L to R: Mike Kerin, Colin Watson, Bill Chambers, Doug Bligh, Anne Kirkpatrick, Jeff Mercer, Rod Coe, Michel Rose

It’s been a busy time for us in Sydney with the ‘CONCERT FOR BARBARA’ in April, closely followed in May by CANTERBURY COUNTRY celebrating it’s 10th Birthday (pictured - Nicki Gillis & Bob Howe with the cake which was scrumptious) with a huge concert and a special visit from International singing star DIANA TRASK.

Diana was in town to launch her autobiography, ‘Whatever Happened to Diana Trask’  and you can read more about Diana in the June issue of Capital News magazine.

Also in the June issue, our reviews of A SLIGHTLY USED WOMAN by GEORGETTE JONES and SEA OF TEARS by EILEN JEWELL, while back in May we reviewed DOWN EVERY STREET by DAVID HOSKING.
Bob talked to Barbara Morison on 2SER 107.3 FM about this column and more…

From Capital News March 2010 (Vol 35 No.3)
Review by Bob Howe

At last, LYLE LOVETT begins his first-ever Australian tour this month. To get us in the mood, this latest CD begins with one of his finest Western-style compositions and the evocative couplet, “…I’m subject to the Natural Forces, home is where my horse is.” This is closely followed by two rollicking and ribald tracks, Farmer Brown/Chicken Reel and Pantry, in the style of his LARGE BAND. While the rest of the album contains few of his own compositions, it does encompass one of his recurring passions, that of fellow Texan songwriters. There is a touching version of Loretta by TOWNES VAN ZANDT and Lovett’s take on ERIC TAYLOR’S Whooping Crane is worth the price alone. The album closes with It’s Rock And Roll, a fervent tale of life on the road, co-written with ROBERT EARL KEEN and finally an extra acoustic version of Pantry. As a writer or an interpreter of other’s songs, Lyle Lovett is always a notch above.
SONY/Curb Records 88697-62467-2

Bob talked to Barbara Morison on 2SER 107.3 FM about this month’s column and more…

L to R: Toby Nutting, Felicity Urquhart, John Nutting, Bob Howe

Bob Howe (author of this site) is proud to have been a part of John’s show, relayed across 60 stations nationally, plus the world via the Web and Radio Australia, presenting the ‘Gig Guide’ live every Saturday night for 7 years (and becoming known as ‘Big Bob from Bondi‘ in the process). Bob also co-hosted on numerous occasions from the Sydney, Tamworth and Mildura studios, reported in from the USA in 2004 and 2008, and performed live music on the air. Some of those highlights are here…

The night before he blitzed the 38th CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia by winning 6 Golden Guitars, Troy Cassar-Daley made a surprise appearance at the Scully Room of the Southgate Inn to assist HARMONY JAMES who was headlining her own ‘Tailwind’ show before a raptuous audience. (Photo by Peter Versace)

Bob talked to Barbara Morison on 2SER 107.3 FM about this month’s column and more…

Announced today, the latest inductee onto the Australasian Roll of Renown - an accolade regarded as the pinnacle of recognition for the Australian Country Music Industry…ANNE KIRKPATRICK.

“A true child of country music, Anne first came to prominence when she introduced an exciting new contemporary sound to the Australian scene in the late 1970s. Initially recording her first solo album in 1974, she won her first Golden Guitar in 1979 for Female Vocal.

Over her long and highly acclaimed career she has won five more Golden Guitars including two for Album and Female Vocal and an ARIA Award for her watershed album “Out Of The Blue” in 1991.

A talented songwriter with a unique vocal style, Anne achieved great success as a recording artist and performer - both as an individual and in concert with her parents Slim Dusty and Joy McKean and her family.

For over four decades Anne’s ability to blend a contemporary style with traditional themes has influenced the way many Australians think about modern country music and her early success helped prepare the way for the many young artists who followed in her footsteps.”

Pictured above left:
Cowboys In Cyberspace’s Bob Howe with ANNE KIRKPATRICK at the Australian Country Music Hall of Fame Pioneering Ladies concert earlier in the week. Anne is wearing an original Joy McKean stage outfit.
(Photo by Karen V.)

BECCY COLE and Duncan Toombs rip it up at the Tamworth 2010 TOMKINS GUITAR SHOWCASE (photo by Peter Versace). Dozens of artists played their Tomkins guitars, basses, mandolins, lap steels and fiddle before a packed house in Blazes at Wests. Lots more photos - click here…