July 5th, 2013
The annual Toyota Hats Off to Country 2013 Festival is underway in Tamworth, Australia’s Country Music Capital. The latest program of artists and events can be downloaded from the official website:
www.hatsofftocountry.com
Nearby at Nundle, the Dag Sheep Station is hosting three ‘Songwriters in the Round’ shows, ‘Christmas in July’ and a ‘Singer Songwriters Retreat’ with workshops and shows.
The Big T Jamboree continues it series of concerts streamed live from Country Music Capital. On Sunday July 7 during the 2013 Hats Off To Country Festival you can log in from 6pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time) with the live broadcast taking place from Enrec Studios in Calala. Artists include Buddy Knox, Lawrie Minson, Shelley Minson, Norma O’Hara Murphy and the Big T Band (Alwyn Aurisch, Andrew McMahon, Steve Whitby).
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July 5th, 2013
STEVE MARTIN & EDIE BRICKELL
Love Has Come For You
Universal Music Australia
Is there anything STEVE MARTIN can’t do? Comedian, actor, author, playwright, and Grammy®-winning bluegrass banjoist. Recently, a chance conversation with singer-songwriter EDIE BRICKELL led to him sending her one of his banjo melodies with a view to her adding lyrics to it. The result was so instantly encouraging that they went ahead and recorded a whole album of their joint compositions. The joy you will get from hearing the result will also be instant. In these days of material overload, I have rarely been as quickly engaged in new music as I have by this exquisite collection. Apparently Steve Martin was constantly surprised by the lyrics and subjects that Edie Brickell set to his tunes and you will be as equally delighted by her thoughtful and insightful observations. Her voice is light and clear and his banjo favours the old-time/clawhammer style this time around, rather that the virtuoso bluegrass/Scruggs style, which serves the songs perfectly. In the producer’s chair is the legendary Peter Asher, who lets the music shine with only a few well-chosen embellishments. In all, a gem of an album that will continue to shine through repeated spins.
(Bob Howe)
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