Country music from Texas to Tamworth and everywhere in between! http://www.countryhq.com.au Copyright 2007 Novacastrian Bob Corbett was announced as the StarMaker 2012 winner tonight in Tamworth, NSW, after what was reported to be one of the hottest competitions in festival history and a record number of finalists vying for the prize that launched the career of fellow stars like Keith Urban, Lee Kernaghan and Luke Dickens. The StarMaker prize will allow Bob to record an album in Nashville, as well as access performing, promotional and marketing opportunities for the next twelve months, a prize which he will surely put to good use. http://www.countryhq.com.au/article.php?id=563 http://www.countryhq.com.au/article.php?id=563 Sun, 22 Jan 2012 23:02:56 MST One year ago, Parrotheads Afloat launched into Sydney Harbour to celebrate the triumphant return of Jimmy Buffett to Australian stages. Now twelve months later, we have decided to reunite Parrotheads from across this great land and celebrating the music of Jimmy Buffett, with very special guest performer Darren Coggan live at The Royal Oak Hotel, Parramatta, on Sunday 22nd January from 5pm. http://www.countryhq.com.au/article.php?id=561 http://www.countryhq.com.au/article.php?id=561 Sun, 08 Jan 2012 01:18:39 MST RCA Records Nashville will release a twenty-song collection from Martina McBride on January 17 entitled Hits and More. The music is a career-spanning collection of songs, which includes three NEW tracks plus four No. 1 singles, ten Top-5's, two Top-10's and more. McBride, who has one of the most identifiable voices in music today, is a four-time CMA Female Vocalist and GRAMMY winning recording artist with more than 18 million albums sold to date. http://www.countryhq.com.au/article.php?id=560 http://www.countryhq.com.au/article.php?id=560 Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:39:36 MST Brad Paisley has just recorded a new song, "Hard Life," available for purchase here and on all digital music outlets. The song is written by Paisley's friend, 23-year-old Joe Kindregan from Springfield, VA, who has A-T (ataxia-telangiectasia), a rare, fatal genetic disease that combines symptoms of cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, immune deficiencies and cancer. The release of the new song marks a special initiative on behalf of the non-profit A-T Children's Project, the yearlong beneficiary of Brad's artist royalties from U.S. digital single sales of "Hard Life." http://www.countryhq.com.au/article.php?id=559 http://www.countryhq.com.au/article.php?id=559 Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:28:37 MST Just a few months before she heads to Australia for an exclusive apperance at CMC Rocks The Hunter, country music icon Wynonna Judd and musician boyfriend Cactus Moser, of award-winning country group Highway 101, got engaged on December 24th. Wynonna and Cactus are presently touring together as Wynonna and The Big Noise. http://www.countryhq.com.au/article.php?id=558 http://www.countryhq.com.au/article.php?id=558 Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:06:18 MST Country music sweetheart Tori Darke is wrapping up 2011 in fine style by announcing her worldwide management contract with Ardline Media Group as she releases her new single Great Mistake. http://www.countryhq.com.au/article.php?id=557 http://www.countryhq.com.au/article.php?id=557 Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:34:53 MST For the first time, radio broadcasters, programmers and presenters will join forces with the country music industry early next year to dramatically change the way country music is played on Australian radio. The two industries will come together at the inaugural Country Music Radio Seminar Australia on January 26 in Tamworth, which has been organised by the Country Music Association (CMA) Australian Advisory Group and the Tamworth Country Music Festival 2012. http://www.countryhq.com.au/article.php?id=556 http://www.countryhq.com.au/article.php?id=556 Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:24:25 MST If bitter life experiences are an essential ingredient to a good country music song, Jakki Pollock has surely experienced enough personal pain to fill albums for the next decade. By the age of 32, she had lost babies to miscarriage, and lost her childhood sweetheart and husband of 14 years to divorce - she was broke, waitressing and living out of a single room. If you think that sounds like the archetypal country song, you'd be right. http://www.countryhq.com.au/article.php?id=555 http://www.countryhq.com.au/article.php?id=555 Sun, 27 Nov 2011 03:21:04 MST Tamara Stewart and longtime musical mate Rick Price have teamed up to record a beautiful Christmas love song, "Happy Little Christmas". And it's all for a very good cause! http://www.countryhq.com.au/article.php?id=554 http://www.countryhq.com.au/article.php?id=554 Tue, 22 Nov 2011 10:25:16 MST Australia's consummate alt country guitarist and singer-songwriter Bill Chambers leads the charge to The Royal Oak Hotel in Parramatta, featuring in the weekly Roots & Branches Songwriter Sessions on Sunday, 20th November from 3pm. In what promises to be an outstanding afternoon of music, Chambers will perform songs from his latest album, Drifting South, as well as showcase songs from his amazing knowledge of country, roots and Americana covers. http://www.countryhq.com.au/article.php?id=553 http://www.countryhq.com.au/article.php?id=553 Sat, 19 Nov 2011 06:16:36 MST At the first ever MaloCon, a two day celebration of his music, Raul Malo didn't disappoint, confirming a rumour that had been circulating for days prior in the little town of Gruene, TX. "I have a little announcement to make. That band that I used to play with is gonna go out and tour." And with that, the fans in attendance came undone as Malo sang The Mavericks classic Here Comes The Rain. http://www.countryhq.com.au/article.php?id=552 http://www.countryhq.com.au/article.php?id=552 Sat, 19 Nov 2011 05:46:50 MST BLUESFEST presents its second artist announcement for 2012 and it's an announcement that shows that the Festival is delivering once again with more signature artist announcements yet to come. Two of the standout names in this second announcement are none other than alt country chanteuse Lucinda Williams & roots singer songwriting legend John Hiatt & his band, The Combo. http://www.countryhq.com.au/article.php?id=551 http://www.countryhq.com.au/article.php?id=551 Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:37:31 MST Recorded live, Songs And Stories recounts an evening of music and insight from the legendary troubadour that spans Clark's 40 years of rough-and-tumble yet earnest storytelling. This latest effort from Clark includes brand new recordings of L.A. Freeway, The Randall Knife, The Cape, Homegrown Tomatoes, Stuff That Works and other well-known fan favorites plus some of the stories behind them. http://www.countryhq.com.au/article.php?id=550 http://www.countryhq.com.au/article.php?id=550 Wed, 09 Nov 2011 07:52:31 MST Singer, songwriter, poet and painter, alt-country/rock sensation Ryan Adams is a true Renaissance man. Touring on his critically adored Ashes & Fire, Adams returns to Australia with his trademark soulful lyrics and low-key melodies to deliver a truly memorable concert. http://www.countryhq.com.au/article.php?id=549 http://www.countryhq.com.au/article.php?id=549 Fri, 04 Nov 2011 08:12:36 MST Today BLUESFEST, Australia's multi-award winning and internationally renowned Festival, unveils its first artist announcement for the 2012 Festival. One look at the star studded array of artists confirms that BLUESFEST 2012 is on track to deliver yet another red-hot Festival, with icons such as The Jayhawks, Great Big Sea, Justin Towenes Earle and Steve Earle performing at the iconic festival. http://www.countryhq.com.au/article.php?id=548 http://www.countryhq.com.au/article.php?id=548 Fri, 04 Nov 2011 07:59:26 MST