Allison Forbes – Dead Men Tell No Tales

Two years ago Tamworth-bred country artist Allison Forbes had the world at her feet. Her debut album ‘Bonedigger’ – produced by Oz country legend Shane Nicholson – had come out in early-2020 to near universal acclaim, debuting at #1 on the ARIA Australian Country charts.

It was the second highest-selling independent record across all genres in that heady first week, with Forbes’ distinctive take on outlaw Americana near omnipresent on country radio, topping numerous radio charts in the process.

It’s hard to imagine things going better for the mould-breaking singer-songwriter – Forbes and ‘Bonedigger’ would go on to score four prestigious Golden Guitar nominations at the 2021 Tamworth Country Music Festival, and be voted Most Popular Female Artist at the 2020 Independent Country Music Awards – but then… the COVID pandemic struck.

Instead of Forbes being able to hit the road and consolidate the hard-fought traction she’d achieved with ‘Bonedigger’ – connecting with her existing audience and winning over new fans with her captivating live show – the country plunged into lockdown and the hard-fought momentum began slowly ebbing away.

Such immeasurably poor timing would have justifiably broken many artists, but instead Forbes doubled down and poured her heart and soul into what would become her brilliant second album, ‘Dead Men Tell No Tales’. It’s a collection which hones and magnifies Forbes’ indubitable talent to create an album conceived in and forged by adversity, yet which transcends its tough-times genesis courtesy the stunning empathy and compassion which floods through these beautifully-rendered tales of loss and grief.

“It was really an album that I didn’t know that I needed to make until I wrote the songs, and even now looking back on it I didn’t realise how relevant it was going to be,” Forbes admits. “Everyone was experiencing a lot of loss, including myself. I lost one of my best friends fairly early during the pandemic – I’ve also dedicated the album to him – and I think that loss tied in with a lot of other confusion, and a bit of angst as well. There’s a muse that’s a common thread through the songs.

“They’re definitely the most personal songs I’ve ever written. I usually tend to be quite metaphorical when I write, which is not something that I’ve ever done on purpose – maybe it’s been a fear of revealing too much – but the songs here are very, very close to the bone.”

Importantly though – despite the serious themes threading through the narratives – ‘Dead Men Tell No Tales’ is far from a grim listen, with a healthy dose of hope and positivity never far from the surface.

“I always do have a glimmer of hope in my songs, I’m a really optimistic person at heart,” the singer smiles. “I wouldn’t want it to be completely sombre and depressing. I always want there to be a little bit of something – a little bit of hope that life will continue or that things will get better. I always aim to have positivity shining through even the bleakest moments.”

Having already spawned three strong singles in ‘Pieces Of Silver’, ‘Only Got One Road’ and ‘Save You Now’, this time around on ‘Dead Men Tell No Tales’ Forbes’ songwriting acumen was abetted by the skills of ARIA Award-winning producer Matt Fell (Troy Cassar-Daley, Shane Nicholson, John Williamson), who – working remotely from his Leichhardt studio – helped bring her fledgling ideas to stunning fruition, both in terms of song arrangements and the crack band he pulled together for the occasion.

“I remember saying to Shane [Nicholson] about producing ‘Bonedigger’, ‘How are you going to make all these songs work together?’ and he was, like, ‘That’s why I lose sleep at night!'” she laughs. “Matt was essentially the same, he just took these songs and put this beautiful flavour on them.

“They just flow and blend really well together, and they sound like the story – the story of me at the time. That’s what a brilliant producer does, he’s the brains behind it and the one who takes these simple ideas and basic demos and turns them into these incredible, melodic and beautiful musical journeys.”

And while the music on ‘Dead Men Tell No Tales’ is undeniably of the country persuasion, the intoxicating blend of traditional country, alt-country, folk, rock and bluegrass – unified by Forbes’ commanding vocals – defies easy classification, not that it’s of any concern to Forbes herself.

“I just do what I do, really. I’m not sure if I fit into the classic country music style, although I think that’s changing a lot,” the singer muses. “Without being too cliché, I think there are a lot of different types of music now that are borrowing from other genres but still fitting under the country music umbrella.

“I have a lot of respect for traditional country music – obviously growing up in Tamworth I’ve grown up listening to bush ballads and traditional country artists my whole life, and I have a huge respect for them. So the natural country influence is there – it’s just there, and it always will be there but there are other influences that have crept in over the years – a bit of rock influence, and I love bluegrass and there’s some obvious flourishes showing up from that field.

“But I’m happy to just do what I do and not fit too much into any pigeonhole – I’m happy to be genre-bending! I’m happy to welcome all kinds of country music into the fold, into the mix. Things are changing – the world’s changing, music’s changing – so we’ve got to keep changing and evolving as well. It’s all about the songs.”

And despite the troubled times which ushered ‘Dead Men Tell No Tales’ into the world – and the many opportunities sadly missed due to circumstances far beyond her control – for Allison Forbes nothing is more important than simply being true to herself.

“It’s a double-edged sword to try to be yourself and be authentic – being authentic and really honest means more to me than anything – but it’s difficult because I guess I’m not really a game-player: I don’t follow the same path as a lot of the successful artists. I’m coming to terms with the fact that mainstream success may be something I’ll never have, but I’ll always be me, and I’m okay with that.”

Tony Kennelly – Kicking Stones

Tony Kennelly is a seasonal performer that will take you on a journey with his unique style of song writing.

The inspiration for his songs come from a lifetime of events that have moved him to write, and at the same time, be able to tell a story. He loves nothing more than to share his music with others and have people being part of the performance, finding themselves drawn into the words and music he so skillfully portrays. He says, “I love it when people applaud, it touches me deeply”.

Tony’s second album, ‘Battlegrounds’, is a testament of Tony’s mastery of songwriting ability. Produced by Shane Nicholson, a legend in his own right, Tony’s recent single releases have been played throughout Australia on numerous radio stations. ‘Leave The Gate Open’ was released with consistent airplay. ‘Wasted Time’ done very well on the charts, whilst ‘Sailing’ has continued to be on high rotation throughout the country.

Another feather in his cap for many years, Tony’s music has been always been in the Top 10 of any contests he has entered his songs into. This year being no exception, with four out of five songs entered in the Australian Songwriters Association in the top 30, and one in the Top 10. Not bad considering the number of entries.

Tony’s latest release from the ‘Battlegrounds’ album is ‘Kicking Stones’. It will take you back to a time of leaving the security of school life, to the uncertainty of the work place, with the added pressures of actually working for a living and becoming somewhat overwhelmed. The chorus of the song is a metaphor … “We’re Just Kicking Stones” … but is very relatable to us all. It could be said that this one is a light-hearted look at life.

With the talents of Shane Nicholson’s production, and the backing vocals of Allison Forbes, ‘Kicking Stones’ will be one of those songs you will want to hear a lot of.

Grayson – Unsolved Mystery

‘Unsolved Mystery’ is the new radio single by Nashville based Australian artist Grayson. The song is a mix of modern country and easy listening, which is perfect for today’s radio format and listeners.

Grayson captures the heart of every moment with his gift of storytelling. His music and lyrics captivate us with not only tales of heartfelt experiences, but the often forgotten moments in between. Grayson captures those precious moments and delivers them to his audience with a rare, raw sincerity.

Michael Edser is Grayson, which is a reference to his childhood street where he grew up in Australia and where he spent many years developing his talent to write, sing and play music.

A captivating songwriter with a style reminiscent of some of the greats in the industry, Grayson receives international praise for being a unique artist with an Americana/country folk style. As his music evolves, he continues to differentiate himself from the current musical landscape on mainstream country radio.

Grayson relocated to the US in 2011 and currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee. Since making America his new home, he has continued developing his talents as an artist and widening his fan base. The documentary ’66 Days On Route 66′ won the Gold Award at the 2011 Cinerokom Film Festival in LA, and captures Grayson’s 66 performances on tour in the US over the course of 66 days on Route 66. The journey chronicled his discovery of the behind-the-scenes America, and his own self-discovery, as he learned more of who he really is, as a musician, as a visitor, and as a human being. Through a series of vignettes and short-take interviews, Grayson shares his perspective and views of the American Dream, Route 66, and not just what he is offering to America through this tour, but what he believes America offers him in return.

In addition to writing and recording his own music, Grayson is a highly sought after producer and guitar session player in Nashville. He is known in the recording studio for his technical abilities as a guitarist, as well as his sharp ear and talent creating moving melodies and powerful arrangements for other artists, turning bedroom demo’s into radio ready masterpieces.

Between 2015 and 2020, Grayson produced, arranged and played on over 70 projects for other artists across all musical genres, whilst recording and releasing his own material, and touring.

HARDY – Give Heaven Some Hell

● Single – “Give Heaven Some Hell” (writers: HARDY, Ashley Gorley, Ben Johnson, Hunter Phelps) is Top 20 at US country radio, earning most added upon launch. Watch its moving music video directed by Justin Clough here.

● Serving as direct support now on Morgan Wallen’s THE DANGEROUS TOUR.

● Wrapped a direct support run on Jason Aldean’s BACK IN THE SADDLE TOUR last fall.

● Made his late-night debut on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Nov. 8 – watch here.

● Nominated for New Artist of the Year at the 2021 CMA Awards.

● HIXTAPE: Vol. 2, the second iteration of the game-changing countrified mixtape, released in December with HARDY featured on six tracks. The project also includes country stars like Dierks Bentley, Jimmie Allen, Lainey Wilson, Morgan Wallen, Chris Lane and more.

● Featured alongside BRELAND on Dierks Bentley’s current single “Beers On Me” which the trio performed at the 2021 CMA Awards – watch here.

● Shined a light on his rock ‘n roll roots with a grungy cover of Puddle of Mudd’s “BLURRY” – listen here.

● Debut album “A ROCK” received critical acclaim, with Rolling Stone praising HARDY as “a prolific songwriter” with a “knack for irreverent storytelling.” Billboard calls the album “one of the most self-assured full-length debut albums in years” and “an album that owes as much to AC/DC as George Jones.” The New York Times’ Jon Caramanica named it one of his Best Albums of 2020, and Billboard selected it as one of the 10 Best Country Albums of 2020.

● Scored his first #1 as an artist with PLATINUM sophomore single “ONE BEER” feat. Lauren Alaina & Devin Dawson. Watch the music video starring all three country collaborators here.

● Kicked off his career with the EPs “WHERE TO FIND ME” (Jan ’19) and “THIS OLE BOY” (Oct ’18) and debut single “REDNECKER” which introduced his brand of country.

● Counts over 1 BILLION on-demand artist streams in the US to date.

● ACCOLADES + AWARDS: Won the 2020 AIMP Songwriter of the Year Award and the 2019 AIMP Rising Artist-Writer of the Year Award and earned a 2019 CMA Triple Play Award. Voted one of CRS’ 2021 New Faces of Country Music, named a Vevo DSCVR artist, a MusicRow’s 2020 Next Big Thing artist, and a CMT Listen Up Artist for 2019.

● SONGWRITING MILESTONES: Has scored NINE #1 singles as a writer – FGL’s 2X PLATINUM “Simple,” Chris Lane’s 2X PLATINUM “I Don’t Know About You,” Blake Shelton’s 4X PLATINUM “God’s Country,” Morgan Wallen’s 3X PLATINUM “Up Down” and PLATINUM “More Than My Hometown,” Jameson Rodgers’ PLATINUM “Some Girls,” LOCASH’s GOLD “One Big Country Song,” Cole Swindell’s GOLD “Single Saturday Night” and PLATINUM “ONE BEER.”

● Made his first-ever headline run on SIRIUSXM’S THE HIGHWAY FINDS TOUR in October 2019, performing sold-out dates nationwide with openers Hunter Phelps and Sean Stemaly. Previously toured with Florida Georgia Line and Morgan Wallen.

● Attended the Recording Industry Management program at MTSU majoring in songwriting, mentored by Rick Carnes, the writer behind classics like Garth Brooks’ “Longneck Bottle,” The Whites’ “Hangin’ Around,” and Reba McEntire’s “Can’t Even Get The Blues.”

● Raised in Philadelphia, MS (population 7500) and home to country music legends like Grand Ole Opry member Marty Stuart and songwriter/producer Derek George (Bryan White, Randy Houser). Hearing Eric Church’s “Homeboy,” made HARDY realize country music had room for Rock and his style of music.

● FUN FACTS: Pink Floyd is his favourite band. Has the ticket to his hometown’s legendary county fair tattooed on his wrist – part of a “Mississippi sleeve” he’s adding to as a tribute to the state that built him.

Mike Carr – Haircut

Releasing his first solo single in almost 15 years, Mike Carr really needs no introduction to those Aus Country fans in ‘the know’.

Mike is an Australian Country songwriter right out of the top drawer having penned big hit songs for Adam Brand, Adam Harvey, Amber Lawrence and Melinda Schneider to name but a few.

As one half of the Golden Guitar nominated duo Cornell & Carr Mike has gathered many accolades and recently notched up the duo’s biggest hit to date with the outrageous Top Ten hit song ‘Whatchawanna’.

Following the hit, both Mikey and Matty decided it was time for the lifelong friends to take a creative ‘Gap Year’ in order to release their own musical labours of love.

In Mike’s case, it has resulted in the beautifully ludicrous single ‘Haircut’, a wonderfully catchy instant classic that claims the pathway to happiness may well begin with a short back and sides. (No really!)

Paul Costa – Drinkin’ Hours

Multi award winning country singer/songwriter Paul Costa returns with new single ‘Drinkin’ Hours’.

With a mantle full of awards and many chart hits to his credit, Paul Costa has no desire to slow down, kicking off 2022 with the release of his new single ‘Drinkin’ Hours’. Set for release on Friday 25th February, this catchy track is bound to make you want to let your hair down, relax and have a drink with great company.

‘Drinkin’ Hours’ is the ultimate upbeat feel good song made for Paul Costa’s rich vocal range and masterful delivery. “Cause there’s no working during drinkin’ hours, leave it all at the door”. This rhythmic and very catchy tune has hit written all over it and will have you singing along with good friends in no time! The track was written by Bobby Tomberlin (Blake Shelton, Dolly Parton, Faith Hill), Wil Nance (George Strait, Brad Paisley, Joe Nichols) and Dan Alley.

Success is no stranger to Paul. In January 2018, during Tamworth Country Music Festival, Paul was inducted into the Country Music Hands of Fame, highlighting his successful music career. His album ‘Whisper In The Crowd’ was also named Album of the Year at the People’s Choice Awards – an award voted by fans. In addition, Paul was named a finalist for Male Artist of the Year at the prestigious CMC Music Awards.

Paul’s fifth studio album, ‘Whisper In The Crowd’, debuted at #3 on the Australian ARIA Country Album Chart. The album saw Paul in full flight both vocally and musically, showcasing a bold new sound for this world-class artist.

Always the consummate showman, Paul has built a reputation of being one of the most energetic live performers in Australian country music. He has performed at major events both locally and internationally and has had the honour of performing for our troops in East Timor in 2008 and The Middle East (Iraq) in 2019. He’s also a proud ambassador for Mission Australia and the Canberra Police and Citizens Youth Club.

In perfect timing with this release, Paul will be performing at Country By The Murray at Murray Bridge in South Australia on 26th March, alongside artists such as Lee Kernaghan, Amber Lawrence, Casey Barnes, Andrew Swift, and Jayne Denham.

One thing is certain, Paul is having far too much fun taking his brand of music to his loyal fans around the country.

Copperline – Lucinda

Known for their witty, thought provoking and honest storytelling, Alt Country outfit Copperline have today revealed their highly emotive new single ‘Lucinda’ – a dedication to a daughter whose time was all too brief. From working on television commercials (as well as starring in an ad campaign with Hollywood heart throb Orlando Bloom), lead vocalist Brad Christmas has reconvened the band to create this warm embrace of a single, which features on a new album set for release in 2022.

Produced by multiple ARIA and Golden Guitar winner Shane Nicholson at his Sound Hole Studio on the NSW Central Coast, Copperline have created a work that carries some deep emotions. “This is probably the most deeply personal song I’ve ever written,” Christmas says. “A gift to my little girl whose stay in this world was all too brief, but still meant the world to us. A reminder to her that she’ll always be in our hearts.”

The sensitive production by Nicholson brings out the warmth in the music, and it also brings forth the beauty of the dedication to a departed daughter in the lyrics “‘Cause all that we have left now, is to promise this my dear, Lucinda, darling, we will not forget that you were here.”

Copperline have had a storied career to date, with the 2018 release of their debut album Rusty Fords and Weatherboards delivering singles ‘Woman’s Touch’, ‘King of this Country’, ‘Please Don’t Cry’, and ‘Next Year’, gaining new listeners and extensive airplay across the country. Their richly evocative music has seen them receive 7 x Australian Songwriters Association nominations, and 2 x Tamworth Songwriters Association nominations.

Aside from his role in Copperline, Christmas is also a highly sought-after session musician, playing in Steve Kilbey’s band The Church. A qualified teacher, Christmas spent time teaching English through music to students in Japan. On returning to Australia, Christmas enlisted band members of Copperline – Richie Gosling and Gareth Richards – to create a children’s act called The DoDaDums. With performances at events including the Teddy Bear’s Picnic, The Royal Easter Show and Kids Day Out, The DoDaDums have also appeared on Seven’s Sunrise, and created a pilot for a television program on ABC TV.

As the opening lyrics to ‘Lucinda’ emote: “No one knows what they’re supposed to say, that don’t stop them saying it anyway…” songwriter Brad Christmas has cut through his pain to find the perfect set of words to express his feelings. Children are special, and they deserve a special song to their memory. Copperline has found the right balance of remembrance, pathos and poignancy with which to memorialise someone so young. This is a song that will become as special to listeners as it is to the band.

Copperline are a band who play richly expressive music that allows the audience to feel a wide range of different emotions. Take a listen to ‘Lucinda’ and let your heart soar and your soul move.

Jackson Capps – LAX

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT JACKSON CAPPS

“Jackson has the unique ability to create modern music that appeals to fans of country music from any generation. I find his sound refreshing and exciting.”

  • Chris Yow, Raised Rowdy

“[About LAX] A bright country pop song with a rousing chorus and some emotive delivery alongside…”

  • Bristol Funk

“[About Yesterday’s Makeup] With a booming baritone voice and the support of an all-star roots band, Jackson delivers a bittersweet mix of country-flavored melody and beautiful harmony. Classic elements of fiddle and electric guitar come together behind this rock-solid groove to support the tragedy of a love gone wrong, as we experience the vicious grasp of loneliness, and the power it has to lead us astray…”

  • CHILLFILTR.com

Nashville based, Alabamian country artist Jackson Capps released his angsty yet nostalgic first-love-lost breakup song, “LAX” on August 6 2021.

While country sensibilities are clearly evident with Capps’ classic tone, fiddle and slide guitar, “LAX” also channels the sounds of America with influences of Bruce Springsteen meets Ryan Adams, and melancholy Don Henley vibes.

“LAX” was co-written by Capps, Alex Tomlins and J.W. Faria, co-produced by Capps, Alex Tomlins and Jed Smith, performed by Capps’ Nashville live band, mixed by GRAMMY-award winner Brandon Bell, and mastered by Daniel Bacigalupi of Infrasonic Studios.

Capps has been based in Nashville, TN since early 2018, after he graduated high-school early to relocate from his hometown of Trussville, AL. He has spent the last 4 years consistently writing and honing his live performance skills, performing in Nashville 4-5 times a week with his six-piece band. In 2020 Capps released two singles with “Yesterday’s Makeup” charting at #83 on the Australian iTunes Country Charts. 2021 saw Capps’ perform as the opening act for Jamey Johnson at a charity event in Birmingham, AL, which led to an incredible opportunity of Capps’ performing a full band set as the opening act for the band Alabama at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.

Jackson’s single, “LAX” is now available to stream or download on all platforms.

The Bushwackers – This Little Town

Triple Golden Guitar winners and 2021 Australasian Country Music Roll Of Renown Inductees, The Bushwackers, have released their latest single ‘This Little Town’.

Over these pandemic years there has been an exodus from the big cities into regional Australia, with many people enjoying the sense of community and simple living that life in a little town can bring. “This little town is jacarandas and walks in the afternoon……..” say the lyrics, emphasising the focus on the people, gardens and lifestyle at the core of ‘This Little Town’.

This song is written and performed by Roger Corbett, the principal songwriter for The Bushwackers since 1980 when he joined the band. He is joined by veteran Bushwacker, Dobe Newton, on tin whistle and backing vocals, and Clare O’Meara on accordion, with newcomers Liam Kennedy-Clark on guitars and backing vocals, Gabi Louise on fiddle and Michael Carpenter on drums.

The music video, created by young Newcastle director Jeremy Minett of Eyes & Ears Creative, shows the band in the little town of Lorn, near Maitland, where Roger drew his inspiration for the song. “The town is such a close knit community” says Roger, “the song just wrote itself, from all the great friendships, love and support we’ve had through our four years here. We all look out for one another and we’re happy to take the time to have a chat and take life a little slower.”

The Bushwackers have performed in the township a few times to sold out crowds. It makes a huge difference for a band who have had so many shows postponed and cancelled over the last two years.

Regional Australia is an amazing place to live and Roger feels very lucky to be part of the community there. “It’s just a little spot in the country, where the river runs wide and brown, but it’s starting to feel like home, this little town”.

Although The Bushwackers are a household name, some ‘youngsters’ may not know entirely what The Bushwackers are renowned for. Their energetic live shows have had thousands of fans dancing in the aisles with legendary performances at The Port Fairy Folk Festival, The National Folk Festival, Tamworth Country Music Festival, The Gympie Music Muster, Woodford Folk Festival, The Americana Conference (Nashville) The National Celtic Festival and countless other events.

Dobe Newton and Roger Corbett bring their combined experience of over 90 years of playing in The Bushwackers with all the songs, stories, humour and history that kind of a journey entails. The Bushwackers perform an exciting blend of Australian music featuring the lagerphone of frontman Dobe Newton, Roger Corbett on guitars, and the addition of fiddle, bass and drums rounding out the sound. Their music is all Australian, with all the stories, humour and sense of history that has helped to forge our national identity.

JD Reynolds – Rebound

JD Reynolds is an artist in the truest sense of the word, a true singer, a real songwriter, a neoteric producer, an incredible dancer and striking performer. All wrapped up in a stunning package that could grace the cover of any magazine in the world, and yet, her down to earth country girl charm is what makes this extraordinary artist so real.

“It’s in my blood. Music, melody, lyrics and dance flow through my veins, gifts straight from God for which I am thankful”.

JD’s sound is fresh originality for Country music – “My entire album came to me like a bolt of lightning, the JD sound, my sound, respecting Country music roots yet having my own next level twist”. As an up-and-coming producer, JD teamed up with seasoned producer Braddon Williams to co-produce what Country music insiders have nicknamed “The Jagged Little Pill of Country”. Braddon has achieved more than thirty top-ten hits, amassed over thirty times platinum in record sales, and his work has received both Grammy and ARIA award nominations, credits include Beyoncé, Snoop Dogg, P Diddy, The Script, Kelly Clarkson, and his latest favourite, JD Reynolds. Braddon knew he was helping to create a unique Country album for an incredible talent – “JD Reynolds is her own artist, incomparable, and the album reflects it”. Braddon brought in the talents of Murray Sheridan on drums, whose credits include Pink, Kelly Clarkson, The Script, BoysIIMen and The Vines. Kris Petersen on guitars and banjo, whose credits include Alice Cooper, Aerosmith, Orianthi, Van Halen and Billy Joel.

JD’s sound has been mastered by Andrew Mendelson, who has mastered dozens of #1, Grammy winning, gold and platinum projects by artists including The Rolling Stones, Blake Shelton, Eric Church and Willie Nelson.

As a trained dancer and award-winning choreographer, JD needs to dance her own moves as well as sing her own words and melodies. “Dance is a part of who I am, for me, dance is an expression of the soul, expressing what words simply cannot”. The three together have been described as “cutting edge visual poetry.”

JD’s girl power anthem smash hit “Whatever” is still enjoying worldwide airplay, hitting #8 on the official Australian Country Music Charts, has over 150,000 streams and counting, and over 60,000 plays on YouTube alone. “Whatever” caused such a stir the music video premiered on Country Rebel to over 8 million viewers, and JD was interviewed LIVE on Newsmax in New York to 3 million viewers.

Lily Grace – The Two Of Us Meet

Country-pop songstress Lily Grace is launching into 2022 with a classic Romeo and Juliet story and gives it a modern twist with her new release. With heart-warming lyrics and a striking melody, ‘The Two Of Us Meet’ is set to soar and will undoubtably strengthen Lily’s fast-growing profile in Australian country music.

At just sixteen years, Lily is an extremely talented artist, songwriter and storyteller. She has released a few singles over the past year, and has now taken her music internationally with her debut release in the U.S.

‘The Two Of Us Meet’ was written by Lily along with good friend and talented songwriter Chaise Flanders. The two were able to bring the story to life through the lyrics, paired with the production by award-winning producer Michael Flanders and Caleb Flanders. This song is full of hope, warmth, and anticipation and is sure to appeal to anyone who has experienced young love.

Taking the idea of falling in love, this youthful artist describes beautifully all of the feelings and intricacies of young romance with a modern-day lens that appeals to her generation. “The song is about someone falling for this guy who is new to town and they have their doubts about them, not knowing their past. Even if he did everything right, she was still adamant. In the chorus when he takes her hand to dance, all those doubts go away,” she describes. “The girl in this story overthinks and stresses herself out; however, whenever she is with this guy, everything she once doubted disappears every time the two of them meet.”

2021 was an exceptional year for Lily Grace with the release of ‘Annie June’, a collaboration with legendary country music icon James Blundell, which was well-received on country radio. The song reached Top 10 on the Australian Country Radio Charts and a highly successful single launch tour followed in Queensland, which showcased Lily to a whole new audience.

Lily went on to capture hearts and industry support with an upbeat summer-inspired debut solo track, ‘Sixteen Wishes’, which reached #3 on the Australian iTunes Country Charts and #27 on the Australian All Genres iTunes Charts. The music clip was spun on high rotation on CMT reaching #13 on the Official Top 30 Charts, and was recently awarded ‘Country Song of the Year’ for 2021 by Tamworth Songwriter’s Association.

While balancing school and music, Lily understands and prioritises her time while making sacrifices to allow her journey and music career to unfold. She has performed alongside the likes of Amber Lawrence and Catherine Britt on their ‘Love and Lies Tour’ across Queensland, has shared the stage with Tania Kernaghan as well as performed on iconic festivals such as Gympie Music Muster and Groundwater Country Music Festival. She is also a finalist in the Australian Country Music

People’s Choice Awards in several categories including Best Female Vocalist and Most Promising Future Star. This award show will now be held in April following postponement of the 50th Tamworth Country Music Festival.

Over the past few years Lily has developed a captivating live performance that draws you in with her warmth and exceptional storytelling and she sings from her heart. One thing is certain, Lily is one of Australia’s fastest rising young artists and whose star is bound to shine bright for many years to come.

The Shires – I See Stars

The Shires are the UK’s biggest country music export. Their achievements speak for themselves: three consecutive UK Top 3 albums, four #1 UK Country albums, 100 million+ streams, two Gold-certified records, and countless sold-out headline shows, including filling the prestigious Royal Albert Hall. Now The Shires announce the release of their soul-stirring new album ’10 Year Plan’ out on 11th March 2022 and launch it by sharing its lead single ‘I See Stars’ .

Premiered on Zoe Ball’s Breakfast Show on Radio 2, ‘I See Stars’ is symbolic of The Shires’ pop-orientated, crowd-pleasing, full-passion, global-facing take on the country tradition. The duo’s Ben Earle wrote the song with Jeff Cohen (Jake Bugg, Mandy Moore, Sugarland), who previously collaborated on their fan favourites ‘Daddy’s Little Girl’ and ‘A Thousand Hallelujahs’.

Ben says, “We love the Coldplay/’Greatest Showman’ vibes on this! it’s not trying to be clever, it’s just really uplifting and big and positive. It’s another one that has arena vibes – I can picture us being up there on a massive stage with everyone singing along.”

‘I See Stars’ is a bold introduction to ’10 Year Plan’, a collection of songs which takes all of The Shires’ biggest influences and condenses them into one cohesive, confident record. Its title harks back to their modest goals when they first started back in 2012.

As Crissie Rhodes reflects, “We wanted to get our music to Bob Harris, and we wanted a thousand Facebook followers. At the time that seemed crazy, but Ben was committed to it.” He was proven right, as Chrissie continues: “The number of people enjoying country music has exploded in the UK, but it still feels like an undercurrent. Even recently, we’ve had people come to our shows and say they were surprised, because they didn’t think country was for them!”

From the early Taylor Swift / Lady A country-pop euphoria of the opener ‘Cut Me Loose’ to the classic pedal steel guitar of the timeless closer ‘When It Hurts’, ’10 Year Plan’ demonstrates that country delivered with ambition and accomplishment can cut through such stereotypes. In fact, that’s something the duo display on every corner, whether they’re layering their lush harmonies on ‘Sparks Fly’ and ‘Bar Without You’, collaborating with Beth McCarthy on the Civil Wars-tinged ‘Plot Twist’, or delivering rousing anthems such as ‘Skydive’.

Currently completing an intimate acoustic tour, The Shires will commence a major UK headline tour in April that culminates with a landmark London show at The Palladium on May 24th. Please see their website for a full list of dates and ticket details.

The Shires first broke through in 2014 with their single ‘Nashville Grey Skies’, a playful song about Britain needing its own country scene. And that’s something which they helped happen, starting with their 2015 debut ‘Brave’, which became the first ever Top 10 album by a UK country music artist. That success continued with a succession of hit albums: 2016’s ‘My Universe’, 2018’s ‘Accidentally On Purpose’ and 2020’s ‘Good Years’.

Their authenticity saw them embraced by the Nashville scene, leading to two CMA Awards. Meanwhile, other touring highlights included the C2C Festival and shows as guests to Carrie Underwood, Little Big Town and The Corrs. Here’s to the next 10 years…

Casey Barnes – Get To Know Ya

AUSTRALIAN COUNTRY STAR CASEY BARNES WANTS TO ‘GET TO KNOW YA’ AHEAD OF HIS BRAND NEW ALBUM

After two long, hard years of canceled tours, postponed shows and being locked away from family, friends and fans, Australian country music prodigy Casey Barnes is only interested in one thing – human connection!

When the world was thrown a curve ball in 2020, Aussie artists had two options; hunker down and wait out the storm, or push forward into the unknown. For Gold Coast country star Casey Barnes, walking into the eye of the storm was the hardest decision he’s ever had to make, but now it’s paying off in spades, with massive commercial radio success, multiple number one hits and one of the only country artists to achieve mainstream success in Australia in 2021!

Following on from the release of several successful singles over the past twelve months, including the #1 smash “God Took His Time On You” and 2021’s most played country radio song “Come Turn Me On”, the Gold Coast based country music icon has today unveiled “Get To Know Ya”, the lead track from his forthcoming album “Light It Up “, landing on Friday 25 February, 2022.

Written from various lockdowns over the course of 18 months, via a series of zoom calls with producers MSquared (Michael Delozrenzis and Michael Paynter) and Nashville based singer/songwriters Kaci Brown and Sam Gray, “Get To Know Ya” is yet another addition to Casey’s ever growing catalog of hook-laden, arena-sized anthems.

“We’ve all had our fair share of lockdowns and isolation over the last two years and we’re finally enjoying the luxury of being able to get out and about again and reconnect”. Said Casey Barnes of the new track.

“That’s what this single is all about… that instant connection when you lay eyes on someone for the first time. The nervous feeling about getting to know them and hoping they feel the same way because in your eyes, they’re that one in a million. This single is one of my favorite songs on the album and I’m so excited to finally get it out there!”

Where previous singles highlighted Casey Barnes ability to produce everything from slow, melodic ballads to fast paced, raucous country rock, new single “Get To Know Ya” is a masterclass in seamlessly blending earworm-worthy pop hooks, classic country instrumentation and stadium ready sounds. It’s another fan favorite from Casey’s liveshow, finally ready to add to an already massive collection of beloved anthemic pop-country tracks which have helped cement Casey Barnes as one of the most important figures in Australia’s rapidly growing country music market.

To celebrate the launch of his new single, as well as the release of brand-new album “Light It Up” on Friday 25 February, Casey will also be hitting the road from late February until August, performing more than twenty shows around the country, including a special show where it all started;w Forth, Tasmania.

“When I was six years old, I’ll never forget my very first gig. It was Johnny Cash, supported by John Williamson in my hometown of Launceston in Tasmania.”

I just remember being completely captivated by the performance and thinking ‘one day I’d love to do this too’. Several years later that thought became a reality when I was invited to jump up on stage and perform for the very first time at the Forth Pub with the band, and the rest as they say is history. It was only recently that my Mum dug up a bunch of old photos and one of those was a pic of me up on stage as a very green and nervous 15-year-old. That venue has always held a very special place in my heart, so it had to be the first spot on the tour and fittingly it sold out in record time.”

A lot has happened since Casey first performed on stage at the Forth Pub in Tasmania.

He’s gone on to play shows all over the world, opening for acts like Bryan Adams, Mariah Carey, Lady Antebellum to name a few and performing at major events including Savannah In The Round, CMC Rocks, Tamworth Country Music Festival, BluesFest and more!

Five number one singles on the country charts; eight Golden Guitar nominations, including New Talent, Album of the Year and Male Artist of the Year; and a swag of other awards action – nominations for Best Country Album at the ARIA Awards, Best Independent Country Album at the AIR Awards, and Most Performed Country Work (‘A Little More’) at the APRA Awards.

Casey was awarded Artist of the Year at the Gold Coast Music Awards in 2020 and 2021. Adding to this, he received the People’s Choice Award for best live act at the Groundwater Country Music Festival, a nod to his powerful live show and ability to connect with his audiences. Casey’s songs have collectively been streamed more than 28 million times, making him one of the most streamed Australian country artists of all time.

Casey’s 2020 album, “Town of A Million Dreams”, cemented his place in the Australian music scene, topping the country charts and spending over 75 weeks on the ARIA Australian Country Album chart to date.

Bryce Sainty – This Summer’s The One

2022 is set to be the breakout year for Bryce Sainty and it all begins with the the summer smash ‘This Summer’s The One’. This new release is perfect for the summer airwaves, and will instantly become the soundtrack for the season.

Teaming up with Phil Barton and Melanie Dyer to co-write ‘This Summer’s The One’, is the second track from the forthcoming EP due in early 2022.

“I am so excited to share everything I have been working on. For a long time I have been releasing single after single working on my sound and direction and with the latest songs (‘Just Chillin’ and ‘This Summer’s The One’) I really feel like I have found a happy place with my music. I can’t wait to share this song and the EP with the world.”

Bryce has been taking the contemporary country world by storm with over 2 million streams and named an “artist to watch” by Spotify. With his is EP set to drop in early 2022, and beginning the year performing with icons Andrew Farris (INXS), Tim Freedman (The Whitlams) and Rod McCormack as part of a songwriters showcase at the Tamworth Country Music Festival , 2022 promises to be a prosperous year for Bryce.

Achievements To Date

2021 Release ‘Just Chillin”- Featured on Mainstream playlists including New Music Friday 2021 Surpassed 2,000,000 streams
2020 On The Weekend – #11 on The Music Network Country Chart
2020 Named “Artist To Watch” by Spotify
2020 Released “Do You Remember” – 400,000 Streams
2019 The Music Network Top 50 Country Chart – KIX FM Top 5 – “Never Going Back”
2019 Released “Never Going Back”, “Table For Two” and “Goodbye” – over 700,000 streams. 2018 Released “Eleven Eleven” and “Something I Want” – Top Radio Singles
2017 Nomination for CMC Award – Best New Artist
2016 Released single “STATUS” – #2 on iTunes
2014 Star Maker Top 10 Finalist
2013 Released Debut EP – Top 5 on iTunes
2013 Performed and Featured on Channel 10 tv show – What’s Up Down Under
2012 Released Debut Single “Message In A Bottle” – Top 10 on iTunes – Top 50 CMC
2012 Graduated the CMAA Academy of Country Music
2011 Winner – TodaysCountry94one Brand New Star Competition

The Pleasures (Catherine Britt & Lachlan Bryan) – The Beginning of The End

The first offering from The Pleasures (Catherine Britt and Lachlan Bryan’s new outfit) is “The Beginning of the End”. Americana twang meets dirty rock n roll on this sassy single with its themes of mischief and recklessness – the perfect antidote for these austere times. Britt and Bryan’s perfectly matched vocals holler over a stomping, swaggering band, leaving us in no doubt that The Pleasures have come out swinging!

A 70s-psychedelia inspired music video accompanies the single, and it’s filled with the energy and intensity you can expect at The Pleasures’ upcoming live shows.

While Catherine and Lachlan already have established careers, this collaboration which began with a late-night sms exchange, quickly ascended into a feverish fortnight of writing and recording. The project represents a significant stylistic shift for both artists. Their debut album is already in the can and is set for release later in 2022.

“Lachlan and I have always clicked in life and in song” explains Catherine, “and we’ve always had an unspoken understanding and respect for one another. These songs came so easy – they flowed out of us like a raging stream. I just want more honest, real music in the world, and I couldn’t think of a better person to make it with!”

“I don’t think know anyone else who feels and understands country music the way Catherine does”, says Lachlan. “She sounds authentic because she is authentic. When she opens her mouth and sings you can hear the neon lights buzzing, you can taste the tequila and you can barely see for the cloud of smoke. It’s all that stuff that people try and fake – they try and put in on – but it’s like she was just born with it”.

“The Beginning of the End” is out January 21 2022 through Beverley Hillbilly Records/MGM Distribution

Jason Owen – Sing Australia

Jason Owen jumps straight into 2022 with a brand new single titled ‘Sing Australia’ , showcasing his powerhouse vocals, and shining a spotlight on our incredible country, Australia, its people, and true Aussie spirit.

Jason is now one of Australia’s most popular country artists, having entertained audiences around the country including the Tamworth Country Music Festival, CMC Rocks the Hunter, the ACE Awards and the Sony Foundation’s Wharf4Ward event raising funds for youth cancer care.

Bursting onto the Australian music scene in 2012 as runner-up of X-Factor, Jason Owen is one of Australia’s most popular young country music stars. Jason’s debut album ‘Life Is A Highway’ reached number one on the ARIA Country Chart and number five on the Australian Top 20 All Genre ARIA Chart. He has since released ‘Friday Night’ featuring his first original hit ‘Damn Right’; ‘Proud’, his first all-originals album celebrating his First Nations background; ‘Jason Owen Sings John Denver: The 20th Anniversary’; and ‘Jason Owen Sings John Denver: The Acoustic Sessions’ which debuted at Number one on the ARIA Country Music Charts. He has been nominated for five major music awards including Golden Guitars and CMC Awards.

Having grown up in the tiny town of Albert, NSW, as the only child in a town of just twelve people, in 2019 Jason founded his own charity, Doin’ It For Rural Aussie Kids, supporting regional and isolated children. “Doin It for Rural Aussie Kids was established in 2019 to help rural and isolated children affected by issues such as bushfires, drought, floods, COVID-19 fallout, and economic impacts” Jason said. “Each year we embark on a road trip across multiple states to hand deliver toys, groceries, and funds to kids whose families have been doing it tough”.

For his efforts he won the prestigious 2021 NSW/ACT Young Achiever Award for Community Service and the People’s Choice Award, and was also the most nominated entrant in the 2021 competition.

Jason has also participated in numerous appeals including Telethon Drought, Telethon Children’s Hospital, Cancer Golf Day, Kids Cancer Golf Day, donated two show profits to Burrumbuttock Hay Runners, donated song profits to Sir Ivan Bushfire Appeal and supported charities and businesses in towns toured.

Key Loch Ft Avery May Parker – Come Home To Me

Coming fresh off their recent hit Where Is The Love, Key Loch are bringing us another passionate single! Come Home To Me is a worthy successor to their emotional last single, and the beautiful tones of Avery May Parker’s voice combined with the smooth drums and gentle guitar will make you feel right at home.

Key Loch are Damien Reilly and Justin Gross. They are the founders of the 90’s power Aussie Rock Band Southpaw, which you can learn more about at www.southpawmuzik.com. They bring together a production history between them of 50 years of song writing and playing live music in Australia. And this time, the duo are featuring a third member to their killer ensemble, that being Avery May Parker! A sweet and soulful performance in every lyric, Avery’s voice and Key Loch’s expert playing guarantee that every time you listen to Come Home To Me, it’ll hit you right where it counts.

This track is an emotional story about a husband that has been sent off to war, with his wife pining for his return. “Come home to me”, come back alive, come back safe. It’s a heartfelt scenario that cuts deep and pulls no punches. Avery once again knocked it out of the park with her vocals, and alongside Damien and Justin’s incredible production, we think this one is bound to be a massive hit!

The cozy chord progressions and delicate lyrics will transport you homely times, to nostalgic times you once fondly lived through, and to happy times that are yet to come, or perhaps never will come and are bound to your imagination. The future is a mystery, however the passion presented in this song is a constant one that cannot be altered, merely moulded to suit your idyllic preference. Key Loch are making a name for themselves in the music world with hits like this, and it’s only a matter of time before that name becomes a household one!

The Viper Creek Band – The Power Of Music

Music is the great communicator that can conjure up every emotion. It can make you laugh, cry, or take you right back to a certain time and place with just a melody or lyric. From the teenager who is losing herself in a song to escape a bad situation at home, to the guy who is strumming his guitar trying to get a girl to take notice of him, The Viper Creek Band’s new single ‘The Power of Music’ is bound to strike a chord in us all.

“It can make a blind man see, make a sinner sing hallelujah”.

Since early 2011, The Viper Creek Band have been delivering an exciting new sound to Australian country music.

2014 seen the release of their debut album, ‘Kickin’ Up Dust’, which claimed the number two spot on the ARIA Australian Country Album Chart.

Their nominations for Group Or Duo Of The Year in 2015, 2016, 2017, and the coveted Oz Artist Of The Year in 2016 through the fan voted Country Music Channel Awards, leaves little doubt The Viper Creek Band have a well-established, loyal following.

In 2016, the band released their highly anticipated second album, ‘Just Press Play’, which Country Update Magazine referred to as “The soundtrack to the best night out, of the best summer, of your life”. The album debuted in the ARIA top five and spawned four top ten singles.

In 2018, vocalist Damien Baguley joined Adam Brand on his record breaking ‘Milestones Tour’. He also won a Country Music Channel Award with his side project Tailgate Drive, with Troy Kemp.

The album ‘Beautiful Destruction’ was released in early 2019 and includes the number one single ‘Green Light’ and fan favourite track, ‘Australian Girls’. The album debuted at number one on the ARIA Australian Country Album Chart.

The Viper Creek Band were finalists in Group Or Duo Of The Year at the 2020 Golden Guitars.

‘People Drinkin’ Beer’ and the brand new single, ‘The Power Of Music’, are the first of a bunch of new tracks to be released as the band celebrate ten years of making music.

Benn Gunn – A Bit More Aussie

‘A Bit More Aussie’ is a fun, up-tempo song for people who love Australia, filled with kangaroos, meat pies, kids running through sprinklers, outback sunsets, old Akubra hats and a Holden ute held together with fencing wire and a prayer. ‘A Bit More Aussie Fun’ is this summer’s feel-good song, with an infectious sing along chorus that every Aussie can relate to.

Benn Gunn plays his own brand of hard rocking music he calls ‘Aussie Heartland Rock’. It’s music from a true blue Aussie battler, for true blue Aussie battlers, with its roots in pub and country rock. If you love Australia, you’ll love Benn Gunn.

Benn spent his childhood travelling, like many great countrymen before him. From Dubbo to Forbes, and down to Bowral, his formative years brought long journeys, dusty plains and heartfelt music. For as long as he can remember, Ben has been preforming. As a young boy, he wanted nothing more than to sing and play guitar like heroes, Garth Brooks, Jimmy Barnes and John Foggerty.

“I had to teach myself to play right handed cause I could not find a left handed guitar!” Benn states. But for a kid on the road, learning to play didn’t come easy. Self-taught from a young age, it came down to personal commitment. Carving up his own style of Aussie heartland rock, entertaining became where Benn felt the most at home.

From humble beginnings, Benn has carved out his own niche place in the Australian music industry. With a swag of nominations and awards, and a long list of charting singles, including two #1 hits, he is seasoned as both an in demand live act and as a recording artist.

His awards include Best New Talent in the 2011 Australian Independent Country Music Awards, Best New Artist in the National Category of the Victorian Country Music Awards and the 2014 MO Award for Slim Dusty Country Act of the Year.

After the success of Benn’s debut album, with four charting singles, Benn launched his second album with American hit songwriter Jason Patrick Mathews and highly acclaimed producer Bart Busch. The first single ‘Girls Like Guys With Trucks’ reached #1 on the National Country Radio Singles Chart and created an amazing buzz within the industry.

The title track off his third album ‘Only In Australia’ hit #1 just a few weeks after release and then went on to break a record for the longest run in the Country Radio Singles Chart. Benn credits the success of the song to the huge number of DJs who continued to play ‘Only In Australia’ month after month. He says “It’s the DJs who support Aussie home grown music and the loyal fans who come to shows who keep our local music industry alive.”

Benn has developed a huge following on social media, with his viral Facebook videos amassing millions of views.

Dallas Smith – Hide From A Broken Heart

A multiple JUNO & CCMA Award winning entertainer, Dallas Smith is one of the most celebrated artists in Canadian Country music history, amassing 18 Canadian gold-certified single, 3 Canadian gold-certified albums, and 4 Canadian platinum-certified singles, including “Timeless”, “Drop”, and ” Trippin’ Point & Wastin Gas”.

Smith is the first and only Canadian Country artist to have 11 #1 singles , and the first to have 22 consecutive Top 10 singles. He has received 35 CCMA Award Nominations, and 11 CCMA wins, along with 5 Juno Award Nominations and 2 JUNO wins. His CCMA Award wins include, Album of The Year, Male Artist of The Year, Single of The Year, and he is reigning CCMA Entertainer of the year, two years running.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Dallas to premiere his new single “Hide From A Broken Heart” exclusively on the 2021 CCMA Awards (11/29

• 2022 National headlining tour to be announced 11/22, in tandem with “Hide From A Broken Heart” single announce + pre-add/pre-save launch.

• 11 career country #1 singles and half a BILLION combined streams to date

• 5 CCMA Nominations (2021), including: Entertainer of the Year, Single of the Year, Fan’s

Choice, Album of the Year & Male Artist of the Year.

• 35 career CCNA Nominations and 11 CCMA wins, including: Entertainer of the Year (2020/2019), Top Selling Country Album (2020/2017), Male Artist of the Year (2019), Album of the Year (2017), and Single of the Year (2017).

• 5 JUNO Award Nominations & 2 JUNO Award wins, including the award for JUNO Country Album of the Year (Lifted).

• 3 Gold albums, 1B Gold singles and 4 Platinum singles (Music Canada)

• Dallas co-hosted the 2019 Canadian Country Music Awards with Billy Ray Cyrus.

• #1 Most Played solo Canadian Country artist of 2020 (MediaBase)

• The only Canadian Artist to have 22 consecutive Top 10 singles

• The most #1 songs by a Canadian Country artist ever, in the NielsenBDS era, surpassing Shania Twain.

• Past festival tour dates include Faster Horses, Watershed, Big Valley Jamboree, Country Thunder, Boots & Hearts, Calgary Stampede, Cavendish Music Fest

• Most recent headlining tour was “Friends Don’t Let Friends Tour Alone” (Fall 2019) with Dean Brody and MacKenzie Porter.

• 500,000 concert tickets sold as a country artist.

• Smith is the creator of the charitable organization, Lifted, which is a non-profit committed to ensuring mental health services are accessible to anyone in need.

Sara Storer and James Blundell – Sweet Dreams Way Out West

SARA STORER AND JAMES BLUNDELL COLLABORATE FOR THE FIRST TIME ON A REMARKABLE NEW SONG

Today marks a very special release of a new single Sweet Dreams Way Out West from Sara Storer and James Blundell.

Written by Storer, the song title is a combination of two titles that will be familiar to fans. Says Storer of the inspiration behind the song, “Like me, James has a love of Australia, its characters and places. So, as I was preparing for when James and I team up to share the stage in Tamworth next year, I thought let’s give the audience a new song and let’s release it as a duet. The idea sounded great…now to write a song! After a few failed attempts I tried combining a song title from both our back catalogues. How would ‘Sweet Dreams Way Out West’ sound? It sounded like a good love song to me, and away my imagination went.”

It is remarkable to think, but this is the first time Storer and Blundell have collaborated on a song together. “I have been a fan of Sara’s since her debut album, Chasing Buffalo,” says Blundell. “She is one of our greatest songwriters. I love the fact that she is authentic and sings in her own voice. Through the years I have often thought about writing or recording with Sara so when she contacted me with her idea for a song I was on board straight away. I love the song with its romantic theme and infectious melody, and I am really looking forward to performing it on stage with her.”

Storer and Blundell are putting on a concert at the Tamworth Country Music Festival in January under the title of Sweet Dreams Way Out West celebrating the iconic songs of both award-winning artists. More tour dates are being planned for March-April 2022.

Further information about Sara Storer

Well known for her ability to tell an authentic story with the landscape and characters of Australia as inspiration, Sara has penned and recorded some of country music’s most loved and enduring songs. Tracks such as Buffalo Bill, Back Outback, Man Trap, Raining on the Plains, Beautiful Circle, Sweet Dreams, Come On Rain, and Raindance have kept audiences flocking to Sara’s shows for more than 20 years.

Further information about James Blundell

Although it was the hit single Way Out West that bought James to national prominence, it’s his amazing catalogue of original compositions that best tells the story of his musical journey since the release of his self-titled debut album in 1989. A prolific songwriter, James has released 14 albums during his career to date with hits and album favourites that include Kimberley Moon, The Blue Heeler, Hand It Down, This Road, Rain on a Tin Roof, Mysterious Ways, Ring Around The Moon and so many more. Acknowledged by many as the artist who single-handedly shaped modern Australian country music, James is more relevant today than ever.

Reg Lindsay and Jodie Crosby – Silence On The Line

A redefined version of the late Reg Lindsay’s classic 1978 Golden Guitar winning song for Male Artist of the Year, ‘Silence On The Line’ takes the version that Reg recorded, and more than three decades later, presents a superb collaboration of the original. New production and technical wizardry adds Jodie Crosby’s vocal as the long-suffering wife answering the phone call from her rodeoing husband, and offers something different for fans of both artists.

Reg Lindsay OAM

At the age of 21, Reg won the Tim McNamara Talent Quest in Sydney NSW, with the first prize bring a recording contract with the Rodeo Label. In 1955 Reg was invited on tour with Canadian singer Wilf Carter, before touring with his own show, including radio and recordings.

In 1965, Reg hosted the Country & Western Hour in Adelaide. A couple of years later, in 1968, he made his first trip to Nashville where he performed at the Grand Ole Opry, where he was presented with an Honorary Citizenship of Tennessee. His biggest hit was ‘Armstrong’ written by John Stewart. A film clip of the song is in the time capsule at the Johnson Space Centre in Houston.

In 1977 Reg hosted Country Homestead in Brisbane and continued touring, recording and doing his radio shows whilst traveling to the US promoting Australia while touring the States. He was a multi award winning artist, with gold and silver records, Logies, Golden Guitars, and many other citations.

Reg Lindsay was an international entertainer, recognised by CMA Nashville for continuous outstanding contribution to the Country Music Industry. Sadly, Reg passed away on August 5th 2008.

Jodie Crosby

Jodie Crosby is one half of the Golden Guitar winning and inaugural CMAA Independent Entertainers Of The Year, The Crosby Sisters. Jodie has also notched up a career as a solo artist, including #1 releases in both Australia and Europe.

The Crosby Sisters appeared as support acts for the likes of Charley Pride, Dr Hook and almost every big Australian star, and were the last independent act to tour with the Slim Dusty Show.

A long-time fan of Reg Lindsay, and having appeared on a number of shows with him in the past, Jodie jumped at the chance to be involved in the ‘Silence On The Line’ project. Her voice and tonality are the perfect match for Reg’s voice as the pair give new life to this classic country song.

Jackson Capps- LAX

Nashville based, Alabamian country artist Jackson Capps released his angsty yet nostalgic breakup song, “LAX” on August 6 2021, with his Australian Radio Premiere the same day.

That feeling of a first-love-lost is explored in “LAX” as it paints the picture of a long anticipated departure from LA after a bittersweet breakup. While country sensibilities are clearly evident with Capps’ classic tone, fiddle and slide guitar, “LAX” also channels the sounds of America with influences of Bruce Springsteen meets Ryan Adams, and melancholy Don Henley vibes.

“LAX” was co-written by Capps, Alex Tomlins and J.W. Faria, co-produced by Capps, Alex Tomlins and Jed Smith, performed by Capps’ Nashville live band, mixed by GRAMMY-award winner Brandon Bell, and mastered by Daniel Bacigalupi of Infrasonic Studios.

While many artists have been inspired by country music from a young age, Capps additionally had an once-in-a-lifetime experience at the age of 12 when Marty Stuart invited Capps on the Grand Ole Opry stage to perform with him. Determined to pursue his dream, he graduated high-school early to relocate to Nashville and has spent the last 3 years consistently writing and honing his live performance skills, performing 4-5 times a week with his six-piece band. In 2020 Capps released two singles with “Yesterday’s Makeup” charting at #83 on the Australian iTunes Country Charts.

Jackson’s single, “LAX” is now available to stream or download on all platforms.

Key Loch Ft Avery May Parker – Come Home To Me

Coming fresh off their recent hit Where Is The Love, Key Loch are bringing us another passionate single! Come Home To Me is a worthy successor to their emotional last single, and the beautiful tones of Avery May Parker’s voice combined with the smooth drums and gentle guitar will make you feel right at home.

Key Loch are Damien Reilly and Justin Gross. They are the founders of the 90’s power Aussie Rock Band Southpaw, which you can learn more about at www.southpawmuzik.com . They bring together a production history between them of 50 years of song writing and playing live music in Australia. And this time, the duo are featuring a third member to their killer ensemble, that being Avery May Parker! A sweet and soulful performance in every lyric, Avery’s voice and Key Loch’s expert playing guarantee that every time you listen to Come Home To Me, it’ll hit you right where it counts.

This track is an emotional story about a husband that has been sent off to war, with his wife pining for his return. “Come home to me”, come back alive, come back safe. It’s a heartfelt scenario that cuts deep and pulls no punches. Avery once again knocked it out of the park with her vocals, and alongside Damien and Justin’s incredible production, we think this one is bound to be a massive hit!

The cozy chord progressions and delicate lyrics will transport you homely times, to nostalgic times you once fondly lived through, and to happy times that are yet to come, or perhaps never will come and are bound to your imagination. The future is a mystery, however the passion presented in this song is a constant, one that cannot be altered, merely moulded to suit your idyllic preference. Key Loch are making a name for themselves in the music world with hits like this, and it’s only a matter of time before that name becomes a household one!

Aimee Hannan – Brighter Side

Aimee Hannan’s new single ‘Brighter Side’ was co-written with nine-time Golden Guitar winner Lyn Bowtell. Aimee has drawn upon her own life experiences to deliver the essence of the song as well as her observations of the world around her during the current pandemic. Life has been difficult for many, with people experiencing mental health issues, missing family, and all of the associated problems we have been sharing.

Now is the time we can look on the ‘Brighter Side’ with this bubbly upbeat song speaking of letting go of the negative and enjoying the positive things in life. Produced by Rod Motbey at his Tracking Dog Studios, Aimee will have you singing and dancing along with her as she heads into this celebration of life.

Aimee found her love of country music at age ten, joining the local country music club. She was soon selected to open Lee Kernaghan’s Hat Town tour in Queensland. Aimee then travelled the countryside competing in many festivals throughout Queensland and NSW with great success, as well as graduating from both the Junior and Senior programs at the CMAA Academy of Country Music.

Singing is a major part of Aimee’s life however it became increasingly difficult to perform as she was struggling with a rare medical condition that was causing her heart to fail, and it became necessary for Aimee to have her leg amputated. Staying true to herself, Aimee was back on stage months later performing from her wheelchair until her prosthetic was made. Nothing could stop her.

After competing in Today’s Country Brand New Star competition, she connected with fellow artists Gina Jeffreys and Max Jackson and with their help co-wrote a collection of songs, some of which Aimee recorded on her debut album ‘Stronger’, recorded at Hillbilly Hut Studios with Simon Johnson.