Month: September 2023

Popular Australian pop country crossover artist Jade Holland is heading to her hometown Mareeba Queensland for the first time in ten years.

Jade is performing at Savannah in The Round Festival 6-8 October amidst a stellar lineup of her peers which include Aussie Icons & International Luminaries Jimmy Barnes, Kasey Chambers, Daryl Braithwaite, Russell Morris and Kate Ceberano to name a few.

Holland had already written and recorded a new song aptly titled ‘Home Town’ before Savannah In The Round reached out for a theme song for the festival. The lyric sees her recalling both happy and tragic memories of her youth growing up in the far north Queensland hinterland. Catchy and nostalgic ‘Home Town’ is a song we can all relate to when thinking about home.

“I grew up on a beautiful five-acre property in the bush. I have often channelled my formative years when writing songs. Mareeba was an is a magical place.

We thought we were the coolest kids on the block hanging out at centre parking in the Main Street. We would sit there for hours planning our lives”

TC Cassidy unveils stunning bluegrass duet with Angus Gill

Golden Guitar nominee TC Cassidy unveils stunning bleugrass duet, Waiting on a Train, featuring her producer Angus Gill. The romantic bluegrass song was written by Gill with US bluegrass luminary Ronnie Bowman. It features Grammy winners Ron Block (of Alison Krauss & Union Station) and Randy Kohrs, respectively on banjo and dobro, while Arkansas native Tim Crouch provides sublime fiddle, mandolin, acoustic guitar and double bass.

The growth of country music has been phenomenal over the past 18 months and rising Adelaide Hills singer-songwriter sisters Ella & Sienna have held their own, winning awards and gaining a rapidly growing fan base Australia wide, proving they are one of the most exciting emerging artists in the Australian music scene.

Powerful and liberating, Ella & Sienna’s latest release ‘Like A Boy’ embraces the sisters’ newfound country-pop sound. Recorded with renowned producer Ken Royster in Nashville, Tennessee, the dynamic track showcases the heartfelt storytelling the sisters are earning a reputation for. The anthemic track embodies vocal harmonies that soar over rich layers of guitars, intense drum builds and prominent slide riffs.

“We had the incredible opportunity to record ‘Like A Boy’ in Nashville earlier this year after winning the NQ’s Rock’n Country Reboot Competition and we absolutely loved every minute of the process. We were keen to see how the track came to life in the studio and we were really thrilled with how it turned out” Ella.

“Of all the songs we’ve recorded, this is one of our favourites for sure. And we’re really excited to see how everyone reacts to it. Hopefully they love it as much as we do”. Sienna.

Ella & Sienna’s list of achievements are astounding and undeniably impressive. It’s been a meteoric rise for the talented young duo who have seen growing accolades over the past 2 years. Winners of the Most Popular Country Artist in the South Australian Music Awards 2022, winners of the Groundwater KIX Start and NQ’s Rockin’ Country Reboot Competitions in 2022, Top 24 Finalists in The Voice Australia (Season 11) 2022, Finalists in the Folk Alliance Australian Youth Folk Artist of the Year 2021 and 2022, second place in both the Battle of the Young Stars and Best of the Buskers Competitions at the Tamworth Country Music Festival and Semi-Finalists in the prestigious International Songwriting Competition 2020 have all helped to shape the artists they are today.

A favourite amongst Australian radio, Ella & Sienna have received support from major players KIX Country, ABC Country and community radio which has earned them chart success on the Countrytown Hottest 50 Chart. CMT have supported the girls in high rotation with music videos and they have been added to editorial playlists including Spotify’s New Music Friday and YouTube Music’s ‘Incoming Country’.

Captivating audiences across the country at shows and iconic music festivals has seen Ella & Sienna perform at Tamworth Country Music Festival, Groundwater Country Music Festival, Gympie Music Muster, NQ’s Rockin’ Country, the EKKA (Brisbane) Semaphore Music Festival, Country By the River (SA) Fleurieu Folk Festival and Valley Folk Festival amongst others whilst also sharing the stages with John Schumann (Redgum) Amy Sheppard, Kristy Cox and Jayne Denham to name a few.

Now touring across several states to promote their debut EP ‘Seven Ways To Say You’re Fine’ EP, Ella & Sienna continue to build momentum, cementing the sisters as one of the most exciting acts to come out of Australian country music in years.

Ella & Sienna’s new single ‘Like a Boy’ is out at radio and digital platforms on Friday 29th September.

This incredible song is the Title Track to a beautiful collection of songs about Duncan’s life & Family. It’s written with love to Duncan’s dad, Bob Toombs who passed away in Aug 2021.

From Duncan – I started writting this song while I was making trip’s back home to Toowoomba visiting my father in hospital. He was suffering from multiple mini stokes due to the lung cancer which was found while running tests on him. I finished the song the day the nurses called me while at home to let me know he had passed. It was soon realised that I would not be able to be at my father’s funeral as the QLD border was locked again. With the help of my producer Rod McCormack, we recorded and mixed the song within a matter of days. My family then helped me create a short video for it which features a trip I took to Europe with dad and my 2 boys in 2018 and It was played at my father’s service. I watched my father’s service via live stream from my loungeroom with my family and the saving grace from not being able to be there was that at least my energy was there in the room with him. My Dad was a Train Driver and worked for QLD rail for over 30 years. He was a true people’s champion. I miss him a lot.

Duncan.

“Steel On Steel” is a rare debut album that reveals an incredible degree of maturity, craftsmanship, and emotional depth for a brand new songwriter. With Streaming for his album fast approaching 1 million streams this Australian Aria Number #1 Country Album has created massive waves here in Oz and has fast become a favourite among fans and fellow Artists throughout the OZ music industry. Duncan’s live shows are nothing short of spectacular. The atmosphere Duncan creates leaves his audiences spellbound by the heart and passion woven into the lyrics of Duncan’s songs. Over the last 10 months Duncan has made the front of the stage his new home, wowing audiences all over the country whilst touring with Beccy Cole & Adam Harvey. The spotlights are finally revealing to fans across the world the talents that Duncan has been hiding for some time. This highly awarded filmmaker and sought-after guitarist to the stars is set to stand amongst our brightest stars.

Refreshed and refocused, Sunshine Coast artist Tori Forsyth ushers in a new era with the release of her new single ‘Sometimes’. Her first release in two years, ‘Sometimes’ is a song that marks a strong intention for the 3 x Golden Guitar Award nominee, that is to seek out and pursue what she loves, and to settle for nothing less.

With plenty of new music on the way, ‘Sometimes’ is a return to the unique alt-country sound that first launched Tori’s music career. Driven by her arresting vocals, and featuring friend and country music icon Shane Nicholson, the new single is a delicate and tender reflection on the ending of a relationship, without malice or resentment, simply bittersweet.

“Sometimes’ is a breakup song.” Tori openly shares, “The only one on the record, the only one I have ever written, the only one I intend to write. Plain and simple, sometimes out of nowhere, your heart gets broken. But you pick up the pieces and move on and sometimes, most of the time, something beautiful is on the other side.”

‘Sometimes’ is produced with Scott Horscroft (Charlie Collins, Brooke & Adam Eckersley) and is recorded at The Grove Studios with her full band of Reece Baines (drums), Matthew Newton (guitars) and Zachary Miller (bass), and joined by Mak Brothers , Thom (guitar) and Andy (keys)

Eight years after emerging from regional NSW seemingly fully formed with the release of her evocative single ‘New Wall’ and the acclaimed EP Black Bird, Tori’s highly anticipated 2018 debut album Dawn of the Dark was hailed as one of the standout country album releases of the year. It planted Tori at the forefront of alternative country music, underpinning her incomparable songwriting and gritty and expressive vocals.

Not one to follow the crowds, Tori’s second album Provlépseis (2021) was an unexpected swerve away from traditional alt-country and into a more bold and bruising rock record that pushed her out of her comfort zone. Released during a period of uncertainty and world closures, the album and its singles ‘Be Here’ and ‘Down Below’ continued to resonate with loyal fans. Big streaming numbers followed, with Tori currently boasting over 15 million artist global streams on Spotify alone.

But 18 months ago, the boundary pushing artist found herself at a crossroads. Living on her parent’s farm in rural QLD, Forsyth began to think she didn’t have anything to give anymore; she wasn’t sure who she was as an artist and what her musical future looked like. The songs weren’t coming, and for the first time in a long time Tori wasn’t putting pen to paper, sifting through her feelings, and distilling them into songs that strike at people’s hearts. It was, in Tori’s words, a “big old identity crisis”.

The fog lifted when Tori settled on a new vision: to only pursue what she loved and to stick true to her values. Suddenly, with no pressure or urgency resting on her shoulders, the songs began flowing out of her. The new songs were sculpted literally and figuratively by nature, with Tori spending months living in a treehouse listening to music from the likes of Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce, Miranda Lambert, Nashville bluegrass outfit The SteelDrivers, with some ’90s Jewel, all while working on her parent’s horse stud and literally covered in trees.

It explains why ‘Sometimes’ feels real, warm and lived in, and no surprise why Tori chose to film the official video, directed by Bradley Murnane from Spill Films, on her parent’s property with her full band.

With a newfound freedom and lightness propelling her forward into a new chapter, once again Tori Forsyth is ready to take her place at the forefront of Australian country music. Following her BIGSOUND performances, Tori will be supporting US country artist Jackson Dean in Melbourne and Sydney with more news of live shows to come.

AFTER ARIA #1’S AND 800 MILLION STREAMS, KINGSWOOD RELEASE LATEST SINGLE “GOD ALREADY KNOWS”

Following a recording breaking Australian tour consisting of over 100 shows, Kingswood have hit the ground running with their latest single “God Already Knows” from their forthcoming album “Tale of G.C Townes”.

“The single was born of the concept that eternally plagues most; the everlasting duel between fate or chance, and whether one has validity over the other. These questions seem to be most poignant and prevalent amongst apparent and important life decisions yet are the wallpaper that encompass our every move from day to day. In particular, God Already Knows beckons the questions when a life path comes face to face with a romantic path, a fantastic collision of opportunities both lost and gained, allowing for a wild pendulum between a fulfilled heart and a broken one”. – Kingswood

Kingswood’s upcoming album “Tale of G.C Townes” was written and recorded alongside “Home” in the mountains of Queensland Australia’s hinterlands on a ranch, with the finishing touches placed both on the road amongst the record breaking 110 date Australian tour and in Kingswood’s spiritual home in Nashville, Tennessee. The album and songs were engineered by Alexander Laska, Guus Hoevenaars, and Tennessee’s Eddie Spear.

The enigmatic track features all members of Kingswood alongside Shaun Richardson on mandolin and pedal steel (Ricky Skaggs, Sierra Hull, Bela Fleck) and Billy Contreras on Fiddle.

Following his win at the Golden Guitar Awards for Male Artist of the Year 2023, Andrew Swift released his third studio album, “Lightning Strikes and Neon Nights”. The album was met to critical acclaim and debuted at #1 on the ARIA Australian Country Album Chart.

Produced by Matt Fell, the album packed full of hits including “Young Lovers” “The Good Old Days” “You, Me, and a Bottle of Whiskey” and “Cheap Liquor”, the latest offering “All These Parts” mixes Swift’s signature grit with retro soundscapes and contemporary rhythms.

“There seems to be a bit of a pattern as I look back on my previous releases to include a song that I didn’t write. All These Parts is that song on this album, originally written. By Amber Rae Slade and Matt Fell, Matt pitched this song to me. I’ve always been a big fan of Amber’s work and it was a pretty easy decision to make. All These Parts is about moving on from a relationship, about cutting ties and pushing forward.” – Andrew Swift

With close to 2 million streams to date, Swift has been described as “an Australian songwriting heavyweight – with a powerfully evocative voice to match” by Country Update. Swift is undoubtedly a force to reckoned with. Both a wayward vagabond and a sweetheart, his songs brood on gut-wrenching heartache and revel in limitless joy.

Powerhouse Country Singer-Songwriter Brooke Schubert Delivers An Empowering Message In New Single ‘Stronger’.

In the vibrant tapestry of Australia’s music scene, one name shines bright, Brooke Schubert. Renowned as one of the country’s most exceptional vocalists, Brooke is poised to etch her indelible mark on the world of music. Following the resounding chart and streaming success of her previous hits, ‘New Kids In Town’ and ‘Burn Like Summer,’ Brooke returns with her latest single, ‘Stronger.’

‘Stronger’ isn’t just a song; it’s a seismic moment in Brooke’s musical journey. With poignant lyrics and an emotionally charged melody, Brooke invites us into her world of resilience and hope.

The opening lines, “One foot in front of the other is all that I know to do,” set the tone for a song that embraces the power of moving forward, even in the face of adversity. Brooke’s vocals effortlessly convey the struggle, and as the song progresses, we’re reminded that even on the darkest days, there’s a silver lining in every cloud.

“I’m beautifully broken, there’s magic in knowin’, I’m gonna be alright,” she sings with an unwavering conviction that captures the essence of inner strength. The chorus soars, a declaration of newfound resilience and determination: “I’m stronger after the break down, I’ve learned the hard way, what goes around comes back around.”

As the song unfolds, it becomes a testament to the idea that life’s challenges, like the turning of the world and the setting of the sun, are part of a larger cycle. Brooke’s music is a reminder to take life day by day, to find happiness despite everything, and to emerge from the fire and rain stronger than ever.

With its empowering message and Brooke’s captivating vocals, ‘Stronger’ is a powerful anthem that leaves you feeling inspired and ready to face whatever challenges life may bring. It’s a testament to the Brooke’s talent and resilience, and it’s bound to resonate deeply with listeners as they find their own strength within its melodies.

This remarkable track will feature on Brooke’s debut album, due for release in 2024.

Brooke Schubert’s new single ‘Stronger’ is out to radio 25th September and digital platforms on 29th September.

‘The Bush Takes Care Of Its Own’ is a heartfelt Australiana ballad written and recorded by Golden Guitar winning singer songwriter, Matt Scullion.

The track is the second single from Matt’s chart topping album ‘Nation Of Abbreviation’, which was produced by Matt at his recording studio in the Northern Tablelands of NSW. It was written on the Ukulele which features prominently throughout the song.

‘The Bush Takes Care Of Its Own’ captures not only the resilience of hardworking people in the bush, but the feeling of community spirit that is still alive and kicking in rural Australia.

People around here keep to themselves
They’d rather be left alone
But when there’s a problem, they’re happy to help
Cause The Bush Takes Care Of Its Own

With three successful albums under his belt, and 26 number one songs to his credit, Golden Guitar winning Australiana singer songwriter Matt Scullion has plenty to sing about.

Matt’s songs are a mix of witty old school storytelling and tongue in cheek Aussie humour as he sings up all things Australian. His lively yet intimate shows tug on your green and gold heartstrings as he swaps between acoustic guitars, banjo, and ukulele.

Matt’s tours regularly and can often be heard on Australian radio, while his songs have been recorded by the likes of Lee Kernaghan, Travis Collins, Sara Storer and Cold Chisel.

GRAMMY-winning duo Brothers Osborne release Brothers Osborne, their self-titled fourth studio album via EMI Records Nashville. The album was named one of the most anticipated albums of the year by the Los Angeles Times who call it “a lively self-titled” album which adds “fresh sounds and textures to the Osbornes’ solidly built songs.” The duo is currently on the cover of American Songwriter who say a “sense of comfortable confidence echoes through all eleven tracks on Brothers Osborne, which builds off the duo’s trademark meld of classic Southern rock and polished modern country.” Brothers Osborne is available in all formats here.

Last week, Brothers Osborne, the reigning CMA Vocal Duo of the Year, were nominated again in this category. They are five-time winners of this award and have six CMA awards in total. John Osborne of the band was additionally nominated in the Album of the Year category for his work as producer on Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville.

For their self-titled release, the brothers enlisted Mike Elizondo (Sheryl Crow, Turnstile, Dr. Dre, Twenty One Pilots, Lin-Manuel Miranda) to produce, entrusting him with curating his own band of studio musicians, including Paul McCartney’s drummer Abe Laboriel Jr. behind the kit. Miranda Lambert provides the LP’s sole guest vocals on “We Ain’t Good At Breaking Up,” after co-writing the song with Brothers Osborne and Jesse Frasure.

The brothers co-wrote every song on the album, including their chart-climbing current single “Nobody’s Nobody,” penned with Elizondo and Kendell Marvel, capturing a message of inclusion and acceptance.

Brothers Osborne are one of music’s most consistently adventurous bands, a duo connected by not just blood, but also a lifetime of performing together, and a shared working-class upbringing in Deale, Maryland. The reigning CMA and ACM Duo of the Year winners are leaders of a progressive and still classic school of country music, and the faces of the new generation of Nashville. Anchored by TJ’s baritone and John’s guitar, every one of the album’s 11 tracks are distinctly Brothers Osborne songs – the album is also their most musically diverse yet, along with a new producer’s direction, it features synthesizers, and a piano ballad.

“We are always pushing ourselves, always evolving and not afraid to change,” John says. “But at the end of the day, we are also who we are.”

“This is a defining record at this point in our career, where we needed to put it all on our shoulders,” TJ says. “And we did. Like it was when we were growing up, it’s just John and me.”

Brothers Osborne Track Listing:

1. “Who Says You Can’t Have Everything” (John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Casey Beathard)
2. “Nobody’s Nobody” (John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Mike Elizondo, Kendell Marvel )
3. “Might As Well Be Me” (John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Corey Crowder, Julian Bunetta)
4. “Sun Ain’t Even Gone Down Yet” (John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Corey Crowder)
5. “Goodbye’s Kickin’ In” (John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Lee Miller, Mike Elizondo)
6. “Love You Too” (John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Jessie Jo Dillon, Jesse Frasure)
7. “New Bad Habit” (John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Lee Miller)
8. “We Ain’t Good At Breaking Up” (John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Jesse Frasure, Miranda Lambert)
9. “Back Home” (John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Lee Miller)
10. “Ain’t Nobody Got Time For That” (John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Jaren Johnston, Lee Miller)
11. “Rollercoaster (Forever And A Day)” (John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Jamie Hartman)

ABOUT BROTHERS OSBORNE:

Brothers Osborne are one of music’s most consistently adventurous bands, a duo connected by not just blood, but also a lifetime of performing together, and a shared working-class upbringing in Deale, Maryland. The reigning CMA and ACM Duo of the Year winners, John and TJ Osborne are leaders of a progressive and still classic school of country music, and the faces of the new generation of Nashville.

The siblings took home their first GRAMMY in 2022, winning Best Country Duo/Group Performance for their song “Younger Me,” inspired by TJ’s recent coming out. The song is featured on the deluxe version of their GRAMMY-nominated album, Skeletons. The band has been nominated for 10 GRAMMYs in total, standing as five-time CMA Vocal Duo of the Year, and are four-time ACM Duo of the Year. Overall, they have collected six CMA awards, seven ACM trophies and received the ASCAP Vanguard Award in 2019. Their critically acclaimed hit songs have tallied multiple RIAA Gold and Platinum certifications, while surpassing more than 2.8 Billion global streams.

Previously sharing the bill with Chris Stapleton, Eric Church, Little Big Town and Miranda Lambert, Brothers Osborne’s latest headlining We’re Not For Everyone Tour hit more than 50 markets. Last fall, John Osborne produced Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville, and Brothers Osborne contributed the song “Play Ball.” They wrapped 2022 with a limited-edition collaboration with WhistlePig Whiskey, launching the WhistlePig PiggyBack Legends Series: Brothers Osborne Barrel. Their fourth studio album, Brothers Osborne, released September 15th (EMI Records Nashville), featuring the chart-climbing single “Nobody’s Nobody,” out now.