Jolene: The Country Music Blog

Friday, October 14, 2016

Single release: 'House' by The McClymonts

If you click on the label 'mcclymonts' on this blog you'll find some reviews in which I declare my bias about The McClymonts, which is that I'll never give them a bad review. And I'm still not going to, because they've just released a new single, 'House', and announced a new album, Endless, to be released on 13 January 2017, and any day this band puts out new music is an extremely good day as far as I'm concerned.

'House' showcases the tight country pop/rock the band are known for along with those incredible harmonies. You can listen to the song below - and stand by for the album release.

www.themcclymonts.net.au

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Buried Country at the Melbourne Festival

In 2000 Clinton Walker released a book, film and double compilation album called Buried Country. Their subject: Australian indigenous country music artists. The book was re-released in 2015 and Mary Mihelakos approached Walker about including a live performance component to the Buried Country story.

Says Mary: 'It somehow came together and the ball started rolling with rehearsals in Tamworth early this year in the hometown of Murri elder and country music legend Roger Knox as well as his son Buddy and grandson Teangi playing in the house band, The Backtrackers along with Brendan Gallagher from the Sydney band Karma County and producer of two albums by Jimmy Little as Musical Director. We knew were on to something special with this group of musicians that also included L.J. Hill, Leah Flanagan, Luke Peacock, Warren H. Williams, James Henry, Franny Peters-Little, Jim Elliott and Jason Walker.'

That performance became a concert film, showing as part of the Melbourne Festival on 13 October.

It will also be part of the biennial Artlands Festival/conference in Dubbo, NSW on Friday 29 October at the RSL Auditorium.

Watch the trailer for Buried Country below.

www.buriedcountry.com.au

www.facebook.com/buriedcountry

Single release: 'Walking in Her Dreams' by Mark Lucas & the Dead Setters

Sydney singer-songwriter Mark Lucas recently released a solo album, but now he's reunited with his band, the Dead Setters, for a new album, Continental Drift, which contains this lovely song that blends country, folk and rock.

Mark and the Dead Setters launch the album on 13 October at Leadbelly in Newtown, NSW. Watch the video for 'Walking in Her Dreams' below.

marklucas.com.au

Friday, October 7, 2016

Single release: 'Bravest of Hearts' by Fanny Lumsden

There are many wonderful, moving songs on Fanny Lumsden's Small Town Big Shot, and the first of them is 'Bravest of Hearts'. Fanny has just released a video to accompany the song, and if the song wasn't evocative enough of the land and the people who work it, this video shot in western New South Wales does the job beautifully. Enjoy the song, and the video, and do buy the album while you're at it.

fannylumsden.net

EP review: Young & Reckless by Kasey-Michelle

Country pop and country rock are burgeoning genres in Australia, and while they don’t necessarily appeal to traditionalists, they’re a natural progression: there will be, and are, artists who are attracted to the storytelling that defines country, and they want to take it into pop and rock. It is arguable that this could only improve pop and rock ... but that’s for someone else to argue.

Kasey-Michelle is a young singer-songwriter from Queensland. Young & Reckless is her EP (her second) of five songs recorded live in Ipswich. The five songs are solidly built, catchy country pop and Kasey-Michelle’s singing style is nuanced enough to appeal to listeners who might think pop-anything isn’t for them, while leaving room for her to develop as an artist. There's a range of moods on the EP, from the upbeat title track to the more melancholic 'Loving You'. It’s a very good start from an artist to watch.

www.facebook.com/kaseymichellemusic

Watch the video for 'Young & Reckless':

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Single release: 'Autumn Tempest' by Nigel Wearne

I'm lucky enough to be listening to folk/country singer-songwriter Nigel Wearne's album Drawing Circles before its release next month. Spoiler alert: it's incredibly good, and I don't want to wait until November to talk about it. So in lieu of the full review - which will appear later - here's a link to the single, 'Autumn Tempest', so you can listen on Soundcloud.

Nigel is doing a tour that's mainly private house concerts, but Queenslanders can go to one of two upcoming public shows:

18th Oct: The Bug – Brisbane Unplugged Folk/Acoustic Music Night, Brisbane QLD www.brisbaneunpluggedgigs.org

21st – 23rd Oct: Tablelands Folk Festival, Yungaburra QLD www.tablelandsfolkfestival.org

www.nigelwearne.com

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

This Crazy Life tour: Christie Lamb

Christie Lamb is already an experienced performer, having been picked by Lee Kernaghan to join his tour in 2015/16. Earlier this year she received a very significant Golden Guitar award, and she's about to join The Wolfe Brothers and a host of others on the This Crazy Life tour. The first time I interviewed Christie we had a bad phone line - she kindly agreed to answer questions by email instead.

This tour is going to be high-energy - are you ready to match the Wolfe Brothers at their own game?

Haha! I am used to being on tour with The Wolfe Brothers as we all open, and are part of the band for Lee Kernaghan. We are very good mates and the energy bounces off all of us when we play together, so I'm excited to start the tour.

You won CMAA Best New Talent earlier this year – what did that award mean to you and does it bring any pressure?

Winning the Golden Guitar 'Best New Talent' meant the world to me! It is the highest honour and biggest deal to all country music performers. It was my tenth year at the festival and to receive it from Lee Kernaghan was an absolute dream come true. The only pressure I have is from myself. I am in the process of releasing a new album and as an artist usually does, I would like this one to be bigger than the last!

You've played to huge crowds at festivals, and you've played in clubs and pubs on tours such as that with Aleyce Simmonds and Amber Lawrence. Do you have a preferred size of audience?

I think its really hard to beat the vibe of a festival – I love festivals!! Although every size show has its advantages from being intimate and acoustic to a full rocking band. I just try to adjust my set to fit the show venue and size and connect with each audience the best I can.

Which do you prefer: performing or recording? And why?

I would have to say each of the above is VERY different! I love rocking out with a big band to a festival crowd and feeling the vibe of the crowd, to be honest you can't beat it. With recording I am always thinking of the emotion of the song and trying to give a good technical performance also, but I do love the results and trying new things and vocally stretching myself. Hearing my songs 'come to life' is very special, but seeing people's reactions live I think wins!

What can your This Crazy Life tour audiences look forward to – any new songs?

The audience can look forward to a great show with a different taste of country genres from 7 acts, a mini festival of fun modern country. I will be singing a couple of favourites plus something brand new from my upcoming album.

christielamb.com

THIS CRAZY LIFE TOUR DATES

Friday 7 October 2016 | 8pm

Wrest Point Entertainment Centre, HOBART TAS

1300 795 257 | www.tixtas.com.au

Saturday 8 October 2016 | 8pm

Hotel Tasmania, LAUNCESTON TAS

1300 795 257 | www.tixtas.com.au

Friday 14 October 2016 | 8.30pm

Kay Street Entertainment Complex, TRARALGON VIC

(03) 5176 0463 | www.kayst.oztix.com.au

Saturday 15 October 2016 | 7.30pm