DAVE'S DIARY - 3 JANUARY 2005 - PREVIEW EPISODE 1 - SERIES 3

GRETCHEN WILSON HEADLINES SERIES #3 RETURN


Gretchen Wilson

Gretchen Wilson won a vast army of fans in her second tour of Australia that brought her to the Myer Music Bowl in February for the Tsunami benefit.

So it's fitting that Gretchen headlines the debut episode of Series #3 of Nu Country TV that is repeated at 8 p m on Saturday April 9 on C 31.

Wilson, 31, topped rock and country charts with her sizzling anthemic single Redneck Woman and debut album Here For The Party.

The single mother joined Big & Rich in the genre-bending posse that revived country radio and TV in the world's biggest market by selling more than four million albums.

Wilson also impacted in Australia where she leaped the radio sales moat with lavish TV advertising and a showcase concert at The Basement in Sydney.

The only Grammy award winner on the show was the not so secret weapons used by promoters Michael Chugg and Glen Wheatley to liven up a festival suffering from a faded blues and rock image.

CLICK HERE for the Gretchen Wilson Tsunami concert review from The Diary.

CLICK HERE for a Gretchen Wilson story from The Diary.

BUSHWACKERS CELEBRATE 34 YEARS WITH US

Pioneer Australian country-folk group The Bushwackers celebrate 34 years on the local scene with a video of their tune Kelly In Our Hearts.

The band has won fans across the globe in their colourful career that began in 1971.

Fronted by Dobe Newton, it has made the Top 5 of the 33rd Golden Guitar Awards in Heritage Song of the Year with the tune Heart Of Australia.

Sadly the group bid adieu to former multi-instrumentalist Louis McManus, who died at 48 from a diabetes related stroke on December 12.

CLICK HERE for a short obituary on Louis from the DIARY.


KASEY DREAMS OF HOLLYWOOD

Kasey Chambers, reeling from the rigors of a split from Cori Hopper - songwriting partner and the father of their son Talon - found solace in a return tour of the U.S.

The hottest Aussie female country singer of the new millennium performs in the video of new single Hollywood from her third solo album Wayward Angel.

Kasey, 29, has blazed a triumphant trail by decimating diverse vanquished vamps in the ARIA Awards.

Chambers won two more Golden Guitar awards in Tamworth in January for single of the year with Like A River.

Wayward Angel also won top selling album of the year.

It was sweet solace for Kasey who has formed the group Harvest with dad Bill, new partner Shane Nicholson, fiddler Mick Albeck and bassist Chris Haigh.

Kasey's dad Bill, who toured with Canadian Fred Eaglesmith, and Kevin Bennett of The Flood are also featured in the clip.

CLICK HERE for a Kasey story from the Diary on May 31, 2004.


FELICITY LOSES HER BLUES

Tamworth troubadour Felicity Urquhart has released a video for her Slim Dusty tune Losin' My Blues Tonight from her new independent disc after two albums for EMI.

The singer opened for Willie Nelson, the late Waylon Jennings and The Pope on one of their Australian tours and toured the U.S. with the Feral Swing Katz.

Felicity has made the Gold Guitar finals with three entries this year.

She has made the finals of best female vocalist for her song Turn Out The Light.

Felicity, 27 and a young four-album veteran, also scored in the Top 5 of best vocal collaboration.

She and Graeme Connors have qualified with I Dream Of Highways on ABC Music.

Felicity & guitarist partner Glen Hannah also made the finals with Dear Someone on her own indie label.

CLICK HERE for a Felicity story from the Diary on June 26, 2003.

CLINT BLACK BACK FROM TEXAS

Singing Texan actor Clint Black has bounced back with the title track of his 10th album Spend My Time.

The New Jersey born but Texas raised singer released the album on his own label Equity - also home for fellow Texan troubadour Kevin Fowler.

Black and long time singing spouse Lisa Hartman have appeared in a brace of movies and topped charts with duets.

CLICK HERE for a Clint story from the DIARY.

BLUE COUNTY LIKE GOOD LITTLE GIRLS

Fellow actor Scott Reeves played Ryan McNeill on TV soapie The Young And The Restless before teaming with gospel singer Aaron Benward to form Blue County.

The duo met on the set of a Tamara Walker video clip seven years ago and took their name from a screenplay they wrote.

Reeves took classes for two years at the Beverly Hills Playhouse before appearing in movies and TV shows.

CLICK HERE for a Blue County entrée story in the DIARY

STEVE GIBSON ON RODEO ROAD

Hunter Valley reared rodeo rider Steve Gibson, like U.S. peers Chris LeDoux and Moe Bandy, found less painful bucks in the transition to country music.

Gibson was featured on Nine Network show Getaway after appearing as a singer - not as a rider at the famed Calgary stampede in Alberta, Canada.

He released his debut disc The Wishing Well in 1993 a decade after winning a World Saddle Bronc Riding title and triumphing in the Australian event five times.

And, now at the age of 45, Gibson has released fourth album Road To Anywhere - he cut it in Nashville for the LGM label with producer Rod Nicholson.

Gibson performs a video for the title track on Nu Country TV.

Gibson co-wrote 10 of the 12 songs and showcased it at venues diverse as the Mt Isa rodeo and Lee Kernaghan's Great Western Hotel in Rockhampton.

The album has been released here by Rajon-Sony and features pedal steel and dobro by Mike Johnson and Larry Franklin's fiddle and mandolin.

CLICK HERE for a CMAA bio on Steve Gibson.
www.countrymusic.asn.au/cc/SteveGibson.html

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