NEWS

2010 - Jul 20 - Music Festival Relieved By Election Date Announcement, First Round Performers Announced

One Canberra music festival is relieved by the August Australian Federal election date announcement. With its main stage being in the National Tally Room, the Canberra Country Music Festival had been apprehensive of a November poll, as was likely under the former Prime Minister.

“The venue agreement clearly stated that if an election was called we would have lost the 3,500 seat capacity Budawang building which also serves as the National Tally Room for the Australian Electoral Office during election time” said Festival Director, Kelvin Fahey. “It would have also compromised the Bundy Bar, our food village and outdoor stage, so effectively shut down the Festival, so for sure we are all breathing easier now, regardless of the politics.”

Canberra Country Music Festival is held at Exhibition Parkin Canberraduring 12-14 November across 5 stages in a celebration of music, dance, horse and utes.

First round of performers announced include:

Travis Collins – releasing his new album and past hits like “Start The Car”

Free Bears – Europe’s leading country rockabilly band (Germany)

Don McNatt – host of Nashville Writers In The Round” television show and leading songwriter and session musician (USA)

Slim Newton– who can forget the #1 hit “Redback on the Toilet Seat” (NSW)

Nicki Gillis – contemporary with the Frank Ifield collaboration “I Remember You” (NSW)

Pete Galvin - affectionately known as “Keith Urban’s southern brother“ (NZ)

8 Ball Aitken – the ZZ Top of Australian country music with his “Outback Booty Call” (QLD)

Brothers 3 – the new faces of traditional country, featuring Shardyn who played Boy Form, Oz with Hugh Jackman (NSW)

Hoola –leading Hawaiian style where country music got its twang!

Other artists include Leanne Melmoth (ACT), Jay Scott Berry (USA), Brewn (new CD), Melissa Robertson (NSW), Kelly Cooper (ACT), Des Morgan (NSW), Fry Brothers (VIC), Trixie Craig (NZ), Ceddy McGrath (NSW), Noel Smith (NSW), Counterfeit Cash (NSW), Sean Hale (VIC), Britlejack (NSW), Alice Plumb (NSW), Tiana (NSW), Noel McClumpha (WA), Bush Capital Band, with more to be announced!

Primary aims of the festival are to promote country music (in all its sub-genres) and raise funds for local non-profit community charities, including Country Women’s Association, Lions Club and Conservation Volunteers.

Festival tickets and onsite camping are available from Ticketek, leading music retailers, regional newsagents and on the day during the festival.

Sponsors include: Bundaberg Rum, Fosters Group, Shannons Insurance, Kamberra Wine Company, Abletts Transport, Water Recycle Group, Diversity Music Group, Formule 1, Airport International Motel, EPIC

Supporters include: Country Music Association of Canberra, Australian Independent Music Association, Monaro Folk Society, Summernats, Fine Finish, Caprice Joinery, ABA Printing, Tprintz and Ticketek

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2010 - Jun 02 - 4 Weeks To Go In Worldwide Performer Search For CCMF10
The international search continues for another 4 weeks to find two country music artists to perform at November’s Canberra Country Music Festival in Australia. Coordinated by Sonicbids, the main stage spots are for one United States based artist one non-American performer. This is the first time an Australian music festival has undertaken such an international artist search and the results are encouraging to date.

Festival Director, Kelvin Fahey, stated “We wanted to ensure that opportunities were available for international artists in a more structured process. Sonicbids provides a systematic Electronic Press Kit approach that makes it much easer for us to handle than the deluge of unsolicited artist inquires we receive.”

Mr Fahey went on to discuss the variety and quality of international submissions to date. “I must admit that the quality of many artists is incredibly high and leading edge. We have artistic styles submissions including Americana, Bluegrass, Ballads, Alternate, Country Rock, Country Gospel, Western Swing and even Country Rap, such is the diversity across the country genre in the world we live in.”

To date the festival has received submissions through Sonicbids from entries from as Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom well as the United States. The final deadline for submissions is 30 June, with a public announcement naming the winning artists being made soon after.

The Canberra Country Music Festival is held across 5 stages during 12-14 November in ..Australia..’s national capital, Canberra. The venue is Exhibition Park which is also home to Summernats and the National Folk Festival with onsite camping and catering to audiences of 100,000. Tickets are available online from Ticketek, regional newsagents and numerous music stores. Children under 13 are admitted free.

Based in Boston, Sonicbids sets the industry standard for submitting to gigs and connecting to the world’s musical and performance community with more than 140,000 bands, singers, songwriters and other performers using their network. www.sonicbids.com/canberra