Finalists in the 2009 CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia

Nashville - We spent this week in Nashville and thought we'd give you our tips for visiting music city. Our emphasis is on traditional American country music. Except for a visit to the Opry and Monday night, there is little need to go anywhere else but Broadway between 4th and 5th. There you'll find at least 4 acts starting before noon, about 8 acts playing by 2pm, and more in the evening. Start at The Wheel and Roberts Western World. But the best way is to poke you head into all the honky tonks and go back to the one you like best. Be sure to visit Tootsies at least once. On Monday nights, you must go to The Station Inn for the Time Jumpers; probably the best music in town. When on Broadway, don't get stuck in a bar with a band doing rock; just leave and find some country! My top picks are: Gary Gibson (usually at The Wheel), Monte Good, (The Wheel and Roberts), Brazil Billy (Fri and Sat nights at Roberts Western World), and Wednesday 7 pm at Legends Corner (Monte Siler and the Short Notice Band). The Time Jumpers start at 9 pm but get there by 8:30 if you want a seat, and get there by 8:15 if you want a good seat.

Drew McAlister wins the 2008 Cooper's Golden Saddle Award at Galston.
Country Music Bulletin.

2008 CMA Awards Nominations

• Kenny Chesney
• Brad Paisley
• George Strait
• Sugarland
• Keith Urban

• Alison Krauss
• Miranda Lambert
• Martina McBride
• Taylor Swift
• Carrie Underwood

• Kenny Chesney
• Alan Jackson
• Brad Paisley
• George Strait
• Keith Urban

ARIA Awards nominations: In Best Country Album, the nominees are Be Yourself by Melinda Schneider, Chaos and Bright Lights by The McClymonts, Little WildFlower by Catherine Britt, Rattlin' Bones by Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson and Silver Skies by Sara Storer. Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson's Rattlin Bones is also a nominee for Album of the Year. The ARIA Awards will be October 19. Country Music Bulletin.

Canterbury Country -
For more than eight years now, on the second Thursday of each month, Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Club in Sydney has been presenting "the best in country music" ... regarded by many as the city's premier country music concert. September 11 the 100th "Canterbury Country" will be staged.This show will feature "a huge line-up" of guest vocalists including Donna Boyd, Kel-Anne Brandt, Cletis Carr, The Dead Setters, Dwayne Elix, The Harmonators, Murray Hill, Tracy Killeen, Victoria McGee, Alby & Melody Pool, Ronni Rae Rivers, Ami Williamson, Bryen Willems The "100th milestone" also co-incides with "Canterbury Country's" most popular night of the year, the Hank Williams Birthday Bash, two hours of classic songs associated with the era of the legend that was Hank. Country Music Bulletin.

Gary Brown's Bluegrass Afternoon
You better get yourself a train ticket and get down to Tempe if you like Bluegrass performed by excellent musicians. What a wonderful afternoon of country music. Gary has outdone himself this time with four hours of almost nonstop quality Bluegrass. His show is on again Sunday 21 September 2008. Today's lineup was Hunter and Suzy, Karen Lynne, Cathy Gibson, Murray Hill, Heather Mandich and Bryen Willems, plus each band had as many as 3 extra players joining in. Cooks River Motorboat Club, 3pm. Brad

The Cooks River Motorboat Club is turning into the premier country music and rockabilly club in Sydney. On a Sunday, if you don't like what is on at the Dam Hotel and you don't feel like seeing Daniel again at the Bay Club, get on the train to Tempe. For a Sunday 3pm gig, hop the 12:50 out of Gosford, walk quickly to platform 25, and once at Tempe it's an 8 minute walk to the club (If you miss the Tempe train, there is a Wolli Creek train 15 minutes later and only an extra 5 minutes walking from Wolli Creek) www.kittyandthe
alleycats.com/crmbc.htm for a gig guide. This Sunday is Bluegrass with Gary Brown and Hunter and Suzy on vocals.

Rob Luckey and the Lucky Bastards last gig, 17 September 2008, about 400 people packed into the little Cooks River Motorboat Club. Four encores... nothing else needs be said...

Wildseed Wyong RSL Saturday 16 August 2008. Another great show put on by the RSL. Fantastic music from Wildseed.

Daniel Thompson acoustic sessions at The Bay Sports Club Bateau Bay is well worth going to see. The vocals are tops, the harmonies tremendous, Duncan Toombs comes up with some magic guitar playing, and it is just a good time. A wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon. We saw the show 10 Aug 2008.

BBQ Country Coast FM 96.3, Tuesdays 6-8pm. Thanks Tubby!

Canterbury Country at the Canterbury-Hurlston Park RSL 10 July 2008. What a wonderful country music show! Bob Howe and the Hillbilly Heaven Band (Doug Boyd, Terry Philpot, & Allan Tomkins) with Donna Boyd as comper tonight with guests Tracy Killeen, Rob Wilson, Ami Williamson, and a bit from Marilyn Steel. Tracy's He's Got You was the best song we have ever heard her sing, absolutely perfect. If you haven't been to this show and can make it to the club on the second Thursday, you will be very glad you did. The next Canterbury Country show is 14 August, a "10 piece" band (lots of great musician guests). Brad

Nashville Tomkins Guitars Showcase 6 June 2008. Spectacular shows at both the Downtown Sheraton and the Fiddle & Steel Guitar Bar today! Allan Tomkins brought some great Australian Country Music to Nashville. Travis List, Patti Torrey, Tracy Killeen, Sandra Humphries, Henry Czerwonka, Wayne Horsburgh, future star Sharnee Fenwick, Jetty Road (Julian Sammut, Simon Ross, Paula Bowman, Lee Bowman, Ben Cant, Rusty Cochran). The backing band was Bob Howe on lead guitar, (Bob also sang several songs), Peter Figures on drums, Mike Fried on pedal steel, and of course Allan Tomkins on bass, plus Rusty Cochrane sat in on bass for several songs. Brad

21 May 2008 APRA Nominees for 2008 Country Work of the Year are Troy Cassar-Daley & Don Walker, James Blundell & Lyndsay Hammond, Rockin' The Rig by Colin Buchanan & Garth Porter , Run Away by Carter & Carter and Spirit Of The Bush by Lee Kernaghan, Colin Buchanan & Garth Porter. Country Music Bulletin.

18 May 2008 Rob Luckey and the Lucky Bastards...simply the best honky tonk band in Australia, and they proved it at this show.

The Chic Frontier ......... Individually Amber Lawrence..Kirsty Lee Akers..Aleyce Simmonds and Diana Corcoran are engrossing performers, but mix 'em all together and you definitely have a "Frontier" of Country worth following...young or old, male or female, they will lighten your load with energetic selections from their own albums, and covers. Recently at Lizottes, don't forget to catch 'em next time they are in town, you will not be disappointed. Tubby.

For radio lovers, "Tubby" Dyer will be featuring the Chic Frontier girls on "Bar-B-Q Country", Tuesday nights at 6 pm on Coast FM 96.3 over the forthcoming weeks .............. local talent Matt Frost talks about his new Video shoot and album on May 27th..tune in. If it's Country, it's on "Bar-B-Q Country" !! Ad.

Adam Harvey and Catherine Britt on Network 10's "Ready Steady Cook" on Monday 19 May. Country Music Bulletin.

15 May 2008 Luke O'Shea and Lisa White at the Wyong RSL. In the band were Duncan Toombs, Mal Lancaster, and Simon Johnson. Luke O'Shea was at his best; a fantastic all-round entertainer. Lisa sang beautifully and was a great host. The band got rave reviews from the crowd, but Duncan's playing particularly his accompaniment of Luke, was excellent. Thanks Wyong RSL for bringing us such high quality country music.

13 May 2008 BBQ Country with Tubby Dyer 96.3 Coast FM Tuesdays 6:05pm for a couple hours. Great song selection, particularly all the pedal steel. Even one of our Eddie Arnold favourites
The cattle are prowlin',
The coyotes are howlin'
Way out where the doggies roam... Wonderful stories about country music in Australia.
Well done Tubby! Brad.

Steel Guitar Festival to be held in Brisbane 21-22 June 2008. Country Music Bulletin.

Can we save you some money on DIALUP or BROADBAND? ShiftReload; for all your Internet needs. Supporting country music in NSW. Ad.

9 May 2008 Applications open 14 May 2008 for the 2009 CMAA Australian College of Country Music. CMAA

8 May 2008 Our Adam Harvey racks up fourth week at number one for I'm Doin' Alright, on the coming week's Country Tracks Top 30 singles chart. Country Music Bulletin.

8 May 2008 Eddie Arnold dies. Country Music Bulletin.

8 May 2008 Reba McEntire returns as host for the US 43rd annual Academy of Country Music Awards, 18 May from Las Vegas and will include performances by Toby Keith, Kellie Pickler, LeAnn Rimes, Kenny Chesney, George Strait, Taylor Swift, Sugarland, Carrie Underwood, and Dolly Parton. CMT.

17 May 2008 Steve Passfield Band, Gosford RSL, 8:30. Pretty good but NOT country.

7 May 2008 According to Smithy, Rob Luckey will be moving to Tasmania in August. This is a great blow to the lovers of honky tonk music in the Sydney region. Stay tuned for farewell gigs.

Peter Pratt, Rob Wilson, Hunter Valley Pick of the Crop 4 May 2008 Another excellent night in Cessnock with western crooner Peter Pratt and Rob Wilson in top form. Great job from the Honky Tonk Swing Band with three players who hadn't played with Rob in a while and probably never played with Peter, yet there wasn't a music stand in sight. Well done Brad Bergen, Rod Coe, Peter Figures and Chad Plane. Thanks Rob and the Cessnock Ex-Services Club. But for the club, what is that huge pile of junk on the front right corner of the dance floor, are you getting ready for a garage sale? Brad

4 May 2008 Mike Kennedy 96.3 Coast FM Sundays 9:05am to about noon. Great mix of Australian country music. Lots of Balladeers. Hillbilly section 10 to 10:30. Well done Mike. Brad

1 May 2008 Lisa White. Thankfully, rumours that Lisa is going to stop performing are not true. According to Lisa she is temporarily decreasing her gigs due to work commitments. Central Coast and Hunter Valley fans of high quality live country music can breathe easy!

Ian Betteridge Wyong RSL 1 May 2008 - Another great country night from Wyong RSL: The excellent vocals and wacky humour from the host Sharnee Fenwick; stunning guitar work on his Gretsch by Pete Cooper; and Ian Betteridge, even fighting off a cold, what a fantastic country entertainer. Both Sharnee and Ian picked some great songs for the night. Also in the band were Mal Lancaster and Simon Johnson. Lisa White even added some impromptu backing vocals. An awesome night! In the audience was Trevor, one of the country music DJs from 93.3. Brad

Matt Frost Wyong RSL 26 April 2008 - What a top night this was. In the band were Pete Cooper, Ali Foster, Andy Toombs plus Matt brought up Lachie Davidson from Melbourne. Lachie's fiddle made what would have been a very good night into a great night. By the last set, Matt's vocals were right up to his usual flawless best. Full country band, great vocals, quality musicians, three hours of live music...it doesn't get much better! Thanks Matt and the Wyong RSL. Brad

25 April 2008 - Lee Kernaghan, Australian of the year, runs the Olympic torch.

25 April 2008 Country Music Bulletin, Matt Scullion has signed with Red Rebel Music.

25 April 2008 Country Music Bulletin, Amber Lawrence releases Good Girls.

Any Thursday, Everglades Country Club - Dancing to a four piece country band. The crowd had a wonderful night every time we've attended. The Honky Tonk Swing Band plays a great mix of rockabilly and country, a very good song selection aimed at the dancers. The vocals are usually excellent when the guest artist takes the stage for the last hour. Brad