March Birthdays

Heatwaves And Hot Country
In Western Australia

February in Western Australia is traditionally the hottest month of the year, not just because of the searing summer heat, but also due to the hot country music that the Boyup Brook Country Music Festival offers to thousands of music fans who make the annual sojourn to the event.

Held in the third weekend of February every year and recognized as one

of the four largest country music festivals in Australia, it is also host to the Western Australian Country Music Awards.

Recipient of The 2010 WA Best Female Country Music Artist award, Connie Kis Andersen (pictured) is thrilled with the acknowledgement and the honour this award has brought, given the tremendous personal effort she has put into promoting her music, herself and her home state, not just Australia-wide but internationally.

Referred to unofficially as 'Western Australia’s best country music ambassador', Connie Kis regularly tours both the east coast of Australia and the USA. With the past support of the Australian Trade Commission, she has made many inroads Stateside, having enjoyed a #1 hit on the Independent Charts published out of Nashville and more recently, gracing the US main New Music Weekly charts with the title track to her award winning album: Once Again.

What makes Ms Andersen even more unique and extraordinary is that she began pursuing a recording career in her first love music, after enjoying a rewarding vocation in Special Education – something almost unheard of in the music industry.

“It has been a long, hard, and at times, lonely haul, but I am comforted by the knowledge that I am on purpose and pursuing my passion. I learnt a while back to never let anyone steal my dreams and now here I am, realising them.”

In 2006 she was awarded the Best Country Music Female Vocalist and in 2008 her album: Once Again won Best Independent Country Music Album – all for Western Australia.

As an independent artist, Connie Kis Andersen is truly an inspiration not just in the music industry where she has paved the way and opened doors for many of her WA peers, but for anyone who dares to dream.  

Warmest wishes from
Connie Kis xx

News From Cedar Creek Australia

Keith Longman takes over from Mick Miles on drums and vocals with the Cedar Creek Band.
No stranger to the music scene, Keith has formerly worked with Jeff St. John, The Cadalics, Old 55,and a number of Sydney Country bands including Buckshot, and throughout the seventies, Grand Junction, performing regularly with the band on The Super Flying Fun Show on channel nine and many live shows at the Smoky Dawson Ranch.

Cedar Creek will perform on Sunday 7th March at the Beechwood Football Ground for the Gill and Glass Fire Appeal Fundraiser with other artists helping to raise money to help out those families who unfortunately lost their homes in a recent house fire. 

A great day is assured with food stalls, BBQ, and fully licensed bar.
There will be Raffels, Auction and stalls, two jumping castles, and face painting for the kids.

Other entertainers appearing on the day include Nashie, Felecia Machin, Allan McGovern, Angus Gill and Russell Churcher.

The PA on the day will be supplied by Cedar Creek.

Dave Tyne

Golden Guitars Head To Sydney
For A One Night Only Country Hoedown

A host of high profile Country entertainers, Golden Guitar winners and members of the Slim Dusty Family will help celebrate ‘The Slim Dusty

Country Ball’ from 6:30pm at the Westin Hotel Sydney on Wednesday 31st March 2010.

Ray Hadley OAM will host the evening with musical performances by Country superstars Troy Cassar-Daley, Adam Harvey, The Bushwackers, The Sunny Cowgirls and Lou Bradley joining special guests Joy McKean OAM, Anne Kirkpatrick and Dr David Kirkpatrick to kick their heels up for charity.

Patrons of the Foundation, Alan Jones AO, John Singleton AM, Dick Smith and Lee Kernaghan OAM invite everyone who loved Slim Dusty AO MBE and his thousands of songs to come and enjoy an evening in loving memory one of Australia’s best Country singers.

Located at No. 1 Martin Place, the venue will be turned into a real Country Ball with all proceeds from the event being donated to the Slim Dusty Foundation Ltd, set up to build a Centre in his hometown of Kempsey, NSW, to honour Slim’s long and illustrious career. Construction of the Slim Dusty Centre is underway and is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2010.

The Slim Dusty Centre will keep the memory of this Australian Legend alive with memorabilia collected by Slim and Joy from all over Australia. It will give visitors an opportunity to experience an interactive journey through the heart and soul of Australia through Slim’s eyes – as well as developing a scholarship program to assist young talented musicians obtain the best possible start to their Country Music careers.

The Museum will be an iconic Australian experience built around Slim Dusty, his links with the Nation’s Indigenous people, and his vision of Australian culture, as depicted through Slim’s eyes and the lyrics of his timeless songs.

‘The Slim Dusty Country Ball’ will be a tribute to Slim Dusty AO MBE in aid of the Slim Dusty Foundation Ltd.

For further information about the Slim Dusty Centre, please visit; www.slimdustycentre.com.au

Tickets for ‘The Slim Dusty Country Ball’ are available for $250 per person.  Corporate and VIP packages are also available; please contact Martine Buchter on (02) 8306 9555

For Further Information Or To Interview The Family Please Contact Martine Buchter At International Events On (02) 8306 9555 OR 0411 119 833 OR martine@internationalevents.com.au

Cheers,
The Slim Dusty Team

Melissa Bajric
When The Darkest Hours Pass In Cmc Top 50 At 49

‘When The Darkest Hours Pass’ is the newest work for Hunter Valley artist Melissa Bajric.  It’s the latest soundclip under the creative direction of 171 Entertainment, and video producer Ross Wood.

Effectively working backwards in time, ‘When The Darkest Hours Pass’ is from Melissa's 2001 debut album ‘Believe In Me’.

‘The decision wasn’t difficult’ Melissa’s management says ‘The track

had a certain quality about it.’

‘An assumption that it held potential for a clever adaption to video, and one that Ross has captured impeccably;  an understated emotion of everlasting love; a broad and easily credible Aussie generic quality, befitting the elderly couple’s attachment for each other, he deceased and waiting for her. ‘

‘There’s a three year working association with Ross, first working on Melissa’s initial clip her self-penned ‘Luckiest Girl’, and consecutive clips, a second single ‘Too Long Between Drinks’ from her latest album, and the remake of the Red Lane|Melba Montogomery ‘Sunshine Rain’ a hit previously in Australia for Jean Stafford in the late 80’s.’

‘His inexplicable creative sense instinctively captures what it is Melissa finds in a song, and knowing she’s in his capable hands, the rest simply ‘works’. ’ 

Professional actors were used for the first time.  Shot on location at an old house in the Warnervale area on the NSW Central Coast, filming took two days.

He added ‘This is the first clip of Melissa's that Ross has used actors in.  Interestingly, we worked out recently that this is Melissa's fourth clip, all completely different.  Every clip created with a focus and a methodology that's unlike each of the others.’

A Top 50 new addition, When the Darkest Hours Pass enters the charts at 49 this week.

You can see Melissa at Poley’s Place, in the idyllic rural surrounds of Thunderbolt’s Way at Barrington in NSW.  Melissa appears alongside Col Hardy, Bob Easter, Jason Lee, Ann Lowe, Ian Hands & Zeta Burns and other guest artists at the 30 Year Anniversary over the Easter Long Weekend. 

Rhonda Sinclair

Alan Jackson's “It's Just That Way” Video Premiers
Daughter Mattie Created The Treatment For The First Single From Freight Train

“It’s Just That Way,” the first video from Alan Jackson’s April 2 album, FREIGHT TRAIN. The video was filmed at an antebellum farmhouse in Spring Hill, TN, and at various locations in Tampa, FL, and was directed by the award-winning Roman White. The charming and whimsical story depicted in the video was written by Jackson’s oldest daughter, Mattie. “We looked at a lot of treatments, but hers was the best,” says Jackson. “I was so proud when everyone picked it.”

“It’s Just That Way” was written by Keith Stegall, Vicky McGehee, and Kylie Sackley, but, says
Jackson, “It’s such a beautiful melody, I wish I’d written it myself.”

Mattie Jackson is a sophomore at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She makes her debut as a journalist in the June issue of Paula Deen Cooking. “The video depicts a backwards reality, with metaphors of nature’s undeniable realities,” she wrote in her treatment. “And illustrates a love that is as pure and dependable as the sun rising in the sky.”

Mattie might as well have been talking about the 30-year marriage of her parents, and apparently her father feels the same way about “It’s Just That Way.” “It reminds me of Denise, and how we have been together forever. Sometimes we just look back and think of where we started and how it all happened, and it’s just like it was supposed to be,” he said.

Superstar Alan Jackson’s 18th album, FREIGHT TRAIN, was produced by longtime collaborator Keith Stegall and features 12 songs, 8 of which were written by Jackson. In a moving tribute to the legendary Vern Gosdin, who passed away last year and for whom Jackson has long expressed admiration, Jackson enlisted Lee Ann Womack to record “Till the End,” Gosdin’s 1977 classic duet with Janie Fricke.
Alan Jackson’s forthcoming album FREIGHT TRAIN will be released 2 April 2010 through Sony Music Entertainment

Emma Smith

Adam Harvey Releases The “Both Sides Now:
Limited Edition Tour Pack”

New package features a DVD of an ‘in the studio’ documentary and three music videos!
BOTH SIDES NOW garnered Adam Harvey his best ever ARIA chart debut when his sixth album debuted inside the top 20 on the ARIA Top 100 Chart at #19 (also debuting at #1 on the Australian Country Music Chart). Since the release of the album, Adam has gone from strength to

strength achieving two top 10 singles on the CMC Chart, as well as a top 10 single on the Top 30 Country Tracks! To follow success of BOTH SIDES NOW, Adam is set to release BOTH SIDES NOW: LIMITED EDITION TOUR PACK featuring new DVD content, sure to be a fan ‘must have’!

This proves to be a busy week for the seven time Golden Guitar winner; Adam heads straight to Thredbo for the CMC Rocks the Snowys Festival for his headline performance after a solid week of tour dates, and he also releases his highly anticipated third single to radio “Easy” featuring Wendy Matthews. “I think it’s my favourite song on the record, when Wendy came into the studio and sang it just made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up! Wow she can sing” said Adam. At the conclusion of filming for the “Easy” video Wendy commented; “We had such fun, I love singing with Adam, it’s like singing with Elvis!” Fans can head to Adam’s website to view the beautiful new video clip at www.adamharvey.com.au.

The new upcoming BOTH SIDES NOW: LIMITED EDITION TOUR PACK features an in the studio documentary, of the making of BOTH SIDES NOW hosted by Adam Harvey. The DVD also features the Golden Guitar nominated video clip “King of the Road” featuring John Williamson, the Steelers Wheel classic “Stuck in the Middle” featuring Guy Sebastian, and the brand new video clip “Easy” featuring Wendy Matthews. Fans can look forward to the release of the new CD+DVD version on 12 March, 2010, but if you are a lucky holder of a CMC Rocks the Snowys ticket, then you will be among the first to own the limited edition version with the launch of the BOTH SIDES NOW: LIMITED EDITION TOUR PACK at the festival!     

Adam has just announced a new series of tour dates with fellow duet partner Beccy Cole, and new dates to be announced with Wendy Matthews.

Both Sides Now: Limited Edition Tour Pack – available in stores 12 March
- through Sony Music Entertainment Australia -

Emma Smith

Katania Lee Music
Musicoz Recognises Golden Talent

2010 Golden Guitar winners Victoria Baillie and Jetty Road were both announced as 2010
MusicOz finalists this evening.

Australia’s biggest independent music prize covers 18 different genres of music, and has
over 5000 entries each year. This year four Katania Lee Music artists have been
announced as finalists in various categories.

Country
Jetty Road – Million Miles
Victoria Baillie – Make Me
Luke O’Shea – Pride Of Erin

Video
Victoria Baillie – Stupid

Blues / Roots
Megan Cooper – She Travels North

Christian / Spiritual
Luke O’Shea – How Well Have You Loved?

Katania Lee

Aussie songwriter Wendy Wood support act to US writer Kim Richey
in Tamworth Last Friday Night At The Pub 26 Feb2010

Aussie songwriter Wendy Wood is over the moon. 

Just a month after picking up a coveted TSA National Country Songwriting Contemporary award for 2010, a semi-finalist contender last year in the same category with two songs, the Aussie Independent Music songwriter plays support to one of USA’s most recognised country writers, Kim Richey. 

And she got to do that in her hometown, Tamworth last Friday evening.

An ecstatic Wood says of her latest gig ‘I went to see Kim when she came out to Australia last year.’

‘I love her songwriting.  She wrote one of my all time favourite country songs, ‘Believe Me Baby (I Lied)’ recorded by Trisha Yearwood.’

‘I can't believe that I sang this song with Michael King and Pam Spencer during festival and here I am on the same show as her! It's unbelievable!  I am thrilled to be on the same bill as her. She is very inspirational for me.’

‘We’re full of pride at the moment, proud to have represented Tamworth last Friday night.  I asked Steve Charles to play acoustic guitar, Alwyn Aurish on lead, and Steve joined me in a duet, a song I wrote with Matt Scullion.  The songwriter connection is alive and well in country music town.’ 

A performer herself, Wood shares the stage fronting with the all girl trio Those Gals.  A nine year association that started out as a covers band, and ended up a popular in demand touring act, playing much of her own music, and that of fellow singer-writers, Carolyn Morris and Kerry Walsh, Those Gals went on to achieve national recognition initially on radio, and later on television as finalists in the very first Australia’s Got Talent.  The popular trio appearing before a viewing audience of over 1.4 million in the first elimination rounds singing the John Fogerty cover ‘Southern Streamline’, and in the third semi-final round performing their version in three part harmony of the Ike & Tina Turner|Phil Spector hit ‘River Deep Mountain High’.

Band originator, pocket rocket Kerry Walsh says of their first brush with national fame ‘Southern Streamline worked for us on radio in the John Laws Rising Star finals and it was our first choice for television when we were told we had made the selection rounds after the auditions’.

Those Gals are now a regular act on the country circuit in New South Wales, appearing at interstate festivals and major charity events. 

Morris says ‘Gals had no less than twenty shows this year; including seven with the Wests Group.  We did our first show at Legends on the Friday night pre-festival week; and kicked off on the Wednesday 11am at Diggers, and played prime spots at 11am, 2pm, & 7pm. They called to offer us the final two for Monday 25 & Tuesday 26, to catch the last of the stay-late stragglers, I guess. And we had a ball winding up the festival with them!!’

Kim Richey made her name as a hit making Nashville songwriter.  In 2009 she came to Australia, predominantly to write with many of Australia’s finest including the ARIA nominated Felicity Urquhart.  Now in 2010 Richey tours Australia to promote the release of her new album ‘Wreck your wheels’ hot on the heels of her critically acclaimed ‘Chinese Boxes’.

Richey’s songs have been recorded by Trisha Yearwood, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Patty Loveless, Felicity Urquhart, James Morrison and many others.  In addition to two Grammy nominations Kim’s songs have appeared on television in Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Grey’s Anatomy, and Alias to name a few.

Kim Richey’s vocals are haunting, memorable, and ineffably beautiful.  All of her innate gifts as a true music artist - poetic lyric-writing, communicative ability to breathe life into any song, and above all, her glorious unique voice are enhanced in this album.

Rhonda Sinclair 

The Sunny Cowgirls Continue To Sell Out Shows On ‘Summer Tour’

In the continuation of sell-out shows The Sunny Cowgirls’ 2nd leg of their ‘Summer Tour’ kicks off this weekend. The girls’ show @ PJ O’Reilly’s in Tuggeranong ACT can now be added to sell-out shows at The Hallam Hotel & York On Lilydale, Mt Evelyn plus several others shows in Victoria.

The good news keeps on coming for Sophie & Celeste as the video for the first single/title track reaches the top spot on The Country Music Channel’s Top 50 Countdown. ‘Summer’ is at #1 from this Saturday making it the girl’s 5th consecutive #1 clip on CMC. And ‘Summer’ is the 3rd highest selling Australian Country Music album on ITunes and #2 on the Jagermeister AIR 100% Australian Indie Albums chart – the only country act on the chart.

KrisKat Publicity

A Red Carpet Treat For Kaylah Anne

A pact between Starmaker grand finalists last year, became a treat for two rising stars of country in Tamworth this year.

ABC popCountry artist Kaylah Anne, in the studio this month working hard on her new album after the success of her debut EP, attended her first big event on the red carpet at the 2010 CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia accompanying 2009 Starmaker winner Liam Brew.

‘I got to experience my first red carpet event, as Liam Brew’s partner at the Golden Guitars.  We made a deal just before they announced the

winner of 2009 Star marker that if either one of us won, the winner would take the loser as their partner to the Golden Guitar Awards next year’ she says.

‘Thanks Liam for keeping your word.  I knew he would be that type of guy.’

Jokingly, she adds ‘We were sent a couple of photos of me and Liam on the red carpet.  Well, actually you can see little bits of him and lots of me, whoops you get that!!’

‘I had so much fun at the festival this year. It’s always a busy time and you never get a chance to rest but it’s worth it! ‘

‘The gigs I did at The Longyard Hotel and The Imperial Hotel were so cool and the crowds were unreal.  Thanks everyone who came to see me and my band, you guy’s rock, CD sale were great and you make our gigs so much better.’

‘Sam Smyth’s gigs at Tamworth City Bowling Club were fantastic as usual.  Sam and his artists put on a great show.  It’s always fun to be a part of them, they are so funny.’

Kaylah’s other gigs included Tamworth Shopping World where she did a couple of spots before the Legendary Chad Morgan.

‘Hang on!’ she says ‘Does that mean I did a support act for Chad Morgan!  I better put that one on my resume!’ she laughs, respecting the recent Golden Guitar nod given to one of Australia’s most recognised and longest running acts.

‘And a BIG thanks to all the DJ’S for their support with the radio interviews they did with me and playing my songs.  You guys really helped getting the crowds to my gigs.’

Fly | Kaylah’s second video clip, directed by Duncan Toombs NacNud Media, released CMC Foxtel\Austar, now playing February-March 2010

Rhonda Sinclair

Oak Ridge Boys to Receive Prestigious SGMG President’s Honor
 SGMG Announces 2010 Harmony Honors Celebration Concert

Oak Ridge Boys-1973

Nashville, TN – Today, Judy Nelon, Southern Gospel Music Guild (SGMG) President and on behalf of the SGMG Executive Board, announced The Oak Ridge Boys as the 2010 recipients of the SGMG President's Honor during the SGMG Harmony Honors at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel on April 19, 2010. All four members of The Oak Ridge Boys - Duane Allen, Joe Bonsall, William Lee Golden, and Richard Sterban – will be in attendance to accept this honor.

“I fondly recall having the opportunity of presenting a Gospel Music Award to the Oak Ridge Boys in Los Angeles, California in 1973. It just happened to have been Joe Bonsall’s first week with the group. Now, thirty-seven years later, it is such a privilege to present the prestigious SGMG President's Honor to this same amazing group, consisting of Duane Allen, William Lee Golden, Richard Sterban and Joe Bonsall in recognition of their long successful career and significant contributions to the field of southern gospel music,” says Nelon.

The Oak Ridge Boys continue to make new music and entertain millions of fans. With numerous Gold and Platinum albums, they have also enjoyed more than a dozen Number One singles and over 30 Top Ten hits with over 30 million records sold throughout their illustrious 40 year career. With talents that have long been recognized by their peers, this Grammy Award winning group has also received eight Dove Awards, four ACM Awards, four CMA Awards and are members of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. In 2009, the Oak Ridge Boys released their acclaimed new album, The Boys Are Back on SpringHill Records and they continue to perform (with a full touring schedule) live nationwide throughout the year.

Founding member, Duane Allen commented on this great honor, "I have always felt that it was a huge honor to be recognized by your hometown or from one's roots. Gospel music is the foundation of The Oak Ridge Boys' music, Southern style quartet music. I would like to thank all of the former members of The Oak Ridge Boys' organization for laying the groundwork for all of us, and to offer my deepest gratitude to the SGMG for this wonderful honor."

The SGMG Harmony Honors Celebration Concert showcases artists with outstanding accomplishments and award nominations over the past year including Grammy, Dove and Singing News Awards, as well as radio airplay and touring success. The top ten songs of the genre are also recognized. The event will include performances by The Oak Ridge Boys, Jason Crabb, Guy Penrod, Jeff & Sheri Easter, Karen Peck & New River, Bowling Family, Gold City, Perrys, Blackwood Brothers, Tribute Quartet and more.

The SGMG Harmony Honors Celebration Concert will be held on Monday, April 19th at 7:00 pm (CST) in the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. The SGMG Celebration Concert is free and open to the public.

Marty Martel

Tom T. Hall Ditches ‘Retirement’ To Talk At CRS

Radio pros at Country Radio Seminar rose to their feet Thursday afternoon at the site of Country Music Hall of Famer Tom T. Hall, who stepped out of “retirement” to spin some stories and sing three songs on a WCRS bill with Mercury Nashville recording artist Easton Corbin and NSAI Songwriter of the Year Wynn Varble.

“People say breaking into the business is hard,” Hall said at the event,

Howard Vokes, Vernon Oxford And Everett Corbin
Have Some Good Music to Report to Traditional Country Music Fans...

First off, let me tell you the good news about that song: “If Kisses Could Talk”

I released it on the cd compilation, Empty Sky, put out by Rick Carbone, back in about November, and the December  The Music Review chart showed it at No. 10 in December. It then went to No. 2 in January and the coveted No. 1 position in February.

Although the compilation only goes out to some 500 stations, the success of this song is intriguing in that it is an Old song, which I first brought to Nashville about the time of Hank Williams, taking it R. Murray Nash at Acuff-Rose Publications, then at 2510 Franklin Rd. in Nashville. The song was returned to me, but Could that song have been heard by Hank?

It's possible, as it is in the style of Hank's writing, and its quality has kept it before the public for these many years now..

It was first recorded by my cousin, Owen Priester, while I attended the University of South Carolina School of Journal, in about 1956, by a country band, yes, "in the style" of Hank Williams.

But the first commercial recording came in 1979, it being released in the America's Unknown Superstar lp by Vernon Oxford in 1980, and on the Rich-R-Tone label out of Nashville by Jim Stanton, a historic figure in country-bluegrass music at the time.

It was Also  released on the prestigious then West German label: Bear Family Record, by Rich Weize, who was an ardent fan of the Vernon Oxford style.

And so, after all these years, the song continues on, with a tremendous amount of airplay in Europe. And that is why I decided to release it again in the States, just to see its potential here. And making it to No. 1 proves its durability.

More music by Vernon Oxford of my songs can be viewed in video format at You Tube and other video sites. And those wanting further info on our catalogue of music, just write to me at: ejcorbin@juno.com and everettcorbin@juno.com; or:

Everett Corbin
Corbin Music, BMI
5801 Halls Hill Pike
Murfreesboro, Tenn. 37130

But I also want the fans to know that my good friend, Howard Vokes, of New Kensington, Pa., has some 3 new cds out on Rosedale Records of Canada, Jack Boswell, owner of the label, who has released the product also through Durwood Haddock at Honky Tonk Music, 2334 CR 2265, Telephone, Texas 75488.

Vernon Oxford's more current cd: Vernon Oxford Sings Gospel, Country and Bluegrass is also out through Honky Tonk Music, plus on the CD Baby music site.

Everett Corbin

Audrey's March News

Howdy friends and funsters,

I am enjoying the imminence of spring. We have Texas bluebonnets flowering on our window sill, orchids revealing their mystical beauty, the chatter of birds loving the sunshine and our girls are glad they're not frozen chickens anymore.  Better live than fried!

I was super-buzzed to receive a phone call advising that my song "I'd Leave Me Too" has been selected for use on the upcoming  FX TV show called Justified  (makes me wish I had cable).  It stars Timothy Olyphant, from Deadwood.  So, 10 years later, the pain of remorse and regret that inspired the song pays off!

I am so excited about my new songbook. It's called "Write Out Loud - The Songs of Audrey Auld, 1997 - 2008".

It's a collection of lyrics and chords to all of my recorded original songs, designed so that you can sing and play along. Plus there are a few stories and photos.  It's spiral bound with a shiny heavyweight cover. Sixty nine songs in all!

The official release date is March 17th but feel free to go ahead and pre-order.  Cost is US$35 (includes postage) within the US.  I'll have to weigh the book to determine cost of shipping outside of the U.S.  You can send a check to Reckless Records, PO Box 160488, Nashville TN 37216. Or, PayPal US$37 to audrey@recklessrecords.com

In March I'll be touring Florida for the very first time.  Apart from the Americana Woman Festival I'm playing a lot of house concerts, a few beachside bars and an in-store.  I'm keen to see how the wild and retired live, feel the ocean 'tween my toes and camp out on the shore at Key West, the southern-most tip of America.  My In-Laws live down that way so you could say I'm Floridian by marriage.

My New Album Project funds are approaching $4500! This is exciting!
Meanwhile, I'll keep on writing songs and by the time I've reached my $40k goal I'll have an excellent bunch of songs from which to choose (or I'll make a double album!)  Recently my husband and a friend in Oz placed a bet on the Superbowl and they agreed that whoever lost the bet paid into the album fund. A definite 'win-win' and a fabulous Superbowl to boot.

My faithful shadow Gypsy was resuced from a Paws shelter in Oklahoma, where she spent 7 months prior to our big adventure.  She is not interested in any sentimental journeys back to Bristow, but she sure loves being on the road with me.  She has sniffed her way all over America.

I'll be spending Easter in Oklahoma, playing a couple of shows with Terry Ware, or "Buffalo" as he's known to his mates. Terry is a mainstay at the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival and a wonderfully unassuming and great musician.  He has backed a billion artists and always serves the song rather than his ego. 

Monica Taylor, Oklahoma's red dirt songbird, hosts a concert in her Barn in Perkins on Easter Sunday, followed by a Chouse concert. Huh?  It's a house that used to be a church! I would love to live in an ex-church so am keen to get nosey in MK's place.

Good Friday will be great, as I return to "That Bookstore in Blytheville", AR with O Susanna Concerts. It's a wonderfully old book store full of character and stories both bound and oral.  With its old wooden floors, wood stove and cozy atmosphere it boasts being the first bookstore to support John Grisham way back when.  These days when he has a new release Grisham chooses That Bookstore as his first store for a book signing.  Both Hilary and Bill Clinton have also conducted book signings in this historic store. 

I love driving through Arkansas as I finally get to see cotton fields for real! Previously they were the stuff of American folk-lore and blues songs.  Sadly, a winter-time cotton field looks more like the place white plastic shopping bags go to die...

Love
Audrey x

Country Cruising On The Murray

Join guest hosts Noel & Marie Parlane for your ultimate Murray River cruise experience!   A deposit of $500.00 by 30 November is required to secure your seat – Tickets selling fast!
Country Cruising on the Murray departs Brisbane 4 March 2010
6 Days / 5 Nights

$1825.00 per person twin share
$390.00 single supplement

Trade Travel Sunshine Coast
Rhonda Sinclair

A Night Of Coutry With The Stars

One Tree Pub, with our host Sally Smith  38 klm north of Hay towards Ivanhoe on 20/21st March Saturday nite and Sunday morning, tickets at Hay Tourism or at the Gate, free camping but you must go to both shows. With Reg Poole, Dianne Lindsay, Peter Simpson, Cousin Dipstick, Allan Luscombe, Ted Thompson, Alisha Smith, Caitlyn Jane and me (Jammo),  also a bush poet Sunday morning.

Bring water, chair and own generator, parking for Motorhomes, caravans, campers, aeroplanes? and motorbikes also cars and tractors and swags … hope to see yas there.

Jammo
0427731088 or 0749340950

Selling Fast, Get In Early To Avoid Disappointment.

Oz Country Music Festival
Be part of
Fiji’s First Country Music Festival

Featuring
John Williamson, Bill Chambers, Felicity Urquhart & Glen Hannah, Jonah’s Road, Ashleigh Dallas Band and more to be announced.

August 1st – 7th 2010
Cost from $2299.00 per person

Twin Share includes:
Return Airfares from Sydney
Return transfers, 7 nights at a 4 Star Resort in Fiji
All Meals, Country Music Festival Tickets
Nightly entertainment, Firewalking Show
Welcome cocktail party
Canapes every afternoon during happy hour
Free Scuba Lesson, Free Snorkel Hire and more.

For more details call Country Music Holidays 1300 799 987

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