Louisiana singer-songwriter Willie Jones headlines Nu Country TV on Saturday September 25 at 9.30 pm on Channel 31/Digital 44.
Texans Randall King and the late Waylon Jennings return to Behind Bars on the show hosted by our multi-talented lockdown host-producer-editor Laith Graham.
Tim Montana takes us to his home state on the program repeated Wednesday at 11.30 pm.
Oklahoma star Blake Shelton, the Pistol Annies and Kiama singer-songwriter Benn Gunn also boomerang this week
Revered volunteer radio country music host and altruist David Heard died at the age of 65 on Sunday September 12 after a protracted battle with cancer.
David hosted 3PBS-FM music shows for 41 years after joining the community station in 1979 at its St Kilda launch pad.
The Horsham born benefactor of Australian and international country folk roots, gospel and Americana music was honoured in song by Melbourne singer-songwriter James Ellis who appeared on his 40 th anniversary Acid Country show in Collingwood last year.
David also co-hosted High In The Saddle on 3RRR-FM and his Cold Coffee Morning show on Nu Country FM at Beer Can Hill in Northcote.
During Covid David recorded his Acid Country shows from his Fitzroy home before peers took over hosting roles before and after cancer silenced his voice and he died at the Caritus Christi Hospice in Kew.
Expatriate Kiwi singer-songwriter Matt Joe Gow and his band the Dead Leaves headlined a Sabbath soiree at the historic Brunswick Ballroom .
Gow's fellow artists the Weeping Willows , Ben Mastwyk Trio and Kerryn Fields also won acclaim in their own sets before joining in the all-star finale with Gow's band.
Gow dedicated his encore Georgia Rose - written about his late grandfather - to his mother in New Zealand.
Prolific Gippsland born Golden Guitarists-pre-pandemic American tourists The Davidson Brothers headlined the Geelong country music festival as the rain tumbled down in July.
The Bendigo and Ballarat brothers headlined the country music stage at the annual Geelong-Essendon Powercorp Food Bank game at Kardinia Park .
Hamish and Lachlan Davidson fronted their dynamic quartet on a windswept stage as rain and hail lashed their outdoor audience and livestock.
CHANNEL 31/44 FREE COMMUNITY TV
EXTENSION UNTIL 2024
The Federal Government has granted a community TV spectrum extension to Channel 31/44 in Victoria and South Australia until June 30, 2024.
This follows an impassioned campaign by Senators, Melbourne City Council and the two stations' management, 30 loyal staff and 1,000 volunteers.
The stations began broadcasting 27 years ago and Nu Country TV debuted in 2002 after its predecessor Nu Country FM operated as a community radio aspirant broadcaster from 1994.
Channel 31 general manager Shane Dunlop welcomed the decision as the government had no plans to use the spectrum until 2024.
Nu Country TV enjoys its season #48 in a regular Saturday time slot of 9.30 pm after co-producer, editor and camera person Laith Graham hosted the show during lockdown.
HAWTHORN STAR JARMAN IMPEY
ALAN JACKSON DEVOTEE
Indigenous Hawthorn footballer Jarman Impey has revealed he played guitar and learned didgeridoo listening to Georgian singer-songwriter Alan Jackson and the late Charley Pride around Goulburn Valley campfires.
Impey joins a brace of AFL footballers who attended Australian concerts by U.S. stars including Jackson, Dierks Bentley and the Zac Brown Band.
Former St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt kicked footballs into the audience at the Rod Laver Arena concert by singing actor and country superstar Tim McGraw.
Former Geelong truck driving troubadour Adam Harvey and Broken Hill born belle Raechel Whitchurch performed to a full house at the Corio Gateway Hotel on May 15.
Harvey, 46 and father of two, sang the Geelong Football Club theme song with fans as they invaded his merchandise stall after his inspirational hometown homage concert.
Adam's Camperdown born wife Kathy, mother-in-law Marlene and Berwick based Golden Guitarist Andrew Swift attended the show the night after Geelong beat St Kilda at Mickey Mouse stadium in Docklands.
Harvey celebrated heroes and songwriting peers in a memorable humour laced marathon as a prelude to Swift's concert at the same venue on June 12.
Prolific Sydney born Grafton raised singer-songwriter Troy Cassar-Daley turned a spate of personal tragedies during the pandemic into tuneful therapy on his 14-track 15th album The World Today that soared charts on debut.
His dad Tony, who suffered two strokes, and good mate Glen Hannah both suicided.
And his talented TV and radio presenter wife Laurel Edwards father also died between albums.
But support of Laurel, despite romantic ruptures, and their son Clay and daughter Gem, became sweet solace.
DEAD LIVERS AND LOST IN SUBURBIA ALIVE ON SHIPWRECK COAST
Shipwreck Coast bands the Dead Livers and Lost In Suburbia celebrated a pre-Easter live music resurrection with memorable free concerts.
These iconic south west Victorian bands, who share members and music, attracted a vast cast of fans to uplifting performances in the coastal mecca - long renowned as a creative sibling of Texas music capital Austin .
The Dead Livers celebrated their 43 rd anniversary at Mickey Bourke's Hotel , established in 1853, in the spuds and dairy capital Koroit.
Lost In Suburbia followed on the Sabbath at the historic Hotel Warrnambool - revered benefactor of live roots music.
WIN WAYLON, WILLIE, GEORGE JONES,
HIGHWAYMEN AND MERLE CDS
We have happy tidings despite the sad death of our country archivist and Nu Country FM Long In The Saddle co-host Barbara Dowling at 77 on December 11.
Barbara has gifted a wide selection of her precious CDS by the late Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Merle Haggard, The Highwaymen and Willie Nelson, still high in the saddle at 87, to Nu Country TV.
Novocastrian singer-songwriter Catherine Britt mines a deep lode of personal experiences to fuel her 12 original songs on her ninth album Home Truths .
Britt name-checks Hank and George Jones in entrée I Am A Country Song that segues into sibling Fav'rit Song , eulogising her dad.
Both have been released as singles, accompanied by videos on Nu Country TV.
Britt, now 36, is a true talent and survivor after beating breast cancer that struck when she was 30.
Her recovery included giving birth to two sons, publishing national magazine Rhythms, hosting ABC Radio Saturday Night Country and touring to promote her new music on her Beverley Hillbilly Records label.
We have great news for Nu Country TV members and viewers.
EMI Records promotions chief Darryl Bailey has given viewers a chance to win expatriate Australasian superstar Keith Urban's huge selling 12th album The Speed Of Now - Part 1.
We feature Keith's creative new video clips from his 16-track album, released in September, in our spring and summer seasons.
Keith, 53 on October 26, hosted the 55th Academy of Country Music Awards in Nashville after returning to Australia with wife Nicole Kidman and their two children.
Revered country music archivist and former Nu Country FM Long In The Saddle show co-host Barbara Dowling died on December 11 at the age of 77.
Barbara, a pioneer Australian and Victorian country music awards judge, was admired for rising above losing her sight as a child and pursuing her country music passion.
It included many overseas musical odysseys since the seventies with her late mother Mary, and annual trips to Littlefield , Texas - birthplace of the outlaw king Waylon Jennings - since 1984.
Barbara was a regular guest on commercial radio while living independently in Ringwood until shortly before her death.
She was interviewed on Ross Stevenson's 3AW breakfast show in 2018 after her passport was misplaced by DFAT at Tullamarine airport after returning from her annual Texas trip.
Barbara died two days before one of her interviewees - Texan star Charley Pride - passed at 86 in Dallas from Covid-19.
Tragic deaths of Texan honky tonk heroes Billy Joe Shaver, Jerry Jeff Walker, Johnny Bush and Mac Davis songwriting peers diverse as John Prine and Johnny Nash occurred in the months before our Series #46 premiere in December.
We will honour them in our summer series with flashbacks to their peak.
Billy Joe, died at 81 on October 28 after a stroke, Jerry Jeff, 78, died of throat cancer on October 22, Bush died of pneumonia at 85 on October 16,
Davis died at 78 on September 29 after heart surgery,
Prine died of COVID-19 at 73 on April 7 and Nash died of natural causes at 80 on October 6.
Billy Joe, Jerry Jeff and Prine all toured here and appeared on Nu Country TV during their colourful careers.
Nu Country TV producer David Dawson moonlighted as chauffeur for Shaver on his 2002 tour with singing Texan crime novelist Kinky Friedman.
Fawkner born singer-songwriter Jasmine Rae has released her fifth album Lion Side, replete with videos on Nu Country TV.
Rae, now 33, wrote Don't Do It For The Haters - inspired by social media trolls - one of her 10 new original songs.
It was a reaction to her not being part of a copyright law suit when her song When I Found You was reportedly borrowed in the title track of singer-actor Tim McGraw and singing spouse Faith Hill's duet album The Rest Of Our Life.
Texan trio The Chicks bounced back with their tenth album Gaslighter after exorcising Dixie from their band birth name after winning 13 Grammys.
Lead singer Natalie Maines also lampooned her second ex-husband - actor Adrian Pasdar - in the dozen original tunes on the disc, a country rock hybrid.
Natalie, now 45 and mother of two sons and multi-instrumentalist siblings Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer, nee Erwin, promoted their disc with a brace of videos that feature on Nu Country TV.
Shotgun Willie Nelson emulates the name of the title track of his 144th album First Rose Of Spring at the ripe young age of 87.
The singing actor may be in isolation on his Luck movie town ranch near Austin with family and friends but has more projects in progress than most peers in all genres.
Although release of this 11-track disc - his 70th solo studio album - was delayed it's not a swan song for Willie and his long-time producer and co-writer Buddy Cannon.
Willie has new books scheduled with pianist singer-sister Bobbie, 89, and duets with rapper Snoop Dogg and tribute discs to Roger Miller and Frank Sinatra.
Nelson includes new original songs penned with producer Buddy Cannon and another by Kentucky coal-miner's son and chart topper Chris Stapleton.
Spare a prayer for Baranduda belle Vanessa Delaine who should be blessed for longevity by releasing a re-mastered CD version of her fourth album One Girl Band - 25 Years.
But the expatriate Kiwi and latter-day twin city troubadour, who lives south of the Murray River at Wodonga, is not allowed to travel to Albury because her music teaching also takes her to Wangaratta.
The Covid-19 pandemic also prevents Vanessa returning to her homeland to promote her dual debut disc, replete with three-track bonus CD.
But the singer-songwriter celebrates success of the CD, released in May, on Australian, European and U.S. indie charts.
Minnesota minstrel Jake Rose has earthy inspiration for his songs that elevated him from small town farm boy to pistol packing country roots star.
Jake grew up on a pumpkin farm in Hamel where tractors, trucks and cows were staples as he listened to his dad and uncle's band Stampede .
It sourced his song video for Tractor Town that debuted on Nu Country TV on May 9.
Rose also thanks a former lover for Favor - his video for that song features new girlfriend Rachel.
And all he needs to do is a raise a glass or guitar and he is quickly reminded of the colourful tattoos and death of his sister that gave birth to his stage name and song and video for Sleeves .
Born Jake Scherer, he took his stage name Rose from his baby sister, who died before she was two.
Former Nu Country FM disc jockey and latter-day North-West FM Texas Time Travelling show host Colin Weidner died at 67 on July 21 after suffering a severe stroke on July 10.
Weidner conducted interviews with major artists during a 2005 Texas tour with The Mack Brothers - also Nu Country FM show hosts and founders of the Very Handsome Men band - for Nu Country TV.
Colin had a quadruple heart by-pass after his return home but recovered to host Texas Time Travellin' on Saturday nights from 2005-October 30, 2016 on North West FM in Glenroy.
Sadly the Texas music fanatic spent seven weeks in Royal Melbourne Hospital after another heart attack on August 13, 2017.
It was appropriate that one of the songs played at his funeral on July 29 was Live Forever by fellow heart attack survivor Texan Billy Joe Shaver.
Veteran radio programmer, DJ and announcer trainer Bob Taylor died on July 17 at 79 after a colourful career that began at the age of 11.
Bob mentored many major radio and TV stars of the last 40 years in training and voiceovers in a journey that took him to stations in locales diverse as Hobart , Swan Hill, Hamilton and Alice Springs.
Taylor finished his career in a 24-year stint at Brooklyn country music community station Stereo 974 FM that closed on January 26 this year.
Bob also trained a vast cast of announcers and voiced station IDS and sponsorship promos on our aspirant radio station Nu Country FM from 1994-2001 at Beer Can Hill in Northcote and our final studio at the Paris, Texas , end of Collins St.
Brett Eldredge hails from Paris in Illinois - not the French capital - but has romantic reefs in his music.
Eldredge detailed writing about love in isolation near Nashville in an exclusive interview with Nu Country TV to promote his fifth album Sunday Drive, released on July 10.
Brett, now 34, filmed his video after our interview for his single Gabrielle that is featured on Nu Country TV - Saturday July 25.
Nundle singer-songwriter John Krsulja and Dag Sheep station songwriting retreat host honours the late expat Scot Karl Broadie and fellow guitarist-writer-producer Glen Hannah on his new single Black To Blue.
The song video appears on Nu Country TV on June 27 and is one of the many highlights of John K's second album Burden Of The Fool, released on June 19.
The singer also pays tribute to other friends who died prematurely and his Octogenarian dad who enjoys fishing in retirement on an album rich in social and political comment.
Seddon singer-songwriter-teacher-mandolinist Pete Burns draws on almost seven decades of life on the cutting edge of suburbia, the bush and Paris street busking to fuel his second album of original songs under the wry title of Unsealed Road.
The 65-year old road warrior harvested hay for inspiration that began with his parents in Melbourne and rural retreats diverse as Hamilton and Shepparton.
Burns expanded on his song sources in an exclusive interview with Nu Country TV.
Prolific award-winning Queensland country music and TV star Adam Brand is having throat and vocal cord surgery in his touring hiatus during the COVID-19 crisis.
But he has two beloved females to thank for the tranquillity and peace that fuelled his 17th album Speed Of Life.
They are new partner Nui and their baby daughter Pepper.
Celebrated dual Grammy winning singer-songwriter-actor John Prine died on April 7 aged 73 from COVID-19 shortly after cancelling his 2020 Australian tour because of hip surgery.
The former Chicago postie, who wrote songs while delivering mail, headlined the Hanging Rock racecourse festival in 1993 and returned here for several tours.
John played St Kilda Palais with Kentucky coal-miner's son and singer-songwriter Tyler Childers on March 7, 2019, on his final Australian visit.
Prine's 26th album, The Tree of Forgiveness , was released in April 2018, just six months after being named the Americana Music Association's Artist of the Year.
KINKY, WILLIE, MANDELA AND BILLY SWAN
JOIN RESURRECTION
When singing Texan crime novelist Kinky Friedman, now 75, recorded his 18th album Resurrection he chose older duet partner Shotgun Willie Nelson, who turns 87, on April 29.
The Kinkster also honoured another Nelson - Mandela - Billy Swan and Hank Williams on his album.
Resurrection was produced by famed multi-instrumentalist Larry Campbell, 65, who was diagnosed with COVID-19 that also claimed Oklahoma born star Joe Diffie at just 61 on March 29.
When Texas born singing actor and entrepreneur Kenny Rogers died at 81 on March 21 at his Georgia home hospice with his family he left behind a huge legacy in Australia.
Rogers toured here many times as a solo artist and with fellow singer actors Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire.
His first visit was in 1973 with his embryonic band The First Edition.
Kenny also toured here with Dolly in 1984 and 1987 and Reba in 1998 and returned as a solo performer in 2008, 2011, 2012 and January 2015.
Rogers music was also a lifeline for Beaconsfield miners Todd Russell and Brant Webb.
Rescuers found the dynamic duo more than a kilometre underground when they heard them singing Rogers hits The Gambler and Coward Of The County.
CMC ROCKS QUEENSLAND AND INTERNATIONAL TOURS POSTPONED
The 13 th CMC Rocks Queensland festival, Country Music America Introducing Nashville concerts and other major tours have been postponed because of the coronavirus.
They include March national tours by Texan Miranda Lambert, Brothers Osborne , Kip Moore, Jimmie Allen, and Charlie Landsborough.
Washington State born singer Brandy Clark teamed with revered movie soundtrack and hit writer and February tourist Randy Newman on her third album Your Life Is A Record, released on March 6.
She also credited author Stephen King, John Prine, her mother and her dogs Ava and Bette and the Jaws movie as song inspirations.
Clark , 44, returns to Nu Country TV on Saturday April 11 with her canine inspired song Love Is A Fire .
The Australian April tour by Grammy winning former Chicago postie-singer-songwriter John Prine and John Paul White has been cancelled.
Prine, 73, has been ordered to cancel all concerts and tours by doctors because of a recurring hip injury.
The duo was scheduled to play St Kilda Palais on April 14 after Byron Bay Blues Festival and before their Sydney and Adelaide concerts.
Promoters Frontier Tours and Love Police will refund money to ticket purchasers.
The promoters issued a statement that Prine was “appreciative of his loyal fans and friends all over the world and looks forward to returning to Australia at a future date.”
KELSEY WALDON – KENTUCKY 1988 AND BEYOND
West Kentuckian singer-songwriter Kelsey Waldon has more than the name of hometown - Monkey's Eyebrow - as an international launch pad.
Since releasing her third album White Noise/White Lines she also has her name etched on the tiny town's entry sign.
Waldon has released her album here on April tourist John Prine's Oh Boy label through Cooking Vinyl .
When Ferny Creek singer-songwriter Brendan McMahon visited Havana he was so impressed by the late Ernest Hemingway's shrine in historic Ambos Mundos he wrote Hotel Hemingway.
But a frightened echidna that he freed from a Rowville paddock in Melbourne 's eastern suburbs inspired his fourth album's entrée song Lost My Way.
The son of a former stock and station agent at Kapunda near the Barossa Valley also paid tribute to a steer named Morris in the same paddock on his previous disc that preceded fourth album In The Moment , released in November.
Award winning Virginian quintet Old Dominion is the latest act to name check late Beat author Jack Kerouac in idyllic imagery in its highly accessible music.
I'll Roll - penned by guitarist Trevor Rosen, pianist Trevor Rosen and James Slater - is not among the band's first three singles on its third album released on October 25.
But it's likely to follow Some People Do, Make It Sweet and latest hit One Man Band that airs on Nu Country TV on January 4.
My Heart Is A Bar (and I'm closing it down) is also accompanied by a video.
North Carolina nouveau outlaw country star Luke Combs broke sales records on his second album's debut on Billboard with help from home state mentor Eric Church.
Combs nailed his talent to the bayside cross when he sold out St Kilda Palais in March with femme fatale Arkansas traveller Ashley McBryde.
Now the prolific singer-songwriter, who co-wrote all 17 songs on What You See Is What You Get , topped Billboard Top 200 all-genre chart with 172,000 albums sold.
Texan sextet Whiskey Myers proves why it topped country charts on debut on September 27 with its fifth album in a 12-year career that began in Palestine.
The band mixes Biblical fervour with a fierce outlaw spirit akin to mentors Hank Williams Jr and the late Waylon Jennings.
So it's no surprise that Pentecostal primed entrée single Die Rockin' was penned by singer Cody Cannon and veteran Texan outlaw Ray Wylie Hubbard.
Hubbard, 73 and one of the pioneers of outlaw country in the Lone Star state, is still recording and performing with little mates Shotgun Willie Nelson, 86, and recent octogenarian Billy Joe Shaver.
STEVE MARTIN, MARTIN SHORT
AND STEEP CANYON RANGERS
Grammy winning bluegrass band Steep Canyon Rangers and comedic cronies Steve Martin and Martin Short performed to a capacity crowd at Melbourne Arena.
Their Now You See Them, Soon You Want show attracted an enthusiastic audience headed by Oscar winning actor Geoffrey Rush.
They scored more laughs than the bloodthirsty boxing bout by two retired footballers at the adjacent Margaret Court Arena, named after the former tennis champion and latter-day Biblical bell ringer.
Grammy winning country duo Dan & Shay performed to capacity crowds on three nights at Rod Laver Arena with young Canadian superstar Shawn Mendes.
The chart toppers celebrated major streaming success with recent video clips for Tequila and 10,000 Hours.
Dan & Shay debuted on Nu Country TV on April 22, 2017, with When I Pray For You from the soundtrack of the Sam Worthington-Octavia Spencer-Tim McGraw movie The Shack.
When former Vietnam veteran, disc jockey, actor and latter-day singer-songwriter Joe Sun toured here in 1990 he opted for regional venues and country music festivals to showcase his down-home country music.
Now, 29 years down the Lost Highway the Mid-West dairy farmer's son has followed heroes and mentors diverse as Hank Williams, Steve Young and Guy Clark into that great honky tonk heaven.
Sun, born James Paulsen, in Rochester , Wisconsin, died on October 25 at 76 of natural causes in Palm Bay, Florida.
He toured Australia to promote his 10th album Hank And Bogart Still Live after scoring smashes with Old Flames Don't Hold A Candle To You and Shotgun Rider that later became hits for singing-actor Dolly Parton and Texan Delbert McClinton.
Expat Novocastrian singer-songwriter Morgan Evans performed to a capacity crowd at the historic Forum in Melbourne CBD.
Evans, 34, may have left his singing spouse Kelsea Ballerini at home in Nashville but had two high profile guests on stage.
Grammy winning New Jersey born producer and singer-songwriter Chris DeStefano, who produced and co-wrote all 11 songs with Evans on his second album Things That We Drink To , opened the show.
And fellow Novocastrian Mark Wells guested on Evans 2007 debut single Big Skies from his self-titled album.
JIM LAUDERDALE - KING OF BROKEN HEARTS
OUT ON THE WEEKEND
Dual Grammy winning North Carolina born singer-songwriter and TV and radio host Jim Lauderdale headlined Brian Taranto's sixth Out On The Weekend festival at Steamworks in Williamstown on Saturday October 12.
Lauderdale and fellow Americana Award winners The Felice Brothers , Pokey LaFarge, Joshua Hedley & Jonny Fritz, Sierra Ferrell, Molly Tuttle, Dee White and Tami Neilson were among overseas acts.
Iconic expat Perth artists Brian Cadd and Ruby Boots, Don Walker, Little Georgia and Sean McMahon and The Owls were among the local performers.
Former St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt gave singing superstar actor Tim McGraw and his capacity concert crowd football kicking lessons at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday night.
Country music devotee St Nick, just 36, kicked four new Sherrin footballs high into the bleachers as Tim introduced one of his many hits - I Like It I Love It.
McGraw, 52, reciprocated by emulating his guest with a left foot torpedo and a gridiron throw of another football.
Tim, son of late baseball star Tug McGraw, offered to sing at the AFL grand final in a Nu Country TV interview in April after seeing Nick play against Collingwood in a preliminary final on a previous tour.
The pilot and singing spouse of fellow star Faith Hill wore a Collingwood jumper at that game.
Gippsland dairy farmer's son Michael Waugh proves he is well qualified to write and sing about extremities of drought and flood that have haunted agrarians for centuries.
The latter-day Scotch College secondary teacher and house master grew up near Glenmaggie Dam and Maffra in the Latrobe Valley .
But the fitness fanatic grandfather also found song sources for his third album The Weir while heading west on his push bike and catching Countdown icon Molly Meldrum taking in his garbage bins at his Luxor mansion in Richmond.
Waugh, 48, wrote all 13 songs on his acclaimed album produced by Queensland refugee Shane Nicholson.
Appalachian roots singer-songwriter Tyler Childers returns to Nu Country TV to promote his acclaimed third album Country Squire.
Childers, 28, and singing spouse Senora May perform his new video for House Fire.
The Americana Award singer plans a second Australian tour after debuting here on March 7 with fellow winner John Prine, 72, who returns to St Kilda Palais in April after winning two more Americana Awards this month.
When Texas City born hit-writer George Ducas needed a source for his double murder crime of passion title track for fourth album Yellow Rose Motel he didn't have to look far.
He resurrected fellow Texan singing actor Willie Nelson's famed Red Headed Stranger album and movie as his inspiration.
At just 48 Ducas is almost four decades younger than Willie, now 86, but their traditional country music theme song sources are a common denominator.
Ducas is keen to promote his album on a tour in 2020 - hopefully launched at the 13th CMC Rocks Queensland Festival in March.
Californian trio Runaway June had good reason to bare their hearts on the pathos primed title track finale of their debut album Blue Roses.
The song was inspired by the tragic death of lead singer-guitarist Naomi Cooke's brother Billy Dukes.
Runaway June , featuring late western movie star actor John The Duke Wayne's grand-daughter Jennifer, is touring with Oklahoma oriole Carrie Underwood and Maddie & Tae.
When singer-songwriter-shearer Luke Dickens wrote nine songs for self-funded second album After The Rain he discovered his music was creative therapy.
That was after exploring evil outback serial killers, cyber bullies, snakes and wolves.
But the 2011 Star Maker winner balanced his musical diet with love songs for his son Jordan , now 10, and fiancé Sammie whom he plans to marry in October.
“It was therapeutic,” Dickens, 37, told Nu Country TV of the album produced by Sam Hawksley.
Shotgun Willie Nelson proved in his video for his 69 th album title track Ride Me Back Home he stills ride high in the saddle with no need to dismount.
Willie, a ripe young 86-year-old, chose that song - one of the few he didn't write on his album - as the title.
The song's equine freedom message - equally relevant here with threats to high country Brumbies - echoes human liberation Willie has extolled since leaving Texas hometown Abbott as a teenager.
Willie loves horses and humans - including pianist sister Bobbie, now 88, with equal passion.
Ride Me Back Home was co-written by Sonny Throckmorton after hearing of Willie adopting horses that he stables at his Texas Hill Country ranch.
When Lukas Nelson and his long-time band Promise Of The Real returned here for their April tour they drove home the message of their fifth album title track with dynamic live delivery - especially at the historic Corner Hotel in Richmond .
It may have been a much smaller venue than those played by Lukas's singing sire Willie, now 86, on his tours.
But the aura of singing actor Willie swirled around the venue as Lukas proved why he followed his sire into movies with major roles writing songs on the soundtrack and performing in the Bradley Cooper-Lady Gaga remake of A Star Is Born.
Lukas's message was and clear - ignore the endless news cycle with its staple diet of war, famine, car jackings, drive-by shootings, murder and mayhem that maul the mean streets of Melbourne and, of course, the Middle East and way beyond.
When Texan troubadour Aaron Watson wrote 20 new songs for his 14th album Red Bandana he didn't have to look far to pay homage to his heroes.
Watson, now 41, opened with The Ghost Of Guy Clark and included eulogies to the late Red Steagall on Riding With Red and a vast cast of mentors in Legends .
Clark, a revered singer-songwriter, attracted celebrity studded audiences on his Australian tours, before he died of lymphatic cancer at 74 on May 17, 2016.
Septuagenarian singing actress Dolly Parton is joined by a vast cast of peers on the soundtrack of her latest movie Dumplings that was released in December.
They include Pistol Annie Miranda Lambert, Mavis Staples, bluegrass belles Alison Krauss and Rhonda Vincent and Adelaide born Sia.
Kentucky roots country singer-songwriter Marty Brown has returned after a 23-year recording hiatus with his fifth album American Highway .
Brown, 53, wrote all 10 songs with his co-producer Jon Tiven after a career rebirth on America 's Got Talent.
The singer is joined by his entire family including teacher wife Shellie and co-writer son Marty Brown Jr on his video for Umbrella Lovers that premieres on Nu Country TV on Saturday July 13.
Australian country music king Lee Kernaghan has released his 15 th album Backroad Nation that he is promoting on a national tour.
Kernaghan, 37-time Golden Guitarist, visited the outback to film videos, featured on Nu Country TV , for Wheels and the album title track.
The album is a riveting reflection of his travels that earned him four ARIA and three APRA Awards while raising funds for long suffering farmers beset by drought, flood and famine.
Kernaghan, 55 and father of two sons, features singing spouse Robby on his album that features 12 new original songs.
Prolific Golden Guitarist and multi-media minstrel Felicity made the most of her decade long hiatus as a solo artist by recording two acclaimed trio discs with Lyn Bowtell and Kevin Bennett.
But it was a pre-marital overseas sojourn with producer-guitarist-photographer-graphic artist Glen Hannah that fuelled New Harmony - entree of seventh solo album Frozen Rabbit, released on April 26.
Felicity and co-writer Luke Webb have detailed the joyous journey that also produced two daughters who have also joined her on-stage.
Singer-songwriter actor and pilot Tim McGraw has offered to sing at the AFL Grand Final during his third Australian tour in September.
McGraw, now 51, wore a Collingwood jumper when he as a guest at a previous final when the Magpies and St Kilda fought an epic battle in front of 80,000 plus fans.
Tim starred in Hollywood movies including gridiron box office smash The Blind Side with Sandra Bullock and Country Strong with Gwyneth Paltrow.
He also wrote his duet with singing spouse Faith Hill - Keep Your Eyes On Me - for 2017 movie The Shack starring British born Australian actor Sam Worthington and Octavia Spencer.
Tim headlines the 21 st Deni Ute Muster on October 5 and Country To Country festivals in Brisbane and Sydney.
LUKAS NELSON AND THE PROMISE OF THE REAL
CORNER MARKET
Fellow Texas raised singer-songwriter Lukas Nelson and The Promise Of The Real performed one of the most dynamic live concerts of the young year at the famed Corner Hotel , Richmond.
Lukas, just 30, proved that he is a genuine keeper of his famed singing actor sire Willie's flame in a two-hour music marathon.
Riverina refugee William Crighton and Melbourne sisters - The Wolfgramms - added spice to the sensational show.
Californian singer-songwriter Devin Dawson had good reason to exploit prison imagery and metaphors in three of 12 songs he wrote on his debut album Dark Horse .
He grew up in Orangevale near the gates of the infamous Folsom Prison and could hear nocturnal sirens roar throughout his childhood.
Devin used gaol backdrops in two of his video clips.
Dawson , 30, also hosted the inaugural Country Music Association Showcase at the historic Athenaeum Theatre in Melbourne on Saturday March 23.
Devin led a quintet of singer-songwriters - fellow American Brandy Clark, Canadian chanteuses Lindsay Ell and Tenille Townes and Mornington Peninsula raised multi-media artist Lachlan Bryan - in the prestige concert.
Photo credit - Peter Coates Inside Edge Photography
Nouveau North Carolina outlaw singer-songwriter Luke Combs built on his large Australian fan base on his return tour.
Combs, just 29, and Ashley McBryde headlined a joint St Kilda Palais concert after appearing at the sold-out CMC Rocks Queensland Festival in Ipswich .
Chart-topping Florida Georgia Line headline their concert at Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday March 20 after supporting Georgian star Jason Aldean on their 2016 tour.
The band, fresh from CMC Rocks Queensland festival in Ipswich, perform with another Georgian Thomas Rhett and Tennessee preacher's son Morgan Wallen.
There's no danger of Mid-west refugee John Hiatt hitting the highest notes at the age of 66 on his 23rd solo album The Eclipse Sessions.
But Hiatt, who won acclaim on his Australian tours, delivers droll humour in love metaphors in new single Over The Hill, accompanied by a video we feature on Nu Country TV.
Hiatt recorded his album near Nashville during the total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017.
DEAD LIVERS 40 TH ANNIVERSARY REMASTERED
GREATEST MISSES CD
Pioneer Victorian outlaw country band The Dead Livers celebrated its 40th anniversary by releasing a re-mastered edition of debut CD Greatest Misses.
By popular demand the band has changed the CD launch venue to the Velvet Room of Thornbury Theatre at 859 High Street , Thornbury, on Saturday May 12.
There are three new alternate songs on the 14 track CD that was re-mastered by Lost In Suburbia guitarist Peter Bird at his Warrnambool recording studio Yelp .
Ironically, bassist Michael Schack and pedal steel guitarist Brendan Mitchell both boomeranged from successful liver transplants to enjoy their musical and personal longevity.
Their Greatest Misses CD is also available as a digital download.
If you miss Nu Country TV live on C 31 Saturday 10.30 pm or Monday 2.30 pm and midnight and Thursday at midnight there is another way to see the show at your leisure.
Visit the Channel 31 programs web page and Click on the Nu Country logo and follow the link to Catch-Up TV.
EMI Records Promotions ace Bianca O'Neill has donated copies of the hot albums by North Carolina young gun Eric Church.
Eric, 37, topped the all genre Billboard Top 200 on debut with his third album Chief and 5th album The Outsiders that we feature in Series #25 of Nu Country TV .
You can help Nu Country TV survive and triumph on C 31 and win the Chief CD as a token of our appreciation
Nu Country TV beams into Phillip Island, West Gippsland, Geelong & the Surf Coast, Bellarine Peninsula, north to Mt Macedon and east to the Dandenongs.
We're also featured on C 31 in South Australia - home state of expatriate Greencards multi-instrumentalist Kym Warner and Nashville recording artist Jedd Hughes.
Golden Guitar winner Beccy Cole, Jake Nickolai and 2000 Star Maker winner Cat Southern also earned their stripes in home state South Australia.
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We'll keep you up to date on country music through our concert reviews, features in our Diary and tours in the Gig Guide.
The
ABC has added Dig Country to its on-line jazz and roots radio
stations.
Adelaide bluegrass and roots country expert Richard Porteous
and peers have created a joyous sound that is reminiscent
of Nu Country FM in its halcyon days.
FRANK MCHUGH
That's Country
North West FM Glenroy 98.9 Sunday
12pm - 3 p m
IAN
EDWARDS
playing a mix of Oz, US, Bluegrass Western swing & everything
in between, on the Double Clutchin Weasel Show On 88.6FM
Wednesday night
@ 10.00PM - 12.00pm
GEELONG
COUNTRY 89.3 FM - 24 hours non-stop country
5
Foot High And Rising with Myles O'Neil Shaw PBS - 106.7
FM - Monday 1-3 p m.
3RPP
Mornington Peninsula Radio
Monday 7-9pm Country Mix with Ken Brown
Saturday 7-9pm Kool Country
Barbara Kuhl
Tuesday & Thursday Breakfast 6-9am Wild Western Swing and Wicked Wacky Country - Steve Burley
Sunday 4am-7am BJs Country Music John Burrows
WELCOME TO NU COUNTRY TV 
