Country Music Notes Saturday July 29, 2006

CONGRATULATIONS Tamworth! You are amazing. The Dwight Yoakam concert at TREC on November 5 is all but a sellout. When tickets went on sale on Monday Tourism Tamworth staff had rarely seen anything like it before. By the time lunchtime rolled around, a whopping 1400 tickets had exchanged hands! You champions! You realise now that this would have to be a major sign to any promoter considering bringing an international act to town that it just has to be someone we want to go and see, so the floodgates could well be opening. And it’s about time. Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre is a wonderful venue and should be utilised much more often than it is presently for touring acts. And it wasn’t just Tamworth that responded so warmly to the bloke who sings all about guitars, Cadillacs and hillbilly music – Melbourne loves him too. While Tourism Tamworth staff were attempting to field the avalanche of phone calls and over the counter ticket sales, within an astonishing 60 minutes Melbourne’s Palais Theatre sold out at 3000 seats – and now a second Melbourne show has been put into the itinerary. Can you believe it? There are more hillbillies in the Victorian state capital than there are in the Country Music Capital – and they’re all going to see Dwight. Elsewhere around Australia the public has warmly embraced the man who burst onto the country scene in 1986 making no apologies for his take on the wild side of country. Country Music People magazine said of Dwight: “… only country’s greatest showmen have toyed so boldly with the genre while simultaneously sounding like such purists.” But that’s all part of his charm. It’s the way he moves. His whole attitude is just bigger than Texas. Dwight’s Australian publicist Chrissie Camp is absolutely delighted with sales right around the country. Chrissie knew she had to get the word out and no expense was spared to promote Dwight’s tour down under.

“He has one of the silkiest voices this side of George Jones, one of the funkier hip swaggers since Elvis and a crack band that will make any one of you get up to bust a two-step,” wrote Outside Left Magazine. Nationwide the results have been very positive – with Sydney close to a sellout, and the possibility of a second show being added; Wollongong, Newcastle, Toowoomba and the North Queensland shows all selling strongly. He is undoubtedly one of the most exciting and influential superstars of country music. It’s little wonder he’s sold more than 23 million albums worldwide. He holds a unique place in the country music world. Shunning the traditional home of country, Nashville, he cut his teeth in Los Angeles playing as many rock’n’roll clubs as country bars.

His debut, the brutally retro Guitars, Cadillacs Etc Etc, blew Nashville apart and sold two million copies. Rather than riding on traditional country coat tails, right from the get-go Yoakam honed his own style with Telecaster guitar leads and sharp, rock-flavoured rhythms. His influences come from pop, punk, soul, swing and honky tonk and his stylish image and sassy rock’n’roll attitude was just the shot in the arm country needed. Hits like Honky Tonk Man, Streets Of Bakersfield, Little Ways, Little Sister, A Thousand Miles From Nowhere and Ain’t That Lonely Yet, have seen Dwight fearlessly stretch country’s boundaries, securing his stature among country’s elite. He’s achieved a staggering 21 Grammy nominations, earning praise from the likes of Time Magazine, hailing him as “a renaissance man”, Rolling Stone noting “he has no contemporary peer” and Vanity Fair proclaiming “Yoakam strides the divide between rock’s lust and country’s lament”. And it’s not only the music world that has taken to this modern day James Dean. He’s also secured major roles in movies, The Three Burials (written and directed by Tommy Lee Jones), Bandidas (starring Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz), and delivered a great cameo in the Vince Vaughan/Owen Wilson movie, The Wedding Crashers.

Since his acting debut in Nicolas Cage’s Red Rock West, he’s appeared in Billy Bob Thornton’s Sling Blade, The Panic Room, The Newton Boys and South Of Heaven West Of Hell (which he wrote and directed), amongst others. Dwight is so impressed with Blame The Vain, his first album of new music since 2003, he’s taken his band to Europe, where they will be touring for the next three weeks, before heading back to the States. Then it’s full on touring and promoting the disc until he arrives here in October. A huge vote of thanks to promoter Andrew McManus for having the faith to bring this star down under – and more importantly – to bring him to Australia’s Country Music Capital. Let’s hope Dwight’s sellout success is a big indicator to other promoters that Tamworth audiences do love their country. If you haven’t already got your ticket, don’t let any grass grow under your feet, or you could well be seeing the “sold out” sign hung at Tourism Tamworth – or at your local ticket outlet. If you’d like to keep up with Dwight’s latest activities, visit his website, www.dwightyoakam.com.

DON’T forget to tune in to Southern Cross Ten today at high noon for State Focus, where Felicity Urquhart will be interviewed and perform a song from her stunning My Life album.

Country Music Notes Saturday July 22, 2006

A LITTLE while ago I wrote a piece for Capital News on a group of young stars making a name for themselves in country music. One of my subjects was Jedd Hughes, a young man born in South Australia, who is now living and working on a professional country music career in America. Jedd had some fairly insightful answers to a list of questions I posed him, which didn’t quite make the deadline for the original article, but they’re more than relevant reading for anyone aspiring to a career in country music. Like many others, Jedd began his on-stage performing at talent quests, and found it a great starting point where you could get feedback and experience. He competed for around seven years on the talent quest circuit and said talent quests were a great place to meet other kids who loved music as much as he did. “Coming from a somewhat remote place, it was really inspiring and fun to play music with people my own age,” Jedd said. But there are no “secrets” to success, as you’d imagine there could be – it all comes down to hard work, with the emphasis on really hard work. Jedd has had many memorable moments since moving to the US, and one of the highlights was touring Europe with Rodney Crowell. “Another one of my most favourite moments was playing the Greek Theatre in LA on the Down From The Mountain Tour with Patty Loveless in front of my mum and dad,” Jedd said. Just imagine how proud Lil and Glen would have been sitting there, knowing the investment they’d made in their son’s future – was paid in full. Like many parents, Lil and Glen have encouraged, nurtured and assisted him in his goal to make a career out of music. They have driven the miles and paid the price, and were always there to support and cheer him on every step of the way.

Unless you’re a parent of a child who’s musically gifted, you probably can’t really comprehend the feeling Lil and Glen experienced in that audience, watching Jedd on stage. For Jedd to reach that point, he spent many months on the road, touring and making sure the stranger from down under became a familiar face to US audiences. However that’s not quite as glamourous as it may sound – because when you’re out there doing it, there are many sacrifices you have to make along the way. “Touring is bloody hard work when you’re starting out,” Jedd said. “You have to make sure you really like everyone you’re working with because you’re basically all living together for most of the year.” And when you’re on the road, night after night, town after town, there’s not much time to spend with the people you love. “Being able to achieve that balance between your personal and professional life is something that comes easier with success, as you become a little more in control of your time,” Jedd said. “I find it very hard to make both work. It can also be hard to find someone who understands the massive amount of time it takes.” Right now though, Jedd’s immediate goal is to make a great album for Capitol Records – and this is a project he’s totally immersed in. He’s a young man who has always had big dreams – and now he’s showing everyone who’s ever had faith in him that he has the stickability to achieve those aims. Jedd has been inspired by many people in his life, beginning with his supportive family, but it was a fellow South Australian who inspired him initially to take the road less travelled. “Bill Chambers was the first guy I really wanted to be,” Jedd said. “The Dead Ringer Band really encouraged me a lot and I got to hear about a lot of cool artists through them, like Steve Earle. Now, Tom Petty is my all time fave.” Keep an eye out in your favourite record store for Jedd’s new album, which should be an absolute stunner, if Trans Continental is any yardstick to go by. For the past week or so Jedd has been on the road with fellow Aussie star Keith Urban. After months of songwriting in preparation for the new album, Jedd jumped at the chance to get out on the road for an enjoyable tour with his good mate, Keith. Check out Keith’s website to see some of the territory they’re covering. You can find out more about Jedd’s road to success by visiting his new website, http://www.myspace.com/jeddhughes

BILL Chambers, the bloke Jedd “wanted to be”, has been doing the miles and keeping busy at home when not touring with his new Frozen Ground album. In his studio this week, Bill is producing an album for Australian country music pioneer, Rick Carey. At 79, Rick is singing better than ever, according to Bill, and the album is shaping up beautifully. The procession of special guests coming in to the studio to join Rick should make for a wonderful finished product. It is anticipated the album will be launched during the 2007 Tamworth Country Music Festival.

AS a postscript to last week’s column featuring Troy Cassar-Daley, I had a lovely email from Troy during the week. Troy said he and Kate Ritchie were having a ball on It Takes Two and said Tamworth gave Kate something special that night which she was able to carry into the competition. “It just goes to show the place [Tamworth] still is very special to me and others who venture there,” Troy wrote in his email. Make sure you tune in on Sunday night to see what song they will do next. It seems Kate has really found her voice and is shedding many of the nerves she experienced in the first couple of episodes and letting her hair down. Didn’t she make a great “rock chick” with that AC/DC number? And don’t forget to vote. Wouldn’t it be awesome if they won it?

Country Music Notes, Saturday, July 15, 2006

FREQUENT flyer Troy Cassar-Daley gave – and then gave some more last week when he jetted into Tamworth for the Hats Off to Country Festival. I say frequent flyer because Troy certainly clocked up some miles to get here and then put in thousands of air miles before appearing on It Takes Two on Sunday night in Melbourne. When he arrived in the Country Music Capital last Friday for his Up Close and Personal concert at The Pub, Troy showed his new friend, Kate Ritchie, around the town he loves to call home each January. They went to the Big Golden Guitar and saw his wax likeness, did some filming for It Takes Two, and then wandered out to The Pub for sound check around 7pm.

The place was packed from the afternoon show – The Young Balladeers – and the room had to be cleared so preparations could begin for Troy’s only concert of the Hats Off festival. This was no mean feat – and once the Music Room was cleared Troy jumped up on stage in that familiar scenario, tuning his guitar, running through a few songs making sure the sound was just right. Behind the control panel was an old mate of Troy’s – Greg Brown, from Tamworth – son of Beryl and the late Geoff Brown – Gentleman Geoff. By the time that room filled with almost 300 patrons, Greg had the sound nailed so none of those in the room missed a word or an utterance from the stage.

Aleyce Simmonds’ half-hour set was the perfect entrée to the main meal – Troy up close and personal. For each and every person in the room, it was certainly an intimate experience with Troy, almost like sitting in his loungeroom or over the kitchen table, as he delivered song after song and explained the meaning of most of them in his off the cuff introductions. Troy is very much at home performing at The Pub. He’s usually on hand each year for Stuey French’s VB Pickers’ Night, along with a lot of his mates in the industry who love the atmosphere that’s in the walls and floorboards of the Gunnedah Road hotel.

One of the surprise elements of the night was the appearance of his on-screen duet partner, Kate Ritchie, who wasn’t sure at sound check if she would have the courage to get up and sing to the capacity audience. With just two players behind him – Damian Whitney on drums and Luke Austen on bass, it was a stripped-back, acoustic sound, and Troy was in his element – singing songs for the people who love them. Rhonda Astill, from the Hunter Valley, was in the audience and was waiting for “her” song – The Red Headed Stranger, which Troy had performed live on John Nutting’s Saturday Night Country a few weeks earlier. Rhonda didn’t know it at the time, but it was a song that had significant meaning for the woman on the door – me.
Around 25 years ago I was a huge Willie Nelson fan and his Red Headed Stranger album was one of the most-played vinyls in my collection. Troy gave Damian and Luke the opportunity to grab a cool drink while he delivered the song with just his guitar and a whole heap of emotion that comes from studying and loving the music since childhood. In around 1980-81, I can clearly remember approaching the Goodtime Band at Dominoes Nightclub, where they held a Thursday night residency, and asking each band member if they knew the Willie Nelson song that had become my favourite. Only one member of the band knew it – and was keen to learn the words for the fan in the audience – and that was Jazzer Smith, my late husband. Twenty-five years later I’m still a fan in the audience – and still loving the music I grew up with, only now I have the privilege of writing about it.
You could say Troy’s song choice was ideal for evoking wonderful memories – but then again, each of the songs had special meaning to someone sitting out there in that room. After the show ended, not one person left feeling sad. They were all smiling and pleased they had been there for that magical experience. Troy signed autographs, CDs, photos and chatted to fans before heading home to his Tamworth accommodation for a quick sleep, before boarding an early flight out for Melbourne. It was Saturday morning and he had rehearsals for It Takes Two. Following rehearsals Troy hopped on another plane, from the bottom of Australia to the top – bound for Cairns, where he and his band performed at a big show that night. Sunday morning a weary Troy jumped on board another plane and returned to Melbourne for the It Takes Two live show.

To hear him and Kate sing as wonderfully as they did and to gain the top score of the series was something special after the week Troy had put in – and the miles he’d travelled. I’m just delighted he agreed to be part of Hats Off to Country at The Pub – and there’s about 300 others who would wholeheartedly agree with me on that score. Thanks to Gunnedah photographer Peter Lorimer for his gorgeous pictures of the night. Photos of this and other Hats Off shows can be found at www.tamworthragepage.com

SOMETHING well worth a second viewing recommences at Tamworth’s Regent Cinema this Thursday – the Neil Young movie, Heart of Gold. Grant Lee from the Regent said the film ran for a week and was due to be sent on to other cinemas, but the public, who were busy over Hats Off seeing live shows, were keen to see the much talked about concert made by Young last August at the famed Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Paul Byrnes, in the Sydney Morning Herald, described the film as “an absolute stunner, a poised, almost hypnotic summation of what makes this man one of the greatest who ever picked up a guitar”. I reckon it’s worth catching, when you factor in EmmyLou Harris and that great band. Don’t miss this film.

Country Music Notes, Saturday, July 08, 2006

WELCOME to Tamworth for Hats Off to Country – the coolest little festival around! With an abundance of free and paid shows all over town, the choice is yours. Grab a program from Tourism Tamworth and go for it. Hope you have a lovely time in the Country Music Capital – and come back and visit us again soon. If you’re a local, get out there and enjoy this midyear feast. It beats staying at home watching the telly!

IT’S been an amazing week musically in this fair city. The fifth annual Tamworth Camerata concluded on Thursday night with a fabulous concert in Blazes at Wests. Twenty-two young people, aged 10 to 18, from Australia and New Zealand spent six days learning how to pursue their country music career from the very best in the business. And it wasn’t only the students who were on the receiving end of lessons. Each student was accompanied by at least one parent, and each day there were sessions for the parents to hit the books, with a range of excellent speakers lending their expertise. One speaker who had a phenomenal impact was Gina Jeffreys’ dad, Graham Hillenberg. Graham spoke purely from a parent’s perspective – straight from the heart – giving a warm, humorous and at times, very emotional viewpoint from the father of Australia’s first female true country music superstar.

He spoke about the early days of Gina’s career, when she played small gigs for little money, and a great yarn about when Gina played at a wedding. Apparently it was the first gig Graham and Nola hadn’t been able to attend, so determined to see her daughter sing, Nola stood on Graham’s shoulders outside the church, peering in the window. With no one else in the family being musical, all Gina had to go on was the unfailing belief, love and commitment of her family, who told her from the start she could do anything. “We didn’t have a family history, like the Kernaghans, or the Dustys, so we were really quite green,” Graham said.

“What we lacked in technical knowledge we made up for in belief and enthusiasm, so by the time we brought Gina from Toowoomba for Star Maker in 1991, we had her convinced she would win it. Then when we saw the competition up against her, we really felt we’d thrown her to the wolves – but as it turned out, she won it.” The next step for the Hillenberg family [Gina was Hillenberg when she won Star Maker, but changed her name to Jeffreys, after her brother Jeffrey], was letting their little girl make the move to Sydney. At that point 22-year-old Gina had been living at home with her family so she wasn’t about to go anywhere without mum, so Nola left her two hairdressing salons in Toowoomba and went with Gina to the big smoke. “Nola literally scrubbed floors to ensure Gina was able to stay in Sydney for that initial six months,” Graham said. “Then for the next three years we scrimped and saved, sending her $5 notes in the mail with letters from home and bags of food to keep her going.”

One of the greatest blessings, according to Graham, was surrounding Gina with good people, starting with her manager, Doug Trevor. Allowing another person to “take control” of their much loved daughter was a wrench, but after giving Doug a real “grilling” and then checking on his credentials, Graham found no one had a bad word to say about him, and that partnership has lasted 15 years to date.

“We fell on our feet, unguided, finding Doug Trevor. I once had the very naïve idea I could manage her, but thankfully we discounted this very early on,” Graham said. “I firmly believe good people attract good people – and that continued to be the case, with Gina finding the right agents and promoters, then finally, finding her future husband, Rod McCormack.”
Camerata parents were moved to tears, at times, as the father’s love was so apparent in every word he said, which they could relate to on such a personal level. He spoke of the bad times, as well as the good, and how the show must go on, even when your heart is breaking, or when you become ill before a gig. That’s all part of the big picture of being a country music star.

From the experience he has gained over the past 15 years, Graham said he felt he could spot who was going to make it and who wasn’t, as he could easily identify “the X factor”. “If your child has that all consuming passion to be a star, there’s every chance they will achieve that goal,” Graham said. “Now, with such things as Camerata, it will make the road so much easier than it was for us. It was a real learning curve back then.” Following Graham’s talk, there were many questions from the floor, but one parent summed up what everyone there had been feeling. Graham said at one point he didn’t know where Gina’s talent came from, but Daryl Chaplain, of Mareeba, Queensland, said he knew its source. It came from the unswerving love, devotion and belief her parents had instilled in her, which drew a huge round of applause – with most people diving for the tissues.

Thanks to all the guests, tutors and musicians who so generously and willingly gave of their time and expertise. The country music stars of the future will remember your contribution for many years to come.

Country Music Notes, Saturday, July 01, 2006

THE countdown is on now, folks. Only six more sleeps and it will be midyear festival time – Hats Off to Country. And haven’t we got a great lineup of artists coming to our fair city to warm the winter nights with their cool country music? If you haven’t already got your program, they’re at the Visitor Information Centre, selected venues, or you could ask your friendly local newsagent. Two of the biggest names in the business – Troy Cassar-Daley and Lee Kernaghan – will bring their brand of country to the capital, along with a stack of other great acts. All you have to do is get out there amongst it. The majority of shows on the program are free admission, while some carry a door charge ranging from $4 to around $50 a ticket. What you spend is up to you – but there’s enjoyment out there to be had, so don’t sit at home wondering what you’re missing out on – or you will have done exactly that – bigtime.

WHILE we’re welcoming visitors to town – a big Country Music Capital welcome to the Tamworth Camerata Class of 2006. Twenty-two young people today begin a six-day intensive course in all aspects of country music performance and delivery where they learn from the best in the business. Welcome to the tutors, students and parents. I hope you have a great week in Tamworth.

IF you’re thinking of getting along to Troy’s Up Close and Personal concert at The Pub and don’t already have your ticket, there’s not much good news I can tell you. The concert sold out two weeks ago. On Friday night if you’ve got a few bucks in your pocket, you might fancy dinner with Pixie Jenkins at Tamworth Services Club’s Hot Rocks Down Under restaurant. For $45 you can dine out at the city’s only eatery that boasts cooking on hot rocks (it’s supposed to be very healthy for you) and when you add Pixie into the picture it’s bound to be a big night out. Tamworth Town Hall is a venue where you’ll find a real value package – artists on a mission. They plan to entertain you in an effort to raise funds for the proposed Australian Country Music Hall of Fame.Staged by the Australian Country Music Foundation, this show has stars coming out of its stars – with Clelia Adams, Rex Dallas, Alex Watt, Jodie Crosby, Keri McInerney and a virtual cast of thousands! If you’re a fan of quantity and quality – don’t miss this gig. Tickets are on sale at Tourism Tamworth.

BILL Chambers has been touring these past few weeks with a group of musicians from South Australia bearing a distinctively veggie-like name – The Huckleberry Swedes.Well, I suppose you could think they were a cross between a Mark Twain character and something you’d find at the bottom of the garden – but after just one hearing, you’ll be a Swede fan too. Bill most certainly is. The Swedes arrived in Tamworth in January without a gig, and found themselves out at The Pub at a Bill Chambers/Trev Warner Session.They were invited on stage and the audience couldn’t believe their ears. Who were these people no-one had heard of? They were awesome. Consequently, when Bill hit the road to promote his latest solo offering, Frozen Ground, he invited The Swedes along for the ride. The Swedes will make their official Tamworth “debut” in the late night spot at The Pub – after the sold-out Troy Cassar-Daley concert, from 11pm. They’ll back up the next evening in the eight o’clock shift to keep The Pub patrons enjoying their midyear country feast. Bill will present his very popular “sessions” on Saturday and Sunday in the 4pm timeslot, when you never know quite who will be his next special guest. Mind you, with this new album recorded on son Nash’s Essence Records label, you might just want to hear more of Bill than anyone else. It’s a beauty.

SATURDAY night is a biggie – and Lee Kernaghan is leading the all-star cast at the town hall, as part of his Beaches to the Bush tour. Not only do you get to hear one of the biggest and most rewarded names in Australian country music, with a whole batch of new songs from The New Bush – you also have the bonus of Lee’s talented sister and award-winning sister, Tania. If that’s not enough to entice you to part with your money – throw in the gorgeous and harmonious McClymont Sisters – Brooke, Samantha and Mollie. Now Lee is big on bands – and loves to be surrounded by a driving rhythm section and hot players and he uses the best in the business. Entertainment runs in the Kernaghan veins, so make sure your seat is reserved for this show. Tickets are selling quickly, so hop on the phone (6767 5300), jump on the internet (www.visittamworth.com) or walk right in to Tourism Tamworth, on the corner of Peel and Murray streets, Tamworth.

BUSH ballad fans are in for a real treat next weekend when Ernie Constance and Tom Maxwell combine their talents in a show at Butler’s Auditorium, at LBS Studio, on the highway. Out at the Oasis Hotel, Des and Joyce are offering plenty of entertainment with Brian Howard’s Wire Strainers and Graeme Doubleday providing the music for Hats Off. Elsewhere you will find The Young Balladeers – and some excellent bush ballad performers.

TOMORROW (Sunday) at SouthGate Inn’s Scully Room, Howdy will convene a panel for the Tamworth Camerata Bush Ballad Forum – and the public is warmly welcome to attend. It starts at 1pm and Howdy has enticed some special guests who know a thing or two about the story songs that fair dinkum Aussies can relate to so well. Brian Young and Rex Dallas, together with Rex’s son, Brett, who picks a mighty fine guitar, will share their knowledge and love of bush ballads, with Camerata students, parents, and the public. Admission is free and apart from the graduation concert on Thursday night, this is the only Camerata event open to the general public.