BIG WINNER: Hey – there’s a winner in there among all those awards and it’s Tamworth festival favourite, Luke O’Shea. Photo: Robmac
THE mighty Mildura Country Music Festival is done and dusted for another year and several independent artists have left the Victorian city with some very welcome excess baggage.
The bloke with the heaviest suitcase – and a smile broader than the New England Skies – was Sydney-based singer-songwriter, Luke O’Shea.
Luke took home four of the nine awards handed out last Saturday night in Mildura at the Southern Stars Australian Independent Country Music Awards.
For his stunning new release, The Drover’s Wife, Luke won male vocalist, heritage track, album and independent artist of the year – not a bad haul, indeed.
Vivacious redhead Tracy Killeen won female vocalist of the year for Good Lies, while three-time finalists Camille and Stuie French went home with single of the year for Beverley Joy – a gorgeous song about Stuie’s late mum – from their divine new album, Big Days & Little Years.
In the group category, Jetty Road claimed its third win in four years with the track, I’m A Dreamer, the opening track on the band’s 2011 release, Far Away Places.
Taking their first steps into the winners’ circle were Benn Gunn and Kristy Cox, who claimed the male and female rising star awards for Rawsonville Road and Little Bit of Wonderful respectively.
As Kristy was in America, she couldn’t accept the award in person, but will be thrilled to receive it upon her return.
My good friend, Flash, aka Robyn McIntosh, was on hand for the festival and awards night and took some super shots for Country Music Notes readers.
She also snapped our old mate, Frank (The Chookman) Turton, as he sailed out of Renmark on his houseboat, the HMS Willitsinkorwontit, accompanied by his brother-in-law, Eric, bound for Mildura.
Frank has received some great media coverage of late, being featured on page three of the September 12 edition of The Weekly Times and I also caught part of an interview on the telly by Nick McCallum.
After reading The Weekly Times’ article on Frank, apparently Nick flew to Mildura, hired a car and tracked him down to do the interview. Now that’s dedication.
THE long-awaited arrival of Sullivan James Gable, left, occurred on August 28, with proud parents Melinda Schneider and Mark Gable absolutely delighted by the event.
He weighed in at a healthy 3.9kg and thankfully for his mum, he was delivered via caesarean section.
“Having Sully was the best thing I’ve ever done in my life and Mark and I love him so much,” Melinda said.
“He is so lucky to have five beautiful siblings (Mark’s children), a loving nana (Mary Schneider) and two kelpie dogs to love him, too.
“Life is so amazing. Thank you, God, for finally making my dream come true.”
TOOWOOMBA-based singer-songwriter Mick Lindsay is making his debut at The Pub tomorrow night, but Mick’s no stranger to Tamworth. A few years ago he graduated from the CMAA Australian College of Country Music, but his style isn’t what you call traditional – more rocking country, with some fancy licks and picks. He said he’s planned on playing songs that will fill The Pub dancefloor, but he’ll also be working this weekend at Southgate Inn on Saturday night and Sunday from high noon at The Longyard.