Following a triumphant debut voyage to Australia earlier this year, multiple-CCMA and Juno Award winners, Doc Walker, are returning here again in  January 2011, for three shows only! The first show is a one-off event at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, followed by a concert in Brisbane and another in Sydney.

“We had such an incredible time in Australia”, said Doc Walker’s Chris Thornsteinson. “The way we were embraced by the Aussie crowds is unlike anything we’ve experienced outside of Canada. We can’t wait to get back!”

Doc Walker’s 2010 Australian Tour kicked off at CMC Rocks the Snowys Festival in Thredbo, followed by dates around NSW and QLD with Texan country-rocker, Jack Ingram, and our own Steve Forde. With their soaring harmonies, tight band interplay and easy-rockin’ country sound, the Canadian trio won over crowds around the country, making many new fans who are clamouring for them to return.

Their new album, Go, debuted at #12 on the ARIA Country Chart earlier this year and their current single, 'I’m Gonna Make You Love Me', just topped the Canadian video charts and features footage from their first Australian trip.

It was just announced that Doc Walker received nine nominations for the 2010 CCMA Awards, including Album, Single and Group of the Year.

The Doc Walker 2011 Australian Tour will kick off at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, after which you can catch them at Brisbane’s Pioneer Village Country Music Club and Sydney’s Rooty Hill RSL Club.

Special Guest on the Tamworth and Sydney shows is ABC Music recording artist, Peter McWhirter, the energetic country-rocker whose debut album, Lucky As A Seven, recorded in Nashville, is due out on September 10. Queensland country-folk duo, Busby Marou, will perform on the Brisbane show. 

DOC WALKER AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES 
Saturday January 22 – Blazes Showroom @ Wests, Tamworth
Sunday January 23 – Pioneer Village Country Music Club, Petrie
Tuesday January 25 – Rooty Hill RSL Club, Sydney

Recent Australian visitors Doc Walker and upcoming visitor Corb Lund have both featured prominantly in the 2010 Canadian Country Music Awards nominations.

Doc Walker are nominated for Album of The Year (Go), Fans Choice, Single of the Year ('If I Fall'), Songwriters of the Year ('If I Fall'), and Group or Duo of the Year.

Lund is nominated for Fans Choice, Video of the Year ('Devil's Best Dress'), Male Arist of the Year and Roots Artist of the Year.

See A Full List of 2010 CCMA Award Nominees Here

The awards will be held on September 12 in Canada and air on CMC in Australia from September 30.

Canadian country/rock group Doc Walker have returned to Canada following their succesful tour of Australia last week. Fans in Thredbo, Sydney, Orange, Tamworth, Toowoomba and Brisbane responded fantastically to the band's performances.

Each night fans where so blown away Doc Walker’s set that they flocked to the merchandise desk to buy Doc Walker albums – contributing significantly to their #12 debut spot on the ARIA Country sales chart last weekend for their new album Go.

New HitCountry.TV channel host Jasmine Rae spoke with the group during the CMC Rocks The Snowys festival about their Australian trip and the new album. 

Check out the interview below...

Twelve time Canadian Country Music Award and Juno Award winners Doc Walker have taken Australia by storm. The band played for the first time in Australia last week at CMC Rocks The Snowys, winning over local fans (who chose to watch them in the rain instead of bailing for cover) with a blistering set of country/rock.

Buy Doc Walker's new album Go now  

Twelve time Canadian Country Music Award and Juno winners Doc Walker have arrived for their first Australian tour and the release of their new album, Go.

Featuring recent CMC Country Pick ‘If I Fall’, Go is officially released on March 5 when Doc Walker make their first ever live Australian appearance at CMC Rocks The Snowys.

Doc Walker’s first release in Australia, the Juno and six time Canadian Country Music Award winning Beautiful Life was released in July last year and featured the hit singles ‘Beautiful Life’, ‘That’s All’ and ‘One Last Sundown.

Their east coast “CMC Rocks” tour with leading Australian artist Steve Forde and US superstar Jack Ingram starts next week with shows in Sydney, Orange, Tamworth, Brisbane and Toowoomba. Doc Walker have earned the title of ‘the hardest working Country band in Canada’ the old fashioned way, through relentless touring and forging a lasting relationship with their audience.

Track Listing 1. Coming Home 2. Speed of Life 3. If I Fall 4. Why 5. The Hard Way 6. I'm Gonna Make You Love Me 7. From Here 8. Girls In Their Summer Clothes 9.Go 10. Dancin' All Night

Buy Go Now

The smokin' east coast tour, CMC Rocks, kicks off in two weeks. Featuring US artist Jack Ingram, Canadian super-stars Doc Walker and local chart topper Steve Forde. It follows the CMC Rocks The Snowys festival on March 4 and 5 in Thredbo.

Jack Ingram is renowned for his high-octane stage shows and gritty, hard-edged music. Honing his skills as one of the kings of the Texas red-dirt country scene, Ingram has released eight studio albums, six live albums and has scored many Top 40 singles including the number one 'Wherever You Are'. His new album 'Big Dreams and High Hopes' is a gutsy mix of Southern Rock and dynamic country ballads and features the hit single 'Barefoot and Crazy', as well as collaboration with folk/rock icon Patty Griffin. This is Jack's first trip to Australia.

Steve Forde is one of Australia's best live performers. He's an artist who has blazed his own trail through country music over almost a decade of recording and performing. A former rodeo rider who channels the same energy and spirit into his music, Steve has built a fiercely loyal fanbase through years crossing the length and breadth of Australia on his tour bus. After years as a extremely successful independent artist, Steve signed with ABC Music, releasing a self-titled album in 2007 and in 2008, the acclaimed 'Guns and Guitars' which topped the Australian Country sales charts.

Canada's Doc Walker have amassed countless accolades over their 12 year career, including a staggering 10 Canadian Country Music Awards. They've earned the title of 'the hardest working Country band in Canada the old fashioned way, through relentless touring putting over a million miles behind them in Canada alone, forging a lasting relationship with their audience. The hitmaking trio is gearing up for their first ever shows down under, promising Aussie audiences a night they won't forget. 


TOUR DATES
March 9 - Rooty Hill RSL Club, Sydney NSW

March 10 - Orange Ex-Services Club, Orange NSW

March 11 - West Tamworth League Club, Tamworth NSW

March 12 - Rumours International, Toowoomba QLD

March 13 - The Tivoli, Brisbane QLD
 

The first single from Doc Walker's upcoming new album Go (Released March 5), has been released in Australia.

The track is called 'If I Fall' and is this week's CMC Country Pick. Check out the video clip below...

Doc Walker are visiting Australia in February for the CMC Rocks The Snowys festival as well as shows in Sydney, Tamwroth, Orange, Toowoomba and Brisbane with Steve Forde and US artist Jack Ingram. 

US country hitmaker Phil Vassar and renowned American singer-songwriter Nanci Griffith, along with local favourites Steve Forde and Tania Kernaghan, complete the massive lineup for the 2010 CMC Rocks The Snowys Festival to be held on March 5 and 6 at Friday Flatts in Tredbo.

Renowned for the raucous energy of his live shows, Phil Vassar has been writing hits for himself and others for over a decade. Country music’s "Piano Man" has scored big with songs like 'Bye-Bye' and 'I’m Alright' (both massive hits for Jo Dee Messina) and 'Just Another Day In Paradise'. The rowdy spirit of his life-affirming anthems translates to his concert performances, and he’ll be making his first trip down under for a one-off performance.

Steve Forde is a Snowys crowd favourite, a mainstay of the festival, and one of Australia’s best loved live performers. He’s an artist who’s blazed his own trail through country music over almost a decade of recording and performing. A former rodeo rider who channels the same energy and spirit into his music, Steve has built a fiercely loyal fanbase through years crossing the length and breadth of Australia. His rockin’ live shows are legendary among Aussie country fans and he will return to rock the Snowys in 2010. Forde's lastest album, Guns & Guitars was one of the highest selling local country albums of 2008/09.

Grammy-winner Nanci Griffith has found success across rock, folk and country, and earning the respect and admiration of collaborators like Jimmy Buffet, Emmylou Harris and Willie Nelson. The singer-songwriter has penned enduring songs including 'Love at the Five and Dime' and 'Outbound Plane' in a career spanning over 30 years. Never afraid to tackle difficult topics head on in her songs, her performance is always full of passion and deep honesty.

Tania Kernaghan is part of one of Australian country’s most famous families. Daughter of Ray and brother of Lee, Tania grew up with a passion for country music and a love of live performance that has taken to the top of the country scene. From the release of her first (platinum-selling) album December Moon in 1996, Kernaghan has remained one of country music’s premiere female artists.

All up the final line up includes; Phil Vassar, Lee Kernaghan, Kasey Chambers, Guy Sebastian, Jack Ingram, Nanci Griffith, Doc Walker, Adam Harvey, Steve Forde, Richard Clapton, Tania Kernaghan, Sinead Burgess, Peter McWhirter, Dan Sultan, Mike Carr, Kirsty Lee Akers, Paul Greene, The Wilsons Pickers, Jetty Road, Amber Lawrence, Mark Wells, Victoria Baillie, The Harrisons and Busby Marou.

The Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) celebrated another fantastic year in Candian country music last weekend. Hosted by actor and director Jason Priestley, this year’s Canadian Country Music Awards took place in Vancouver, BC at GM Place, where country music fans were treated to amazing performances by such artists as Aaron Pritchett, Paul Brandt with High Valley, Reba McEntire, and Martina McBride, to name a few.

Television ratings were up 60% on the previous year! 

Single of the Year: 'Brothers' - Dean Brody
Album of the Year: Dance With Me - Johnny Reid 
Songwriter(s) of the Year: Johnny Reid/Brent Maher for “A Woman Like You” 
CMT Video of the Year: 'A Woman Like You' - Johnny Reid
Female Artist of the Year: Crystal Shawanda
Male Artist of the Year: Johnny Reid
Group or Duo of the Year: Doc Walker
Roots Artist or Group of the Year: Corb Lund
Rising Star: Tara Oram 
Fans’ Choice Award: Johnny Reid

Source: www.ccma.org

The organisers of CMC Rocks The Snowys, being held at Friday Flat, Thredbo on Friday 5 and Saturday 6 March 2010, have announced the first round of appearing artists.