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Promoting Country Music Around the Globe
SUPERSTARS CONFIRMED FOR C2C AT
THE O2 IN LONDON FOR MARCH 2014
EDMONTON AND CANADIAN FANS CHEER
ON CCMA AWARD WINNERS
Country-to-Country concert officials have announced that Brad
Paisley, Zac Brown Band, the Dixie Chicks, Rascal Flatts, Dierks
Bentley, and Chris Young are confirmed to participate in the event
this coming year, which is set for March 15-16, 2014
Edmonton, Alberta hosted this year's Canadian Country Music Association
Awards following three days of education,social events, and networking.
There was a real positive attitude about how well the Canadian Country
Music scene is growing.
This is the second year for the event that debuted in March of this
year with critical acclaim. An additional two artists will be
announced in coming weeks.
Crowd favorite Gord Bamford headed to this year’s Country Music Week®
leading the pack with seven nominations. He picked up three 2013 CCMA
Awards which were Album of the Year, Single of the Year and CMT Video
of the Year. In total, Bamford won five 2013 CCMA Awards, having
previously shared a win earlier in the week with Buddy Owens and Ray
Stephenson for Songwriter(s) of the Year, and with Byron Hill for Record
Producer of the Year.
Well-known UK broadcaster Bob Harris will emcee the festival for
the second year. The Country Music Association is once again a
sponsor. CMA Board President Ed Hardy stated: "CMA is proud of
our support and involvement in C2C. The reaction of the fans after
the first year and the outstanding support from our artist’s
community gives us the opportunity to broaden our music in the UK
and Europe. This celebration of country music at The O2 is fast
becoming an annual tradition and we are excited to play a part in
growing the country music genre in the international marketplace."
Dean Brody also came away a winner, taking home top honor as the Male
Artist of the Year, while Kira Isabella won Female Artist of the Year. Last
year Isabella won the CCMA Rising Star Award, which this year went to
newcomer Bobby Wills, who counts the honor as his first-ever CCMA
Award win. The Stellas were also recognized as Group or Duo of the Year,
rounding out the awards for 2013.
The 2013 CCMA Awards Broadcast brought together Canadian country
music talent from across the country and included performances by
Autumn Hill, Gord Bamford, Jason Blaine, Dean Brody, Chad Brownlee,
George Canyon, Emerson Drive, Tim Hicks, High Valley, Kira Isabella, Brett
Kissel, Deric Ruttan, Small Town Pistols, Tebey, Dallas Smith and Bobby
Wills.
There was no shortage of international stars in the crowd either, as multiplatinum artists The Band Perry, Hunter Hayes, and Darius Rucker
performed with Hayes and Rucker also presenting awards. The full list of
this year's 2013 CCMA Award winners are:
Brad Paisley / Ed Hardy
BCMA AWARDS DATE SET
The 2013 British Country Music Awards are set for November 24th
at the Concorde Suite, Heathrow, London. This years nominees for
International Act of the Year are Vince Gill, Tim McGraw, Carrie
Underwood, The Band Perry, and Rascal Flatts.
Fans’ Choice Award
Terri Clark
Single of the Year
"Leaning On A Lonesome Song"
Gord Bamford
Album of the Year
Is It Friday Yet? – Gord Bamford
CMT Video of the Year
"Leaning On A Lonesome Song"
Gord Bamford
Female Artist of the Year
Kira Isabella
Male Artist of the Year
Dean Brody
Group or Duo of the Year
The Stellas
CCMA Rising Star Award
Bobby Wills
Terri Clark
Promoting Country Music Around the Globe
AUSSIES INVADE THE 2013 AMERICANA
MUSIC FESTIVAL AND CONFERENCE
Some of Australia’s finest artists and musicians participated in
Nashville’s annual Americana Music Festival and Conference, held
in and around downtown Nashville, September 18-22.
Featured Australian roots artists included The Bushwackers, The
Hillbilly Killers, Paul Kelly, Mustered Courage, and Melody Pool.
Throughout the week, each artist had their own showcase in
addition to the AMA events at various music venues in Nashville
such as the BlueBird Café, the Sheraton Hotel, The Second Fiddle,
and The Basement.
Additional Aussie artists who participated in the week long event
included: Bill Chambers, The Borderers, Breaking Hart Benton,
Katie Brianna, Gena Rose Bruce, Tracey Bunn, Donna Dean,
Melody Feder & Michael Muchow, Sam Hawksley, Damian Howard,
Anne McCue, Kelly Menhennett, Cameron Milford, Jen Mize,
Tamara Stewart, Emma Swift, and The Weeping Willows.
The artists performed at four AMA sanctioned events, including:
Tamworth Presents the “Australiana At Americana” showcase at the
Bluebird Café, the “Sister (Cities) Are Doing It…” at the Sheraton
Listening Lounge, Maton Presents “A Taste of Australia” at The
Second Fiddle, and THE AUSSIE BBQ at The Basement.
“This great event has become a very important focus for Australia's
roots music artists and business people,” said Sounds Australia
Project Manager Dobe Newton, “and the hard work is now
producing genuine career and business opportunities.”
For the fourth consecutive year, Australian music industry and
government-supported organization Sounds Australia sponsored
the overseas delegation through its partnership with the
Nashville-based Americana Music Association.
"Sounds Australia's fourth year at the Americana Festival and
Conference was a resounding success,” said Newton. “Our
25-strong party of performers, and especially our five showcase
artists, were received with great enthusiasm by this very
knowledgeable music community. Americana fans now look forward
to our yearly involvement, and we're excited already about next
year's event. Love you Nashville!", commented Sounds Australia
executive Glenn Dickie.
"It's been incredible to see and experience Nashville first hand as
part of the Americana Music Festival,” said Dickie. “I've met some
incredible people here, everyone seems accessible and Nashville is
so much more than Music Row. The depth of music and the talent
here is exceptional and it's the closest I feel I've come to an
American city that has a similar spirit to Australia. I've had some
myths crushed, my mind opened and have no doubt that the
Australian music industry from the artists and writers to managers,
publishers and our thriving creatives could all benefit from
establishing ties in this American hub. Thanks to all the Australian
artists that more than held their own and thanks to Americana
Music Festival for having us again."
AUSTRALIAN NEWS BRIEFS
Toby Keith will make his first trip to Australia next March to headline the
CMC Rocks the Hunter 2014 festival. The lineup also includes US stars Eli
Young Band, Kellie Pickler (also making her first visit to Oz), Craig
Campbell, Love And Theft and Paul Thorn, along with local stars Lee
Kernaghan, Morgan Evans and many more. The festival will be held in the
picturesque Hunter Valley winery region on March 14-16. Previous festival
headliners have included Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Taylor
Swift, Rascal Flatts and Big & Rich.
Toby also is set for a massive arena tour of Oz, playing all the major capital
cities with a double bill of US special guests – Eli Young Band and Kellie
Pickler. There has been overwhelming demand for him to tour from local
fans, so tickets for his shows in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne are
expected to go fast.
Aussie country stars are increasingly recording their albums in Nashville
with US producers. Country-rock duo McAlister Kemp, described by John
Rich as "one of the best acts to come out of Australia since Keith Urban,"
just unleashed the first single from their upcoming third album "Harder To
Tame." The album was recorded in Nashville with producer Jeremy Stover,
whose work includes hits from Jack Ingram and Justin Moore and will be
released in 2014. Singer-songwriter Jasmine Rae recently released her
Luke Wooten (Dierks Bentley) produced album 'If I Want To,' recorded in
Nashville and featuring a duet with Kellie Pickler. Rising local hitmaker
Morgan Evans just completed his debut album in Nashville, produced by
Aussie ex-pat Jedd Hughes (co-writer of the Keith Urban hit "Put You In A
Song").
The CMC Rocks North QLD 2013 festival was held at the Reid Park
racetrack on Saturday 28 September, headlined by country icon Alan
Jackson. The international lineup also featured Sara Evans (on her first trip
down under), Canadian Roots star Corb Lund and the hottest local stars,
such as Adam Brand, McAlister Kemp, Jasmine Rae and Morgan Evans.
This is the second time the festival has been held in the region. Previously,
it was headlined by Tim McGraw.
Alan Jackson's 2011 tour of Australia was the fastest selling country tour in
that nation's history. He made his triumphant return in September/October,
playing to packed arenas in the Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne markets
he conquered previously, and expanding his reach to visit fans in North
Queensland, Nashville's Australian sister city Tamworth and the rural town
of Denilliquin, where he headlined the Deni Ute Muster. Joining Jackson for
his arena dates was US hit maker Sara Evans and local star Morgan
Evans, one of the hottest male artists in the region.
The Australian live debut of The Mavericks was a smash hit with audiences
down under. After twenty years of waiting, fans were lined up around the
block for their standing room only Sydney show, and they blew the
proverbial roof off the Gympie Music Muster, setting a record for CD sales
at the festival and stunning fans with their incredible live energy. The band
was blown away by the enthusiastic reception and is already making plans
for a return tour.
Taylor Swift will be in Oz from November 29th through December 14th. She
will be the first solo female artist to undertake an Australian stadium tour
since Madonna 20 years ago.
Promoting Country Music Around the Globe
AMA PRESIDENT-ELECT MARK
MOFFATT RECAPS THE RECENT
FESTIVITIES
(From the pen of Mark Moffatt)
The 2013 Americana awards, festival and conference week from an
international perspective was the best yet. It was certainly the best
international attendance and in terms of panels the most positive
and constructive. A brief run down of the panels :
The International Marketplace panel saw a cross section of
management, agency, label and distribution veterans exploring
revenue in the international marketplace and their views on growing
the music from the U.S. point of view.
The Americana in the UK panel was made up of UK based
representatives from similar disciplines and primarily covered the
impact of the recent growth and acceptance of Americana in the UK
and the effect that will have on US and UK based artists.
Once again the Sounds Australia folks put in a great effort in getting their
artists here and organizing their venues and events. A personal highpoint
of the festival was seeing how amazingly great the Bushwackers are as a
band - the audience response was enormous and made me wish they
could reach a wider audience in the US. On that note I intend to work with
the both AMA and Sounds Australia on perhaps consolidating the primary
Australian showcase spots and making a feature night which would reduce
time slot conflicts and shine a light on Australia both as a source of great
music and a destination for Americana artists from around the world.
The Canadian contingent once again ran some great events. The BreakOut
West party and showcase featuring JJ Voss, Ruth Moody and Joe Nolan
was a great success and really cemented the addition of The Groove’s
backyard stage as an addition to the Americana venue line up.
I'd like to thank everyone involved as these panels, showcases and events
keep international matters on the front burner of AMA agenda, something
which can often be difficult in such busy times.
The Communion Music US panel discussed the communal
philosophy behind the industry - it's massive success in the UK and
how this model is being accepted in a largely individualistic culture
like the US. The underlying thread seemed to be that the
Communion artists are of a generation where this kind of
co-operative business practice is highly acceptable.
The Americana's Global Reach panel focused on how the term
Americana is being accepted more and more in the worldwide
marketplace. The panel discussed the growing importance of the
format and how the music and semantics do not always coincide
with each other with the diverse cross section of panelists offering
very interesting perspectives on this issue.
The Global Reach panel was a particular favorite of mine as it
produced some great suggestions and solutions to the disconnect
in many markets between our music and the term Americana.
Everyone agreed that their people love the music but many felt
strongly that the AMA will need to do some market research and
positioning in their countries in order to achieve acceptance of the
brand. Most felt that in time the music will speak for itself.
The formation of the Americana Music Association UK has raised
awareness of the genre there. I saw a consensus for the first time
among the UK attendees and panelists regarding the growth and
acceptance of Americana music in their home territory. The
participation this year of British Underground and BBC Introducing
was a big step forward and it was gratifying to see UK artists getting
such great audience reactions and creating a presence here.
At the annual Australian BBQ held at the Basement on the final day of the
Americana Festival are executives: Gina Mendello (CPR Entertainment), Mark
Moffatt (Big Dog Studios and Americana Board President-elect) with performers:
Kelly Menhennett, Anne McCue & Emma Swift
The Americana Global Reach panel featured a cross section of panelists from
around the world. Pictured L to R: Hakan Olsson (Rootsy Sweden), Martin Jones
(Rhythms Australia), Will Hodgkinson (The Time, London, UK), Moderator Jeff
Walker (The AristoMedia Group, USA), Ron Kitchener (RGK Entertainment, Canada),
and Edgar Heckmann (Blue Rose Records, Germany).
Promoting Country Music Around the Globe
ARISTO Q&A WITH SISTER CITIES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HEATHER COCHRAN
CUNNINGHAM
Heather Cochran Cunningham has served as executive director of Sister Cities of Nashville for five
years. Prior to that, she worked in the non-profit sector in Alabama, serving as executive director of
an educational enrichment foundation for five years. She also had her own marketing and public
relations consulting business in Nashville, where she worked with non-profits including the Nashville
Area Habitat for Humanity and Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, among others. She
began her career in New York City where she worked in advertising at Young & Rubicam for two
years, followed by a seven-year stint at Ruder Finn Public Relations, where she served as vice
president overseeing international clients including the Italian Trade Commission, the Austrian Trade
Commission, the Spanish Trade Commission, BMW, and the St. James’ Club. Ms. Cunningham
received her B.A. in Journalism/Advertising from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
1. What is the function of the organization?
Sister Cities of Nashville (SCN) is a volunteer organization that connects Nashvillians with people
around the world through exchanges, cultural programs, and partnerships. We serve as citizen
diplomats with a goal of promoting peace through mutual understanding, respect and cooperation.
Affiliated with Metro Nashville government, we strive to bring world perspectives to the local
community while welcoming our international visitors and showing them the best of Nashville.
2. Give a brief history of the organization.
Sister Cities of Nashville was founded in 1990 and is a chapter of Sister Cities International, which
was founded in 1956 by President Dwight Eisenhower as a way to promote peace through citizen diplomacy. The president of the United States is the
Honorary Chairman of Sister Cities International. The mayor of Nashville is SCN’s Honorary Chairman.
Prior to the official SCN founding, contacts existed between Nashville universities and the University of Caen in France and between the Bar
associations in the two cities. By the late 1980s, there was already an active, on-going relationship. Caen, France thus was Nashville's first active
partnership and it became an official sister city in 1991. However, the first official sister city was Edmonton, Canada. The Nashville mayor’s office had
established a committee to search for sister city candidates when a member of the Edmonton city council contacted the Nashville mayor’s office and
proposed a sister city relationship. Both sides were enthusiastic and had a shared music interest.
We have continued to grow the organization, not only increasing the number of sister city partners, but establishing educational and cultural
opportunities for members in the community and providing unique cultural, civic, professional, and educational exchanges for our members with our
sister city partners. The list goes on and on as far as the types of exchanges we have enabled –musicians, artists, educators, students, elected
officials, business executives, tourism officials, athletes, etc.
3. What are Nashville’s sister cities?
Nashville has seven official sister cities (listed in order of establishment as sister city): Edmonton, Canada;
Caen France; Belfast, Northern Ireland; Magdeburg, Germany; Taiyuan, China; Mendoza, Argentina; and
Tamworth, Australia. Additionally, we have two friendship cities: Crouy, France and Port de la Selva, Spain
4. Explain the bond between each of these cities with Nashville
Each sister city partnership has many legs. Music, culture and education are recurring themes through
most of our partnerships. With Caen, there is the active professional partnership between our two Bar
associations. Additionally we implement annual reciprocal high school student exchanges, and both
mayors’ offices host college interns over the summer. Mayors of Nashville and other civic leaders have
participated in the 60th and 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy along with other world
leaders. And we have had many musicians perform at the Caen International Fair and other showcases
while also hosting some of their country musicians.
For Belfast, the original intent when established as a sister city in 1995 was to help Belfast promote peace
in their city and rebuild a social foundation for its youth. An early significant program was the youth exchange that encouraged teenagers of both
Catholic and Protestant faiths to come to Nashville and live/work together to overcome the bias against each other that prevailed in Belfast. Music is at
the core of the partnership now with focus on music industry educational exchanges and performance opportunities including the Belfast/ Nashville
Songwriters Showcase and the Belfast Music Festival. University connections are strong as well with Vanderbilt and Queens University broadening
their partnership which began through the Sister Cities relationship.
Promoting Country Music Around the Globe
5. Are there any territories that you would like to see represented by Sister Cities?
We currently have two “candidate cities,” meaning we have engaged in a number of exchanges with the goal to become either an official sister city or
friendship city. These cities are Kamakura, Japan and Gwangjin-gu, which is a district of Seoul, South Korea.
Frequently we have members of the community inquire about other partnerships. We encourage them to form a citizens group to investigate interest
from both cities in creating exchanges. Our most successful partnerships are those that have a strong grass-roots component. Recently, we have had
inquiries about sister city partnerships in Denmark, Sweden, Spain, Brazil, Italy, Turkey and India. We do not have a partnership on the African
continent so that would be an interesting one to explore.
The Magdeburg partnership has featured a high-school student exchange program as well as artistic, musical, cultural and social services exchanges.
Country and classical musicians have been involved in exchanges. In October of 2009, in recognition of the twentieth anniversary of the fall of the
Berlin Wall, Nashville hosted a photographic exhibit, film premiere, puppet theater production, and civil rights panel discussion, all celebrating the
themes of human freedom and non-violent social protest. Another unique facet of this partnership is the creation of an opportunity for young German
men to satisfy their military obligation by completing a social services year at the inner city agency the Martha O'Bryan Center.
The Mendoza partnership has featured several exchanges between members of our symphonies to learn and perform with their sister city counterpart.
We have also implemented regular civic, high school and college exchanges with Mendoza.
The partnership between Nashville and Taiyuan builds on a longstanding economic and regional partnership established between Tennessee and
Shanxi Province in the 1980s. Since established as a sister city in 2009, our cities have engaged in civic delegation visits, cultural/tourism exchanges
and email/pen-pal educational exchanges. In July 2013, SCN launched our first high school student exchange to Taiyuan; and Nashville will host their
students in February 2014.
Music is at the core of the Tamworth and Nashville partnership, as both are heralded as Country Music Capitals and host major annual country music
festivals and awards programs. We’ve swapped musical talent informally for years and will continue as we move forward. Future plans include
educational exchanges; commercial sector and equine trade exchanges. The Edmonton partnership started due to musical and civic interest. We hope
to re-invigorate this partnership through our shared country music interests.
6. Is there criteria for becoming a sister city?
Most importantly is the interest by citizens and organizations in each city to develop and maintain meaningful exchanges of mutual interest. A group of
citizens can approach SCN about founding a new sister city relationship, but all sister city proposals to the Mayor and Metro Council must come
through SCN. The individuals should have membership in SCN, and the SCN Board of Directors needs to recognize the formation of a new sister city
committee. After that is established, the committee can begin its due diligence and organize events, delegation visits and exchanges. Once agreed
that a strong foundation has been laid and there is broad-based support, formal recognition can follow, with a resolution passed by the Metro Council
and the mayors signing a treaty. Both cities should be dues-paying members of Sister Cities International. Following the signing of the treaty, the cities
send a copy to Sister Cities International.
7. How does the Nashville Sister City organization interact with the music industry?
Sister Cities of Nashville has worked with the music industry in a number of ways over the years. Through SCN, many local musicians have performed
in our sister cities at festivals and events. We have worked with organizations such as the Nashville Symphony, CMA and Americana on musician
exchanges and performances. We have worked with our sister city partners in Caen and Tamworth, for example, in setting up meetings with industry
executives and agents when they are seeking talent to come perform in their city. SCN also promotes the many talented songwriters who participate in
the Belfast Nashville Showcase when they perform at area venues. The formation of the Music City Music Council is something that several of our
sister cities want to emulate, and we have arranged discussions and travel opportunities to assist with those efforts. And, in our efforts to show the best
of Nashville to our visiting international adult and high school age delegates, we work with organizations like the Country Music Hall of Fame and
Museum and local recording studios to provide tours. Finally, Sister Cities of Nashville will annually host house concerts as fundraisers for the
organization, providing a venue for a local artist to perform.
8. How can people get involved in the organization?
Sister Cities of Nashville is a membership-based organization. Anyone interested in supporting our mission and
participating in our programs can join. The annual membership is $50; members receive monthly emails with
information about delegation visits, international travel opportunities; and events and activities locally that SCN is
hosting. Also, they can specify which sister cities they are most interested in and they can participate in SCN city
committee meetings. Additionally, we have many volunteer opportunities throughout the year.
Information is constantly being updated on our Facebook page and website (www.scnashville.org); people can follow
us and learn about our special events, fundraisers and concerts.
Promoting Country Music Around the Globe
GSTAAD/SWITZERLAND UPDATE
The 25th Anniversary of Country Night Gstaad was held in Gstaad,
Switzerland on September 20-22, 2013. A stellar lineup of U.S.
entertainers including Gretchen Wilson, LeAnn Rimes, The Time
Jumpers and Flynnville Train performed at this year's event.
Flynnville Train opened the show with a high-energy performance
that had the entire audience on their feet clapping and asking for
more. LeAnn Rimes took the stage next and performed a flawless
set of her hits despite the fact that she had broken two fingers
earlier in the day. The Time Jumpers made their international debut
and were warmly received by the Swiss audience as each member
took the spotlight and showcased their musical genius. Gretchen
Wilson closed the evening with a high energy set featuring songs
from her new CD as well as her many hits. All the entertainers
received numerous standing ovations and requests for encores.
Marcel Bach, the President of Country Night Gstaad, was honored
for his 25 years of supporting country music with certificates of
recognition from the CMA, ACM, Grammy's, the Mayor of Nashville,
and the Governor of Tennessee.
UK TOURING UPDATE
Kacey Musgraves is making her first trip to the UK in October with
dates set for Glasgow, Manchester, London, and Dublin.
The Band Perry has dates in several UK cities in late November
and early December, including an appearance at the HMV Forum in
London on December 2nd. This is part of a broader European tour,
which includes shows in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, German,
Switzerland, France, and the Netherlands.
Singer-songwriter Will Banister will be touring the UK later this
month with country legend Gene Watson. The Clovis, New Mexico
based artist is rapidly developing a solid following in the UK.
Taylor Swift will be bringing her RED Tour to the UK and Europe in
the coming months.
DOBE NEWTON / "HONORARY
NASHVILLLIAN"
EDMONTON ACTION
During the recent CCMA activities, AristoMedia CEO, Jeff Walker
presented a letter from Mayor Karl Dean of Nashville on behalf of the Sister
Cities of Nashville to Edmonton, Alberta Mayor, Stephen Mandel. Mayor
Mandel in return issued a proclamation declaring Country Music Week in
Edmonton. Pictured at the exchange are Don Green - President CCMA,
Walker, Mandel, and Ted Ellis - CCMA Board Chairman during the event.
AMERICANA AWARDS 2013
Album of the Year: "Old Yellow Moon," Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell
Artist of the Year: Dwight Yoakam
Duo Group of the Year: Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell
Song of the Year: "Birmingham," Shovels & Rope
Emerging Artist of the Year: Shovels & Rope
Instrumentalist of the year: Larry Campbell
Trailblazer Award: Old Crow Medicine Show
Spirit of Americana / Free Speech in Music Award
(co-presented by the AMA / First Amendment Center): Stephen Stills
Lifetime Achievement for Instrumentalist: Duane Eddy
Lifetime Achievement Award for Executive: Chris Strachwitz
Lifetime Achievement for Performance: Dr. John
Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriter: Robert Hunter
President's Award: Hank Williams
MCALISTER KEMP SHOWCASE
Sounds Australia
Representative Dobe
Newton received an
“Honorary Nashvillian”
certificate from Mayor
Karl Dean that was
presented by Sister
Cities Executive Director,
Heather CochranCunningham.
Newton has been a
leader in organizing the
Australian delegation to the Americana Festival since 2009.
Aussie Duo, McAlister Kemp, recently showcased at Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsley to a
standing room only crowd. Pictured following the performance were Drew
McAlister, Producer Jeremy Stover, Troy Kemp, Manager Denise Torenbeek, and
AristoMedia CEO Jeff Walker.
Promoting Country Music Around the Globe
Sounds Australia Americana Highlights
Jeff Walker (AristoMedia President/CEO), Glenn Dickie
(Left) Glenn Dickie of Sounds Australia with
Damian Howard performs for an enthusiastic audience
(Sounds Australia), Sam Hawksley, Katie Brianna,
performers at the Maton Presents “A Taste of
at the Sounds Australia Second Fiddle Event. The
Emma Swift, Gena Rose Bruce, Andrew Wriggleswoth Australia” Showcase during recent Americana week
talented singer/songwriter was one of the 25 Aussie
and Laura Coates (The Weeping Willows), Jen Mize,
activities. Pictured with Dickie from L to R: Damian
artists who received a very positive reception.
Dobe Newton, Mike David(Breaking Hart Benton),
Howard, Catherine Britt, Melody Pool, Dobe Newton &
Donna Dean, Bill Page (Mushroom Music), Lee Fielding
The Bushwackers
(Breaking Hart Benton), and Erika Wollam Nichols
(Bluebird, COO/President).
Dobe Newton (SA), Anne McCue, Cameron Milford,
Jim Lauderdale joins with the Bushwackers in song at
Sharing a posed moment at the Aussie BBQ at the
Gena Rose Bruce, Paul Kelly, Tamara Stewart, Michael the Music City Roots event - Live from the Loveless
Basement during the Americana Festival. Dobe
Muchow, Melody Feder, Tracey Bunn, Glenn Dickie
Cafe.
Newton, Roots Exporters John Lomax III, Artist
(SA) and Kelly Menhennett.
Manager Gina Mandello and Sounds Australia's Glenn
Dickie. The 8-hour event hosted performances by more
than a dozen Australian artists.
The Aristo International Report is published four times per year by The AristoMedia Group, P.O. Box 22765 Nashville, TN, 37202. Publisher: Jeff
Walker | Editorial Staff: Jon Walker, Christy Watkins, Matt Watkins & Amanda Breeden. Contributors include Jeremy Dylan, Judy Seale,
Mark Moffatt, Dobe Newton, Jimmy Chapin and Rob Davis. Photo credits include Christy Watkins, Denise Fussell & Grant W. Martin
Photography
Please submit your international Country music news items for consideration to: [email protected] and visit our website at
www.aristomedia.com.
Promoting Country Music Around the Globe
The Band Perry rocked the house and earned a standing
ovation at the CCMA Award Show.
Michelle Wright gets it right while presenting on the
Edmonton CCMA Awards Stage.
Jaida Dreyer and Mackenzie Porter show why the future
of Canadian Country is looking very glamourous.
Dallas Smith – Born in Langley, British Columbia, Dallas
spent nearly 10 years fronting the alternative music group
Default before taking the leap into country. His debut
Canadian country album Jumped Right In has received
critical acclaim North of the border. His debut U.S. track
"Tippin Point" will reach radio stations very soon.
Kira Isabella won the CCMA’s Female Artist of the Year
following a win in 2012 for CCMA Rising Star. Born and
raised in Ottawa, Ontario, she is not only an accomplished
singer but a seasoned writer as well. Signed to Sony
Canada, she is spending more time of late in Nashville
where a U.S. recording deal will soon be announced.
CANADIAN ARTISTS TO WATCH
Tim Hicks – Hailing from St. Catharines, Ontario, Hicks is
rapidly building a base for himself with tracks like, “Throw
Down”, “Stronger Beer”, and “Get By”. He records for Open
Road Recordings in Canada and is managed by the RGK
Entertainment Group.