Australian College of Country Music May 26, 2008

In my last post I talked about the SA Country Music Festival and I found out that they strongly support the Australian College of Country Music so I decided to look further into this college.

After the first CMAA Country Music Awards in 1993, the board members wanted to start something long term for the organization. Members of the board had always been interested in education and assistance for young artists exploring country music as a career. The board discussed many different options for this education system such as a mentoring program, but they decided on setting up a college that would be in conjunction with TAFE New England and they would use the Clarossy School in Tamworth for the college. Several meetings were conducted and TAFE agreed to give $20,000 for the curriculum of the college. Peter Winkler was hired in 1996 to create the curriculum.

The first College was held from January 4^th -19^th 1997, with Peter Winkler as the Muscial Director. Rod Coe, Deniese Morrison, Dobe Newton, and Garth Portor were tutors that also helped out. This first college was a huge success and continues to be today. In 2005 there were 189 young artists from all over the nation that had graduated from this college since it opened. Some of these artists have gone on to become Golden Guitar Winners and new stars in Australian country music.

The college is now sponsored by many different organizations like the NSW Ministry of Arts, The Australia Council for the Arts, Tamworth City Council, APRA/AMCOS, the Country Music Association in Nashville, and many others. Many students that attend this college are also sponsored by country music organizations and talent quests.

Now that we know the history of the college, the next question is what exactly is it? This college is a 15 day course with only 21 students a year being accepted. The students accepted are all over the age of 17 and enter with all different levels of music talent, some part time entertainers and others who are just starting off. However, all students go through several different programs such as, training, song writing, stage presentation, industry studies, studio recording, instrument training and concert performance. The 21 students are separated into three groups of 7 and each group works with a tutor during the afternoons of college, but the entire group still has lectures together in the mornings. During the afternoon tutor sessions, each student is required to compose, arrange, rehearse, and record several original songs that will be presented on stage at the graduation concert. They will also be allowed to record a couple of their songs under the supervision of Garth Porter. Many already established artists will even drop in to offer some words of encouragement to these young artists. At the very end of the college each student receives their CMAA certificates and TAFE Statement of Attainment.

Ellis, M. 2002, ‘How the Australian College of Country Music works’, History of Country Music in Australia. http://www.historyofcountrymusic.com.au/collegeworks.html

‘History of the College of Country Music’, History of Country Music in Australia. http://www.historyofcountrymusic.com.au/collegehistory.html

-Natalie Boyce

South Australian (SA) Country Music Festival May 26, 2008

The 30^th Annual SA Country Music Festival is going to start this week! It will run from May 30^th to June 9^th throughout the SA Riverland and is sponsored by Berri Barmera District Council, Country Arts SA, and the Government of South Australia. This festival is the biggest and most prestigious in the state. It is the most important event on the SA Country Music Circuit and a major event for Riverland. It is also known as the Friendly Festival. People come from all over, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, England, USA, and many others, to join in the fun.

Talent, new and young, is discovered each year through the Music Awards, which will be held in 12 sections during June 6^th – 9^th. The winners of each section will then compete for the SA Award of Excellence at the SA Sunday Spectacular along with other nationally known artists.

Many artists, with different amounts of ‘fame’ will be performing. Some of the artists are: the “Multi Golden Guitar Winner” Troy Cassar – Daley and his Band, “Golden Guitar Winner” Feral Swing Katz, “Gold Guitar Winner” Trev Warner, “Starmaker Finalists” Kristy Cox, Royden Donohue, Murray Mac and True Grit, Mark Tempany, and Alison Hams, “SA Awards – Male Vocal Winner” Darin Warner, Rick ‘Roy Orbison’ Diamond, Gary Burrows, Shane Teinaki, Peter Warner, The Sherrahs, Bob Magor, Olive Bice, Chris ‘Truckin’ Stevens, SA Festival Band, Fully Loaded, Winchester, Frank Sargent, Vic Sturgeon, Gummy Bill, Bill Bedford, and lots more

Throughout these ten days there are many venues that are held at all different types of places like cafes, parks, hotels, clubs, theatres, halls, and concert centres. Most venues are free with a gold coin donation, however, some do require a fee.

To learn more about this festival check out the website – 2008 South Australian Country Music Festival and Awards

-Natalie Boyce

Lisa Mitchell; A Folk Girl with a Dash of Country May 26, 2008

Country music has evolved over time from folk music a genre that stretches back hundreds and hundreds of years, from countries all over the world, some typical examples include Irish and Scottish traditional folk music. In light of this evolution I recalled an up and coming Australian artists that is a little bit country with a whole lot of folk!

You may remember Lisa Mitchell from one of the many reality television programs sweeping our networks. Lisa was a contestant in Australian Idol in the year 2006. Lisa was different from most contestants for a number of reasons; firstly she was the youngest contestant at only sixteen years of age, she could write and play her own music and showed that she can perform exceptionally well in her preferred genres of folk and country music.

 Play the video below to watch her on Ausrtalian Idol 2006

Lisa is now seventeen years old and resides in her hometown Albury; she is most certainly one of the up and comers to lookout for. On May 21 Lisa launched her new EP called ‘Welcome to the Afternoon’, since Australian Idol she has moved more into the folk genre than the country genre, but she is an exceptional Australian artist that should be exposed to the Country music and mainstream charts.

In my opinion Lisa possess a country type voice and comprises lyrics and music typical of the country and folk genres. Lisa Mitchell maybe the answer country/folk music has been waiting for, she’s young she’s talented, the youths of Australia will relate to her, it is possible that someone of her character could open up the flood gates and push country/folk music into the mainstream. Lisa’s best asset is her unique sound, which is emphasised through her subtlety nasal vocals. I think it is her subtle combination of country/folk and pop that will see her break into the mainstream, whether this will help other country and folk artists; time will tell. Lisa Mitchell is definitely someone to get behind and lookout for in the future.

Play the video below to see her song ‘Incomplete Lulluby’

Post by: Ryan Witt

The Kernaghans: The Superstar and The Blacksheep May 26, 2008

I recently read two news articles on the Kernaghan siblings, in particular Lee (The Country superstar) and Fiona (the black sheep).

The first article was about Lee Kernaghan withdrawing from a festival at Pussycat Flats Rodeo on June 21. The reason being Lee is simply too big for the event, the area won’t cope with the number of fans wanting to see him.

The second news article also featured a Kernaghan, this time Fiona, Lee’s younger sister. Fiona is a very different to Lee; she admits that she sees her self as “the slightly weird one” in the family. The article is interesting as it depicts that even country music singers and musicians get caught up in the drug orientated stereotype that is ‘muso culture’. In that Fiona had indulging in the white power while in Nashville but had given up now she moved to a better lifestyle in Los Angles.

I thought this was interesting as I did not align country music with that type of music culture for some reason, I guess its because of the stereotypical perception that country is played in the country rather than the city. City nightlife and, rock/roll music culture must have had a significant influence. Fionas music is in the genres of country/rock/pop.

Since then Fiona has turned her life around, she suggests in the article that she like many of us were young, silly and wanted to try and do everything. She is this years Australian of the Year, the difference between these two Kernaghan’s is probably the fact that over her career Fiona has been a little more risqué releasing songs with more controversial lyrics; one line noted as an example in the article is “I cut lines on a  toilet with my credit card/trying to go numb.”

Sources:

Kernaghan Too Big for Pussycat Gig

Country’s Blacksheep Prefers Rocking to Flocking

Post By: Ryan Witt

The Country Genre – Taking the World By Storm May 26, 2008

So, we have been arguing that country music is far too under-publicised in the area of popular music, however in the last few years there has been a jump to becoming more well known. it’s a small jump, but an important one. The appeal of country music is starting to spread. And not just to the audience, but to other artists. Mainstream artists are dropping their styles and are trading their signature sounds in for a country style.

So after reading Sophie’s article about Kelly Clarkson, and Natalie’s about Beyonce, and reading the magazine article about “Selling Country To The Nation”, I thought I would investigate more into who, in mainstream pop/rock music, is influenced by country and how its beginning to branch into the mainstream, or mix into the mainstream, as one of Natalie‘s article discusses.

An example of this is with Jessica Simpson. She is recently trying to break into the country music business. Her recent CD “A Public Affair” has some of the usual poppy songs that expect from an artist such as this, however upon listening to it I was surprised at the country inspired content. Songs such as “Push Your Tush” are extremely country, this particular one even beginning with a cow bell. and since this CD there has been news that Jessica wants to permanently join sides with the country music genre. Even teaming up with Willie Nelson to do her re-make of “These Boots Are Made For Walking”, even if it was a bit of a flop.

And Jessica Simpson isn’t the only one trading their leather jackets in for a set of spurs. The 80’s rock band Bon Jovi has also joined on the trail ride. Since Bon Jovi teamed up with Sugarland, they have worked with a number of country artists such as “Big and Rich” (who they performed “We Got It Going On” with) and “LeAnn Rimes” (who they performed “Till We Ain’t Strangers Anymore” with), and their latest CD “Lost Highway” is a lot more country inspired then their previous works. I have been a hard core Bon Jovi fan for quite a few years now, and I was definitely surprised at their new country spin. I would have never expected Bon Jovi to be a part of this lesser known genre. But I think this is proof at just how fun and appealing country music is. Everyone seems to want a part of it at the moment. I think country is a sort of escape from the moodier ‘Emo’ style of music that has recently been appearing. Country allows you to escape and get back to the more pure musical forms.

But its not just some of the more ‘game’ musicians that are deciding to tackle this genre, but some of the newer ‘pop’ artists too. An example is with Carrie Underwood. Generally when people emerge out of the American Idol competitions, they have been trained and moulded into going straight into the popular music industry, however Carrie Underwood went straight into the country industry. She currently had two country music albums “Carnival Ride“ and “Some Hearts”. I have to say, even though they are country music records, I actually expected them to be rather poppy because of her idol background, but surprisingly they are not. They are very true to the country genre. Songs like “Wasted”, “All American Girl”, and the slightly more mainstream and poppy “Some Hearts” (also featured on the ‘”So Country“ CD I talked about earlier) all air that distinct country sound. She has a great voice for country.

So even though the country genre has been sort of forgotten in the past, I think it is ready to become more mainstream. I think, the last few years the world has had a pretty tough time with terrorism etc, and we are all looking for an escape, something more real and down to earth and something fun. To me, that spells country, and I don’t think that I’m the only person that is feeling this way. So bring out those spurs and dust off those boots and hats, because I think your about to see come real country coverage, finally.

By Jacki Tipton