July Birthdays

Graham Rodger Hits #1 On International Chart

G’day to all my friends & supporters

I have hit #1 on the International Chart with the Single “We're Gonna Be Alright” and it’s climbing on the Australian Chart.

To the Dj’s, I am very aware that without your support in giving my music airplay I would not be where I am today. I really appreciate your

continued support of the song and my music.

The new Album has:-
A Top #1 International Chart hit with "We're Gonna Be Alright" (written by John Farry & Justin McGurk)
Winner of the Tamworth Songwriter Award 2009 with "The Almond Tree"
Semi Finalist Tamworth Songwriter Award 2009 with "From Banjo's Pen"

The Album contains the traditional bush ballad with a wonderful ballad "The First Lady of Country" namely Joy McKean, light country rock and beautiful moving songs that will transport you to the theatre of your minds.

This new album “We’re Gonna Be Alright” has been a wonderful experience to write and record. I am proud to say that the album has reached the benchmark of my previous albums and surpassed them. I always endeavour to make each album a little different in content so my music is not repetitive as well as keeping up with the changes in Australian Ballad writing.

I think I have captured more than ever what I believe in and feel for my country music and Australia. I have selected two old poems from the 1800’S and one from M Mack. The haunting melody of the violin passages in an old song from the 1930’s “Touch Of The Master’s Hand” will certainly delight you and is very thought provoking.

As with my last album, I have included songs from other writers and I thank them for entrusting me with their work.

Hope you enjoy, I am sure proud of it. One of the best I believe that I have produced. Graham

Hot Off The Press

I received Graham's new cd today and I have to agree with him in that I too think it is his best yet. I really like the "boppiness" of We're Gonna Be Alright" & I think Graham handles it very well.
What can I say about "The First Lady Of Country" except that he and Deidre have captured Joy's story very well. Hope you can all pick up on the cleverness of this song when you hear it.
"The Almond Tree" is done extreamly well and has a sort of eerie sound/feel to it.No wonder it took out such a Prestigious Award. Good one Graham!
"A Hat Like That", where would us Aussie's be with out our hat?
"The Bacaldine Cup" A big outing in the outback, even if it is only to watch Goats race. The song is well put together.
"Relief" Explains the way the people "outback of beyond" look at the weather, & what they have to contend with.
"Banjo's Pen" another great tribute song and well worthy of an award.
"Guilty Or Not Guilty" in this lovely old song Graham is helped out with the lovely voice of Amanda Gilmour.
"Unsuitably Dressed" I guess it depends on where your thinking is at, but it's hard to get something better than Akubra & RM Williams. Great song!
"A Small Pain In His Chest" this one is cause for some thinking
"The Touch Of The Master's Hand" here we have so much feeling & Hugh Curtis works magic with his violin.
"A Little Irish Mother" another traditional story Graham has put the music to.
"Said Hanrahan" another old traditional type song, & Graham does it justice.

The cover is exceptional, and the photography was done by Deidre.

All up this is one hell of an album, no wonder Graham is so proud of it. Make sure you add it to your collection soon as it will be another award winner for this year.

Joy

New Album For Bec Hance - The Tranquility

I received this new album of Bec’s today.  The cover looks nice and eye catching as you open the parcel. It is well produced and for anyone who likes their bush ballad music slightly on the modern side of country … this one is for you.

There are twelve tracks, listed as follows

As yet I haven’t had much time to really listen to the album but a couple of songs that I like so far are 02 The Bushfire – Tribute to the Victorian Bush Fires, well written & good tune. 03 The Bullocky and 10 You'll Find A Bloke – A comedy song.

Make sure you get along to one of Bec's gigs when she is in your area.

Joy

Poolie’s Ponderings

G'day to you all

It’s hard to believe that the first six months of the year have come and gone..... Scary isn't it. The weather down south here has been ordinary to say the least, and it seems to have forgotten how to rain. That, along with the horrific fires that we experienced early in the year has made it into six months that we'd sooner forget. I'm glad to say that Kyabram

played it's part in helping to render assistance to those in need, by staging a bushfire relief concert in the beautiful Plaza Theatre on a Sunday afternoon in March  with the talents of J.R.Williams, John Mathewson and his band, Craig Giles, Brianna Lee, Ryan Meeking, local band Old Jam, the local bush poets and yours truly ------------------- it really was a spectacular concert and we had 450 people packed into the theatre to enjoy every moment----- it was a very moving day and we raised close to $8,000 for the fire victims.

Also in March, Dot and I went on our annual jaunt over to W.A. to the home of Peter and Jan Pacey at Forrestdale, just out of Fremantle.   For the last 5 years Peter and Jan have organised a Bar.B.Cue and Country Music Hoedown on their property and 600 to 700 people gather there on the night for a great time. The next morning it's bacon and eggs and coffee for all as the bush poets start the morning off followed by music again through till early arvo. Vickie Lee and Billy Higginson, Cookie and her great band and bush balladeer Buzzer were some of the locals that performed and Neville Anderson joined me as a guest artist from the east.  Dot and I stayed for almost a fortnight and we had a good look around --- going down to Margaret River {wine country} and also down to Albany and then out east of Perth to have a look around the wheat growing belt. A huge vote of thanks to the "Paceys" for their wonderful hospitality and friendship.

April and May were reasonably quiet and it was nice to spend a week down in eastern Victoria at Bemm River with daughter Kristy, her partner Andree and the no 1 grandson Ryder, doing some fishing boating and walking and generally taking it easy. It's nice to work but it's also very nice to just go somewhere and do nothing.

Our solitude was interrupted on Anzac morning when the phone rang at 7am to herald the voice of Keith Jamieson suggesting that we had better jump out of bed load the car and start driving north to meet him at Blackall Qld on the Sunday night. We were on the road at 9am and after 18 hrs of driving arrived at Blackall at 6.30 pm in time to do a show at the Wool Scour complex with Jammo and Alicia Smith and Bec Hance. Unfortunately family circumstances had caused our good mate Jeff Brown to withdraw from performing on the Katherine Festival being held on the next weekend, so we stepped into the breech and took his place at Blackall and the rest of the trip as well. It’s nice to honour the aAssie tradition of helping a mate in his time of need. Our sympathy goes out to the Brown family on the loss of their loved one.

It was great to go back through the vast open spaces of the real Australia and we clocked up 7,800 kilometers in 12 days. On our way to Longreach we stopped at Ilfracombe to catch up with the old bullfightin' clown Rusty Frame and his lovely lady Tracey. It was good to have a laugh and to reminisce about old times. On the way home we decided to head down through Alice Springs, Cooper Pedy etc and I marvelled at the state of the roads. A big thanks to Jammo and Alicia and especially to the folk on the Katherine Muster committee.

Another couple of weeks passed with medical appointments, footy games, house renovations and painting, dominating the workload, until it came time to jump on Tiger Airways and head up to the little hamlet of Bouldercombe just out of Rockhampton for the Bouldy Bush Ballad Bash.  A great weekend was had by all with lots of fair dinkum Australian country music being performed {no need for earmuffs}. Then it was home for a week and back to Qld with  my  good mate Owen Blundell to do a few shows at Redcliff, Bundaberg, Wondai and Gympie before heading back through N.S.W. towns inc Tenterfield, Tamworth, Kyogle and Millers Forest.

The latest cd Aussie Balladeer is going ok and folk seem to be enjoying the songs especially the [grandad] one.. I'm about to start organising the next cd adventure, and I look forward to working in with Selection Record’s boss Eric Watson on the contents of it. Eric, by the way, hasn’t been too well lately and we wish him the best on his recovery.

Well that’s about it from me ----- I’m just about typed out, catch up with you all down the track ------ travel safe              

Cheers    
Reg & Dot

Major Funding Boost for Country Music Festival

The second annual Wauchope Country Music Festival is set down for 8-10 January next year has just received a major funding boost.  Countrylink have agreed to become a major sponsor by donating $5000 to the committee as well as supplying additional material support along the way.

Festival president, Gary Jones said the committee has also gain a large donation from Bunyah Aboriginal Land Council in support of indigenous performing artists and an indigenous art competition.

Once again we welcome the inclusion of an Indigenous Art competition after the very successful competition held in 2009.  Highlighting the work of many talented aboriginal artists we have in our communities. Bunyah Aboriginal Land Council have offered prize money of $500 for the place winners, it promises to again create quite a deal of interest.

The organising committee are very excited to have engaged for the Saturday show the very talented and well known indigenous artist Mr Col Hardy. Col is in constant demand all over Australia and to be able have him come here to Wauchope is unbelievable said Mr Jones.

Another sponsor who has continued their support after the very successful 2009 festival is Timbertown Resort & Motel Wauchope who have a special heart for country music donating nine rooms for the many artists who will be performing over this 3 day weekend of non-stop country music at the showground.

The Wauchope showground will come alive with the best in country music from Friday 8th January until late Sunday afternoon.

A weekend of non-stop country music will include another great Aussie star Mr Jade Hurley, who will be performing his 2 hour show on centre stage Friday night. Jade will be performing many famous hit songs. His shows are always colourful, exciting and Jade loves it when his audiences sing along with all the old favourites, so we expect the crowd to bring their voices with them and join in the toe tapping, clapping songs said Mr Jones.

“Turn back the hands of time tribute show” which will start from 6.00 pm Saturday on centre stage. Entertainers Victoria McGee, Donella, Ian B Macleod & Dale Hooper will be performing songs made famous by Johnny Cash, Dolly Pardon, Patsy Cline & Slim Whitman with the show concluding at 10.00 pm.

The committee would like to hear from business houses who would like to support, through sponsorship, this outstanding presentation of local, interstate and overseas performers.
All business sponsors will be able to place their banner in support around the arena of the showground over the three days of action packed entertainment.

The organising committee have been overwhelmed with the amount of interest from the many car clubs wanting to become involved this year, and welcome their inclusion.

The Ute show was so popular last year they will be returning to the Wauchope showground once again for a great show & shine competition.

Buskers will again be a big part of the festival, with many already booked in and ready to compete for the cash prizes on offer. Would your business like to offer power to one of the many buskers attending the festival? To be added to the list for 2010. Email enquries@wauchopecmfestival.com or log onto www.wauchopecmfestival.com

Entry forms for markets stalls, buskers; talent quest, camping, Indigenous art competition plus further information are available and can be downloaded from our web site www.wauchopecmfestival.com or phone Debbie 65860344 or Pauline 65621656.

The committee strives to bring you the best in country music for a special low price. Early Bird tickets are available now and until 30th November 2009, Mr Jones said. 

A Three (3) day pass is available, Adults $40.00 and Senior’s Card holders $30.00 (on presentation of card). School children will be admitted free but must be accompanied by an adult.

We also have early bird discounts on camping for the 3 days Mr Jones said, but bookings and payments must be received no later than the 30th November this year.

Please phone committee members Debbie Jones on 65860344 or 0411208867 or Pauline Fisher on (02) 65621656 for more information. Festival on the Web: www.wauchopecmfestival.com   

Wauchope can be reached by car, ute, train (Countrylink stops at Wauchope) or plane with services by Qantaslink, Brindabella Airlines and Virgin Blue to Port Macqaurie. For information contact Greater Port Macquarie Visitor Information Centre on 1300 303 155 or go online at www.portmacquarie.com.au

Pauline Fisher
Wauchope Country Music Festival Inc
Tel: 02 6562 1656   International: +61  2  6562 1656
Email: enquiries@wauchopecmfestival.com

Canberra Gets A Country Music Festival At Last!

After years of one-off attempts, a major three day event is scheduled for Canberra, Australia’s National Capital.

The Canberra Country Music Festival will be held from the 9th to 11th October, the weekend after the Mildura Country Music Festival and Deni Ute Muster, and is designed to put Country Music firmly in the nation’s capital.

Festival features include; concerts across five stages, workshops, competitions, awards, dancing, and more. Industry forums, involving country music media and clubs, along with a ‘Muso’s Breakfast’, are also scheduled.

The venue is the historic listed Tuggeranong Homestead. The 31 hectare listed site, is an oasis in the southern suburbs of Canberra and readily accessed via Johnson Drive, off Highway 23 (Monaro Highway).

The Festival is well priced for couples and families, with children under 13, admitted free. Tickets are available online from Moshtix, leading stores, or at the Festival site.

There is no camping on site however, with 11 caravan and tourist parks and 107 hotels and motels located in the Greater Canberra area, there should not be any difficulty with accommodation. Availability details can be obtained by checking the Yellow Pages, or the ACT Tourist Information Centre on 1300 554 114.

Artists interested in performing at the Canberra Country Music Festival, are invited to contact the Festival Director. Performing artists will be progressively announced from August onwards.

The Facts:
Date:   9 – 11 October 2009
Location:         Tuggeranong Homestead, Johnson Drive Calwell ACT
Postal: PO Box 2113 Kambah ACT 2902 Australia
Email:  info@canberracountry.com
Website:          www.canberracountry.com
MySpace:        www.myspace.com/canberracountrymusicfest

Media’s Free Access And Forum

The Canberra Country Music Festival will include a Country Music Media Forum, scheduled for 7.00pm on Friday the 9th October, for about two hours.

The Forum aims to bring together different members of Country Music media, to network and seek solutions to common issues.

All media notifying their attendance to the Media Forum, will receive an Accredited Festival Media Pass, giving free access to the wider Canberra Country Music Festival for the whole weekend, and to the media centre for interviews, internet services etc.

Festival Media Co-ordinator
Mike Crozier,
02 6231 8658,
email on eagle@crozier.com.au .

Johnny Ashcroft OAM FAIHA & Gay Kayler

Hello Joy

We’ve just updated our web site.  If you look on the Useful Links page you’ll find links to your interviews with us in Joy’s Music World. 

Also, you may be interested in a link to YouTube.  This features clips from the 1978 Little Boy Lost movie illustrating the 1960 version of the song.  Don’t know who posted it but it’s very professionally put together and quite emotive.

Johnny Ashcroft & Gay Kayler

A Very Special Song From Tracy Coster,
‘Old Black Quart’.

Once in a while a very special song comes along that captures a part of Australia’s heritage. Stories about droving and cattleman are now relegated to folklore and it seems the only link we have to a lifestyle that has all but disappeared is through verse and song, passed down through the generations, it reminds us who we are and where we have come from.

‘Old Quart Pot’ is one of those special songs. It is the last ever written song from Stan Coster to be recorded, resurrected and re-worked by a new generation of Australian country, Tracy Coster.

“I was thumbing through the pages of one of Dad’s hand written lyric books when I first discovered the song.
It was just a few lines and a concept” says Tracy.
 
It took a handful of help from songwriting mates, Chris Pritchard, Quinny and her album producer, Roger Corbett and Tracy herself to pull the song together. The result, the story of an old drover who is about to retire and sell up his gear, except for the old black quart - he talks of the places he has boiled it up and the comfort it provided on those long and lonely droving trails.

Delivered with emotional honesty and sympathetic, pared back acoustic instrumentation, ‘Old Black Quart’ evokes a bushman’s melancholic tale of saying goodbye to a treasured and beloved friend; his old quart pot.

Following the success of Tracy’s top ten chart hit, ‘Way Back Then’ from the album Moving On, Tracy is hoping this newest offering to radio will be as enthusiastically embraced.

“ This song was a joy to complete and is truly part of living history. I do hope you give it a spin” says Tracy.

‘Old Black Quart’ is playing on radio now
Amanda O’Bryan

Country Legend Ray Price
Hospitalized For Surgery.....

Country legend Ray Price was recently hospitalized for surgery. During the last 3 months Ray was losing weight and doctors thought he was suffering from exhaustion. On Monday, June 22, 2009, Ray was admitted to the hospital for routine medical tests. The results of a colonoscopy revealed a large number of polyps in Pre cancerous stage - requiring immediate surgical removal. 

Surgery was completed on Tuesday, June 23rd and doctors state the operation was a complete success.

Today, Ray's wife Janie who has been by his side throughout the process, reports that Ray is making a slow, steady recovery with family and friends around him.

Ray is alert and wishes to thank everyone across the country who have held him and Janie up in their prayers and to let you all know he will be back on the road in a few weeks. Thank you for all of the love, prayers and consideration.        

Marty Matell

Doug McIntyre

Gday Folks

Hope you have all been well.

Looking forward to catching you at one of the Shows, especially the Gympie Muster in August, and Barham Stampede in July. See my Gig listing in the Tours Page

Thanks so much for your continued support of my Australian Country Music

All the Best !
Doug

Nashville Broadcasting Radio Network

Introduces New Programming
Coming July 5
RB Renegade Presents Real Country Legends
Sunday 10am (CST) / 11am (EST)
www.nbrn.fm
Where the past is never forgotten.

Back By Popular Demand
Steve Farlow’s Big Night Out

Join Steve and friends and dance the night away to “The Biggest Country Night” on The Causeway Coast this summer.

Artists include:  Anthony McBrien, Marie Murmin, Eugene O’Dornan, Boxcar Brian, Billy McFarland and Liam McLaughlin.

Music : Steve Farlow Duo
Compere: CMR’s Sean Green
Where: Lodge Hotel Coleraine
When: Thursday 13th August 2009
Cost 7.00 pound
Doors open 7.30pm - Dancing 8.00 till late

Be there early to avoid disappointment
Steve’s new CD will be launched on the night

Steve

Alan Jackson To Receive Star
On Hollywood Walk Of Fame
"Country Boy"
Is Performance Of The Year At CMT Awards

Country superstar Alan Jackson has been named a recipient of a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for the year 2010 by the Hollywood Walk of Fame Committee of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. The Star capped a week that began with the kick-off of the celebration of Jackson's 20th Anniversary of Real Country Music during a show at the Cadillac Ranch, and included a CMT Award for Performance of the Year

for Jackson's "Country Boy", the video performance with George Straight, Brad Paisley and Dirks Bentley from his special, CMT Giants: Alan Jackson.

Jackson was chosen from hundreds of nominations by The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce for his extraordinary career accomplishments and for his charitable work. The date for the Star ceremony will be set soon, and Jackson fans everywhere will be welcome to come.

Jackson's "Country Boy" track is one of the four hit singles from his GOOD TIME album, which has spawned three #l songs ("Small Town Southern Man", "Country Boy" and "Good Time") with a fourth, "Sissy's Song" making its way up the charts. "Sissy's Song" became Jackson's 50th Top 10 record earlier this month.

At the CMT Awards, Paisley and Bentley were on hand to accept the award with Jackson. Paisley said, "He is everything that I wanted to be as a performer... you're talking about a guy that writes his songs, knows what he is about to say and entertains. ... just thinking about the career he has had and the class that he has shown, I really admire him.

Emma Smith

Kenny Chesney Says, "Hey, 19!"
"Out Last Night"
Becomes His 19th Career #1 Country Hit

When Kenny Chesney decided to head out with buddy Brett James for a night in the islands, he was just looking to have some laughs, hear some music and maybe get into an adventure or two. When they woke up the next morning, realizing they weren't dead, they figured – like all good ole boys will do - they went "Out Last Night," from which the lead single

from Chesney's Greatest Hits II was born.

And with a second album filled with hits that have defined coming of age over the past 8 years – including "Young," "The Good Stuff," "Beer In Mexico," "Summertime," "Living In Fast Forward," "When The Sun Goes Down" - already full, it makes sense that the highenergy performer from Luttrell, Tennessee would already be getting started on his next string of #1s right there.

"I've been really lucky," Chesney says. "I came to town, fell in with the Acuff Rose people - and got a real baptism in what a great song is, what it needs to be and the way to let it breathe. You come up with folks like Whitey Shaffer, and Dean Dillon, Bill Anderson, those guys. and you take the songs pretty serious. Just like I take the fans so serious. the songs are what I bring them, and I want them to be able to live in them, too."

With its Calypso undertow and its good vibrations essence of the carefree and easy life, "Out Last Night" distills everything the 4-consecutive Academy of Country Music and 4-time and current
Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year embodies. Having turned his recent stadium shows in Chicago and Dallas into giant footloose Keg In The Closet shows, it's all about making the kind of memories with your friends that define what it means to be young and alive.

"Growing up, going out was everything to us," Chesney says. "And as I've gotten older, not much has changed. When I've got friends down in the islands with us. we're heading out, seeing what kind of people we can meet, fun we can have, jokes we can tell. some things never change.

"And, as a music fan, it's like that, too. We're all talking about what shows we wanna go see. Where  we wanna go see'em, what they might play. I think when people forget about that stuff in their lives, they start dying. They just do. and that's one thing I'm not only not gonna do, I'm not gonna let the people who love this music do it, either. So if I'm gonna have a song on the radio right now, I can't think of a better one for it to be."

With his Corona Extra-sponsored Sun City Carnival splashed across the pages of this week's Entertainment Weekly, Chesney continues rocking stadiums, amphitheatres and arenas on his shortest tour since becoming a headliner. Still, there's half a summer - and enough shows to more than go around. or out last night. Whichever the case may be.

Emma Smith

The Countdown Is On!!

Brad Paisley’s brand new album American Saturday Night hits stores this week (3rd July and online from 1st July)!!

Make sure you prepare for a rockin’ weekend next weekend as Brad Paisley’s eighth studio album hits the airwaves!!

American Saturday Night is available through Sony Music Entertainment

Emma Smith

Montgomery Gentry - Long Line Of Losers

Montgomery Gentry became the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry this week, inducted by Opry members Little Jimmy Dickens and Marty Stuart before an Opry House audience including family, friends, and fans.

Montgomery Gentry’s new single, “Long Line Of Losers” is just now

hitting the airwaves and follows in the footsteps of their recent Top 5 hit “One In Every Crowd.”

The duo’s current album, Back When I Knew It All, has also yielded the No. 1 hit single “Back When I Knew It All” and the multi-week No. 1, “Roll With Me.”  The duo recently received two 2009 Academy of Country Music Award nominations including ‘Album of the Year’ for Back When I Knew It All and ‘Top Duo or Group’.  The Kentucky natives have joined Kenny Chesney on tour this summer, performing as part of an all-star lineup at stadium shows on Chesney’s Sun City Carnival Tour, as well as headlining dates of their own across the country.  

Emma Smith

Jake Owen - Eight Second Ride

Jake Owen first hit the national scene with the release of his debut album, Startin’ With Me, which launched a trio of hit singles, including the title track, “Yee Haw,” and “Something about a Woman.” Since then, he’s toured with some of country music’s biggest names, including Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, and Sugarland.

One of country music’s hottest young talents, racking up GRAMMY and CMA nominations, Jake most recently won his first ACM award for the fan-voted Top New Male Vocalist Award at the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards earlier this year (Jake was also nominated Vocal Event of the Year).

The first single from his sophomore album Easy Does It which debuted at #2 on the Billboard Country Chart raced up the Country Music chart spent a few weeks in the top 5 peaking at #2. Eight Second Ride hits the airwaves this week.

Easy Does It is available through Sony Music Entertainment at www.bandit.fm/allcountry

Emma Smith

Kaylah Anne Support Act to Felicity Urquhart
Halekulani Bowling Club Budgewoi 
Saturday 11 July

2009 Star Maker Grand Finalist Kaylah Anne plays support act to the multi talented songstress Felicity Urquhart at the Central Coast next month.

One of the newest of country’s young breed, 2007 APRA Songwriters Teen Songwriter Of The Year, Kaylah joins Camerata College graduate and Hunter Valley mate, Makaylie Foode as support acts at the Halekulani Bowling Club in Budgewoi, on Saturday July 11.

In little over three years the stunning nineteen year old, full of fun and energy, is making inroads in the Australian music scene.  Flaunting a few teen titles of her own, 2006 Newcastle Buskers Challenge, 2007 Bisley Buskers Young Performers Award in Tamworth, runner-up 2007 APRA Songwriters Teen Songwriter Of The Year, and 2008 CMAA College Graduate, released her self titled EP Kaylah Anne ‘Why Me’ last year.

The second single and title track, easily her signature song was released to radio through NfS and the clip jumped immediately into CMC’s Top 50 in the first half of 2009.  If you haven’t seen or heard it, log on to Kaylah’s myspace, it’s a whole lot of magic.

To secure your seats and enjoy a superb night of live entertainment, the only single gig for Indie artist Felicity outside of the Gympie Muster and her 14 venue NSW tour with Troy Cassar Daly, plus two of Central Coast and Hunter Valley’s best young country acts, phone now:
Tickets $18.00 | Book early and confirm your tickets on 02 4390 9900

Check out  www.myspace.com/kaylahannemusic for a track preview.

Rhonda Sinclair

A Rally For ‘The Heartleys’

It has been said by many in the music industry that it takes talent, hard work, determination, some luck and a great following to build a solid and successful career. Looks like The Heartleys from the south island in New Zealand have a winning combination – did someone also mention they are young, and beautiful?

Dubbed by NZ media as "the arrival of a potential superstar act on our

horizon"”New Zealand fans from the north to the south are rallying behind this duo from small town Gore . News spreads fast in NZ and Fairfax Media have picked up The Heartleys story and are running them nationally.

The duo recently incited standing room only ovations and encores at the final concert of the Gore County Music Gold Guitar Awards, which Kayla Mahon and Taylor Cairns won in 2008 and the legendary NZ songwriter Barry Saunders from The Warratahs is singing the praises of the duo.

In Australia the duo’s current rocky single ‘No Man’s Land’ is running hot at number 13 on the Country Tracks Top 30 with plenty of high rotation airplay on country music radio.

The Heartleys will be hitting Australian shores again in August with their south island charm for a Friday night main stage performance at the National Country Music Muster in Gympie and a listing of local gigs.

More on The Heartleys www.theheartleys.com

Amanda O'Bryan

Finalists Announced For 2009 Golden Saddle Award

The Harmonators, Lianna Rose, Luke O’Shea, Ronni Rae Rivers and Victoria Baillie have been announced as the finalists for the 2009 Golden Saddle Award.

The award, presented in association with Rooty Hill RSL and Southern Cross Television, had an unprecedented number of applications this year from independent artists residing in Queensland, ACT, New South Wales and Victoria.

The five finalists will all perform at the Golden Saddle Award presentation at the Rooty Hill RSL Total Country Music Weekend on Saturday 12th September, when the winner of the grand prize of $5000 will be announced.

In addition to the major prize, all five finalists are eligible for the People’s Choice Award, which is elected by the public. Voting for the Golden Saddles 2009 People’s Choice Award will be conducted via www.goldensaddles.com.au and by voting at the award presentation show on Saturday 12th September 2009.

For more information and to vote for your favourite finalist in the People’s Choice Awards please visit www.goldensaddles.com.au

Katania Lee

The Legends Of Country Music At The American Music Theatre
June 27 – Lancaster, PA

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