Online Downloads: Love a theme of Country Music May 25, 2008

In my various internet searches on the country music genre, have noticed one thing much of country music is influenced by the phenomenon known as love. Many country songs and artists have at least done one song about love and the influence it has on their own lives and other peoples. One of the best websites I found is ‘About: Country Music’; the site is interesting as it displays the top 20 country love songs by decade, so ideally viewers of the page can access, at the very least the names of the titles to buy or download online. The Lists go from the 2000s right back to the 1970s. You can also access a range of other cool country based stuff such as clip art, screen savers, themes, wallpapers and even artist playlists.

CHECK IT OUT!

Post by: Ryan Witt

Hip Hop Vs Country May 25, 2008

I found this odd little ‘staged’ debate between two friends. The topic is ‘which is better, Hip Hop or Country Music’; I believe country is constructed to win the debate. The Hip Hop representative does not do the genre any favours; he chooses some rather bad musical examples to support his case. The country music representative chooses some wise classical examples of good old fashioned country music. However there is one thing for certain the dancing in this clip is shameful!

In Rugby League its City Vs Country…

In this guys car its Hip Hop Vs Country

Take a look….

Post by: Ryan Witt

Local Gig Guide May 25, 2008

After reading Natalie’s post on local festivals, I thought I would investigate local gig guides and smaller events. Gig guides provide information on many performing artists and bands, mainstream or not, when and where you can see them and how much. On the Central Coast Country Music Gig Guide, there are advertisements, news and reviews, a list of gigs worth driving to and a local selection of up and coming gigs.

If you’ve got nothing to do one Wednesday (student) night and your feeling quite country bumpkin! Then I have one place in mind for you…Hexham Bowling Club. Hexham might not sound like such a great place to be, but there is a wild country event on every Wednesday at 7pm called The Horseshoe Bend Roundup, the format is country music legend, rising stars, talented special guest, and a full country band. So if you play why not enter, or just go along and enjoy some local country music talent.

Post by: Ryan Witt

Promoting Country Music May 25, 2008

I found this flyer promoting a country music station called Kinda Country! (I tried to post it, but I couldn’t get it to work – so click here to view it!) The website has a bunch of different country music website links and some other pictures and cool stuff. You should all check it out!! Click here NOW!

Also, I found an interesting class offered at The University of Queensland entitled “Country Matters: Country Music and the Media”. The class details said “the reporting of country music is used as a case study to show how the print media portrays & constructs country music performers & audiences. A theoretical approach to print media will provide students with an opportunity to examine a number of key cultural concepts & theorists. In particular, students will analyze the influence of the media on the development, growth, popularity, & demographic appeal of country music.” Both of these, the flyer and the class, show that there are people out there trying to promote country music and bring it more coverage!

-Natalie Boyce

Beyonce going country?!? May 25, 2008

The rumor has it that Beyonce is making a country album. She performed Irreplaceable with Sugarland at the American Music Awards in 2007 (watch the performance on youtube – Click here!) and right after this the gossip started. Beyonce has always liked country music and since she was very pleased with her performance with Sugarland, she decided to try something completely different and go country. She has been in contact with Amanda Ghost (the writer of You’re Beautiful by James Blunt) in order to help her with this country album.

Throughout all of my research for this project/blog, I have seen country artists turn to pop, but never really any flow in the opposite direction – pop to country. This move by Beyonce could be a big opportunity for country music. If this album gets good reviews then it could lead to more publicity and coverage for country music. However, if it receives bad reviews it could really hurt this genre because it will further emphasis the bad stereotype country music has obtained over the years. It should be interesting to see what comes about from this album, (if it does come out).

Newsdesk 2007, ‘Beyonce country album’ Music News.

-Natalie Boyce

A.B.B.A. May 25, 2008

The Australian Bush Balladeers Association was created in 2000 by Bluey Francis who was a bush balladeer from White Cliffs NSW. This associated was created in order to promote this style of music to Australia and the world. Every year they have an annual “Balladeers” compilation CD that is distributed to country music radio stations and also for sale for fans. As well, a 30 page quarterly magazine called “balladeers bulletin” is made for the members of A.B.B.A. This magazine features artists, tours, news updates, and other general information. Furthermore, there is an annual bush balladeer star quest which was started in 2001 and an annual Tamworth Balladeer member showcase which features A.B.B.A. members.

Here is a song by Jeff Gibson who was the 2005 winner of the annual bush balladeer star quest – psycho case

-Natalie Boyce

You Like Country, Want to Play Country, Why Not Learn? May 25, 2008

I found this interesting little country music guitar lesson, if anyone is interested in learning a bit of country. The Lesson is by Robert Dean a very exceptional musician (he markets himself and his learning products quite well), I think playing country music would be quite liberating for a ‘muso’ I have been taught a few country riffs that sound great, and even though I don’t really like country music, it is still fun to play!

Take a look, get out your guitar, have a go you might even have fun!

For those that are interest in bluegrass, go to the video below for a short lesson.

Enjoy!

Post by: Ryan Witt

Asylum Street Spankers – Hick Hop! May 25, 2008

After reading the Blog post entitled Hick Hop posted by Rachelle, I was interesting in finding out exactly how Hick Hop might be performed, so I had a look on youtube and the Asylum Street Spankers performed a Hick Hop Song in Seattle thats worth a look, I found it was very unusual, highly original and strangely kept my attention probably because it does sound quite odd.

Check it out!

Post by: Ryan Witt

Country Music on the Web: Downloads! May 25, 2008

I was wondering if there was any specific country music download web pages or share programs, so I decided to search on Google. I did not find any share programs, but there are a number of country specific music download sites, where you can gather all kinds of country based information and songs. Some of the pages include: Country Music Planet, Good Country Songs, Country Music Television, Musicnotes, Love to Know and Music for Little People.

Country Music Planet and Good Country Songs are your more generalised web pages, whereas the others are more specific to what you can download. You can download country sheet music at Musicnotes, and get country news updates from country music television right to your desktop.  Love to Know and  Music for Little People are not soley country music based, but do have sections dedicated to country music, these two sites allow you to select music for your children and allow you to access and listen to music free of charge.

Post by: Ryan Witt

What’s in “Country Update” May 25, 2008

The last few posts I have done have all been on articles from the “Country Update” Magazine, so I thought I would just do a quick post to tell you what else you can find in the magazine.

It’s a great source of information on all things country. This particular artist had feature articles on Adam Brand, Garry Allen, Tamara Stewart, The Flood, Garth Brooks and Willie Nelson. There are also other, smaller articles on things such as the Grammy’s, the Dusty Reunion, a Farewell to Smoky Dawson, the 36^th CMAA Country Music Awards the winners of the 2008 Telstra Road to Tamworth and the 2008 Toyota Star Maker and also many, many articles on artists such as the Davidsons Bluegrass Brothers, Corb Lund and The Yeehaa Boys. There are also many pages on Reviews and upcoming Festivals.

The entire magazine is one of the best sources for country music that I have ever found. It has countless articles and information on everything country and not just the really specialised country genres but all country, so its suitable for everyone who wants to know about the country genre. At only $6.95 a magazine, it is definitely worth the money for the amount of useful information you get. Definitely worth it when you are looking to broaden your knowledge on country music.

This particular magazine is found at most newsagents, but I definitely think that country music is still under publicised in magazines and media. I went into several newsagents etc and there were generally only two country music magazines available, including this one, and they only get a small number of magazines per month. Perhaps if more magazines and sources like this were available for country music information, more people would be interested in the country music genre.

“Country Update” Magazine, Issue 48 on shelves now. (Edited by Bob Anthony Jnr, Produced By Country Update Pty Ltd, February 2008 )

By Jacki Tipton