Country Music Awards of Australia 2013

Country Music Awards of Australia 2013

SOURCES / LINKS shown in RED

CMAA 2013

CountryRoutesBlog take a look at the 2013 CMAA Awards and the main events of

The Tamworth Country Music Festival, it includes:

CMAA 2013 show report, CMAA Show Timeline, 2013 CMAA Red Carpet, Photo and Gallery Links,  2013 CMAA Winners and Nominee listing, Music City Roots Tamworth, Telstra Road to Discovery and 2013 Toyota Star Maker Finalists

CMAA 2013 Report

The 41st CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia were staged at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre (TRECC) on Australia Day, Saturday January 26th, 2013. 

CMAA 2013 Winners  (Click to Enlarge)



Troy Cassar-Daley walks away the Big CMAA 2013 Winner

Troy Cassar-Daley was the big winner at the 41st CMAA Country Music Awards ceremony taking home four Golden Guitars to add to his already huge collection.

The 43-year old Queensland artist was a finalist in 7 categories and won Single of the Year, APRA Song of the Year, Male Artist of the Year and Album of the Year, which brings his haul to 25 Golden Guitars!

Troy Casser-Daley
4 GG's haul (Click to enlarge)

The latest swag of gongs means he’s the third-highest winner of Golden Guitars, behind Lee Kernaghan, who is on 29, and the legendary Slim Dusty [CMAA memory Troy with Slim Dusty Image] who won 37 in his career. Troy has relegated John Williamson to fourth place, with 24 Golden Guitars to his name.

Troy had so many awards he gave his final one, for Album of the Year, to his manager, Roxanne Brown (Image), who said it would take pride of place in her loungeroom – “Without Roxy this (Home) wouldn't have happened," he said. "I doubted myself for ages. Roxanne said 'You're old enough and you're ugly enough to look after yourself'."

The 43-year-old certainly looked like he felt right at home in Tamworth, where he has been performing since the tender age of 11. "It doesn't get old I tell ya," he said after winning his third award of the night.

Cassar-Daley’s 8th studio album HOME was released March 30, 2012 through Liberation Music and it debuted on the National ARIA Charts at #9 and #1 on the ARIA Country Music album charts. It features the 3 #1 Australian Country Music Chart singles ‘Country Is’ [Audio], ‘Live & Learn’ and ‘Home >> YouTube

“I’m going to get booted for winning all these,” Troy said. “In the awards, we’re all mates and we’re barracking for each other.”

A very proud and humble Troy was later photographed by the press with his lovely wife Laurel and children Clay & Jem who were thrilled to receive the 4 GG’s as the top winner of the night - Photo

Acclaimed singer songwriter Catherine Britt received an impressive seven nominations for this CMAA year. Britt was in her element at the music awards where she greeted hundreds of  fans outside the Tamworth Regional Entertainment Conference Centre. Despite being nominated for numerous CMAA awards, she sat through almost the entire awards ceremony before being named Best Female Artist.

A clearly relieved and excited Catherine thanked Kasey Chambers who helped her co-produce her album. It was the first time Britt had undertaken a co-producing role in a career that has already spanned more than a decade.

CMAA 2013 Female Artist
Catherine Britt



‘‘Thank you for being here since day one. I couldn’t have made this album without you,’’ the 28-year-old said in her acceptance speech. This marked the third Golden Guitar for the 28-year-old Newcastle singer-songwiter who also picked up best female artist in 2009 followed by Single of the Year last year for “Sweet Emmylou”.

‘‘I’ve had the most amazing year out on tour. Being named best female next to Troy [Cassar-Daley] who was named best male is such an honour,’’ Britt said.

Britt is celebrating her latest success on the back of the release of her album ALWAYS NEVER ENOUGH, for which she wrote almost every track and co-produced with Bill Chambers.

In addition to promoting her album, at the Tamworth Festival Britt has launched her band the Hillbilly Killers, which also features Tim Rogers (You Am I) and Bill Chambers.

‘‘Watching and playing with the new band has been one of the highlights of the festival,’’ Britt said.

The female singer brought a distinctly Novocastrian flair to the Golden Guitars by performing her song “Charlestown Road” named after the street she grew up on.

Besides promoting her record next in Februaery, she will release the album she has made with her new band the Hillbilly Killers, which features Tim Rogers (You Am I) and Bill Chambers (father to Kasey). ‘‘Its not my usual. I’m pretty hillbilly and this is a bit rock’n’roll,’’ she said of the Hillbilly Killers. ‘‘The songs have a bit of swearing and can be very dark.’’ If based on her recent Tamworth gig with them she is certainly not wrong. It will not be for everbodys swag-bag with the amount of bad language

Chelsea Basham, 22, took home the ‘Telstra New Talent of the Year’ award for “Laugh It Off”, [>> YouTube] taken from her debut album I MAKE MY OWN SUNSHINE. It gave her father a perfect 60th birthday present. Her parents, Doug and Sharon, who first set her on the country road, were at Tamworth to lend their support for their daughter as she waited to learn if she had won.

"My parents are as proud as punch and they've been my biggest supporters," Basham said. "And it's my Dad's 60th birthday, so it's a good birthday for him." "It's a very rewarding feeling and, being the first album, it's such a buzz that I've been recognised for it," she said. Basham who grew up in Wongan Hills, 200km northeast of Perth in Western Australia shared: "Growing up in a rural area was so inspiring and then, musically, my parents got me into the country genre"

CMAA 2013
Telstra New Talent Winner
Chelsea Basham


The CMAA nominations showed the diversity of country music with rocker Tim Rogers named as a nominee for his Vocal collaboration (“Troubled Man”) with Catherine Britt.

“There is this general trend that's broadening country music now," Basham said. "The likes of Keith Urban and Taylor Swift have made that easier for us, breaking down that barrier of what people think country music is. I think it's important to be inspired by all different types of music."

Even though Basham takes inspiration from superstar Swift, she refused to go down the path of ridiculing ex-boyfriends.

"It came off the back of a relationship," Basham said of I Make My Own Sunshine. "But I didn't want to burden people with my misery so I swung it the other way." Chelsea made the trip to Nashville to record her album. [Source]

Husband and wife duo, Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson, won the award for Group or Duo of the Year for their track “Adam & Eve” taken from the nominated album WRECK & RUIN, their second offering as a duo. They were nominated for an impressive 5 Golden Guitars. In 2011 Kasey bagged 4 Golden Guitars including Song of the Year and Female Artist. Last year she picked up Vocal Collaboration of the Year for the song “Millionaires” with Beccy Cole. WRECK & RUIN was released on Sept 7, 2012 through Liberation Music and debuted on the national ARIA charts at #6 and #1 on the national Country Music chart. Kasey & Shane recently performed in front of a massive and appreciative audience at Tamworth’s Bicentennial Park as the last date of their album promotional tour. It was also a thank you to country fans and Tamworth for their support over 21 years.   

The Video Clip of the Year went to The McClymonts for their Duncan Toombs directed clip for 'Piece Of Me' (Video link - http://vevo.ly/JtvdC3 )

The McClymonts also won the Sanity Top Selling Australian Album of the Year for TWO WORLDS COLLIDE. .

Grafton natives sisters The McClymonts were noticeably absent from the awards night and Toombs collected the award [Image]. The McClymonts who were back in Australia after a year of international touring were nominated for five Golden Guitars.

Country mega star, Carrie Underwood, won the prize for Top Selling International Album of the Year for Blown Away. The lovely American country pop diva announced her first ever venture performing outside North America last year which included a string of Australian dates in June 2012 with performances in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and a special show in the nation's country music capital, Tamworth.  

Alternative Country Album of the Year went to Big Days & Little Years by Camille & Stuie, while Vocal Collaboration of the Year went to Tamara Stewart, Sara Storer and Felicity Urquhart for 'Women In Song'. A tired Tamara shared a Facebook video with her fans after the awards explaing that it was her first Golden Guitar after 1 EP, 4 Albums, 17 Tamworth Festivals and 9 CMAA Nominations so it meant so much to her.

Tamara led a “Women Of Country” collaboration joined on stage by Felicity Urquhart, Lee and Paula Bowman (From Jetty Road), Aleyce Simmonds, Jayne Denham, Charlotte Dawson and others for her winning song - Image

– “This moment will remain with me for the rest of my life. Every one of these women joining me on stage have been part of my life either through friendship, or musicianship or inspiration” shared Tamara.

Stuie French and wife Camille Te Nahu, who go by the stage name of Camille and Stuie, were crowned Golden Guitar winners for best Alternative Country Album of the Year for their record Big Days & Little Years. The former Wynyard, Tasmanian man French says the heartfelt and down-to-earth nature of he and his partner's music was the key to winning a Golden Guitar at Tamworth on the weekend - "It's been our first album where almost every song is related towards our family and personal experiences," he said. "That's why I love country music."

French said another interesting aspect of the album was that it was recorded live in the studio, creating a grassroots style.

Camille & Stuie
CMAA 2013 Alt Country Album Winners


"It's a big part of making it sound the way it does," he said of the unique nature of the album. "The reaction to our music has been so much better (since the release of this album)." Their award-winning album is the fourth they have produced together.

Growing up on the Coast, French said he always had a passion for country music.

"I remember reading about Slim Dusty and reading about the lifestyle of country music and thought `wouldn't it be fantastic?'," he said.

French moved from Wynyard to Tamworth in 1991, where he stayed briefly before moving to Sydney.

He has worked with several country music identities, including Gina Jeffreys, and Troy Cassar-Daley, for whom he was lead guitarist for seven years. When Stuie was touring Australia with Merle Haggard in 1996 did he see a sign foretelling that in years to come he would fall in love with a Maori woman who sang like an angel and they would end up making beautiful music, and a family, together?

Well it happened! The "Ataahua" songbird Camille Te Nahu who hails from Gisborne, New Zealand arrived in Australia in 1999 and her vocal talents were immediately recognised by Kasey Chambers and Beccy Cole who employed her as their backing singer both on the road and in the studio. Over the years, Camille and Stuie released their own albums – Stuie with the Feral Swing Katz (Come out Swingin’, Feral Swing Katz with Peter Busher and Round 4) and Camille’s solo album (Camille Te Nahu), and their paths would often cross as they both toured with Australian country stars (Troy Cassar Daly and Gina Jeffreys).  But it wasn’t until 2002 when their stars aligned and they fell in love. They have three children, aged two, six and eight.

“Our different musical backgrounds over time has combined to give us a fresh new traditional sound." French said winning the Golden Guitar was one of the highlights of his career. [Source]

Toyota Heritage Song of the Year went to 'The Drover's Wife' by Luke O'Shea and Peter Gabrielides, while Instrumental of the Year went to Pete Denahy [Image] for 'Yackandandah 1952', and Bush Ballad of the Year went to Graham Rodger for 'Looking Back'. Roder had been a finalist a previous 11 times before gaining the Golden Guitar in 2013 – So “13” becomes lucky for him!

Geoff Mack, writer of 'I've Been Everywhere,' also received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Australian country music. The 90 year old is a veteran of outback tent shows and the author of this Aussie classic hit song. It was a #1 for Hank snow in November 1962 and has been recorded by 130 artists including Johnny Cash (1996) and Lucky Starr (1962) >> YouTube 

The star studded evening featured not only performances by Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson, Troy Cassar-Daley, Catherine Britt, McAlister Kemp and Chelsea Basham, but a host of star presenters and special tributes to Geoff Mack and the late Jimmy Little AO who passed away in April 2012 at the age of 75. His career as a songer-songwriter spanned the course of 6 decades.

A surprise appearance at the 2013 Country Music Awards of Australia, was Lucky Starr, who joined the Sunny Cowgirls and Pete Denahy on stage in an upbeat finale performance of Geoff Mack’s “I’ve Been Everywhere”.

Lucky Starr recorded the first hit version of I’ve Been Everywhere in 1962. It has since been recorded by over 130 artists including Johnny Cash.

Leaving the festival for some fans proved difficult with highways and road closures due to Cyclone Oswald’s rain and flooding in Queensland and the NSW northern regions.

CMAA: The Winners 2013 ($24.99) : A CMAA Winners compilation has returned for another year featuring the very best of Australian country music. The album comprises of a CD and DVD of the nominees for the 41st CMAA Awards.  The DVD component is the video clips to the songs listed – See Product Page

CMAA Facts

The Tamworth Country Festival Music Festival ran from Jan 18 - Jan 27, 2013. It’s the largest music festival in the southern hemishere.

There are over 2,200 events and around 4,000 different performances in the 80 festival venues

The Cavalcade parade communitry Parade took place on Sat Jan 26, 2013. The theme was "Australia Day"

Tamworth Festival Fun!



The Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre (TRECC) stages the awards (since 1999) in front of 5,000 people. (below)

The Golden Guitar trophys are 24cm high and weighs 1.5 kilograms. Over 500 have been awarded.

Aussie legend Slim Dusty won 37. The original design was sculpted by local Tamworth artist Harry frost, it was cast in bronze.

2013 CMAA PRESS ROOM

Tamara Stewart & Felicity press room - PHOTO

Troy Cassar-Daley wins four Golden Guitars (Seanna Cronin) - PHOTO

Troy Casser Daley and Catherine Britt pressroom - PHOTO

Chelsea Basham backstage with her Golden Guitar trophy - PHOTO

Catherine Britt - Picture: Marina Neil (Newcastle Herald) PHOTO

2013 CMAA Gallery/Slideshow Live performances, Pressroom (27 pics) - www.northerndailyleader.com.au

2013 CMAA Awards Tamworth Timeline [SOURCE]

5:30pm - 7.00pm 2013 CMAA Red carpet

7:45pm: Performance: The awards opened and Lyn Bowtell, Camille Te Nahu and Chris E Thomas  with a rendition of Advance Australia Fair to open the event. - Image

Performance: McAlister Kemp are country rocking the awards with “Country Proud”.

7.48pm: Award: Troy Cassar-Daley is the winner of Single of the Year for his song “Country Is”, he was presented with the award by Adam Harvey - Image

Performance: Bush Ballad finalists perform Slim Dusty's – “Where Country Is”

7.53pm: Award: Alternative Country Album of The Year goes to Camille and Stuie for Big Days and Little Years.

Award: Joy McKean and Anne Kirkpatrick present the Bush Ballad of the Year award to Graham Rodger for Looking Back. This is his 12th finalist placing.

7.58pm: Award: Chelsea Basham is awarded the Telstra Best New Talent of The Year for her single “Laugh it Off”. She was presented the award by O'Shea. Chelsea told the crowd the award was a "dream come true" [Photo]

8pm: Award: Tim Daley and Charlotte Dawson present the Golden Guitar for the Video Clip of the Year to the McClymonts for Piece of Me, directed by Duncan Toombs. The McClymonts are not present with a gig elsewhere. Duncan Toombs [image] accepted his award and described his film clips as his babies

8.12pm: Award: Lee and Paula of Jetty Road present the award for Best Duo to Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson [Image]

8.15pm: Award: Baylou presents Peter Denahy with his award for Instrumental of the Year.

Performance: Kristy Cox performs “Miles and Timezones” for the crowd.

8.20pm: Award: The McClymonts win Sanity Top Selling Album of the Year for “Two Worlds Collide”

8.25pm Award: Producer of the Year goes to Shane Nicholson.

8.28pm: Award: Colin Watson has been named as Musician of the Year.

8.30pm: Award: American singer Carrie Underwood wins International Top Selling Country Album Performance: Luke O'Shea performs “The Drover's Wife” for the crowd.

8.40pm: Award: APRA Song of the Year award goes to Troy Cassar-Daley for his single “Home”. He was presented the award by Graeme Connors and Jim Lauderdale [Image]. This is his second for the evening.

9.05pm: Award: Jasmine Rae and Morgan Evans announce Vocal Collaboration of the Year winners Tamara Stewart, Felicity Urquhart and Sara Storer. The award was accepted by a very pregnant Felicity and an emotional Tamara.

9.20pm: Award: Dobe Newton OAM and Luke Austen present the Golden Guitar for Heritage Song of the Year to Luke O'Shea for The Drover's Wife.

9.25pm: Performance: Chelsea Basham performs “I Make My Own Sunshine” in an Australian flag dress in celebration of Australia Day

9.35pm: Peter Denahy delivers a hilarious yet heartfelt tribute to Geoff Mack

9.40pm: Award: Geoff Mack receives the Lifetime of Achievement award. Photo

9.44pm: Performance: Women of country, led by Tamara Stewart, pay tribute to female artists.

9.58pm: The Sunny Cowgirls interview USA country artist Elizabeth Cook back stage.

10pm: Award: Catherine Britt named Female artist of the Year for her album “Charlestown Road”

10.06pm: Award: Troy Cassar-Daley's Album “HOME” has been named Album of the Year. He was presented the award by John Williamson. It's the final award for the evening.

10.12pm: Performance: Sunny Cowgirls and Pete Denahy sing “I've Been Everywhere” in tribute to Geoff Mack. They're joined by the original performer of the song - Lucky Starr.

2013 CMAA Winners

41st Toyota CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia Nominations/ Winners

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Always Never Enough - Catherine Britt, produced by Catherine Britt & Bill Chambers

Country Proud - McAlister Kemp, produced by Matt Fell

Home - Troy Cassar-Daley, produced by Troy Cassar-Daley  WINNER

Two Worlds Collide - The McClymonts, produced by Nathan Chapman, Peter Asher and Luke Wooten

Wreck & Ruin - Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson, produced by Nash Chambers, Shane Nicholson and Kasey Chambers

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Amber Lawrence - The Man Across The Street

Catherine Britt - Charlestown Road   WINNER

Harmony James - Emmylou's Guitar

Tamara Stewart - Sisterhood (Of Feeling Good)

Lyn Bowtell - Beautiful Liar

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Adam Brand - There Will Be Love

John Williamson - Prairie Hotel Parachilna

Luke O'Shea - The Drovers Wife

Travis Collins - Fired Today

Troy Cassar-Daley – Home     WINNER

GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR

Camille and Stuie - Things Change

Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson - Adam & Eve   WINNER

McAlister Kemp - Country Proud

The Harmonators - Perfect Storm

The McClymonts - Piece Of Me

NEW TALENT OF THE YEAR

Bob Corbett - Blown Away

Chelsea Basham - Laugh It Off    WINNER 

Chris E Thomas - Stone Cold

Harry Hookey - Audrey's Song

Kristy Cox - Miles & Timezones

APRA SONG OF THE YEAR

Adam & Eve - written & recorded by Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson

Charlestown Road - written & recorded by Catherine Britt

Emmylou's Guitar - written & recorded by Harmony James

Home - written & recorded by Troy Cassar-Daley    WINNER

Women In Song- Written by Tamara Stewart and Colin Buchanan. Recorded by Tamara Stewart, Sara Storer and Felicity Urquhart

VIDEO CLIP OF THE YEAR

Adam & Eve - Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson, directed by Duncan Toombs

Country Is - Troy Cassar-Daley, directed by Duncan Toombs

Charlestown Road - Catherine Britt, directed by Jefferton James

Piece Of Me - The McClymonts, directed by Duncan Toombs (photo)   WINNER

The Big Red - John Williamson, directed by Mark Jago

SINGLE OF THE YEAR

Adam & Eve - Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson

Always Never Enough - Catherine Britt

Country Is - Troy Cassar-Daley   WINNER

Piece Of Me - The McClymonts

Waitress - Beccy Cole

VOCAL COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR

New England Sky - Luke O'Shea & Dianna Corcoran  >>  YouTube

Reach For You - Harmony James & Shane Nicholson

Song Of Australia - Colin Buchanan, Lee Kernaghan & Sara Storer

Troubled Man - Catherine Britt & Tim Rogers

Women In Song - Tamara Stewart, Sara Storer, Felicity Urquhart   WINNER
"Women In Song"  >>  YouTube

BUSH BALLAD OF THE YEAR

Heartbeat of Australia the Man of the Land - written by Dean Perrett & Stuart French, recorded by Dean Perrett

Looking Back – written & recorded by Graham Rodger    WINNER

Mystery Of Saddle Girl - written & recorded by Rex Dallas

Old Tobacco Tin - written & recorded by Peter Simpson & Dianne Lindsay

The Ballad of Castlereagh - written by Vaughan Baker, recorded by Bec Hance

INSTRUMENTAL OF THE YEAR

Frankenbeanz - Bob Corbett & The Roo Grass Band

One Christmas Night - Tommy Emmanuel

The Warrumbungle Mare - Lawrie Minson & Lindsay Waddington

Transpacific - Davidson Brothers

Yackandandah 1852 - Pete Denahy    WINNER

HERITAGE SONG OF THE YEAR

Charlestown Road - written & recorded by Catherine Britt

Marree Girl- written & recorded by John Williamson

Song Of Australia - written by Colin Buchanan & Garth Porter, recorded by Colin Buchanan, Lee Kernaghan & Sara Storer

Tall Dark Ringer - written by Troy Cassar-Daley & Colin Buchanan, recorded by Troy Cassar-Daley

The Drovers Wife - written by Luke O'Shea & Peter Gabrielides, recorded by Luke O'Shea   WINNER

ALTERNATIVE COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Big Days & Little Years - Camille and Stuie, produced by Stuie French    WINNER

Lucky Country - Bob Corbett & The Roo Grass Band, produced by Robbie Long and Bob Corbett

Miles & Timezones - Kristy Cox, produced by Jerry Salley

Secret Songs - Lyn Bowtell, produced by Sean Rudd

Travis Collins - produced by Travis Collins & Michael McGlynn

TOP SELLING INTERNATIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Blown Away – Carrie Underwood (Sony)    WINNER

Emotional Traffic – Tim McGraw (Sony)

Home – Dierks Bentley (EMI)

Uncaged – Zac Brown Band (Warner)

Thirty Miles West – Alan Jackson (Sony)

SANITY TOP SELLING AUSTRALIAN ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Home – Troy Cassar Daley (Liberation)

Songs & Pictures – Beccy Cole (Core Music)

The Big Red – John Williamson (Warner)

There Will Be Love  - Adam Brand (Sony)

Two Worlds Collide – The McClymonts (Universal)    WINNER

2013 CMAA Red Carpet

Tamworth’s big night of nights for Country music featured colourful fashions on the red carpet.

Red and burnt orange were popular colours and boots were the must-have footwear, but it was young talent Chelsea Basham who stood out in her bright yellow gown and silver sequin bodice.

CMAA Red Carpet Fashion
Chelsea Basham (left) and Shelley Minson (right) 

 For singer-songwriter Shelley Minson it was her first year wearing red. She looked as pretty as a picture on the arm of her hubby, Sydney born and multi winning Golden Guitar Australian guitarist Lawrie Minson.

Shelley donned a Lady Antoinette Satin & Lace Dress in 100% Polyester Burgundy Satin by Pinup Boutique (link) which features a peek-a-boo back with floral pattered scalloped lace. Each dress is especially cut by hand to perfection and detail. Features include a Full Swing Skirt, ornate scalloped lace, princess cut fits through the body and zipper centre back. Shelley accessorized wearing smart open toe pumps and a Nostalgic hair Accessory by Peacock & Lotus Designs and carried a black clutch to complete her CMAA princess look!

Tamara Stewart stunned in a beautiful red gown and Mum to be Felicity Urquhart was glowing in a white Grecian style gown. Tabby Francis, the wife of Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Geoff Mack, won most colourful outfit of the night with her Elvis patterned stockings.

CMAA 2013 GALLERY / Slideshows

Red Carpet pictures by Kitty Hill and Robert Chappel (36 PICS) - www.northerndailyleader.com.au

RED CARPET action - www.northerndailyleader.com.au

Gallery (25 PICS)  ** www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au - www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au

Red Carpet arrivals "Country All Over" Facebbok Photoset - www.facebook.com

A – Z  Country star Photo links of the 2013 CMAA Red carpet action

Adam Harvey and his lovely wife hit the carpet - PHOTO

Aleyce Simmonds and Kristy Cox - PHOTO

Amber Lawrence date was her Mum - PHOTO they both look gorgeous - PHOTO

Ashleigh Dallas and Harry Hookey - PHOTO

Baylou members Victoria and Barbara Baillie * - PHOTO - PHOTO - PHOTO

Beccy Cole & Libby O'Donovan ** - PHOTO - PHOTO

Beccy Cole, Libby O'Donovan, Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson - PHOTO - PHOTO - PHOTO

Brooke McClymont and baby Tiggy being interviewed for Sunrise - PHOTO

Camille and Stuie - PHOTO

Catherine Britt winner of "Female Artist of the Year" - PHOTO  - PHOTO

Charlotte Dawson - PHOTO

Chelsea Basham  - PHOTO

Elizabeth Cook - PHOTO - PHOTO

Felicity Urquhart - PHOTO - PHOTO

Felicity Urquhart and Jay O'Shea 2 very beautiful mums-to-be - PHOTO 

Tamara Stewart looking gorgeous
On the CMAA 2013 carpet !



Geoff Mack & Tabby Francis - PHOTO

Geoff Mack’s wife Tabby Francis wearing
the coolest Elvis stockings – PHOTO

Graham Rodger - PHOTO

Harmony James - PHOTO

Nash Chambers and Harry Hookey - PHOTO

Home and Away actor Steve Peacocke (Brax)
walks the carpet - PHOTO

Jasmine Rae looked stunning - PHOTO  - PHOTO

Jasmine Rae, Jayne Denham and
Craig Campbell - PHOTO

Jayne Denham - PHOTO

Jetty Road - PHOTO

John Williamson & Meg Doyle - PHOTO - PHOTO

Kasey Chambers "Walk Of Life" charity - PHOTO

Kaylee Bell (Winner of Toyota Starmaker 2013)
with Jim Lauderdale - PHOTO

Kaylee Bell (Winner of Toyota Starmaker 2013) - PHOTO

Kristy Cox and Aleyce Simmonds ** - PHOTO- PHOTO

Kristy Cox - PHOTO

Lawrie Minson & wife Shelley Minson (Next Edge Group) - PHOTO - PHOTO - PHOTO

Lee Kernaghan & Tamara Stewart - PHOTO

Lee Kernaghan - PHOTO

Luke O'Shea & Dianna Corcoran - PHOTO

Lyn Bowtell - PHOTO

McAlister Kemp - PHOTO - PHOTO - PHOTO

Morgan Evans and Aleyce Simmonds - PHOTO

O’Shea (Mark & Jay O'Shea + baby #2!) -  PHOTO - PHOTO

O'Shea - PHOTO

Tamara Stewart  - PHOTO - PHOTO - PHOTO - PHOTO

Tanya Kernaghan - PHOTO

The Apprentices ** - PHOTO - PHOTO

The Apprentices footwear! - PHOTO

The Baylou Sisters looking very attractive - PHOTO

Chelsea Basham in her gorgeous dress, the winner of "New Talent of the Year - PHOTO

The Harmonators - PHOTO - PHOTO

The Sunny Cowgirls - PHOTO

The Sunny Cowgirls - PHOTO  - PHOTO

** The Winners of the 2013 CMAA’s Congratulations EVERYONE!:
- PHOTO - PHOTO - PHOTO - PHOTO **

The Wolfe Brothers on the  - PHOTO

The Wolfe Brothers. Photo:Robert Chappel - PHOTO

Travis Collins and his lovely wife Bec - PHOTO - PHOTO

Troy Cassar-Daley (winner of four Golden Guitars) and his beautiful wife Laurel - PHOTO - PHOTO

Troy Cassar-Daley press photo with his 4 Golden Guitars! -  PHOTO

PRESS The Northern Daily Leader Festival Photo souvenir edition – IMAGE - IMAGE

(44 pics) Gallery www.countrymusicchannel.com.au

The 2013 41st Tamworth Country Music Festival
(sponsored by Toyota)

The Tamworth Country Music Festival is distributed across dozens of diverse venues all over this town of 50,000 people, but the spinal column is Peel Street, named for the river that runs through the heart of the city. Fifty weeks a year it’s the town high street, with shops, cafes and the like. During the festival, it’s closed to traffic and becomes busker’s row, where for decades, folks have played on the street, sometimes with a guitar over an open case and sometimes with ambitious PA systems, backing tracks and merch operations. It’s a symbol of Australia’s wide-open, participatory country music scene and it’s a legitimate talent showcase, where big careers (e.g. Kasey Chambers, Felicity Urquhart) have been launched.

Catherine Britt answers 10 Tamworth Country Music Festival Questions
 >> YouTube

Music City Roots Tamworth!

On Thursday January 24, 2013 Nashville came to Tamworth with the first ever international broadcast of Music City Roots recorded some 14,000 kms from home at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

 The iconic radio and television show mixes the traditional style of Grand Ole Opry radio with modern technology like live streaming around the world.

"We always wanted to take the show on the road and we thought about going to Lower Broadway in downtown Nashville and then we thought 'no let's just go to Australia'," said executive producer Todd Mayo. The show, hosted by "Mr Americana" Jim Lauderdale, featured American country and roots artist Elizabeth Cook and David Jacob-Strain and Aussies including Tamworth’s very own Felicity Urquhart and 2007 Toyota Star Kirsty Lee Akers."It's a real collaborative experience from a production standpoint," Mayo said. [SOURCE]

It was filmed and streamed out live to the world. Half the crew were Australian folks and half were American.

In most respects the show was by the book, with the theme song and format just like the Loveless Barn back in Nash. But when guest emcee Peter Cooper said “this is Music City Roots: Live from Tamworth Town Hall” it marked a watershed. Music City Roots long-held dream of globalizing the Music City ethos and spirit had finally come to a first stage of fruition. The venue was a classic 80-year-old memorial auditorium.

The show at the Town Hall was a mix of Americana music, old time Grand Ole Opry style radio and a touch of Tamworth all mixed into one.

Music City Roots Finale - PHOTO - ** HI RES PHOTO

Read the Full report at - musiccityroots.com

A special edition "Voices From Tamworth" The Roots Radio Interview talking with New South Wales radio broadcaster Stephen Cenatiempo, Felicity Urquhart and Bush balladeer Tom Maxwell:

Listen on soundcloud.com

Telstra Road to Discovery WINNERS

Gena Rose Bruce and Melody Pool took their music to the next level after winning Telstra Road to Discovery!

Gena Rose Bruce, 19, from Mitcham in Victoria and Melody Pool, 21 from Kurri Kurri in NSW, were announced as the overall winners of the Telstra Road to Discovery at the 10th Anniversary Final event at the 2013 Tamworth Country Music Festival on a Tuesday night. Performer category winner Gena Rose and Songwriter category winner Melody outshone the competition and will each receive a 12 month music industry mentorship package which will elevate their careers to the next level.


Melody & Gena Rose
Telstra Winners

 The prize includes the chance to perform in Nashville USA, professional recording and co-writing opportunities, domestic and international gigs and networking alongside some of the most respected names in the music business. [Source]

Gena Rose Bruce 
(Performer Category Competition Winner)

Gena Rose, 18, who hails from Mitcham in Melbourne first got the music bug when she began singing and dancing classes at age 7 at Star Train Academy in Bayswater. This continued into her years at Box Hill Secondary College where she also studied musical performance at VCE level and taught herself the guitar.

By day, Gena Rose is a child care assistant at a local child care centre, and by night she is currently enjoying a residency with her band The Plains at the Birmingham Hotel in Fitzroy.

Describing her sound as alt-country-pop, Gena Rose penned her first song at age 6 and names Laura Marling, Mat McHugh (The Beautiful Girls) and Taylor Swift as her musical influences.

Gena Rose, performed an original song ‘Only One’ to start, grabbed the attention of the local crowd with her unique vocals and endearing stage presence. In a brave move, she then backed up with a performance of The Rolling Stones ‘Wild Horses’, leaving the judges unanimous in their decision to award her the winning performer title.

Performer winner, Gena Rose, had a point to prove after previously reaching the finals in 2011.

“Since competing two years ago, I’ve taken on board the judge’s advice and really worked hard to improve my performance. I was a little nervous before going on stage, but I wanted to show how far I’d come.

“I’m thrilled to have been awarded the 2012 winner; I’ve never been out of the country before, so I’m excited about heading to Nashville and the amazing opportunities the Telstra Road provides.”

** Gena Rose Bruce receives her award / Live Performance >> YouTube

Melody Pool (Songwriter Category Competition Winner)

Melody Pool, 21, hails from Kurri Kurri in NSW. She began singing at the age of eight when she performed alongside her father’s country music band 'Alby Pool and City Limits' during his residency in Maitland at the 'The Horseshoe Bend Roundup', now the Ex-Services Club.

Throughout her teenage years, Melody concentrated on her music. She learnt the guitar and began songwriting by 16 and has performed alongside Australian country artist Kasey Chambers.

Now a full-time working musician, Melody has toured across regional Australia and performs regularly in the Hunter Valley at the Junkyard Hotel in Maitland.

Melody recently recorded her debut album in Nashville, Tennessee with American singer-songwriter Jace Everett whose signature tune, 'Bad Things' is the theme song to cult vampire series True Blood. Everett spotted Melody performing alongside former Telstra Road winner Kirsty Akers during his 2012 tour of Australia. Describing her sound as folk-country, Melody is currently putting the finishing touches on her debut album due to be released in February 2013.

Songwriter, Melody, demonstrated she was the full package with a great stage presence and compelling lyrics that resonated with the audience. The judges praised Melody for her brave and soulful performance of two original songs titled ‘The Hurting Scene’ and ‘Henry’.

** Melody Pool receives her award / Live Performance >> YouTube

Telstra Road to Discovery - 2012 Heat Winners - www.beinvolved.com.au

Semi Final 2012 “Telstra Road to Discovery” >> YouTube    Semi Finalists - Photo

For Performer/Songwriter Entry rules and Competition Prizes visit:

www.beinvolved.com.au/t-and-c-s/ - www.facebook.com/TelstraRoadtoDiscovery

Congrats to the Winners and good luck to everyone in the coming year

2013 Toyota Star Maker Finalists

Heralded as Australia’s most prestigious country music talent contest, the Toyota Star Maker, now in its 34th year was this year held over 2 nights.
The Star Maker judging panel were overwhelmed with the quality of entries and decided to extend the finalist count to 15 rather than 12. It took place over 2 days on Sunday 20th Jan with the The Grand Final Friday held on the 25th January in Bicentennial Park which was free to the public.

For the past 33 years, Star Maker has provided a crucial launching pad for many of today’s big Australian country stars, including Lee Kernaghan (1982), James Blundell (1987), Keith Urban (1990), Gina Jeffreys (1991), Beccy Cole (1993), Brendon Walmsley (1999) and, more recently, with popular new stars Travis Collins (2004), Samantha McClymont (2005), Cat Southern (2006), Kirsty Lee Akers (2007), Talia Wittmann (2008), Liam Brew (2009), Luke Austen (2010), Luke Dickens (2011) and the new 2012 Toyota Star Maker Winner Bob Corbett.

In fact this years Golden Globe four time Winner Troy Casser-Daley was a Starmaker 89' and this was a promo shot! - Photo

Former Star Maker winner Bob Corbett, Lyn Bowtell, Morgan Evans, Melody Pool and Troy Kemp from McAlister Kemp were all guest artists at the awards and spent the week promoting their music.

‘‘We got here last Thursday and haven’t stopped. We’ve really given it a good nudge,’’ Corbett said.

The grand final was judged by a panel of industry experts, with a public SMS vote contributing to 50 per cent of the decision.

It was BATHURST'S rising talent Kaylee Bell who battled it out for victory against fellow grand finalists Christie Lamb, Nathan Lamont and Gold Coast's Sarah Head to win Australia's oldest music talent search. 

Kaylee Bell
Live at the
Tamworth Festival


Bell thus joined a prestigious roll call of winners in the competition's 34-year history.

"The competition has kicked off the careers of some of the biggest names in country music, so I'm very excited to be given the chance to launch my career with the backing of such a prestigious title," said Kaylee.

As this year's Toyota Star Maker winner the 23-year-old proudly made her first public appearance as part the morning's Australia Day Cavalcade down Peel Street, one of the most highly anticipated events on the Tamworth Country Music Festival calendar.

Bell, who won New Zealand's Gold Guitar award when she was just 18, takes home a prize pack including a recording deal and a new Toyota vehicle with an unlimited 12-month fuel card!

Kaylee Bell is a determined young lady with high ambitions, she shared last year: "I dream of opening a tour with a big international act, I would love lots of people to discover my music, but most of all I want to continue to grow as an artist and make this a full time career".

Kaylee Bell receives her Toyota Star Maker Award - PHOTO

Kaylee Bell Australia Day Parade - PHOTO

Although just in her early 20’s, Kaylee already has an impressive list of accolades to her name including New Zealand's Gold Guitar award that she won at age 18. In 2011, Kaylee performed at the famous Bluebird Cafe in Nashville and at the Global Artists Showcase featuring artists from all over the world. Kaylee was a Toyota Star Maker Grand Finalist in both 2011 and 2012. She has had chart success with her hit singles “Ride That River”, “Love Was Just A Fairytale” and “Strawberry Sunset” and in 2012 was noticed by promoters and included in the line-up for the very popular CMC Rocks The Hunter. [Source]

Listen to Kaylee’s song “Replaced” (writers: Kaylee Bell, Mike Carr & Chaise Flanders >> Audio Link

Kaylee's debut album WAYWARD, released in June 2010 (UK iTunes), was recorded between Australia and Nashville and co-produced by Michael Flanders (Nashville)/ Rob Mackay (BobKatz) of Pacific International Music. Musicians who contributed to the project are among Nashville's best including Tim Lauer (Taylor Swift/Leann Rimes) and Tammy Rogers. (Patty Loveless)

Fresh from her victory in Tamworth the 24 year old Kiwi was back in Bathhurst NSW (formerly from NZ) after winning her award (Prime 7 News video link)

The 2013 Toyota Star Maker winner now has a big future ahead of her. With a new album set for release mid 2013 and a Toyota Rav to get her to gig. Aussie’s can expect to see Kaylee touring round their neck of the woods / bush sometime soon! Many Congrats to her and to all this years’ finalists

• For More information - www.facebook.com/kayleebellmusic
• "Country all Over" Facebook  Toyota Star Maker Grand Finale photo set - Facebook Link
• Gallery Slideshow of the Australia Day Parade as thousands lined Peel Street for the annual parade on the 9th day of the Tamworth Country Music Festival. - www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au
• Tamworth Country Music Festival - www.tcmf.com.au 

SOURCES – CountryAllOverOz (Facebook), northerndailyleader.com.au, country.com.au, news.com.au, sunshinecoastdaily.com.au, theadvocate.com.au