AFTER a recording break, country artist Billy Bridge is back with Stories Through Time, a hybrid history lesson and entertaining album, and he will launch it in Tamworth.
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“These are 12 songs that have all got Billy Bridge next to their name,” he said.
“They are all story songs and cover topics including mine workers, farmers, old diggers and the horse racing industry. The whole album is a bit of a journey the whole way through Australian history, so I hope people can discover the history from it because it’s a bit of a history lesson.”
Recorded in Townsville with Mick Lockhart at Parkway Studios, Bridge’s latest offering also includes contributions from two Nashville musicians – Tim Crouch on fiddle, who is part of the Grand Ole Opry Band, and Robbie Springfield, who is in Trace Adkins’ band.
“We sent stuff over and they sent files back,” he said.
“The rest are a bunch of guys from Townsville who are part of the army band and they are amazing musicians.”
Bridge’s last album was Doing Okay in 2008 and said he waited until he had songs that he thought would make an album, but has never stopped writing.
It’s already netting results, with the first single, If I Get To The Rainbow, going to No. 11 on the Country Tracks Chart in the first week.
“To have that as a welcome back is really flattering for me,” Bridge said.
“People are saying they are pleased to hear music from me again. I’d like to achieve a great deal with this album and I want to be able to (record) again. If I never recorded again, I’d be really proud of where this album has gone. It’s the best one I’ve done so far, and the first album where I’ve written every song.”
The Queensland singer-songwriter said Stories Through Time still had a lot of life in it before he thought about recording another album, though.
“My battle will be deciding what to release next as a single,” he said.
“I’m working with some other people to decide what the next single will be.”
Bridge will launch the album on Monday, January 18 at 2pm at South Tamworth Bowlo with his band, and said he looked forward to getting back to Tamworth to see everyone again.
His last festival was 2009.
“You miss the people and it’s a different world since I last released an album,” he said.
“It’ll be good to see how the festival has evolved. I’m looking forward to walking down Peel St and soaking up the atmosphere.”
