Mitchell Creek Rock ‘N’ Blues Fest 2020 - The Show Must Go On! Story by Tracey Hammell Jimmy Budgen, Festival Director, Mitchell Creek Rock 'N' Blues Fest. Mitchell Creek Rock ‘N’ Blues Fest is the first music festival to be successfully awarded the COVID Clean Practicing Business Program certification and given the green light to go ahead this September, paving the way for other festivals to follow!  With all the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, you may well be wondering how this magically came about. Well, [...]

Story by Tracey Hammell Hayley Marsten at Tamworth Country Music Festival 2020 (pic courtesy Brett Clarke Photography). This year’s Golden Guitar Awards at Tamworth in NSW was abuzz with glamour, colour and excitement. Yes, there were cowboy hats and Cuban heeled boots. There were also neon jumpsuits and the highest of stilettos, and a modern take on Linda Ronstadt’s denim cut-offs. The music was fun and vibrant, and everywhere people were just enjoying themselves. What I noticed most about this town though was its [...]

Story by Tracey Hammell 2020 Golden Guitar Award Winners - Luke O'Shea, Lyn Bowtell, Fanny Lumsden, Blake O'Connor Music, Lee Kernaghan, Felicity Urquhart, Kristy Cox, Kevin Bennett & The Flood, Allan Caswell Songwriting School, Melissa Pearce and Brad Butcher. Back in 1997 Etta James recorded a country album, “Love's Been Rough on Me,” saying, “The Blues and Country are first cousins!" Both genres could be found in the Southern United States in the 19th century, sharing the historical period and some similarities in musical and lyrical [...]