Twenty of Australia’s finest roots acts descend on Nashville during AMA Week for showcases, luncheons, conference panel and special Music City Roots show
(Nashville, Tenn. – Oct. 17, 2011) Twenty of Australia’s finest roots artists descended on Music City’s annual Americana Music Festival and Conference last week, held in and around downtown Nashville Oct. 12-15.
This year’s Australian lineup included internationally established acts Kirsty Akers, James Blundell, Ange Boxall, Catherine Britt, O’Shea, Chris Pickering and Henry Wagons, as well as a number of up-and-coming Aussie artists: 3rd Wheel, Chris Altmann, Lachlan Bryan, Kristy Cox, Mia Dyson, Gleny Rae Virus and Her Tamworth Playboys, Caitlin Harnett, The McMenamins, Shandell and Duke Wilde Band.
2011 Telstra Road to Discovery Songwriter winner David Garnham and Telstra Road to Discovery Performer winner Harry Hookey also made the trip and performed at events throughout the week.
The Australian artists participated in several AMA-related activities, including the Tamworth Presents “A Taste of Australia” showcase at the legendary Bluebird Cafe, the “Are You Prepared To Be Known As A Country Artist Down Under?” seminar panel at the AMA conference, the Maton Presents “Lunch With the Aussies” luncheon and performance at famed Broadway honkytonk The Second Fiddle and a free Aussie BBQ at The Basement.
Chris Altmann, Catherine Britt, Gleny Rae Virus and Her Tamworth Playboys and Henry Wagons each performed AMA-sanctioned showcases during the week. Additionally, a special “Down Under” Music City Roots show and radio broadcast will be held Wednesday, Oct. 19, at the world-famous Loveless Barn and Cafe.
For the second year in a row, Australian music industry and government-supported organization Sounds Australia sponsored the overseas trip through its strategic partnership with the Nashville-based Americana Music Association.
“Last year, Sounds Australia dipped its toes into the Americana waters with six of our artists being wonderfully received. That it’s a special event and appropriate for so many Australian acts is born out by the fact that this year we returned with 20 artists and 10 managers under the Sounds Australia banner,” said Sounds Australia Project Manager Dobe Newton. “Four great showcases and three special events later, we are leaving with great memories and lots of new friends. In five days of highlights, it’s impossible to isolate just one or two, but Sounds Australia is thrilled with the reception that we’ve gotten from Music City. Roll on 2012, we’re already looking forward to returning next year and saying G’day!”
To learn more about Sounds Australia, visit www.SoundsAustralia.com.au.
Performers at the Tamworth Presents “A Taste of Australia” showcase at the Bluebird Café on Tuesday, Oct. 11. Top row, L to R: Chris Altmann, Chris Pickering, Sounds Australia Project Manager Dobe Newton, Telstra Road to Discovery Songwriter winner David Garnham, Tom Mason, Telstra Road to Discovery Performer winner Harry Hookey, James Blundell, Lachlan Bryan. Bottom row, L to R: Mia Dyson, Shandell, Caitlin Harnett, Ange Boxall, Kristy Cox, Catherine Britt. Photo: Bev Moser.
Participants in the “Are You Prepared To Be Known As A Country Artist Down Under?” panel at the Americana Music Conference, held Oct. 12-15 in downtown Nashville. L to R: Moderator Jeff Walker (AristoMedia), record producer Mark Moffatt, artist manager Steve White, Dobe Newton (Sounds Australia), artist Catherine Britt, publisher Bill Page and artist manager Chris O’Hearn. Photo: AMA/Robert Clifford.
Artists and executives pose prior to the Maton Presents “Lunch With the Aussies” event at The Second Fiddle on Friday, Oct. 14, in downtown Nashville. L to R: Jay O’Shea, Mark O’Shea, Troy Cassar-Daley, Sounds Australia Project Manager Dobe Newton, Catherine Britt, AristoMedia President/CEO Jeff Walker, record producer Mark Moffatt. Photo: Bev Moser.
Performers pose on stage at the Maton Presents “Lunch With the Aussies” event at The Second Fiddle on Friday, Oct. 14, in downtown Nashville. L to R: Shandell, Ange Boxall, Henry Wagons, Kirsty Akers, Sounds Australia Project Manager Dobe Newton, Mark O’Shea, Jay O’Shea, Catherine Britt, The McMenamins. Photo: Bev Moser.
