Cowboys in Cyberspace

On Thursday evening 14 March 2013, Stephanie Jansen was awarded the coveted Frank Ifield International Spur Award for 2013. Stephanie gratefully accepted the award last night at ‘Canterbury Country‘ from Frank Ifield OAM, in association with The Rotary Club of Galston and Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL. In a stealth manoeuvre with Stephanie’s management, Mr Ifield was able to release the single ‘Shoes‘ off Stephanie’s 2012 Australian debut E.P ‘Risky’ to over 1000 radio stations across the UK and Europe. Ms Jansen was bowled over, on receiving the award, to hear that her single had on the first week entered the UK and European Country Music Charts debuting at number 9.

 
FRANK IFIELD, STEPHANIE JANSEN and TONY PAGE (Galston Rotary)
Photo courtesy of Mark Turnbull

"This is an incredible surprise and completely unexpected. I feel so honoured to receive this special award. ‘Shoes’ is a song I hold particularly close. I wrote it with a dear friend (Allan Caswell) and it spins me out that right now our song is being heard by millions of people in the UK and all across Europe!" said Ms Jansen.

Photos (by Karen V) from the Memorial Park stage at The Entrance, NSW during the 2013 Central Coast Country Music Festival…

THE PIGS in action

A JETTY ROAD view of the crowd

JETTY ROAD try to keep a straight face while watching IAN LEES cut a rug!

Crowd pleasers McAlister Kemp

The Nashville Songwriters Showcase at the Capitol Theatre, featuring
L to R: Peter Cooper (host), Elizabeth Cook, Jim Lauderdale and Craig Campbell.

At the The Big Golden Guitar – Gallery of Stars Wax Museum, singing star FRANK IFIELD spots a familiar face!

At the unveiling of the Australian Country Music Roll of Renown, 2013 recipient WAYNE HORSBURGH is congratulated by Pixie Jenkins (left) and Lawrie Minson (right).

At the TOMKINS GUITAR SHOWCASE, the legendary CHAD MORGAN receives a surprise 80th birthday cake from Allan Tomkins. 

22 January 2013: The finale of the WAYNE HORSBURGH & GRAHAM RODGER concert, at the Tamworth Community Centre. Pictured above, L to R: Gary Boyle, Wayne Horsburgh, guitarist, Graham Rodger, Bob Howe. (Photo courtesy of Robyn McIntosh) Congratulations to Graham on his recent awards, including the Golden Guitar for Bush Ballad of the Year.

At the 41st Tamworth Country Music Festival, the TOMKINS LATE NIGHT HONKY TONK band, still standing after 10 consecutive nights working on the midnight shift at Wests (well, 11.30pm to 2.15am to be accurate)! Pictured above, L to R: Bob Howe, Terry Phillpot, Damien Odell and Allan Tomkins.

Recommendations from the Toyota Country Music Festival Tamworth 2013:

Above: The outrageous and talented PIXIE JENKINS and the dignified mastery of WARREN WILLIAMS – catch them at the Tamworth Community Centre.

Every night of the Festival: The Tomkins Late Night Honky Tonk with special guests, from 11.30pm to 2.15am in the Legends Lounge at West League Club.

The HILLBILLY KILLERS warming up during the Bill Chambers Session at The Pub for their first ever concert!

L to R: Bill Chambers, James Gillard, Catherine Britt, Michael Muchow, Tim Rogers

19 January 2013:
This afternoon the 42nd inductee to the Australian Country Music Roll of Renown was announced at the 2013 Tamworth Country Music Festival.

Ladies and Gentlemen….WAYNE HORSBURGH !!

Check Wayne’s website for more photos and details to come later in the week after the induction ceremony on Wednesday morning…

Out today on DVD and Blu-ray after a limited theatrical release, PAUL KELLY – STORIES OF ME is an engaging insight in to the life and work of the man. If you are of the post-Beat Generation, then you probably already know he is one of Australia’s most important and relevant contemporary songwriters. His songs capture our essence, from the domestic drama of a single battling family (To Her Door), to the anthemic (From Little Things Big Things Grow, with Kev Carmody). While Paul himself is reticent to expound on his life for the cameras, we hear from his family, friends and even ex-wives, who paint a fascinating and multi-faceted portrait of a young poet who set out to experience life to the full, only to be overtaken by it. Along the way he has given, and continues to give us moving songs and performances, many of them included in this film. Unlike many music documentaries, here the balance between interviews and songs is perfect. Highly recommended. Well that’s your Christmas shopping sorted, but it will soon be time to ask, “Who’s gonna make the gravy now?”.

– Bob Howe

Out now now from Madman Entertainment.
See also, www.paulkellythemovie.com.au for more details.

10 Dec 2012: On the occasion of GEOFF MACK’s 90th Birthday Party…

GEOFF MACK turns 90 this month and his showbiz friends gathered en masse to pay tribute to him.

From Wikipedia:
Albert Geoffrey McElhinney OAM (born 20 December 1922 in Surrey Hills, Victoria, Australia), also known as Geoff Mack, is a country music singer and songwriter. He was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia on 13 June 2005 with the citation, For service to country music and to the community, particularly through support for senior citizens’ groups. As a songwriter, he wrote "I’ve Been Everywhere" which was an Australian hit for Lucky Starr in April 1962 and became popular in North America when adapted for Hank Snow. More than 130 cover versions have been recorded. Read more…
With thanks to Barbara Morison for the photos above.

Frank Ifield  with Tabbi Francis (Mack) and Geoff Mack.
For Frank’s tribute to Geoff, see http://www.frankifield.com/2008_news.html#mack

Tabbi Francis (Mack) and Geoff Mack with Mary Schneider.

Visit the GEOFF MACK Website for more photos…

“AUSTRALIAN COUNTRY” WITH JOHN NUTTING

After a few years John Nutting is back, playing the music that he loves, Country Music, and specifically Australian Country Music.

Using one of the Internet’s most popular and sophisticated audio platforms John Nutting’s “Australian Country” is allowing the world to listen to the best that Australian performance has to offer.

After presenting ABC Radios Saturday Night Country on 75 AM and FM stations around Australia successfully for over 17 years John Nutting now showcase’s the Country Music talent Australia has to offer The World.

Continuing this successful formula, musically, with "Australian Country" John Nutting ensures the best in Aussie Country is heard on Live365. Using live365 allows the listener freedom to listen at home, or on the move using a wide range of apps on offer to suit their needs in high quality audio.

Here you will hear fresh new material, constantly updated, as well as some of the best of the last 40 years. You will hear the established artists as well as new young “break out” acts. With strong artist and music company support behind the 24/7 broadcast “Australian Country” provides an exciting blend between the new and the classic.

You will hear music that reflects Australia today, in its stories of the land, everyday life and of course love found and love lost! There are drinkin’ songs, leavin’ songs and cheatin’ songs.

Songs about people, place and time, and of course, This Land, Australia.

To listen follow this link.  http://www.live365.com/stations/auscountry
                                              http://www.auscountry.com.au
                                              http://www.facebook.com/AusCountry

Contact John Nutting on auscountry1@gmail.com  or 0437 876 525

THE SOUTHERN STARS, THE AUSTRALIAN INDEPENDENT COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, Saturday 6 October 2012. Presented by ii net.

WATCH THE REPLAY!! http://freezone.iinet.net.au/vod/freezone/music/mildura-country-music-festival/14579

Co-Hosts, Nicki Gillis and Mike Smith.
Stars: Camille Te Nahu, Allan Caswell, Emma Barlow, Chris E Thomas, Slim Newton, Stephanie Jansen, Mitchell Shadlow, Kalesti Butler, Luke O’Shea, Dean Perrett, Bob Corbett, Kaylee Bell, Graham Rodger.

http://www.milduracountrymusic.com.au/

 *Latest News: Check BIG T JAMBOREE  for the date of the next show!

Sunday 8 July 2012, the last day of this year’s Toyota Hats Off to Country festival in Tamworth, saw the launch of the BIG T JAMBOREE – a special concert broadcast to the world via the Internet.

The Big T Jamboree got underway in the Country Music Capital from 6pm with the live one-hour broadcast taking place from 6:30 to 7:30pm from Enrec Studios in Calala (Australian Eastern Standard Time).
Artists included Paul Bonner-Jones, The Crosby Sisters, Amy Pain, Deanna Rose & Si and Sally-Anne Whitten & Alwyn Aurisch and a surprise guest or two.
After the initial launch event, it is planned to make the Big T Jamboree a monthly activity and even more frequently in the future.
Enrec boss Steve Newton said he was delighted to be able to finally get the “live to air” concert happening. “It’s something we’ve been wanting to do for some time now so I’m really happy we’re finally there!”
The Big T Jamboree has a number of very important historical references as well as being a project with a huge potential future for Tamworth and Australian country music.
It is intentionally named in line with an event known as the Big T Jubilee that went live to air on radio in the early days of the Country Music Capital promotion back in the 1960s.
The Jubilee was organised and promoted by the local radio station, 2TM, and went to air from the famous Hadley Studios run by Eric and Hilary Scott, the same studio, if not actually the same building, that Enrec now occupies.
“We also want to pay tribute to the late Gary Brown,” Steve said. “With the new technology of Internet live streaming, this was also an activity Gary pioneered just a few years ago. Unfortunately, the technology at the time was not up to the job.”
“We’ll be starting off slow,” Steve said, “with just a camera or two and only running for an hour live to air, but we will be increasing the production values as well as frequency of the activity as time progresses.”
For those not in the studio audience – the rest of the world! – the website to visit for future broadcasts is www.bigtjamboree.com

A dictionary definition of Americana may refer to “materials related to the history, geography, folklore and cultural heritage of the United States”. In relation to music, the term is all too often used to described an artist who sits outside of the established commercial radio formats. In the case of this new album by Neil Young and Crazy Horse, both of those descriptions are applicable. The opening track sets the mood for the entire album; the Tim Rose-inspired arrangement of Oh Susannah that places the Stephen Foster composition in a minor key and adds the trademark Crazy Horse sound, taking it to a darker place than you would expect. This is followed by Clementine that includes rarely heard original lyrics that take it out of the kindergarten and back to the original story of death and loss. Likewise, Tom Dula leaves behind the sing-along folksiness of Tom Dooley and becomes the murder ballad it once was and Jesus’ Chariot reclaims the spirituality that was lost when it became the children’s’ song She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain. Some of these arrangements date back to Neil Young’s pre-fame bands, so Americana is a return journey to his own musical roots as well as those of the nation. Engaging, provoking and ultimately satisfying.
(Available in Australia from Warner Music Australia)

Review published in COUNTRY UPDATE magazine, Issue 66.