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 [...]

(I was lucky enough to have Matt Taylor talk with me about the early days of Blues in the 60s and 70s. Here, Phil Manning provides us with some additional insight, and Kylie Cowling tells us about performing the re-released ‘Black and Blue’ with Chain at Mitchell Creek 2017) Matt Taylor (harmonica, vocals) and Phil Manning (guitar) with Chain. What can you tell us about the 50 years story? Well I don’t know that anyone can truly fully remember the early days because it was so complicated, [...]