Cash the Concert – Golden Greats of The Man in Black is at the Capitol Theatre, Tamworth, starring the big, beautiful, deep voice of Daniel Thompson as Johnny Cash.

It promises to be two hours of the finest moments and golden hits of Cash’s stellar career, and who better to deliver it than the A team.

Thompson will be joined by his band, the Tennessee Studs, featuring Golden Guitar winner Stuie French on guitar, Artie Taylor on upright bass and Brad Bergen on drums.

From Hey Porter to The Highwayman, Folsom Prison Blues to I Walk The Line and 1994’s American Recordings, it will be a night to celebrate the legend of Johnny Cash and applaud the young Aussies keeping that memory alive.

You can’t have Johnny Cash without June Carter, so Thompson will be joined by the delightful Tamara Stewart, who portrays Cash’s soulmate.

For the first time, the show will feature The Australian Songbook According to Cash – Australian songs that Cash recorded ... as well as some he might have.

Visit www.capitoltheatretamworth.com.au or phone 6766 2028 to secure your seats at this brilliant show.

MY FAVOURITE Aussie bluegrassers, The Davidson Brothers, have just announced details of their new tour to promote their latest album, Wanderlust.

They’ll be performing dates at pubs, clubs and festivals both here and in the USA in coming months.

They will be part of the Redlands Bluegrass Festival and  play a few other dates in Australia before flying out for the States to attend the IBMA World of Bluegrass Festival in Raleigh, North Carolina in September/October.

With another date in Traralgon in mid-October, they’ll be fine-tuning their instruments for the MountainGrass Music Festival in Harrietville, Victoria on November 15.

That’s one festival I’m keen to get along to, so if you’d like to find out more about it – they usually have local and international acts on the bill – visit www.mountaingrass.com.au 

You can keep up with all the Davos’ latest news at their website, www.davidsonbrothersband.com

YESTERDAY I had a call from my old mate Allan Caswel,l who’s been a very busy boy since he had his day in court with Sony Music after a 10-year lead-up.

The stoush is over the fact the melody from his signature song, On The Inside, was used by Alabama for their song, Christmas In Dixie.

Both songs are up on You Tube and can be easily found. I think once you hear both, you’ll be as astounded as most Australians are that Caswell lost the case and was told to pay $700,000 in court costs.

“For a songwriter, that’s laughable,” Caswell said. 

“I don’t own anything, so they’ve got no chance of getting their money, but what I do have is infinite access to a recording studio – and I’m never giving up on this. 

“All I ever wanted was some kind of compensation and recognition that they used the melody of my song, that’s all.”

He’s launched a Facebook campaign to fund his appeal, which will cost at least $10,000.

To help raise funds, he’s recorded an album, Sometimes When You Lose, You Win, with the title track co-written with wife Marian.

“It will be up on iTunes as soon as it’s finished and people can visit the Facebook page, Songwriters’ Fighting Fund, to order a copy,” he said.

A bolt out of the blue this week buoyed Caswell’s spirits in the form of a call from South Sydney Juniors Football Club.

Caswell was one of the first to put his hand up to help save South Sydney footy club a few years back, so the juniors club has offered itself as a venue for a fundraising concert.

That event will be in October at Souths Juniors and he’s already had good mates Pat Drummond, Luke O’Shea and Little Patti ask to be part of it.

There’s lots of information on the Facebook page and anyone who wants to donate to the appeal can send a private message and will be given a bank account number.  

“They keep confusing me with someone who has something to lose,” Caswell said. 

NUNDLE is a happening little community and a significant number of those events are music-based.

Toni Swain and husband Jeff “Gibbo” Gibson are key players in that  hub and, with Swaino’s extensive culinary and organisational skills, a great new venue has been created.

Nundle Memorial Hall is home to Toni’s Supper Room, which features her culinary creations and some of the coolest music around.

On Saturday, August 16, Irishman Vincent Cross will perform for the enjoyment of patrons.

Swaino describes his style as “Bob Dylanesque, bluegrass-type stuff”.

For the evening’s dinner and show it will cost you just $30, which includes mezze with fresh-baked olive and oregano bread, spanikopita with Greek salad and honey and lemon cake for dessert. 

Then on Friday, September 19, songwriter supremo Don Walker and “Daddy” Roy Payne will supply the entertainment to accompany Swaino’s culinary feast, which will include nibbles to start with, followed by beef short ribs with chimichurri, polenta and salad, followed by a surprise dessert.

Due to the calibre of the artist, tickets (priced at $45) are strictly limited, with first preference given to loyal Nundle Rocks Supper Room supporters. It’s a BYO event.

There’s another Supper Room concert in October, but I’ll tell you more about that later. Check out the Nundle Rocks or Toni Swain Facebook page for extra bits of news about these upcoming shows.

I FINISHED reading Joy McKean’s Riding This Road book on Sunday morning and it was everything and more I hoped it would be.

It seemed rather peculiar that I opened an email a day later with a release about Missy Higgins’ latest single, The Biggest Disappointment.

The Aussie diva performs the Joy McKean composition, made popular by Slim Dusty, in an “old-timey” style with the delicious Dan Sultan as her duet partner.

It’s one of 15 tracks on her new album, Oz, which has an accompanying book, to be released on September 19.

It’s described as “Australian stories for the ears, the eyes, the head and the heart”.

I’m not certain, but I have a feeling Joy would be thrilled that her song is being delivered to a whole new audience through Missy’s coverage of it.

In other news, Missy revealed she’s due to give birth to her first child in January. 

THE monthly CCMA Jam is on again tonight at the Oasis Hotel.

If you’re not already aware, the Capital Country Music Association is a not-for-profit organisation that fosters and promotes young talent.

The jam, which starts at 7pm, is a perfect opportunity for our local talent to come along and gain some invaluable experience performing before an appreciative audience. Tonight’s host is the lovely Wendy Wood. Everyone is welcome – young and the young-at-heart – to either perform or support your local country music club.

DON’T forget – if you’re chasing some country in the capital tomorrow night, look no further than The Pub, where Marie Hodson and the Bootleggers deliver the goods on stage from 8 o’clock, right after the fishing club raffles. 

Also tomorrow night is the gig at Tamworth Tennis Club to support Dan Haslam’s campaign to legalise medical marijuana for the terminally-ill.

There’s a big cast of characters donating their time and talents to the cause, including Dan himself, and the dress code is strictly hippie – flower power and all. Tickets are $40 each.