslip performing, it is set to be another very enjoyable annual event.

COUNTRY MUSIC AT WAGGA WAGGA Wagga Country Music Club will present an extended weekend of country music from May 17 to 20 at the Wagga Wagga Commercial Club. Artists appearing include Tom Maxwell, Rene Diaz, Kim Ritchie, Dale Duncan, Killing Time, Grant Luhrs, Rodney Vincent, John & Christine Smith, Nathan Charlton, David & Heather Hoffman, Dianne Lindsay & Peter Simpson, Lindsay Waddington, and poets. years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

D O W N M E M O RY L A N E

A PIONEER’S WAY WITH LORRAINE PFITZNER

IN 2013 PAUL McCLOUD WAS HAVING A DRINK WITH PETER HORAN AND THEY TALKED ABOUT MAKING A NEW ALBUM.

o, with some musical assistance and encouragement, Remember Me (Palomino Records PALO18) was created, taking five years to become a reality. There are 14 classic, easy-listening country songs which were recorded with Mark Hillier at Redbak Studios in Leeton, NSW and Peter Horan providing piano and keyboards as well as producing the disc. Sharon Benjamin played bass and sang harmonies. All songs are ideal for Paul’s vocal and the selection of songs is very good. These include the title track, Dance With Me Molly, Picture In A Frame, Don’t Forget To Remember Me, and Save The Last Dance For Me. I feel that when Paul was recording this CD his vocals were some of the best he has ever put down. The Paul McCloud story goes back many years when he was singing around clubs and hotels in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne but early in the ’80s he went back to the farm due to chronic fatigue syndrome. In 1982 Paul’s dad suggested Paul record an album so he went into Hadley Studios and recorded and released The Sensitive Sound Of Paul McCloud in August the same year, followed by an appearance on Terry Gordon’s Must Be Countr y television show which was being made in their studios. In 1985 after three successful albums were made and released Paul, along with wife Hele, went on the road and pioneered shopping centre promotions around Australia. He would perform his live show at these

centres and sell thousands of records. Now having many fans and becoming better known, Paul was able to tour his own concerts giving him much bigger audiences. Behind the scene were two very important people; Paul’s parents, Mavis and Bob, affectionately known as the Roadie and the Shirtmaker. And they all toured together for many years. With her old treadle sewing machine Mavis made all of Paul’s fancy shirts from old ball and wedding gowns she would buy from opshops she would visit while travelling. She also co-wrote some of the songs with Paul, too. Paul’s father Bob, at 79 years of age, had left his stud pig farm (Hartwood, near Tambar Springs, NSW) in the capable hands of his grandsons and went on the road as sound and lighting man. Paul wrote The Roadie and The Shirtmaker dedicated to his parents, recording it after their passing in the 1990s. Although the pigs have long since gone, the property Hartwood is now the setting for one of the most popular country music festivals in Australia, held over the Easter long weekend. People come from all across the country to camp on the property for up to nine

days and enjoy the friendships, camaraderie plus the music of Paul and his incredible variety of performing artists. Paul, with his parents and wife Hele, started the festival on the family property in 1988 and it has grown steadily, through word of mouth, to become one of the most popular events on the country music calendar. Paul and Hele retired from running this show but when the property Hartwood was sold, the new owners, Chris and Maria, are once again working the farm along with continuing to run the annual Easter Hartwood Campfires and Country Music Festival together with organisers Tom and Lyn Maxwell. I asked Paul how he felt coming back and being part of the festival he began all those years ago. He said after seeing what was being done today, he’s glad he stepped down and felt what was happening to the festival today was fantastic – and he hoped it would continue for many years to come. Paul was inducted into the Hands of Fame in Tamworth in 2003.

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C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S M AY 2 0 1 8

WRITING GRE AT SONGS

DOT THE I & CROSS THE T BY A L L A N CA S W E L L

I HEAR HUNDREDS OF SONGS EVERY YEAR, AT MY WORKSHOPS, DOING RESEARCH AND JUST LISTENING FOR PLEASURE AND IT NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME HOW SONGS WITH GREAT HOOKS, LOVELY STORY LINES, GREAT TUNES AND LYRICS CAN BE VIRTUALLY BUTCHERED BY LACK OF ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND BAD HOUSEKEEPING.

he effort you put in writing a potentially great song can all be undone by not taking care of the little details. Don’t listen to people who tell you that “You can edit too much, you know” … if you listen to the song as you are writing it … you can’t.

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR Note, I said listen for, not look for. Songs are meant to be sung not read. As you sing it, any flaws become apparent. If you stumble over a line more than once, check it out. It probably means that the line is a word or two too long or too short. As you listen … listen for phrases that don’t ring true; don’t sound like the language you would use in normal conversation, contain ugly, hard-to-sing words or don’t rhyme in the right place. Whatever happens in verse one needs to happen in exactly the same way in verse two. This isn’t my rule; it’s a rule of nature. If you change the rhyme scheme, the meter, or the length of lines, it will sound uncomfortable and unpleasant to the ear.

Lines that worked when you wrote them can, with hindsight, sound a bit ‘me too’ or clichéd. Playing it safe is for politicians. Songwriters take chances … but are prepared to change things if they find they’re not working. I can’t stress enough the need to sing your song as you edit it. On paper a word like worry would appear to rhyme with sorry … when you sing it, it’s not even close. Some words rhyme only if you sing in the right accent.

WHEN DO YOU EDIT? Editing is an on-going process … generally you edit as you go, replacing bad lines and re-singing them to check to see if they work. Wherever possible, I like to record

an iPhone demo of the song and file it with a copy of the lyric in my new songs file on my computer. I then revisit it a week or so later. Looking at it fresh and without the excitement of having just written it, I am in a better position to hear any flaws in the song.

BUT MY FAMILY LOVED THE SONG Sorry … no they didn’t … they love you. Your song still sucks. You probably need to get out more and play to people who don’t love you and see what they think of it. If you are a performer as well as a songwriter, you have a bit of an advantage. Go to writers’ nights introduce the songs in your gigs and see how they hold up. All songs are a work in progress until you record them, and people hear them. When someone hears your song, it becomes their property emotionally and the song is pretty much finished. Sadly, if there is a flaw in your song at this stage … you are stuck with it.

I WROTE THIS SONG IN 20 MINUTES How many times have you heard this … or “I wrote three songs yesterday”. Yeah, we’re all really impressed but are they any good? When people used to interview me about On The Inside, they would always ask how long it took me to write it. I used to say, “10 years and 45 minutes” … 45 minutes to write it and 10 years to learn how to do it. In actual fact it took 10 years, 45 minutes and two weeks. The last two weeks consisted of singing the song, tidying up the phrasing, worrying the lyric to death and checking to see if the tune still worked. See you next month … maybe. If you have questions regarding participating or hosting upcoming songwriting workshops, my “one on one” private songwriting coaching service (based in the Blue Mountains), my book or my “how to” DVD contact me on 0419218988 or at allan@allancaswell.com

ALLAN CASWELL SONGWRITING SCHOOL For information about future workshops: 0419 218 988, allan@allancaswell.com

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years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

COMINGEVENTS MAY 2018 2

Mayworth | Australian Country Dance Festival | West Tamworth League Club | NSW

3-6

The Australian Celtic Festival | Glen Innes | NSW

4-6

38th Annual Redlands CMF & TQ | Redlands Bay | Qld | M: 0438 050 249 | Contact Allen | M: 0413 877 756 | W: redlandscountry.asn.au

11-13

NZ Bay of Islands Country Rock Festival | NZ | Contact Shirley May | T: 027 235 0106 E: maysplace@actrix.co.nz W: country-rock.co.nz

14-20

Bouldy Bush Ballad Bash | Bash Bouldercombe Rec Complex Qld | Walkups Mon to Fri, and Tony McKenna guest artists and poets | Sat and Sun Chad Morgan, Alisha Smith, Chad Morgan, Reg Poole, Peter Simpson, Gary Fogarty, Ray Essery, Jeff Brown, Dianne Lindsay, Jammo, Col Edmonds and Sharon Heaslip | Facilities include camping, showers, toilets, water | Contact Keith Jamieson | M: 0427 731 088

17-20

20-25

25th Norfolk Island CMF | E: nicma@norfolk.net.nf | W: norfolkislandcountrymusic.com

22-27

Phil and Christine Coad’s Annual Country Muster | Wyper Park | Bundaberg | Qld | philandchriscoadmusters.com

24-27

Barham Balladeers & CMF | W: clubarham.com.au

JUNE 2018 1-3

NZ Gold Guitar Awards | Gore | NZ

1-11

4-10

Kenmore Park CM Muster | Wide Bay Highway via Gympie | Qld

7-10

CMA Music Festival | Nashville | USA | cmaworld.com/cma-music-festival

7-11

Henry Lawson Festival | Grenfell | NSW | henrylawsonfestival.com.au

8-11

10th Perisher Peak Festival | Perisher Valley | NSW | T: 1300 811 324 | W: peakfestival.com.au

14-17

Corowa RSL Club Annual CM Round Up | corowarsl.com.au

JULY 2018 2-8

Yellowbelly CMF | St George Showground | Qld | Featuring Jeff Brown, Johnny Greenwood, Bec Hance, Pete Wilson, Matt Manning, Ray Essery, Kylie Castle, Jammo, Alisha Smith, Gary Fogarty, Tony McKenna, Michael Clare, Dianne Lindsay and Peter Simpson | Thursday night dance | Facilities include showers, toilets, power first in best dressed, walk-ups, food, hospital close by, motels, shops, van parks | Contact Keith Jamieson M: 0427 731 088

10-12

12-15

12-15

Bello Winter Music Festival | Bellingen | NSW | W: bellowintermusic.com

10-15

Cunnamulla Poets and CM Muster | Featuring Chad Morgan, Gunbarrel Highwaymen, Gary Fogarty, Reg Poole OAM, Terry Gordon OAM, Owen Blundell, Brian Letton, Matt Manning, Alisha Smith, Caitlyn Jamieson, Ray Essery, Jammo and more | Facilities include all weather venue, food | Contact Keith Jamieson | M: 0427 731 088 or M: 0439 130 617 or Walk-ups M: 0419 577 650

13&14

27-29

27-29

Groundwater CMF | Broadbeach Alliance Ltd | Gold Coast | T: 07 5656 0100 | W: goundwatercmf.com

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018

C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S M AY 2 0 1 8

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C O U N T RY M U S I C C A P I TA L N E W S M AY 2 0 1 8

years of bringing you the music 1975–2018