Released this Friday October 21... Hit Country 2012 is the year’s ultimate Hit Country compilation release on CD and DVD. It features 22 of the year’s biggest country music hits from Australia and the world, plus a massive 28 music videos from your favourite country stars!

Included are recent chart topping hits from international superstars Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Ronnie Dunn, Brad Paisley, Doc Walker, Miranda Lambert, Joe Nichols and Emerson Drive as well as hits from the cream of the crop locally, including Kasey Chambers, The McClymonts, Jasmine Rae, Catherine Britt, Steve Forde, Shane Nicholson and McAlister Kemp. Hits and music videos from Australia’s best emerging talent are also included.

CD - 1. Honey Bee – Blake Shelton 2. Bleed Red – Ronnie Dunn 3. Little Bird – Kasey Chambers 4. Hunky Country Boys – Jasmine Rae 5. Am I The Only One – Dierks Bentley 6. Old Alabama – Brad Paisley 7. Hard Work – McAlister Kemp 8. Sweet Emmylou – Catherine Britt 9. From A Table Away – Sunny Sweeny 10. Songs Like This – Carrie Underwood 11. The Shape I’m In – Joe Nichols 12. Bad Machines – Shane Nicholson 13. Coming Home – Doc Walker 14. Let Your Love Speak – Emerson Drive 15. Tomorrow – Chris Young 16. A Woman Is A Flame – The McClymonts 17. This – Darius Rucker 18. Trail In Life – Dean Brody 19. What He Did To Me – Shea Fisher 20. How Long – Steve Forde 21. Girls In The Summertime – Peter McWhirter 22. West Australian Woman – Corey Colum

DVD - 1. Honey Bee – Blake Shelton 2. Bleed Red – Ronnie Dunn 3. Little Bird – Kasey Chambers 4. Hunky Country Boys – Jasmine Rae 5. Am I The Only One – Dierks Bentley 6. Old Alabama – Brad Paisley 7. Hard Work – McAlister Kemp 8. Sweet Emmylou – Catherine Britt 9. From A Table Away – Sunny Sweeny 10. The Shape I’m In – Joe Nichols 11. Bad Machines – Shane Nicholson 12. Coming Home – Doc Walker 13. Let Your Love Speak – Emerson Drive 14. Tomorrow – Chris Young 15. A Woman Is A Flame – The McClymonts 16. Trail In Life – Dean Brody 17. How Long – Steve Forde 18. Is That So Wrong – Julianne Hough 19. Playing The Part – Jamey Johnson 20. If I Die Young – The Band Perry 21. In Spite Of Ourselves – Kirsty Akers w/ Bob Evans 22. A Perfect Night – Markus Meier 23. I Wasn’t Gonna Cry – Katrina Burgoyne 24. Jetty Road – Serves You Right 25. Walked In Leaving – Victoria Baillie 26. This - Darius Rucker 27. Girls In The Summertime – Peter McWhirter 28. West Australian Woman – Corey Colum

Tim McGraw invited Australian country star and Southern Voice Tour support act Steve Forde onto the stage to perform with him on the final night of his first ever Australian tour as CMC Rocked North Queensland at Reid Park in Townsville. Jasmine Rae, Corb Lund, Peter McWhirter and Busby Marou were also in town to help warm up the crowd.

The night was a huge success with over 12,000 people in attendance. There was literally not one spare hotel room left in the Townsville region. Many fans drove for hours/days to see McGraw live. It was the biggest event in Townsville since Elton John performed there five years ago.

A fan captured part of McGraw and Forde's performance of 'I Like It, I Love It'. Check it out!

Photo: Dean Turnbull (Next Edge)

Tim McGraw performed quite possibly the biggest country show ever in Sydney last night to a packed house at Acer Arena.

Like Brooks & Dunn not so long ago, McGraw has come to Australia armed with a substantial catalogue of hits spanning a recording career of over 15 years. From 'Real Good Man' and 'Last Dollar (Fly Away)' which he opened with, through to 'Live Like You Were Dying', 'The Cowboy in Me', 'Indian Outlaw', 'She's My Kind Of Rain' and his current hit single 'Southern Voice', McGraw performed all his hits to the wildest country crowd ever seen in Sydney.

The highlight for many was the euphoric moment mid show when McGraw's wife and country superstar in her own right Faith Hill joined him on stage to perform 'I Need You'. Hill was celebrating her 43rd birthday and the SYdney fans gave her the best birthday welcome imaginable.

Australian artists Steve Forde and Jonah's Road started the night in fantastic fashion, warming up the crowd for what ended up being one hell of a night!

McGraw completes his Australian tour this Saturday September 25 when he headlines CMC Rocks North Queensland in Townsville.

Photo: Robb Cox (Rusty Gate Films)

One the biggest album releases for 2010 is Steve Forde's Hurricane on August 13.

Check out the new music video for the album's opening single and title track!

Australian country superstar Steve Forde is set to release his latest and best album yet, Hurricane on August 13, 2010.

The album is the follow-up to the critically acclaimed Guns & Guitars which topped the ARIA Australian Albums Country Sales charts when released in 2008.

Forde, a 2010 APRA Awards nominee, wrote nine of the ten tracks on the album with collaborators Matt Scullion and Josh Barker.

“After years of touring all over Australia and everything that comes with that lifestyle, I reached a point in my life and career where I knew I needed to immerse myself entirely into this next album.  For the first time in a while, I felt like I had something to say,” says Forde. 

The writing and recording process became some-what of an obsession for Forde…

“The routine was abnormal to say the least. I would stay up for days on end recording in the basement. After three or four days of absolutely no sleep and too much music I would head to Florida for a week of fishing.  I would take a break, contemplate, fish, miss it and then head back to continue on Hurricane. This went on for 2 and a 1/2 months,” he says.  

Steve Forde is the main support for all of Tim McGraw’s national tour shows in September. He’ll also appear at the first ever CMC Rocks North Queensland, the Deni Ute Muster in October and Mud Bulls & Music in November.  

Steve Forde’s new album Hurricane is released on August 13, 2010 through ABC Music/Universal Music Australia.

The album’s title track and first single ‘Hurricane’ is officially released to media on July 19, 2010

Hit Country – Hits Of The Decade (2001 – 2010) features the best of the best! It’s a celebration of the last ten years of great country music globally.

Songs for this compilation have been selected on the basis of major chart success, music sales, industry awards and general impact on the music market.

With so many great artists recording so many great songs, the HitCountry.TV team's job of selecting the final 40 tracks was extremely tough!

We could have selected another 40 songs that could have been considered "Hits Of The Decade" but we could only fit 40 tracks on the two CDs, and the 40 on there are simply sensational! 

Country's biggest artists from the last decade from Australia and world are featured including Keith Urban, Lee Kernaghan, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Kasey Chambers, George Strait, The McClymonts, Adam Brand, Jasmine Rae, Beccy Cole, Melinda Schneider, Brad Paisley, Steve Forde, Sugarland, Brooks & Dunn and many many more.

The compilation is released on June 11, 2010.

Tracklisting:

Disc 1

1. Planet Country - Lee Kernaghan
2. Wrapped Up Good - The McClymonts
3. Born To Survive - Troy Cassar-Daley
4. You’ll Think Of Me - Keith Urban
5. Jesus Take The Wheel - Carrie Underwood
6. Like A River - Kasey Chambers
7. I Go Back - Kenny Chesney
8. Redneck Woman - Gretchen Wilson
9. Bring Me Down - Miranda Lambert
10. Believe - Brooks & Dunn
11. Beer For My Horses - Toby Keith (with Willie Nelson)
12. I’m A Road Hammer - The Road Hammers
13. Country Singer - Jasmine Rae
14. There’s No Limit - Deanna Carter
15. Alcohol – Brad Paisley
16. Best I Ever Had – Gary Allan
17. All Kinds Of Tough - McAlister Kemp
18. Moments – Emerson Drive
19. Stronger – Melinda Schneider
20. Poster Girl (Wrong Side Of The World) – Beccy Cole

Disc 2

1. Summer’s Little Angel - Steve Forde
2. Best Days Of Your Life - Kellie Pickler
3. Blame It On Eve - Adam Brand
4. In Colour - Jamey Johnson
5. What I Did Last Night - Catherine Britt
6. Beautiful Life - Doc Walker
7. What Was I Thinkin’ - Dierks Bentley
8. Austin - Blake Shelton
9. Stay - Sugarland
10. Tim McGraw - Taylor Swift
11. Fast Car - The Wilkinsons
12. I Saw God Today - George Strait
13. Save A Horse, Ride A Cowboy - Big & Rich
14. Love Is A Beautiful Thing - Phil Vassar
15. I Hope You Dance - Lee Ann Womack
16. Acting Stupid - The Sunny Cowgirls
17. What You Give Away – Vince Gill (featuring Sheryl Crow)
18. Song For The Old Rake - Paul Kelly & The Stormwater Boys
19. Boondocks - Little Big Town
20. Don’t Chase Me - Shea Fisher

You can buy the two CD compilation now at  

Australia's awards night for songwriters, the 2010 APRA Music Awards, will be held at the Sydney Convention Centre on Monday 21st June.

The nominees for all the catagories have been announced. The nominees for 'Country Work of the Year' are;

* Brooke McClymont - 'Kick It Up'  
* Adam Brand - 'Hell Of A Ride' 
* Steve Forde - 'I Ain't That Guy'  
* Troy Cassar-Daley - 'Big, Big Love'
* Brad Cole - 'Coming Home'.

Troy has also been nominated in the prestigious peer-voted 'Song of the Year' catagory for 'Big, Big Love'

Congrats to all the nominees. Click here for the full list of 2010 APRA Awards Nominees.  

Tim McGraw has added another show to his Australian tour and will rock North Queensland on September 25.

He will headline CMC Rocks North Queensland, which will feature a six-plus hour multi-lineup show to be held at Townsville's Reid Park.

Canadian Corb Lund and Aussies' Steve Forde and Jasmine Rae will perform at the event with more to be announced.

Tickets for McGraw's North Queensland show will go on sale the same day as McGraw's Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney east coast concerts, Monday, May 17.

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
 

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, 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.