Country music superstar Tim McGraw is confirmed to tour Australia for the first time, promoters Chugg Entertainment and Rob Potts announced today.
McGraw, and his band the Dancehall Doctors, will bring his Southern Voice Tour to Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney for shows in September.
"My career's been going for a while and I've been looking for opportunities to come down, and this is the first time the timing's worked out. I'm very excited," said McGraw when asked about Australia and touring here for the first time.
Chugg Entertainment's Executive Chairman, Michael Chugg said, "This is big news, full stop, but for country music fans, it's massive!
"It's actually Tim's birthday in the US (May 1) today, so to announce his first Australian tour timed with that is special."
In Australia McGraw's setup will include an 18 metre catwalk that takes him up the centre floor and puts him in the thick of it with audiences.
McGraw will play the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Thursday 16th, Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena, Sunday 19th and Sydney's Acer Arena, Tuesday 21st.
Tim McGraw Australian Tour Announced
Tommy Emmanuel and Joe Robinson Win US Awards
Aussie guitar god Tommy Emmanuel has been named ‘Best Acoustic Guitarist’ by readers of the respected US ‘Guitar Player Magazine’. This is the second year in a row that Tommy has been recognised by the magazine.
The issue also named Brad Paisley ‘Best Country Guitarist’ and young Australian Smokin’ Joe Robinson, who Tommy has helped mentor, as ‘Best New Talent’.
The award is a testament to Emmanuel’s increasing popularity around the world. Although he lives in Nashville, Tommy spends most of the year on the road, playing to packed houses in all corners of the globe, communicating his music through what he calls the ‘universal language’ of the guitar.
2010 will see him tour Italy, Canada, America, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Russia, Poland and the UK, before coming home to Australia in December for a special 50th Anniversary reunion tour with his brother and fellow-guitarist, Phil. This tour will also feature Tommy’s hand-picked All-Star band and will be the first time the Emmanuel Brothers have toured together since 2004.
Robinson is also making a name for himself globally. He spends most of his time at the moment touring the US to sell out crowds.
Music Video Premiere: Lee Kernaghan - Australian Boy
Lee Kernaghan has released the second single from his latest album Planet Country. It's called 'Australian Boy'.
'Australian Boy’ is the second single from Kernaghan’s critically acclaimed new album Planet Country, which surpassed Gold sales before Christmas last year.
The track, which celebrates great Australian heroes, was written by Kernaghan, and song writing partners Garth Porter and Colin Buchanan.
"This song is about growing up down in the Riverina, cars, mates, girls and the footy. It’s about blokes from different walks of life with one thing in common - we’re all Australian boys. As this song was being written, our troops were on active service in Afghanistan and this song goes out to all who serve, along with their family and loved ones at home,” says Lee Kernaghan
Check out the music video for 'Australian Boy' here...
Carrie Underwood Is ACM Entertainer Of The Year Again
Carrie Underwood was the big winner at the 2010 Academy of Country Music Awards is Las Vegas last night. She won the fan-voted Entertainer of the Year award for the second time.
Miranda Lambert also had a huge night winning Female Vocalist of the Year, Video of the Year and Album of the Year for Reveloution.
The full list of winners were...
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR - Carrie Underwood
TOP MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR - Brad Paisley
TOP FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR - Miranda Lambert
TOP VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR - Lady Antebellum
TOP VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR - Brooks & Dunn
TOP NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR - Luke Bryan
ALBUM OF THE YEAR - Revolution – Miranda Lambert SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR - ’Need You Now’ – Lady Antebellum
SONG OF THE YEAR - 'Need You Now’ – Lady Antebellum
VIDEO OF THE YEAR - 'White Liar’ – Miranda Lambert
VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR - 'Hillbilly Bone’ – Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins
Stephanie Brownlee Is A Good Friend / Girlfriend
Check out the new music video from new Compass Bros Records' new Pop/Country artist Stephanie Brownlee. It's called 'Good Friend/Girlfriend'. The pop version featured last weekend on Video Hits.
Lyric Street Shuts Down & Joe Galante Leaves Sony Nashville
Nashville based, Disney label Lyric Street Records, the home of Rascal Flatts, SHeDaisy, Josh Gracin, Sarah Buxton and Bucky Covington, is being shut down.
The move is said to be a cost-cutting measure by the Disney Music Group.
DMG chairman Bob Cavallo said in a statement, “The Lyric Street team has had an amazing run, building a slate of well-known artists including the superstar act, Rascal Flatts. But given the changing nature of the music business and the more streamlined priorities of the studios, we need to find alternative ways to create and market new artists and their music to consumers.”
Rascal Flatts will be continuing on to another Disney-run label with the Lyric Street promo team to continue working existing abllums in the interim. Lyric Street releases are distributed through Universal Music in Australia.
Meanwhile, long-time Sony Nashville boss Joe Galante is leaving the company. One of his last signings was Australian Adam Brand who is now with the label in the US. He also signed Australian Catherine Britt who released three singles with the label several years ago.
Catherine Britt Premieres Can't Change A Thing
Three-time ARIA nominated singer/songwriter Catherine Britt is giving fans to opportunity to listen to her new single, 'Can't Change A Thing' before it goes to media.
Visit www.catherinebritt.com now to listen to the new track, the first single from her upcoming self-titled album.
Music Video Premiere: Shea Fisher - Getaway Heart
Check out the new music video from Shea Fisher for 'Getaway Heart' from her latest album Shea.
Shea has spent most of her time in the US in the last 18 months and she is the new face of popular rodeo brand, Cruel Girl clothing.
This video includes candid handy-cam footage and a great insite into her life in the US so far.
Check out 'Getaway Heart' now...
Dixie Chicks Sister Duo To Become The "Court Yard Hounds"
Emily Robison and Martie Maguire of The Dixie Chicks, announced that they will release new music under the moniker Court Yard Hounds. The album will be released on Columbia Records/Sony Music, in late April 2010.
It was time," said Emily Robison. “We had been on hiatus from The Dixie Chicks for about a year, I was getting very restless and needed to be creative for my own sanity. And at the same time I was going through my divorce so it was very fertile ground for writing.”
Emily was just writing and writing all of these deeply personal and truly beautiful songs,” added Martie Maguire. “She was initially going to pitch them to other artists and I kept telling her no, no, you have to save that for you. It’s too good and too personal ">Emily took her sister’s advice to heart and held onto the songs, thinking perhaps they could be new material for The Dixie Chicks.
Realizing that The Dixie Chicks hiatus would last longer than originally anticipated, the sisters dove head first into recording what is now the debut album from The Court Yard Hounds.
Listen to the duo's first single 'The Coast' and other sample tracks at www.courtyardhounds.com.
Jetty Road Win 2010 Oz Music Award
Independent group Jetty Road have continued on their award winner year, winning the Best Country Artist award at last week's Oz Music Awards in Sydney.
The Oz Music Awards celebrate the vibrant growth and prosperity of independant and unsigned Australian music.
