Monthly Archives: October 2020

ONLINE EDUCATIONAL EVENT TO FEATURE SUPERSTARS AND LEADERS OF THE COUNTRY MUSIC INDUSTRY

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The Country Music Association of Australia Inc. are proud to announce the first ever ‘Academy X’ online educational event to take place Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 January, 2021. The Academy X program will feature superstars and leaders of the country music industry giving students invaluable information on various aspects of the music industry, including songwriting, record labels, publishing, management, festivals and touring, recording, performance, video production and media strategies. There will be a focus on resilience, innovation and mental health in a post-COVID world.

The two-day course will feature key note presentations by country music superstars Troy Cassar-Daley, Brooke McClymont, Kasey Chambers, Beccy Cole, Shane Nicholson, Amber Lawrence, Fanny Lumsden and Caitlyn Shadbolt along with industry leaders including Matt Fell (award winning producer, Love Hz Studio), Julz Parker (award winning producer), Dan Biddle (Artist Manager and Chairman, CMAA), Natalie Waller (Head of ABC Music & Events and Vice-Chair, CMAA), Duncan Toombs (award winning video director, The Filmery), Geoff Bell (Agent & Promoter, Laing Entertainment) and Simon Johnson (multi-instrumentalist and producer, Hillbilly Hut), as well as Support Act with a presentation on mental health and resilience in the music industry.

Group leaders and mentors for the students will include award-winning artists Lyn Bowtell, Dobe Newton, Roger Corbett, Catherine Britt, Amber Lawrence, Lachlan Bryan, Ashleigh Dallas, Kevin Bennett, David Carter, Jayne Denham and Mickey Pye and they will provide the intensive hands on experience that has been an integral part of The Academy for so long.

The Academy (previously known as the CMAA Academy of Country Music) has operated from Tamworth since 1997, normally running for two weeks preceding the Toyota Country Music Festival, Tamworth. The news of the move to the online format follows the announcement that the Tamworth Country Music Festival will be suspended for 2021 in light of restrictions due to COVID-19. This is the first time in the 24-year history of The Academy that an in-person event will not take place in January.

The Academy has been an important steppingstone in the careers of hundreds of artists including Jessica Mauboy, Brooke McClymont, Sara Storer, Travis Collins, Amber Lawrence, Adam Eckersley, Caitlyn Shadbolt, Judah Kelly, Kylie Sackley, The Sunny Cowgirls, Ashleigh Dallas, Melanie Dyer, Imogen Clark and many more. Academy X is set to continue that tradition and give a fresh group of emerging artists and songwriters the chance to connect with some of the best in the business and forge long-lasting connections with their peers.

The Academy Director, Lyn Bowtell and General Manager, Roger Corbett (both multi award-winning singer-songwriters) are excited by the opportunity to continue the important educational experience that The Academy provides, albeit in an online setting.

Corbett said, “Academy X is available to artists and songwriters from Australia and the world. From past Academy students looking to refresh and expand their careers to first time students gaining insights into the country music industry, they’ll be able to gain inspiration and insight from this amazing line up of key-note speakers and hands-on group leaders.”

Bowtell added “Students can expect the same passion and focus that our lecturers bring to the in-person version of the Academy and we look forward to nurturing the next crop of country music stars in a post-COVID world”.

CMAA Chairman, Dan Biddle noted, “We thank all of the key-note speakers and mentors who will come together to deliver an online presentation which will educate and unite our emerging country music artists.” He added “We look forward to The Academy returning to Tamworth in a physical capacity when restrictions ease and until that time, Academy X will provide the platform our industry needs in order to foster new talent for the future.”

Registrations for Academy X open at 11am Friday, October 16

with early bird pricing available until Monday, November 30

To register or for more information, visit www.academycountrymusic.com.au.

Manning Riverstage Opening concert fundraiser for the Australian Children’s Music Foundation

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A major concert fundraiser hosted by the Rotary Club of Taree will take place on Friday 6 November
2020 (7pm-9pm) – at the new Rotary/Lions Manning River Stage at Queen Elizabeth Park.
The “Riverstage Opening” event will showcase the magnificent foreshore entertainment space – with
monies raised going directly to support the incredible work of The Australian Children’s Music
Foundation (ACMF) within the Taree Schools Group.
Pending government regulations, the event will see as many people gather along the banks of the
river as restrictions permit. To allow for greater access and donations, the concert will be made
available online via live Stream-a-thon, enabled by Pluto Entertainment.
The Australian Children’s Music Foundation (ACMF) is a not-for-profit organisation inspiring
creativity and imagination by providing weekly music education classes and instruments to
disadvantaged children and youth at risk throughout Australia.
The ACMF has been delivering life-changing music programs to Manning Schools for almost a decade
at: Chatham High School, Chatham Public, Manning Gardens, Taree High, and Taree Public – with the
continued support of the Future Generation Investment Company, and Manning Valley Rotary Clubs.
The charity was founded in 2002, by singer/songwriter and talented entertainer, DON SPENCER
OAM. For over 18 years Don has worked to provide long term music education to disadvantaged
children across Australia.
Local teachers, Matt Zarb, Brad Bunyan and Stuart Lovell motivate, educate, and inspire school
children through a broad variety of music tuition, such as singing and song-writing, percussion,
drumming, guitar tuition, the forming of school bands, and music for special needs units. The ACMF
recently introduced a bushfire relief music program within the area, to aid the healing and recovery
of children and families affected.
Don Spencer will be present at “Riverstage Opening” concert – accompanied by a line-up of
outstanding music acts, including Rob Mills (who will compare the event pending Covid Government
restrictions), Casey Donovan, Darren Jack, James Johnston, Keanu Jai Live, Jake Davey, the
Taree High Support Unit, and a sensational performance by ACMF music students.
The “Riverstage Opening” concert presents an opportunity for local audiences to contribute to a very
important cause: benefiting the emotional and mental health of children, through music. For more
information, visit: www.acmf.com.au

Country on Keppel announces more gems

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Great Keppel Island’s own country music festival, Country on Keppel, has finalised its artist announcement with the addition of more Queensland gems.

Gympie’s Caitlyn Shadbolt, Hervey Bay’s Jade Holland, and Rockhampton duo Louise James FX are the latest artists to be added to the line-up that was modified due to the uncertainty of COVID-19 border restrictions.

Held from November 14-15, with a talent quest as a precursor on November 13, Caitlyn, Jade and Louise James FX will join headliners Matt Cornell and James Blundell, as well as other Queensland-based performers Brad Butcher, Saltbush Six, Tony Cook, and Anna Farquhar for Country on Keppel.

Country-pop artist Caitlyn Shadbolt can’t wait to get back on stage.

“I have never been to Great Keppel Island which makes me even more excited to be playing this festival for the first time,” she said.

“I can’t wait to play live again and be amongst the beautiful scenery that Country on Keppel has to offer.”

Jade, formerly of Townsville, will perform at Country on Keppel as part of her Do It Right Tour.

“I’ve never been to Great Keppel Island, so I’m firstly excited to be able to visit such a beautiful part of the world, but to be able to play on the island at a country show is just the icing on the cake,” she said.

“Who wouldn’t want to play country, on a gorgeous island, to a bunch of beautiful friends?”

Also announced recently was award-winning singer-songwriter and musician Matt Cornell who has played in both the rock and country scenes, and is also headed to Great Keppel Island for the first time.

“It’s always exciting being involved with a new festival,” Cornell said.

“Country On Keppel is only in its second year and held in such a unique setting – who wouldn’t want to head to an island, drink cocktails, listen to country music and hang out with likeminded people?

“I’ll be playing songs from all four albums, some Cornell & Carr tunes, and some of my favourite covers – this is going to be one hell of a party.”

Festival organiser Peter Blundell said Country on Keppel offered a unique experience for music lovers.

“There aren’t a lot of other country festivals on an island and the relaxed atmosphere of the festival means fans will have access to the artists,” he said.

“It’s a very family-oriented festival and fans can enjoy the music while being barefoot in the sand or listen to the music and then go for a swim in the ocean.”

Held on the weekend of November 13-15 at Great Keppel Island Hideaway, the sweet sounds of the best in country music will drift on the breeze across the Capricorn Coast, starting with the Green Brothers Country on Keppel Talent Search on the Friday night with prizes including a Takamine guitar worth $1000 plus a hard case, and a performance at this year’s festival.

From Saturday morning, a mix of award-winning and up-and-coming artists will take to the stage with a focus on contemporary Australian country.

Call (07) 4939 2050 for packages and more details or visit: greatkeppelislandhideaway.com.au/country-on-keppel/