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National Radio Show ‘Up All Night’ with CMA Nominee Patrick Thomas (WKDF Nashville 103.3FM) and many others are already on board for some “Black Magic” – Rachel Lipsky will be interviewed on ‘Up All Night’, Weds, Nov 1st, with Patrick Thomas. Produced and co-written by #1 Songwriter and Producer, Jeff Coplan (Love and Theft, Tim Hicks, Blackjack Billy). Rachel has had the honor of touring 7 times with Armed Forces Entertainment to Afghanistan, Kuwait, more of the Middle East, Africa, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania and Kosovo.

National Radio Show ‘Up All Night’ with CMA Nominee Patrick Thomas (WKDF Nashville 103.3FM) and many others are already on board for some “Black Magic” – Rachel Lipsky will be interviewed on ‘Up All Night’, Weds, Nov 1st, with Patrick Thomas. Produced and co-written by #1 Songwriter and Producer, Jeff Coplan (Love and Theft, Tim Hicks, Blackjack Billy). Rachel has had the honor of touring 7 times with Armed Forces Entertainment to Afghanistan, Kuwait, more of the Middle East, Africa, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania and Kosovo.

Tamworth’s favourite country rockers, The Redneck Gentlemen, are back with the release of their new single, ‘Highway 41’.

This good old-fashioned cruising song will get your feet tapping and your heart racing.

The track was born from the band’s desire to create a driving song that exudes a feel-good, party vibe.

“We wanted to do a driving song,” he said.

“Jared (Scott) came up with the idea for the video clip and the song came from there.”

This marks the fourth single released by The Redneck Gentlemen, following the success of ‘Apple Pie Whiskey’, ‘Four Shots Down’, and ‘Shot Of Tequila’.

“Highway 41 is a good, driving, cruising song, a feel-good tune that’s got a good vibe and a good party feel,” John Lee said.

“It’s not too fast, not too slow, just right.”

Fresh from their three-day stint of gigs at the 2023 Repco Bathurst 1000, The Redneck Gentlemen are gearing up for this release to bring them to the ears of established fans and new listeners, as they work to get on more festival bills.

With a treasure trove of about 16 original songs and a full album recorded at Fat Track Studio in Tamworth, fans can expect more exciting music from the band in the coming months.

During the Tamworth Country Music Festival, they will be gracing the stages at the Longyard Hotel and Courthouse Hotel, with a total of eight gigs lined up for fans to enjoy.

For a taste of the road and an unforgettable musical experience, be sure to check out The Redneck Gentlemen’s latest single, Highway 41; it’ll have you longing to get outta town and on the open road.

CHART TOPPING TRAVIS COLLINS DROPS THE SOUNDTRACK OF THE SUMMER

Nine albums into an incredible career and Travis Collins is hitting new highs with his latest album, “Any Less Anymore”. Debuting at #3 on the ARIA All-Genre Album chart; the highest chart by an Australian country artist in over two years. The album also reached #1 on the ARIA Country Album & Australian Country Album chart and #2 Australian Artist Album chart.

” Any Less Anymore” has delivered four Top 10 singles to date, including the 5 weeks at #1 CountryTown Hot50 chart single, “Runnin’ the Country”, a collaboration with great friends, The Wolfe Brothers. Now as we head into summer, Travis Collins drops the latest track, “Chill”.

As Travis describes it, “Chill has definitely grown on me over the last couple months; the more I played it it’s become one of my absolute favourites on the record. It’s all about wanting to get back out in the world. I wrote this song towards the end of the pandemic, and I remember talking with my wife and saying, “hey, let’s just get on the road, let’s just get on a plane, let’s go somewhere and just sit on a beach chair under an umbrella and drink beer or margaritas, just have a damn good time and chill”.

Hot off the back of her performance at Australia’s SXSW Festival, Max Jackson drops her brand new single, “Little More Country”. This is her first single via her newly signed label ABC MUSIC. Max also recently announced she has been added to Stephen White Management with their stellar roster of artists including Lee Kernaghan and The Wolfe Brothers.

“Little More Country” is produced by Rod McCormack and co-written with Max, Nolan Wynne and Gavin Carfoot. As Max describes the track, “Little More Country is all about what it means to be Country. It’s not the car you drive or the clothes you wear; it’s so much more than that. It’s about values and I guess my favourite traits of country people; the same traits I always aim to embody. This one goes out to the honest, kind, hard-working, back-road driving, big-sky-loving, stop-to-say-hello country music fans.”

Jackson continues, “The anthemic energy of the song is something I really love. I’ve always felt like the kick drum sounds like cowboy boots stomping on an old hardwood floor and it makes me so excited to know that soon we will be playing it live, bringing it to country music fans who share these same values and country frame of mind.”

From humble beginnings in the small country town of Coonamble NSW (Pop. 2750), to winning Australia’s biggest country music competition (Toyota Star Maker), playing national & international Country Music Festivals, a Golden Guitar nomination, and showcasing at CMA Fest 2023; the last eighteen months has been quite the ride for Australian Country Artist, Max Jackson.

Adding to her arsenal with new management and label support, “I’m really proud to also have this new music coming from not just myself but an incredible team. Recently I announced my signing with Stephen White Management. Now along with Steve & Brogan, we are so proud to announce that we have also joined forces with ABC Music, this really completes a dream come true team for me and I cannot wait for this next bunch of music I’ve been working on, kicking off here with Little More Country”. As Natalie Waller (Head of ABC Music) says, “Having met with and seen Max Jackson perform, her talent and presence is undeniable. We are excited for this next chapter with her”.

Doing something “Different ‘Round Here,” multi-PLATINUM hitmaker Riley Green celebrated the release of his highly anticipated new album “Ain’t My Last Rodeo” (available now via BMLG Records), by raising more than $50,000 for his newly-created Buford Bonds Charitable Fund which will support various veteran organizations. Thousands gathered at Nashville’s Walk of Fame Park, joining Green for a special over-capacity album release show.

The 12-track project delivers more of the signature no-gimmick, undeniably Country sound fans have come to know, love, and obsess over from the star and includes his current Top 20-and-climbing single with his former tourmate on “Different ‘Round Here (featuring Luke Combs).” The music and lyrics, both heavily influenced by blue-collar roots, small-town life, and slower way of life, exemplify Green’s homage to his experiences, beliefs, passions and love of family. The title bares its name from a poignant track on the album, “My Last Rodeo,” which Green wrote solo following one of the final conversations he had with his late Grandaddy Buford Green near the end of his life. Buford was the brains behind converting Riley’s great-grandparents’ home into the Golden Saw Music Hall and is credited for Riley’s musical appreciation, education, and inspiration, while his Granddaddy Lyndon can be attributed to Riley’s love of the outdoors. Proceeds from Thursday night’s album release event will go to the newly minted Buford Bonds Charitable Fund which honours his late grandfathers and provides resources for a variety of charities including those supporting veterans.

“We’ve been playing some of these new songs out on the road this summer and I’m excited to share them with the world,” said Green. “My grandaddies were huge inspirations for me, my songwriting and what is most important to me. Thursday night was a blast, but it also means a lot to mark the occasion by honouring them and raising money for some great charities that they would have been proud to support.”

“Ain’t My Last Rodeo” Album Release Show Presented by Crown Royal invited 300+ veterans to be a part of the sold-out audience. In addition to sponsoring the event Crown Royal, the award-winning whisky brand dedicated to serving the military community, invited members from CreatiVets non-profit organization whose mission is to provide for wounded veterans. These honoured guests spent time with the country singer backstage for a private meet and greet before the show.

Providing a taste of what fans can expect on his upcoming 2024 “Ain’t My Last Rodeo” Tour, Green’s upcoming tourmate Ella Langley opened the show. Long-time songwriting collaborators Erik Dylan and Wyatt McCubbin surprised the crowd.

Jamie Lindsay celebrates the spirit of truck-loving girls with new single.

Jamie Lindsay, a rising star in NSW Central Coast country rock music, is set to make waves with his latest single, ‘My Girl’s Got A Truck,’ a heartwarming and empowering tribute to girls who love trucks.

Inspired by his sister, Rachel, and the countless girls who share her passion, Jamie’s new song challenges stereotypes and showcases the enduring love between women and their trucks. With ‘My Girl’s Got A Truck,’ Lindsay is turning the tables on the traditional truck song narrative, reminding us that girls are just as passionate about the open road and powerful machines.

In Lindsay’s own words, “This song’s been writing itself all my life”.

With two older sisters, Jamie’s sister, Rachel, has been a source of inspiration and pride.

“For as long as I can remember, she has loved everything with wheels,” he said.

“While I’ve always been into guitars and music, Rachel has always been into cars and machines and became a mechanic and an auto electrician,” he said.

Rachel also restores cars and owns an impressive collection of vehicles, including an F100, an F150, and a Mack truck she’s currently refurbishing, which are just a few of the elements that make her a symbol of the truck-loving girls Lindsay aims to celebrate.

Jamie’s song weaves in a fictional story about a young girl who inherits an F100 from her father, reinforcing the sentimental value trucks can hold.

“She inherits an F100 from her dad, a sentimental thing, but also my sister has always been this kind of girl I’m talking about – right into trucks, cars, and motorbikes,” he said.

The idea for ‘My Girl’s Got A Truck’ was born when Jamie Lindsay drew inspiration from Keith Urban and Jimmie Allen’s hit song, Boy Gets A Truck.

“When that song came out, in my situation, there are so many songs about boys and trucks. I thought, wouldn’t it be cool if there was a song about a girl with a truck? That gave me the incentive to write the song from the girl’s point of view.”

He even went the extra mile to ensure the song’s accuracy.

“When I was writing it, especially the last choruses, I actually rang my sister to ask about F100s and was cross-referencing everything about the truck with her. I wanted to make sure people didn’t go, ‘they didn’t have that,’ especially the diehard Ford fans.”

‘My Girl’s Got A Truck’ is more than just a song; it’s a message that resonates with anyone who dares to break stereotypes and follow their passions and also celebrates a daughter’s special bond with her dad.

“I hope other girls who are into trucks connect with it as well. I just wanted it to be a fun song.”

With its infectious beat and irresistible stomp-and-clap rhythm, this song is sure to become an anthem that gets everyone moving.

Single Background

Mental health impacts everyone in one way or another, either directly or via people we know. “Heavy On Me” is a song about the importance of mental health, understanding the symptoms, and knowing when to reach out to friends, family or even strangers in times of need.

Andy Quotes

“What a lot of people don’t know about me is that despite my sometimes confident and strong exterior, on the road performing at event after event, I have had to manage anxiety and self-doubt my entire life.”

“Heavy On Me is an empowering song about removing the stigma and shame around mental health and the importance of asking for help and acknowledging when you’re down.”

Career highlights to date

. Nominated for a CMAA Golden Guitar award 2023 “Bush Ballad of the year” for “Ghostly Gums” (Walking Away)

. Winner of Best Bush Ballad 2023 at the Peoples Choice Awards Tamworth

. Winner of “Most Popular Male Artist of 2023” by Independent Country Music Association

. Winner of “Most Popular Music Video of 2023” by Independent Country Music Association

· Winner of 5 “Purple Guitars including 2023 Best Male Vocal and Best Album

· Winner of “Most Promising New Talent 2022” at the People’s Choice Awards, Tamworth

· Winner of “Most Popular New Male Artist of 2022” by Independent Country Music Association

. Andy has been nominated for multiple APRA AMCOS TSA SONGWRITER Awards

· Winner of “Australian Busking Championships 2019 – Gundagai”

Get ready to turn up the heat this summer, because acclaimed country-pop singer songwriter Tori Darke is back with a scorching new single ‘Somewhere In Mexico’. Call this your official invitation to live life to the fullest this summer. ‘Somewhere In Mexico’ is the soundtrack of your sun-soaked, soul sipping adventures in 2023.

“While ‘Somewhere In Mexico’ is a metaphor for that place that lets you be you, it’s not necessarily a physical place on a map, it’s that moment when you find your own personal paradise, whether it’s behind the wheel, out with friends, or on a spontaneous road trip. For me it’s the chance to throw caution to the wind, sip on tequila, and take a dip in the moonlit waters. In a world where the daily grind often consumes us, ‘Somewhere In Mexico’ is an escape – a call to let loose and embrace the wild side of life. It’s about shedding inhibitions and surrendering to the thrill of the moment.”

Tori Darke is a familiar face in the world of country music, known for her powerful vocals and heartfelt storytelling. With a string of hit singles and a passionate fan base, Tori is poised to make a lasting mark on the country music scene. 2023 has already been a big year for the 5-foot country diva. Getting married, six international trips, festivals and over 100,000 steams following the release of ‘Feelin’ It’ and ‘Dodged A Bullet’ have ensured continued success.

Previous single ‘Feelin’ It’ was added to all major country music stations including KIX Country, ABC Country, Triple M Country, iHeartCountry and Australian Country Radio. High rotation radio play combined with major Spotify support on Fresh Country and Apple Music Playlist Aussie Country has seen Tori as one of our most celebrated country music artists.

A constant fan favourite at festivals and events, 2023 has seen Tori successfully sell out her own headlining show at The Beer Shed in Sydney, performed at Tamworth Country Music Festival, The Big Chill Festival (Armidale) alongside Dragon and Birds of Tokyo, Oberon Rodeo, Nude Up with Adam Brand and a New Zealand solo tour which included a performance at Tussock Country Music Festival.

Get ready to celebrate all things summer, with ‘Somewhere In Mexico’s’ upbeat, fun vibes. It’s the bop you will want to listen to while enjoying tequila at sunset on a beach.

Tori Darke’s new single ‘Somewhere In Mexico’ is out to radio and all digital platforms on Wednesday 18th October.

AWARD-WINNING ARTIST JON PARDI AND FIVE-TIME ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR LUKE BRYAN RELEASE NEW MUSICAL COLLABORATION, “COWBOYS AND PLOWBOYS”

ACM and CMA Award-winning artist Jon Pardi and Five-time Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan have released their new collaboration, “Cowboys and Plowboys.” Written by Rhett Akins, Jacob Rice and Cole Taylor, “Cowboys and Plowboys” was initially teased by both Pardi and Bryan online this week, and is out everywhere now.

“I’ve always looked up to Luke as a songwriter and an artist, and he’s a great friend. We’ve been on tour together and he’s been someone that has inspired me along the way and always had my back. We’ve been excited to put this song out for a long time, and I can’t wait for people to hear it,” said Jon.

“When the writers sent this song I couldn’t stop listening to it and I’m so glad it worked out for Pardi to be the one I got to sing it with,” said Luke. “He is one of the most genuine artists I know. What you see is truly what you get and I respect what he continues to build.”

The single marks the first new music from singer/songwriter/producer Pardi since his latest critically-acclaimed album, Mr. Saturday Night. After being invited by Country legend Alan Jackson in a surprise moment on stage during Stagecoach, Pardi is set to be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on October 24th as the first native Californian to ever do so ahead of the release of his debut Christmas album, Merry Christmas From Jon Pardi, on October 27th. Named a “hero in the making” (Variety), Pardi has earned six No. 1s on country radio to date and is noted for his “long-lasting mark on the genre” (MusicRow) and his impressive ability to carve out his own path creating “the kind of country music multiple generations came to know, and love can still wok on a mass scale” (Variety).

On November 8, Luke and NFL superstar Peyton Manning will return to host “The 57th Annual CMA Awards” to be broadcast live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. And in 2024, Luke, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie will return as celebrity judges for their seventh season on ABC’s American Idol.

About Jon Pardi

Since first hitting the country landscape, Jon Pardi has long since separated himself from the pack, carving a lane that was all his own by producing, writing, and singing songs he created from the melodies up, and earning praise for it. “Jon Pardi cut a path through modern country’s embrace of pop, hip-hop and EDM” (The New York Times) with “an emboldened work… a distilling of his sound into a more potent form that draws both vitality and assurance from his anything-but-sterile relationship to his tradition’s modern era” (NPR). With his “state-of-the-art blend of traditional instrumentation and progressive grooves that point to country’s future” (Rolling Stone), Pardi is “a leader among a growing number of artists bringing back fiddle, steel and twang” (People). “Even when he’s singing sad songs, he wants people to have a good time” (Associated Press). Featured by NPR, Paste, Billboard, The Tennessean and more, Pardi’s album Mr. Saturday Night proved Pardi has “blazed his own trail over the past decade” (Billboard), with Taste of Country noting, his “refusal to chase sets Mr. Saturday Night apart” and Nash News raving, Mr. Saturday Night “proves he might be the most successful at combining the old-school sound with today’s need for hooks.” Mr. Saturday Night reunited the producing team of Bart Butler, Ryan Gore and Pardi- the same team behind the boards of his critically-acclaimed album, Heartache Medication. Pardi’s CMA and ACM Album of the Year nominated project. Heartache Medication debuted among the top albums on Billboard’s Country Albums chart and was named in 2019 Rolling Stone’s “Best Album of the Year” and by the Los Angeles Times as one of the (Top 10) “Best Albums of the Year.” Heartache Medication followed his breakthrough Platinum-selling album, California Sunrise, which featured the multi-platinum, chart-topping hits “Dirt On My Boots,” “Head Over Boots,” “Heartache On The Dance Floor” and “Night Shift.” Named a “hero in the making” (Variety), Pardi has earned six No. 1s on country radio and is noted for his “long-lasting mark on the genre” (MusicRow) and his impressive ability to carve out his own path creating “the kind of country music multiple generations came to know, and love can still wok on a mass scale” (Variety). Filled with fiddle, twang and steel guitar, Pardi continues to “apply new ideas to country’s old sounds” (Los Angeles Times) and “bring authenticity back into Country music” (People). Currently on his Mr. Saturday Night World Tour, Jon is set to be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry as an official Opry Member on October 24th ahead of his debut Christmas album release, Merry Christmas From Jon Pardi, on October 27th. His current radio single, “Cowboys and Plowboys,” with Luke Bryan, is available now here.

About Luke Bryan

During his career, Luke has amassed a total of 21.7 Billion global streams, 11.5 Million global album sales and 52 Million track sales worldwide. He is the most digital single RIAA certified country artist of all time with 83 Million units and 15.5M album certified units for a total of 98.5M. He was recently presented with the SoundExchange Hall of Fame Award in recognition of his standing as one of the most streamed artists in SoundExchange’s 20-year history.

His headline concert tours have played sold-out shows for millions and millions of fans inclusive of nearly 40 stadium concerts, Farm Tours, Spring Break shows, and eight sold-out ‘Crash My Playa’ destination concert events. At Luke’s recent sold-out Bridgestone concert- his sixth consecutive- Billboard touted, the “key to his success as one of country music’s foremost ambassadors for more than a decade has been his long-perfected onstage blend of lovable goofball, sultry swagger and positive attitude.”

Luke has won 50+ major music awards including five wins as Entertainer of the Year. Additional awards include six recognitions as a CMT Artist of the Year, NSAI Artist/Songwriter of the Year, the first-ever recipient of the ACM Album of the Decade Award for Crash My Party, seven CMT Music Awards, five Billboard Music Awards, and four American Music Awards-as well as being named Billboard’s Top Country Artist of the 2010s, the Most Heard Artist of the Decade by Country Aircheck, and the Artist Humanitarian Recipient by the Country Radio Broadcasters.

The Wolfe Brothers are releasing the 5th and final single off their #1 ARIA country album “Livin’ The Dream”. The song pretty much sums up where the Tasmanian duo are at with their musical journey. The title of the song is “Nothin’ Better To Me”, an ode to enjoying life, having fun and being grateful for the ride of life we are all on together. The song’s accompanying music video is a fun-filled glimpse of life on the road for brothers Nick and Tom Wolfe and their touring band mates which was filmed while they were touring the north coast of NSW this year.

Nick Wolfe had this to say about the song “Lyrically, ‘Nothing Better To Me’ is quite a typical country song. It speaks about good times, the simple life, and being grateful for what you’ve got – nothing wrong with that! But rather than fit into the typical mould of mid-tempo radio we thought we’d try something a little different and try a ‘power shuffle’ feel. We also threw in a key change for the guitar solo. The song has some traits typical of many of the early 90’s sounds that we are influenced by. It all came together to form what we think is a fantastic vibe captured on this track.”

The new single is released at a time that the duo’s current single, a duet with Travis Collins called “Runnin’ The Country”, has spent the last 5 weeks at the #1 spot on the National Country Airplay Charts, making it The Wolfe Brothers 19th career #1 single.

The other big news from the Wolfe Brothers is their recent ARIA finalist nomination for “Livin’ The Dream” in the Best Country Album category. This is their third nomination for an ARIA.

The Wolfe Brothers are fast becoming one of Australia’s most popular festival acts with their high energy performances winning legions of new fans at every event they play. 2023 also saw the band start headlining their own sold-out theatre shows. Tom Wolfe said “Playing live is what we love doing the most. We love our job, and we never get tired of catching up with the fans at every show. It is a special feeling when we connect with an audience, and they are singing every word of the songs from our albums with us. Dare I say it…. There’s nothin better to me.”

Rising South-East Queensland country rock singer-songwriter Dan Henwood returns with a gritty, energetic and high-octane track that screams to be spun on full volume. ‘Back Into Gear’ is about heading out on a road trip with the boys, packing the swags and pushing the limits where you gotta get your mate to come rope you out, back into gear.

“I’m so stoked to finally be sharing this new single, ‘Back Into Gear’. Growing up with country music and mates who would take me out for the weekend inspired this song and the passion and joy that comes with it, I just knew I had to write one for the country folks out there! Looking forward to going back to my roots with his one with a touch of fiddle and guitar”.

Dan Henwood is a 2x graduate of the CMAA Junior Academy. Drawing inspirations from artists such as Lee Kernaghan and The Wolfe Brothers, Dan successfully captures a traditional country sound with a modern country rock twist.

His skill has taken him on the road through many new towns as a session guitarist which recently included a performance at Deni Ute Muster with Zara Lindeman. Dan has also performed alongside The Wolfe Brothers where he has been invited to play guitar at numerous shows.

A recent finalist in all categories in the Country Music People’s Choice Awards, Dan is currently writing new material which he is excited to be bringing to Australian audiences in 2024.

Dan Henwood’s new single ‘Back Into Gear’ is out to radio on Monday 16th October and out on digital platforms on Friday 20th October.

It’s the post-breakup love song everyone has experienced. Where you’re with the “right” person but you find them “boring” or “not exciting enough”. It’s the wanting of the ex, “the cool guy”, the chase, the thrill, the rush of emotions that one may classify as a heaty romance but you grow to learn better. “I wrote this because, for the longest time that was what I was chasing, the thrill of screaming and fighting and never knowing what to expect. I believed that was what made a relationship “exciting”. I don’t think I’m the only one whose experienced this so I’m sure it with resonate with people like me but this is a glimpse to my story” says Kendra. He’s Not You was written by Andrew Parton, Melissa Marshall and Kendra Gabrielle. Produced by CMAO nominated, Shawn Moore at Catherine North Studios Hamilton.

Kendra Gabrielle Bio

Country artist Kendra Gabrielle has been rapidly growing her audience in Canada and internationally since the release of her debut Country single “Drunk On My Own” in the spring of 2022. Her debut single earned placements on multiple Amazon Music editorial playlists, streamed over 15,000 times in 1 month, with the music video being viewed over 10,000 times in 4 days. Drunk On My Own is also exclusively spun on Sirius XM’s Channel 171. DOMO also earned Kendra her first “Best New Solo Artist” award nomination at the Mississauga Music Awards 2022.

Kendra’s 2023 single “RED” kept the ball rolling with being streamed over 65,000+ times to date, being spun on over 35 radio stations in Canada and added to over 600 user-generated playlists and multiple editorial playlists. The official music video was viewed over 15,000 times within a couple of days. During CCMA’s 2023, Kendra earned Top 5 in the Diamonds in the Rough competition hosted by Sirroma Entertainment.

This past summer Kendra was busy playing shows and festivals all over Ontario and working on the upcoming release of her debut EP “Can’t Help Myself” which will be available everywhere on September 29th 2023. This EP will feature the new single “He’s Not You”.

Following the launch of her headline Country Music Made Me Do It Tour at The Town Hall in New York City last night, GRAMMY, CMA and ACM Award-winning artist Carly Pearce releases brand new song “Heels Over Head” via Big Machine Records.

Ahead of the tour’s kick-off, Pearce stopped by NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to perform “Country Music Made Me Do It” – her love letter to country music – during the show’s first week back on the air. Watch her performance here.

The performance followed Pearce’s two nominations at the inaugural People’s Choice Country Awards, which took place on September 28 at the historic Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN. In addition to her nominations, Pearce graced the stage multiple times throughout the night: as a presenter, speaking about her favorite Opry moment with fellow country music artists, and as a performer when she took the stage for the debut performance of “Country Music Made Me Do It.” Watch her performance here.

Pearce embarked on her next musical chapter with Top-35-and-rising single “We Don’t Fight Anymore” (featuring Chris Stapleton). The single continues to garner widespread praise from fans and critics alike.

ABOUT CARLY PEARCE:  Fiercely rooted in the classics, the girl who left her Kentucky home and high school at 16 to take a job at Dollywood has grown into a woman who embraces the genre’s forward progression. GRAMMY® Award-winning singer-songwriter Carly Pearce lit a fire with her debut album Every Little Thing and the PLATINUM-certified history-making title track, and she hasn’t slowed down since. Pearce’s 3x PLATINUM-certified “I Hope You’re Happy Now ” with Lee Brice won both the 2020 CMA Awards Musical Event and 2021 ACM Awards Music Event, plus ACM Awards Single of the Year. Pearce, now a Grand Ole Opry and Kentucky Music Hall of Fame member, has come a long way from the pain she felt writing her critically acclaimed and commercially lauded third studio album 29 which includes Country Radio chart toppers “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” with Ashley McBryde and PLATINUM-certified “What He Didn’t Do.” For the PLATINUM-certified “Never Wanted To Be That Girl,” Pearce picked up her second consecutive ACM Music Event of the Year in 2022 and marked the third duet between two solo women to top Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. The song also took home the 2022 CMA Musical Event of the Year and won a GRAMMY® Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance, marking Pearce’s first and making history as the first female pairing to win in the category. Earlier this year, Pearce joined Blake Shelton’s BACK TO THE HONKY TONK TOUR and made her 100th performance at the Grand Ole Opry. As she closed out that pivotal 29 chapter with her first live album 29: WRITTEN IN STONE (LIVE FROM MUSIC CITY), Pearce now steps into the next chapter of her musical career with the praised release of her new single “We Don’t Fight Anymore” (featuring Chris Stapleton) in June and August  release of “Country Music Made Me Do It.”  Pearce is currently on her fall headline COUNTRY MUSIC MADE ME DO IT TOUR, which began October 5 and continues through November 18. In March 2024, Pearce will join Tim McGraw’s 2024 STANDING ROOM ONLY TOUR as direct support. Honored as one of CMT’s 2022 Artists of The Year , the 2021 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year and 2022 ACM Awards Female Artist of the Year, Pearce continues to resonate with her honest lyrics and timeless musicality. For tour dates and more, visit CarlyPearce.com. 

Rising Canadian Country artist and multiple CMA Ontario Award nominee Karli June releases her upbeat new single “Feel Like Home” featuring Ryan Langdon.

Produced by Gavin Slate (Tim Hicks, James Barker Band) and written by Gavin and Karli, “Feel Like Home” is an anthemic country-pop love song that tells the nostalgic tale of growing up in a small town, where every street and landmark holds cherished memories. It is all about finding that special someone who makes you remember that familiar feeling of being somewhere you feel the most comfortable and most like yourself.

“As a small-town girl – that place has such a special place in my heart. This song captures the magic of a small town and finding somebody that gives you that same feeling of pulling back onto those familiar roads. It’s my version of a long song. Ryan Langdon brought the perfect voice to the track, and it so awesome getting to bring the song to its potential with him!” – Karli June

Ryan Langdon, the former MLB prospect renowned for his powerful oak-barrel baritone, joins Karli on the summer love song. Ryan’s 2020 breakout EP “Lit in The Sticks”, featured an impressive collection of six exhilarating country tracks, including his chart-topping single “Country Like You” which has maintained a strong position in the Top 40 on Canadian Country Radio. With nearly 8 million steams, Ryan’s music remains an adored choice among country music fans.

“When I first heard the song “Feel Like Home”, I was immediately excited to be a part of this duet. Not only do I believe our voices match really well together, the message behind the lyrics really resonated with me. One of my biggest values is my homegrown roots, so I always searched for someone who shared these same values. This song really captured what I consider to be the meaning of real love, and I am so excited for the world to hear it.” – Ryan Langdon.

Based in Hamilton, Ontario, Karli June is enjoying her continued career momentum with recent nominations for multiple Country Music Association of Ontario Awards in the categories of Rising Star, Songwriter of The Year for her song “Makes You Pretty”. Karli June’s debut EP “Where You Come From” was nominated for Album of The Year as well as taking out Producer of The Year for the EP’s producer, Karen Kosowski.

The nominations follow a year of career growth in support of Karli’s debut release, which has accumulated over 1.6 million global streams. Karli was also previously selected as a participant in the prestigious TD Incubator for Creative Entrepreneurship powered by the SOCAN Foundation and was selected as Arcadia Broadcasting’s “Break Out Artist” for “Makes You Pretty” in Canada. The track was also Karli’s first foray into the Australia market, peaking at #46 on the National Australian Country Radio Charts and was recently added into rotation on CMT Australia.

Additionally, Karli’s song “The List” was included in the 1% of Honourable Mentions in the International Songwriting Competition 2022 which received over 15,000 submissions.

If Sideways announced the return of James Blundell to the charts, then Queen of The Lost Highway is the perfect follow-up.

Penned by the acclaimed international songwriting team of Australian lyricist Terry McArthur and Finnish composer Mika Kuokkanen, Queen of The Lost Highway is a unique fusion of classic Hank William’s country meets contemporary Americana and Finnish minor chord melancholia.

Producer Larry Campbell’s signature guitar motifs and Little Feat’s Bill Payne’s killer key feels curl around James Blundell’s bittersweet vocals as he laments love’s last rites, eyes wide open and the shadow of a smile on his face…

But don’t take my word for it, let’s see what JAMES BLUNDELL, the man described as the most influential Australian country artist of his generation has to say about queens, lost highways, and the ghost of Hank Williams…

LEMAR: Leon Payne penned The Lost Highway in the 1940s. The song has since
Been covered by a many artists, including Hank Williams .Tom Petty and
Willie Nelson. Queen of The Lost Highway seems like real deal sister song…

JAMES : During my time in Nashville the term Lost Highway developed absolute reality. It was used when artists were suffering burnout or were playing the Don Quixote card. It actually is a very real term in the American music or the Americana Country Palace.

LEMAR: How did you come to record Queen of The Lost Highway?

JAMES: ” The first two lines of the song go ( James sings)
Thought I saw your taillights out along the lake
You always drove so fast, so heavy on the brakes.

They were very representative of my relationship with Lidia, mother of my two oldest children. Lidia drove like a bat out of hell and always hit the brakes real hard. So, the minute I read those lyrics I thought, I actually have to sing this song. It’s a calling.

I resonated immediately with the song and the truth of my relationship with Lidia. It was a very, very strong, very deep committed, and loving relationship. And as it slowly unwound, it was probably the first time in my adult life that I came face-to-face with the fact that sometimes love is actually not enough. There’s all sorts of other forces at play that can determine whether a relationship does the term of each partner’s life.

So, I related to everything about Queen of The Lost Highway ~ its musicality, definitely the nostalgia and definitely the sense of loss, but also recognising the inevitability of the demise of a relationship really, really struck a chord.

LEMAR: You’re taking to the road on the Aussie Legends Hemp Lost Highway Tour October through November. What can fans expect?

JAMES: “The Aussie Legends Hemp Lost Highway Tour is me going live, intimate, and unplugged. I will be playing all the fan favourites and previewing a selection of songs from my new album World Don’t Stop. Can’t wait to do it!”

A new musical maturity shines through on Kiara Rodrigues’ brand new single, ‘Ain’t Your Rehab’.

Following on from Kiara Rodrigues’ radio hits, ‘High School Reunion’ and ‘Message In A Bottle’, comes ‘Ain’t Your Rehab’, and sees the award winning Nash Chambers (Kasey Chambers/Jimmy Barnes/Troy Cassar Daley) return to the producer’s chair.

Chambers again highlights Rodrigues’ continuing growth as a songwriter and an original artist who is carving out her own musical niche.

“I wrote this song thinking about how sometimes we go into relationships thinking we can fix someone and put them back together again”, says Rodrigues. “That can often come at the price of our own wellbeing, and its inevitably unachievable”.

The song has instantly resonated with her audiences when played live.

“I’ve had people come up to me and tell me they’d had this same experience or knew someone in a similar situation”, she says. “Ultimately, it’s not our responsibility to fix somebody, no matter how much we care about them”.

Born to immigrant parents of Indian heritage, Kiara Rodrigues fell in love with country music when she moved to North Queensland at the tender age of nine. Over the years, she has become a wildly popular and certified talent within the Australian country music scene. In 2023, she was named a Grand Finalist for the prestigious Toyota Star Maker competition where she wowed the 10,000 strong crowd at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

The single, ‘High School Reunion’, debuted at #2 on the iTunes Country Singles Chart, scored high rotation on ABC Country and entered the Countrytown Hot 50 Airplay Chart. Kiara Rodrigues has performed across the globe and is a graduate of the CMAA Senior Academy of Country Music.

‘Ain’t Your Rehab’ is out Friday 6th October through Checked Label Services.

If anyone knows anything about dancing to the beat of a different drum, it’s definitely 16-time Golden Guitar winner Luke O’Shea . This is no more evident than in his new single, ‘Different Drum’.

“This song was written with my great musical mate Chris Matthews who is one of Australia’s hardest working and most travelled musicians,” Luke said.

“We were discussing what was happening in the music world of late and then having a good old laugh at ourselves for we both unconsciously seem to fly directly in the face of what’s fashionable and hip.”

Neither of them sees this as a bad thing, though, as they see the world getting better at acknowledging and accepting people for who they are, regardless of certain beliefs and habits.

“Just as long as we can all remember that one simple ‘golden rule’ … ‘to treat each other as we would like to be treated’,” Luke said.

Filled with a positive story, ‘Different Drum’ spreads the love and the important message that you should just go with what feels right.

“There is a lovely little story and message to this song – plus a real little ‘what the’ moment as the outro that for me – although it ain’t ‘typical’ country – it certainly brings home the message of just going with what feels good, not what you think it should be,” Luke said.

“Just keep dancing!”

‘Different Drum’ is the fourth single, and title track, off Luke’s highly anticipated album, released on CD today and available at gigs and via Luke’s website: lukeoshea.com

The commercial contemporary country song “Don’t Blink” marks the third consistent run of singles for Sammi Palinkas including “Meet in the Middle” which debuted at #3 on the Australian iTunes chart, #8 All Genre, and charted in the official Australian Country Radio Hot 50 Chart (CountryTown), while streaming single “You’ve Lived” debuted at #5 on the Australian iTunes Country Chart.

While currently recording her debut album with award-winning producer, Rod McCormack (Paul Kelly, The Wolfe Brothers and Lee Kernaghan), “Don’t Blink”, co-written with Rod McCormack, serves as a positive, uplifting reminder that life is short and to appreciate every moment whilst we can.

“Rod brought this idea into our write, and I instantly connected with it” Palinkas said. “I had just been retrenched in a restructure at an organisation I had worked at for nearly 10 years, and the period of reflection that came afterwards was invaluable. I had worked hard, long hours, and had been stressed out for a long time. In my last week a friend reminded me that ‘no one was going to stand up at my funeral and say Sammi did a great job at the company I was working for. They were going to talk about my legacy’. At that moment I realised as much as working hard was personally rewarding, there were important moments I’d sacrificed because I had put work first, furthermore time and experiences that I couldn’t get back. My Mum, Dad and Nan have given me so much great life advice as I’ve grown up. Rod and I wanted to write ‘Don’t Blink’ as a gentle reminder to listen to the advice and experience of those around you, because life flies by when we get caught up in the day to day, and it can all be over much sooner than we realise. Cody Johnson’s ‘Til You Can’t’ is a song both Rod and I love. It has such an uplifting feel that draws you in, and then delivers a hook and a message that really makes you think – it’s almost bittersweet against the general feeling of the song. When writing ‘Don’t Blink’, Rod and I wanted to create something positive and memorable to listen to, but when it counts really makes you think.” – Sammi Palinkas

With a lifetime of accolades, from winning a national televised singing competition at age 8, to starring in SEL/GFO’s Melbourne season of “Annie” at age 11, Sammi has developed her craft and written for many years between Australia and the US (LA, NY, Nashville), collaborating with renowned songwriters and producers including Andrew Bolooki (Selena Gomez, The Weekend, Post Malone), Fiona Kernaghan (Mindy McReady, Tina Arena), Sally Barris (Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride, Lee Ann Womack), Sam Gay (Deric Ruttan, Little Texas, Bryan White) and Templeton Thompson (Reba McEntire, Jo Dee Messina and Little Texas) amongst others.

2 x CMAA Golden Guitar Female Artist of the Year (2022, 2023) and CMC Award (2018) finalist, Hayley Jensen, is set to release a brand-new summer anthem, ‘Welcome Back Summer’ on Friday 29 September 2023.

‘Welcome Back Summer’ is a catchy summer ear-worm, bound to get toes tapping and the crowd singing along! Co-written by Jensen alongside award winning artists Brooke McClymont and Adam Eckersley, it’s about the anticipation and excitement for the return of summer after the colder seasons. A cheerful, upbeat country-pop jam set to be the soundtrack of summer.

“I’ve recently been showcasing freshly written songs at shows, asking the audience to help me choose which ones I should record for the next album. ‘Welcome Back Summer’ was a standout crowd favourite, so I quickly diverted my producer’s focus to start working on it to ensure I could get it out in time for Summer! It celebrates the joys of the season, such as beach parties, the warmth of the sun on your skin, the sand beneath your toes, as well calling out what inevitably happens when it really starts to burn up – we all start ‘whinging about the heat’ – a nod to the banter at Tamworth Country Music Festival each year!” says Hayley.

‘Welcome Back Summer’ follows the hugely successful release of ‘Rock Bottom’, which skyrocketed to #1 in the Australian Country Radio and Country Radio Charts where it stayed in the top spot for 3 consecutive weeks. The unique, colourful music video had heads spinning too and was added to CMT across the board.

‘Bring It On’, released in April this year, also hit #1 on Australian Country Radio Charts and climbed to the #5 spots on KIX Country Hottest 20 and CMT Australia Top 50. It was also released to Country Radio across North America (SiriusXM) & Canadian Country Radio.

Once again, Hayley teamed up with Troy Kokol at Reluctant Cowboy Records, Canada, to produce ‘Welcome Back Summer’, who was also at the helm on her ARIA #1 Charting Country Album, ‘Breakin’ Hearts’, as well as her last two chart topping country radio singles ‘Rock Bottom’ and ‘Bring It On’.

Hayley has been touring extensively throughout 2023, showcasing brand new music at headline shows across the country, as well as performing in top festival spots such as: Tamworth Country Music Festival (headlined main stage), Gympie Music Muster, Charters Towers Country Music Festival (headliner), Stock Route Country Music Festival, Texas QLD Country Music Festival, Lights on the Hill, various PBR Australia Events & Festivals plus many more.

Popular Australian pop country crossover artist Jade Holland is heading to her hometown Mareeba Queensland for the first time in ten years.

Jade is performing at Savannah in The Round Festival 6-8 October amidst a stellar lineup of her peers which include Aussie Icons & International Luminaries Jimmy Barnes, Kasey Chambers, Daryl Braithwaite, Russell Morris and Kate Ceberano to name a few.

Holland had already written and recorded a new song aptly titled ‘Home Town’ before Savannah In The Round reached out for a theme song for the festival. The lyric sees her recalling both happy and tragic memories of her youth growing up in the far north Queensland hinterland. Catchy and nostalgic ‘Home Town’ is a song we can all relate to when thinking about home.

“I grew up on a beautiful five-acre property in the bush. I have often channelled my formative years when writing songs. Mareeba was an is a magical place.

We thought we were the coolest kids on the block hanging out at centre parking in the Main Street. We would sit there for hours planning our lives”

TC Cassidy unveils stunning bluegrass duet with Angus Gill

Golden Guitar nominee TC Cassidy unveils stunning bleugrass duet, Waiting on a Train, featuring her producer Angus Gill. The romantic bluegrass song was written by Gill with US bluegrass luminary Ronnie Bowman. It features Grammy winners Ron Block (of Alison Krauss & Union Station) and Randy Kohrs, respectively on banjo and dobro, while Arkansas native Tim Crouch provides sublime fiddle, mandolin, acoustic guitar and double bass.

The growth of country music has been phenomenal over the past 18 months and rising Adelaide Hills singer-songwriter sisters Ella & Sienna have held their own, winning awards and gaining a rapidly growing fan base Australia wide, proving they are one of the most exciting emerging artists in the Australian music scene.

Powerful and liberating, Ella & Sienna’s latest release ‘Like A Boy’ embraces the sisters’ newfound country-pop sound. Recorded with renowned producer Ken Royster in Nashville, Tennessee, the dynamic track showcases the heartfelt storytelling the sisters are earning a reputation for. The anthemic track embodies vocal harmonies that soar over rich layers of guitars, intense drum builds and prominent slide riffs.

“We had the incredible opportunity to record ‘Like A Boy’ in Nashville earlier this year after winning the NQ’s Rock’n Country Reboot Competition and we absolutely loved every minute of the process. We were keen to see how the track came to life in the studio and we were really thrilled with how it turned out” Ella.

“Of all the songs we’ve recorded, this is one of our favourites for sure. And we’re really excited to see how everyone reacts to it. Hopefully they love it as much as we do”. Sienna.

Ella & Sienna’s list of achievements are astounding and undeniably impressive. It’s been a meteoric rise for the talented young duo who have seen growing accolades over the past 2 years. Winners of the Most Popular Country Artist in the South Australian Music Awards 2022, winners of the Groundwater KIX Start and NQ’s Rockin’ Country Reboot Competitions in 2022, Top 24 Finalists in The Voice Australia (Season 11) 2022, Finalists in the Folk Alliance Australian Youth Folk Artist of the Year 2021 and 2022, second place in both the Battle of the Young Stars and Best of the Buskers Competitions at the Tamworth Country Music Festival and Semi-Finalists in the prestigious International Songwriting Competition 2020 have all helped to shape the artists they are today.

A favourite amongst Australian radio, Ella & Sienna have received support from major players KIX Country, ABC Country and community radio which has earned them chart success on the Countrytown Hottest 50 Chart. CMT have supported the girls in high rotation with music videos and they have been added to editorial playlists including Spotify’s New Music Friday and YouTube Music’s ‘Incoming Country’.

Captivating audiences across the country at shows and iconic music festivals has seen Ella & Sienna perform at Tamworth Country Music Festival, Groundwater Country Music Festival, Gympie Music Muster, NQ’s Rockin’ Country, the EKKA (Brisbane) Semaphore Music Festival, Country By the River (SA) Fleurieu Folk Festival and Valley Folk Festival amongst others whilst also sharing the stages with John Schumann (Redgum) Amy Sheppard, Kristy Cox and Jayne Denham to name a few.

Now touring across several states to promote their debut EP ‘Seven Ways To Say You’re Fine’ EP, Ella & Sienna continue to build momentum, cementing the sisters as one of the most exciting acts to come out of Australian country music in years.

Ella & Sienna’s new single ‘Like a Boy’ is out at radio and digital platforms on Friday 29th September.

This incredible song is the Title Track to a beautiful collection of songs about Duncan’s life & Family. It’s written with love to Duncan’s dad, Bob Toombs who passed away in Aug 2021.

From Duncan – I started writting this song while I was making trip’s back home to Toowoomba visiting my father in hospital. He was suffering from multiple mini stokes due to the lung cancer which was found while running tests on him. I finished the song the day the nurses called me while at home to let me know he had passed. It was soon realised that I would not be able to be at my father’s funeral as the QLD border was locked again. With the help of my producer Rod McCormack, we recorded and mixed the song within a matter of days. My family then helped me create a short video for it which features a trip I took to Europe with dad and my 2 boys in 2018 and It was played at my father’s service. I watched my father’s service via live stream from my loungeroom with my family and the saving grace from not being able to be there was that at least my energy was there in the room with him. My Dad was a Train Driver and worked for QLD rail for over 30 years. He was a true people’s champion. I miss him a lot.

Duncan.

“Steel On Steel” is a rare debut album that reveals an incredible degree of maturity, craftsmanship, and emotional depth for a brand new songwriter. With Streaming for his album fast approaching 1 million streams this Australian Aria Number #1 Country Album has created massive waves here in Oz and has fast become a favourite among fans and fellow Artists throughout the OZ music industry. Duncan’s live shows are nothing short of spectacular. The atmosphere Duncan creates leaves his audiences spellbound by the heart and passion woven into the lyrics of Duncan’s songs. Over the last 10 months Duncan has made the front of the stage his new home, wowing audiences all over the country whilst touring with Beccy Cole & Adam Harvey. The spotlights are finally revealing to fans across the world the talents that Duncan has been hiding for some time. This highly awarded filmmaker and sought-after guitarist to the stars is set to stand amongst our brightest stars.

Refreshed and refocused, Sunshine Coast artist Tori Forsyth ushers in a new era with the release of her new single ‘Sometimes’. Her first release in two years, ‘Sometimes’ is a song that marks a strong intention for the 3 x Golden Guitar Award nominee, that is to seek out and pursue what she loves, and to settle for nothing less.

With plenty of new music on the way, ‘Sometimes’ is a return to the unique alt-country sound that first launched Tori’s music career. Driven by her arresting vocals, and featuring friend and country music icon Shane Nicholson, the new single is a delicate and tender reflection on the ending of a relationship, without malice or resentment, simply bittersweet.

“Sometimes’ is a breakup song.” Tori openly shares, “The only one on the record, the only one I have ever written, the only one I intend to write. Plain and simple, sometimes out of nowhere, your heart gets broken. But you pick up the pieces and move on and sometimes, most of the time, something beautiful is on the other side.”

‘Sometimes’ is produced with Scott Horscroft (Charlie Collins, Brooke & Adam Eckersley) and is recorded at The Grove Studios with her full band of Reece Baines (drums), Matthew Newton (guitars) and Zachary Miller (bass), and joined by Mak Brothers , Thom (guitar) and Andy (keys)

Eight years after emerging from regional NSW seemingly fully formed with the release of her evocative single ‘New Wall’ and the acclaimed EP Black Bird, Tori’s highly anticipated 2018 debut album Dawn of the Dark was hailed as one of the standout country album releases of the year. It planted Tori at the forefront of alternative country music, underpinning her incomparable songwriting and gritty and expressive vocals.

Not one to follow the crowds, Tori’s second album Provlépseis (2021) was an unexpected swerve away from traditional alt-country and into a more bold and bruising rock record that pushed her out of her comfort zone. Released during a period of uncertainty and world closures, the album and its singles ‘Be Here’ and ‘Down Below’ continued to resonate with loyal fans. Big streaming numbers followed, with Tori currently boasting over 15 million artist global streams on Spotify alone.

But 18 months ago, the boundary pushing artist found herself at a crossroads. Living on her parent’s farm in rural QLD, Forsyth began to think she didn’t have anything to give anymore; she wasn’t sure who she was as an artist and what her musical future looked like. The songs weren’t coming, and for the first time in a long time Tori wasn’t putting pen to paper, sifting through her feelings, and distilling them into songs that strike at people’s hearts. It was, in Tori’s words, a “big old identity crisis”.

The fog lifted when Tori settled on a new vision: to only pursue what she loved and to stick true to her values. Suddenly, with no pressure or urgency resting on her shoulders, the songs began flowing out of her. The new songs were sculpted literally and figuratively by nature, with Tori spending months living in a treehouse listening to music from the likes of Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce, Miranda Lambert, Nashville bluegrass outfit The SteelDrivers, with some ’90s Jewel, all while working on her parent’s horse stud and literally covered in trees.

It explains why ‘Sometimes’ feels real, warm and lived in, and no surprise why Tori chose to film the official video, directed by Bradley Murnane from Spill Films, on her parent’s property with her full band.

With a newfound freedom and lightness propelling her forward into a new chapter, once again Tori Forsyth is ready to take her place at the forefront of Australian country music. Following her BIGSOUND performances, Tori will be supporting US country artist Jackson Dean in Melbourne and Sydney with more news of live shows to come.