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James Keith understands the power of positivity and it fuels him like firewood to a flame.
It’s a theme that runs through the heart of his high energy brand of Country Rock.

James discovered a passion for music working on his family’s vineyard in Orange, NSW.

“Dad would have vinyls and CDs which we would play all day long.” However, before a career in
music he followed in his father’s footsteps – Peter Mortimer; a professional rugby league
player, alongside uncles Steve and Chris Mortimer – and donned the jersey for Manly.
It was back in his hometown that James holed up with producer, Craig Honeysett, at Dotted
Eight Studios to craft his debut album, ‘Life Is Good Today’. Pounding drums, blistering
guitars and anthemic choruses became the keystones that support James’ autobiographical
tales of positivity and persistence.

The ‘Say I Do’ video clip, approved for CMT’s locals only and New Country Playlists, features a ‘real life’ marriage proposal.

‘Life is Good Today’ has been James’ mantra ever since a trip to Nashville, TN in 2011. “All
the cover bands kept playing this song with the lyrics “life is good today” which really
resonated with me.”

James’ songs brim with unbridled positivity and optimism. “I look at the positive to every
situation and want my music to bring people joy not dwell on negatives.” That’s James in a
nutshell – ask anyone – his three children, his four brothers or his father; all of whom are the
inspiration behind the family orientated debut album.
Life is Good Today is set for release in 2023.

COURTNEY KEIL RELEASES NEW SINGLE ‘LETS PRETEND’ + ANNOUNCES FORTHCOMING DEBUT ALBUM RELEASE

Heralded as “one of the most exciting talents in Australian country music” by Beat Magazine, and recently crowned ‘Best Female Vocal’ at the 2023 Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards, Courtney Keil has once again lived up to her reputation with the release of her latest single, ‘Let’s Pretend’. The track precedes the release of Courtney’s long awaited album The Good Kind (out February 24) and is available for pre-order now.

‘Let’s Pretend’ was born from an early morning zoom co-write between Courtney, acclaimed Nashville-based songstress Sally Barris, and producer Rod McCormack. The trio have proved to be a reckonable creative force, crafting the latest of the NSW Central Coast based singer’s catchy bops.

The result of their latest collaboration is an emotive tale about risking it all for true love. ”Let’s Pretend’ is a vulnerable, heartfelt conversation between a mother and daughter about meeting someone new and hoping he is the one,” explains Courtney. Its verses wrestle a parent’s hard-learned wisdom with the unbridled optimism of youth. “Sometimes you just have to pretend that it will all work out.”

The mid-tempo, slow burn is saddled with tones from the country music playbook, both new and old. “[It was] recorded in The Music Cellar on the Central Coast (by Rod McCormack), woven together with some of my favourite classic country sounds,” recalls Courtney. Yearning electric guitar riffs collide with the unmistakable sound of dobro to provide a subtle bed for Courtney’s honey-dipped vocal. The sound is reminiscent of a 90s ballad, à la Faith Hill or Shania Twain, yet also possesses a sensibility akin to modern day hits.

Since releasing her gripping debut single ‘I Just Wanna Hold You’ within the maw of COVID-19 in 2020, Courtney has enjoyed a swift ascent. The aforementioned single garnered a semi-finalist position in the International Songwriting Competition (ISC) and was named in the Top 40 of the Vanda and Young Global Songwriting Competition, while 4 of her singles hit #1 on the iTunes Country Singles chart. All of her singles have featured on Apple Music editorial playlists, and she has consistently achieved chart positions on the Country Hot 50 airplay chart, the most recent being ‘Hard Place’, which took out the #21 spot.

Beyond the streams, Courtney has been popping up on stages around Australia. She’s opened for Aussie favourites, The Whitlams, supported Andrew Swift and Angus Gill and performed at a string of shows in Gina Jeffreys and Tania Kernaghan’s Girl Night Out Tour at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, NQs Rockin’ Country and Savannah in the Round. Courtney will launch her upcoming debut album, The Good Kind, with a live show on February 23 at The Sunken Monkey, Erina.

Courtney Keil has once again delivered a heartfelt track worthy of spinning on repeat. While it falls in line with Courtney’s joyful brand of hopeful love songs, her performance on ‘Let’s Pretend’ is markedly more vulnerable. Listeners certainly won’t have to pretend to fall in love with this instant classic.

The inspiration for ‘Time Rolls On’ came from noticing a beat up old Akubra (bushman’s) hat hanging on the wall above the stage at The Dag sheep station in Nundle, New South Wales. As soon as Brendan noticed it on the wall, he started to wonder about the journey the well-worn hat had been on, and who it had journeyed with.

Award winning singer songwriter, Brendan McMahon, grew up in the small town of Kapunda near South Australia’s Barossa Valley. He discovered his love of music at the tender age of 15 after being “awed and floored” seeing Jimi Hendrix play on television; amazed by the sounds that Jimi could pull from a guitar and captivated by the iconic performer’s showmanship. Borrowing money from his mother (and paying it back at $2 a week) he promptly bought himself a $60 guitar and amp rig from a mate.

Initially wanting to be a glam-rock superstar in the 80s and 90s (think Van Halen, Kiss, Def Leppard), McMahon later transitioned to the more storytelling driven tunes of songwriters such as Paul Kelly, Harry Manx, Richard Thompson and Garth Brooks, artists that continue to inspire him today.

Spending his late teens and early twenties as a lead singer/lead guitarist in rock cover bands playing across Adelaide and country Victoria, McMahon honed his skills the hard way – in front of demanding Australian pub and club crowds. In 1998, and now bitten by both the song writing and performance bug, McMahon released a 7-track EP called ‘Picture This’ with his band The Cunning Stunts.

In 2015 and 2016, Brendan released the solo albums ‘Falling To Earth’ and ‘Marker 7-58′ under the moniker of Satellite Gods, and in doing so was fortunate enough to collaborate and work with some renowned Australian musicians including Peter Maslen (Boom Crash Opera), Jason Vorherr (Darryl Braithwaite), Bob Spencer (The Angels), Simon Hosford (Vanessa Amorosi) and Wilbur Wilde (Ol’ 55).

After supporting artists such as Boom Crash Opera, Russell Morris, Wendy Stapleton and The Chantoozies in Australia, Brendan released the LP ‘On This Fine Occasion’ in 2017, which received great reviews both locally and internationally.

In 2019, McMahon, who now calls Melbourne home, released ‘In The Moment’ – his 4th solo album. Maturity, reflection and drawing on his personal experiences, his inspired yet refined lyrics again take listeners on a captivating journey.

Recorded with Steve Vertigan at Soggy Dog Recording Studios, and again drawing upon Australian music royalty in its creation – namely Dave Leslie (Baby Animals), Danny Spencer (Jimmy Barnes Band), Brett Kingman (James Reyne Band), and Peter Maslen and Jason Vorherr, plus a string trio from the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (Sarah Curro, Gabi Halloran and Paul Zabrowarny), this powerful album embraces the essence of story-telling and leaves you thinking about the songs long after the last track finishes.

November 2020 saw the release of ‘No Rush Today’, an album that debuted at No. 2 on the iTunes country music chart on release. McMahon feels his 5th solo offering cemented him in the Country Rock space. The album delivered 3 top 10 AMRAP singles, ‘Jack’, ‘Sugar Cane Man’ and ‘Wired To The Moon’ along with strong charting on many other Australian charts including a No.4 position in France with ‘Sugar Cane Man’.

Once again, the collaboration of Soggy Dog Studios (Steve Vertigan) and McMahon, along with the incredible session musicians from previous albums, has delivered an album of stories about personal journey, travel experiences and people.

June, 2022, marked the release of ‘As The Road Unfolds’, the most successful record to date. It debuted as the highest selling Australian album on the iTunes Country chart. It has also delivered no less than seven chart topping singles – ‘Jenni J’, ‘When I See You Tonight’, ‘I Feel A Change’, ‘Skin & Bone’, ‘Gundry’s Track’, ‘Back Roads’ and ‘President Reynaldo’.

Australia’s favourite husband and wife duo, Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley, today release ‘Country Music, You And Beer’, the new single from their highly anticipated second album.

“Country Music, You and Beer is a celebration of the simple things in life, it’s a light-hearted tip of the hat to 3 of our favourite things and will hopefully be a part of the soundtrack that plays while our fans enjoy a tin or 2 with the people they love.” shares Brooke McClymont.

The pair remain on a high following last week’s triumphant wins at the 2023 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards. Taking home three awards from their four nominations, Brooke and Adam topped the night winning the Song of the Year for their single ‘Star of the Show’, Apple Music Single of the Year for their song ‘Memory Lane’ and the award for Country Music Capital News Group or Duo of the Year – bringing their total of Golden Guitar Award wins to 20 across their career. Their daughter, 10-year-old Tiggy Heart Eckersley also became the youngest person in history to be recognised with a Golden Guitar Award, sharing the Song of the Year win with her parents and Dan Biederman as fellow songwriters.

‘Country Music, You And Beer’ is the follow-up to the upbeat single ‘Roll On Baby’, and will be the third single to be released from their forthcoming new album.

Releasing their debut album as the duo, Adam & Brooke in 2018, the #1 ARIA Country Album was received rapturously within the country community, garnering accolades and awards all over. Last year, Brooke McClymont was voted as the runner-up on Network 10’s I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! where she won the hearts on the show with her acoustic performance of ‘Star Of The Show’, which reached #1 on the iTunes Single and Video Chart after the episode of Brooke performing it for her camp mates went to air.

Brooke McClymont is one third of top-selling, award-winning Australian country music trio The McClymonts. With over 200,000 album sales, 40 million streams, two ARIA Awards, fifteen Golden Guitar Awards, one CMA (USA) Award, one APRA Award and five #1 ARIA Country Albums, the McClymonts are a dominant female group in Australian country music with major success from hits such as ‘Kick It Up’, ‘Wrapped Up Good’ and ‘I’ve Got This’.

Adam Eckersley has won two Golden Guitar Awards: the first in 2015 for New Talent of the Year; and then in 2016 in the Group or Duo of the Year category with The Adam Eckersley Band. Their 2014 debut album, The First Album, debuted in the Top 5 on the ARIA Country Chart, with The Second Album debuting at #7 the following year. Adam has also been recognised for his songwriting, winning the APRA Award for Country Work of the Year (2015), and receiving an Honourable Mention in the International Songwriting Competition in 2014.

A tribute to Australia’s pioneering farmers gets a modern country treatment in Jax Tonic’s new single, ‘Country Boy’, out February 3, revealing a new side to the singer-songwriter.

Although from Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Jax dreams that the country boy is, in fact, himself.

“Country Boy is a tribute to farmers and their families, highlighting all the amazing work they do,” he said.

“I believe we should get right behind them and this song was written about a farmer and what they do in their life, their grit and their hard work ethic.

“It’s not only about the farmer, but about their family and their kids and everything they go through with being away from home at times and coming back. Deep down, I want it to be me.

“I have a hidden passion to want to be on the land.”

Jax does have country roots with his mother’s family from Forbes and often spends time with farming friends.

“As I get out and about and learn more about everything, it’s a tribute to what farmers do for our country – it’s got its ups and downs depending on the weather and other factors but they keep going,” he said.

“Country Boy highlights the old school farmers, while recognising the new people coming through, but with the theme that they ‘don’t make them like they used to’.

Being his second single release since launching his original music career, and hot on the heels of ‘On The Front Foot’, Country Boy aims to give listeners a sense of who they are.

“I want the listeners to get a sense of belonging to the whole country culture and way of life and a feeling of pride around that,” Jax said.

“Giddy up might be the “let’s go girls” of 2023!” – Entertainment Tonight

“Shania Twain knows how to make a pure pop country bop.” – Consequence

“Superstar status and genre-crossing appeal…an era-defining artist” – NME

“The triumphant return of a global icon” – Music Week

Today, five-time GRAMMY® Award-winning legend and the best-selling female artist in country music history Shania Twain proudly presents her eagerly awaited new album, Queen of Me. Listen to Queen of Me-HERE. Fans can also shop https://officialstore.shaniatwain.com/ for signed LPs, CDs, box sets, exclusive picture discs, cassettes, and more. RUN, DON’T WALK!

Building anticipation for the SHANIA-SSANCE, the Queen herself heralded the record with a series of fan-favorite bops, including “Waking Up Dreaming,” “Last Day of Summer,” and “Giddy Up!” Each track incited widespread acclaim from Rolling Stone, Billboard, Entertainment Tonight, Variety, People, Consequence, NME, Music Week, and so many more.

Queen of Me has ALL the makings of another Shania classic. It’s confident. It’s catchy. It’s compelling from beginning to end all powered by the kind of anthems that transformed her into a multi-generational icon. The record is a limitless expression of pop that allows it to sit comfortably next to Twain’s many chart successors, enshrining it as the most upbeat, playful, and joyous of all her albums.

The album is sonically inspired by ’70s and ’80s funk and rock-just like the sounds she grew up with and considered her heroes. It’s a departure from the past and a strident step into an ever-improving future.

The album consists of 12 new tracks. In the stand-out friendship anthem “BEST Friend,” Shania affectionately gushes over her closest confidant as she emphasizes “you always take the blame and you know I’d do the same for you. No matter what, yeah I got you, and I know that you got me.”

The LP represents a deep and dynamic creative statement from this iconic voice – from the energetic opener “Giddy Up!” through the empowered title track “Queen of Me,” and the passionate finale “The Hardest Stone” – which was produced by Tyler Joseph (Twenty One Pilots).

With Queen of Me, Twain proves once more that she’s got as much to offer as she ever has, and that she’s never going to run out of great ideas.

To celebrate this next era in style, she will also embark on a global Queen of Me Tour, produced by Live Nation. The tour marks the first time fans around the world will get to see the queen in all of her glory in nearly five years, following a highly successful Vegas residency run. Kelsea Ballerini, Lindsay Ell, Hailey Whitters, Breland, Robyn Ottolini, Priscilla Block, Mickey Guyton, Lily Rose, Talk, and Tenille Townes will be joining Shania on select dates throughout the tour.

The Queen of Me Tour kicks off on Friday, April 28th at Spokane Arena in Spokane, WA and makes stops across North America and Europe in Vancouver, Denver, Toronto, Los Angeles, New York, London, Dublin, and more before wrapping up on November 14th at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC.

Additionally, Shania and Live Nation have announced that $1 of every ticket purchased to Shania’s “Queen Of Me” Tour will be donated to SKC. Established in 2010 by Shania Twain, SKC provides services that promote positive change in children’s lives in times of crises and economic hardship. SKC provides children with one-on-one consultations, academic support and group activities, as well as nutritious snacks and meal programs where needed, all while in the safe, confidence-building environment that is the Shania Kids Can Clubhouse. These children are learning the skills to cope with and overcome family hardships which, in turn, improves their ability to succeed in school. For more information about Shania Kids Can, please visit: www.shaniakidscan.com

The Long and Short Of Its highly successful single ‘A Little Love Will Fix You Up’ takes listeners instantly to a place of high vibrancy and bright energy, feeling whisked away to a world of positive reassurance that love will fix you up. The single release from duo members David Baird and Patsy Toop comes off of their highly acclaimed album ‘Midnight Choir’, which climbed to #1 on the ARIA Australian Country Albums Chart, as well as #3 on the ARIA Country Albums Chart and #6 on the ARIA Australian Albums Chart. This latest release has a feel good summer sound to it, and the comfort that this song places upon listeners is powerful, soothing, and needed in a medium people use so much, like music.

With over 161K streams to date, this single has hit new heights and numbers for The Long and Short Of It, and has put them on the map globally, garnering attention across the globe. “Sometimes it’s difficult to find the right person to love,” David Baird says, “But don’t give up because time will heal all and love is the ultimate tonic that will fix you up.”

The lyrics of this song ring true and assure anyone that much can be fixed with love. This song is the type that someone can cling on to and feel moved by, or even better, changed by. “When you feel your world will never ever be the same, there’s no way you could get over the break, stealing for a healing left you feeling that you can’t trust, oh, a little bit of love, a little love will fix you up.”

David and Patsy’s warm vocals are perfectly layered within the song and express the immense passion and emotion that are woven into the lyrics. The album was produced by Emmy Award-winning Music Producer Kenny Royster, who is notable for producing Luke Combs’ number-one hit, ‘Hurricane,’ and working with Michael Ray and Trace Adkins.

Continuing the success of the ‘Midnight Choir’ album, “‘A Little Love Will Fix You Up’ was written to inspire anyone to get over a heartbreak and find new love as a little love will fix you up,” adds Kenny.

It is widely known that any great songwriter must be able to effectively communicate emotion through their lyrics, and The Long and Short of It have surely mastered that skill, as proven through this new single. The duo continues to create traditional country music by penning relatable lyrics that are truly inspiring. The way that David and Patsy so seamlessly communicate feelings to their listeners through their authentic lyrics is rare. A true testament to the power of their songwriting, and the precision of it as well.

Just in time for Valentines Day. From the hugely successful ‘Jealous of the Sky’ album which has so far delivered three independent country #1’s in the US, UK and Europe. Australian music legend Marty Rhone’s renaissance continues with another great track from his first US country album recorded at Cactus Studios in the Hollywood Hills by record producer heavyweight David J Holman (Grease and Xanadu soundtracks, Gwen Stefani). A track written for Marty by Aussie country heavyweights Gina Jeffries and Rod McCormack for those for whom Valentines Day might be a bit special this year or those who just like a pulsating country rock song with a solid beat and loads of energy. There is also a music video which spreads optimism and warmheartedness. Thanks for listening and considering. Six decades as a recording artist has not diminished this Aussie legends ability to deliver.

Hot off the back of three sold out shows with International Superstar Ed Sheeran , Kaylee Bell releases a new hit single “BOOTS ‘N ALL” a nod to Shania Twain and all her 90’s inspirations. Bell just returned from Tamworth where she celebrated 10 years of Toyota Star Maker, played a sold out show at TREC with James Johnston and took home her first Golden Guitar Award for Vocal Collaboration . Bell is currently on the biggest tour in the world, the ‘Mathematics’ Stadium World Tour with Ed Sheeran playing to crowds of around 80,000 every night.

“BOOTS ‘N ALL” is a song written by Bell, Michael Paynter and Michael DeLorenzis of MSquared and Emily Hatton at an APRA Songhubs in Brisbane. Bell initially had the song title and describes the song as Shania meets HAIM, an up-tempo, ‘tongue in cheek’ song about the expectation placed on a future partner. It is a playful, feel good anthem that Bell hopes will be screamed by the masses. The track was produced by Lindsay Rimes (Kane Brown) and is set to become a huge song in Bell’s energetic live show, that is quickly winning over new fans both in Australia and NZ.

No stranger to the international stage, Bell is enjoying a highlight-filled music career brimming with an impressive catalogue of self-written hits. Recently appearing on The Voice Australia in 2022, her single ‘Keith’ went viral and has since amassed over 14 million streams on Spotify alone and with over 40 million streams, Bell is the ‘Most Streamed Female Country Artist’ in Australasia for the past four years.

2022 saw Bell open for New Zealand’s biggest band on the SIX60 Stadium Tour, headline Coca Cola Christmas in the Park NZ, and open for US Country Star Brad Paisley on the NZ leg of his World Tour alongside Morgan Evans.

Bell will continue the Ed Sheeran tour playing three sold out stadiums across NZ, then will be back to Australia where she will appear at both Gippsland and Goulburn Festivals through April, before heading back to Nashville where she plans to finish her record.

Cultivating the ground work for a momentous 2023 and hurtling toward the launch of their debut album, the Vixens of Fall deliver their stunning new single and self-love anthem, “Mirror Mirror”.

“We wrote Mirror Mirror from the perspective of self-love. It’s a reflection of acknowledging life’ s ups and downs… the Magick… the Chaos and the beauty that comes from both,” the sister trio said of the new single. The track lilts around within a soft, mid-tempo Country Rock space, with its lyrical messaging lending itself to a dancing-on-the-bed-singing-into-a-hairbrush moment.

The track demonstrates the Vixens sonic diversity, yet another single on a strong list of previous releases that will build the foundations of an impactful debut album, which the sisters successfully crowd-funded last year and are due to release this coming March.

Their previous single, “Prove You Wrong”, garnered traction with over 70,000 streams, a #1 spot on the AMRAP charts and title of #1 Most Downloaded single to Australian Country Radio during release. “Mirror Mirror” is a co-write between the Vixens of Fall, Rod McCormack (Paul Kelly, The McClymonts, Beccy Cole) and Sam Gay (Little Texas, Montgomery Gentry, Bryan White, Johnny Rodriguez).

The Vixens have shown their community a consistent commitment to spreading the good word on no-holds self-love and passionate self-empowerment, with “Mirror Mirror” creating another vessel for this important perspective. “Life is always teaching us lessons whether we see them straight away or not… the value comes from sitting with your journals, your thoughts or yourself in the mirror and knowing that end of the day… everything always works out as it should,” say the Vixens.

2023 has already started with full energy, seeing the sisters venture to the 51st Tamworth Country Music Festival to play multiple shows, including a performance at the TCMF People’s Choice Awards, of which the group were recently nominated for Best Group or Duo and were the recipients of the ICMAA award for the Most Popular Australian Independent Country Music Band 2023 .

“Mirror Mirror” can be enjoyed in all the usual spots; and for lovers of a good old fashioned hard-cover copy, keep an eye out for the debut Vixens of Fall album this coming March.