DAVE'S DIARY - 5/1/09 - PREVIEW OF EPISODE 5 - SERIES 11
TEENS AND TONKERS TUNE NU COUNTRY TV
Teenage star
Taylor Swift shares top billing with stone country singer-songwriter Elizabeth
Cook and prolific hit writer Jim Lauderdale on Nu Country TV this week.
The trio strut their stuff on the show hosted by Mid Pacific Bob Olson
at 8 p m on C 31 in Victoria.
Swift, just 19, has good reason to be gifted - she grew up on a Christmas
tree farm in Pennsylvania with her mother and stockbroker father.
Lauderdale, 51, enjoyed the good book - his Presbyterian minister father
raised him in North Carolina.
And Cook's octogenarian father Tom learned double bass during 11 years
in prison as a moonshiner in Florida.
The Australian artists Talia Wittman, Davidson Brothers and Chuck Stokes
had a less exotic launch pad.
Talia hails from Adelaide, Hamish and Lachlan Davidson honed their musical
chops at Yinnar in Gippsland and Chucks Wagon leader Chuck Stokes fled
Sydney's wild west to Texas to broaden his musical appreciation.
TAYLOR SWIFT BREAKS ALL RECORDS
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Pennsylvania
princess Taylor Swift, just 19, proves why she is the coolest conduit
to the thriving teen tonking cyberspace market. She has unleashed more than five million album sales and a dynamic deluge of digital downloads in three short years. The singer, making her first Australian tour in March, was just 13 when she escaped from her folks Christmas tree farm to invade the Nashville music forest. She impressed Music Row moguls by knocking on doors before returning home to hone her craft and study. |
Big Machine
Records executive Scott Borchetta discovered Swift at famed Nashville
songwriting temple the Bluebird Cafe singing a song she'd written when
she was 14.
The venue was the subject of the 1991 Peter Bogdanovich directed Hollywood
movie The Thing Called Love - starring the late River Phoenix,
Samantha Mathis, Sandra Bullock and Dermot Mulroney.
It featured cameos by Kevin Welch, Trisha Yearwood, Pam Tillis. K.T. Oslin,
Katy Moffatt, Webb Wilder, Deborah Allen, Earl Poole Ball, Jimmie Dale
Gilmore and Jo-El Sonnier.
Swift, raised in Wyomissing, has long been a prolific and precocious writer.
She harvested hay from the hell of heartbreak of ruptured romance with
Joe Jonas of the Jonas Brothers and fascination with Nashville singer
Stephen Barker Liles to fuel songs Forever & Always and The
Way I Loved You and Hey Stephen.
"The song, Picture to Burn, which was a Top 5 single for us,
I wrote that when I was 14 and played it at that Bluebird Cafe showcase,"
Swift says.
Most writers are born as well as made, and Swift proves it.
"For me, I started out writing when I was 12. I learned three chords
on a guitar and wrote my first song that night," she remembers.
"I would write songs until my fingers bled, until my mother would
make me leave my little computer room and come to dinner. I found something
at that point that I absolutely couldn't put down."
Swift performs the video of recent chart-topper Love Story off
second album Fearless on Nu Country this week.
Swift wrote all her songs and plays The Billboard in Melbourne on March
10 after headlining the 2009 CMC Rocks The Snowy Festival at Thredbo on
March 6 and 7.
But she won't be driving her silver Lexus SC 430 hardtop convertible down
under.
"It's a tank in wrecks," she says.
"I know that because I've gotten in three wrecks already - all other
people's fault, by the way."
CLICK HERE for our membership
page and learn how you can win Taylor's CDS.
CLICK HERE
for a Taylor Swift feature from the Diary.
ELIZABETH COOK SUNDAY MORNING
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Elizabeth
Cook debuts on Nu Country TV with the Lou Reed-John Cale song Sunday
Morning from their Velvet Underground era. Cook is the youngest of 11 children of an octogenarian musician and singing spouse of Nashville singer-songwriter Tim Carroll. Elizabeth and Australian country music queen Melinda Schneider made the finals of the 2007 Americana awards with Sometimes It Takes Balls To Be A Woman - one of three songs they recorded after a whirlwind session at the Cook-Carroll homestead. Cook chose the song as the title track of her fourth album and Schneider include it on her fourth album Stronger. |
Both artists
recorded Rest Your Weary Mind on their discs and Schneider cut
their collaboration I Like Men ln Trucks.
Cook's dad Tom, 84, and mum Joyce sang as The Medicare Duo until Joyce
went to God at 77 in July last year.
Tom learned to play double bass in prison where he served 11 years for
moonshining as a much younger man.
Cook and Carroll plan to tour Australia this year with their Australian
bassist Bones Hillman - of Midnight Oil fame - who now lives in Nashville.
CLICK HERE for a
Cook feature from the Diary on November 9, 2008.
JIM LAUDERDALE - BLUEGRASS DIARIES
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Singer-songwriter
Jim Lauderdale has won an avid following on his Australian tours
that date back to a gig at the Corner Hotel, Richmond, on January
30, 2002. Eagle eyed viewers will notice the William Faulkner novel The Sound And The Fury in the video. Lauderdale played George Jones in the stage version Stand By Your Man - the stage version of the Tammy Wynette story in Nashville. |
Jim also
played the 2007 CMC Rocks The Snowy festival with another of his happy
song recipients - California born chart topper and surfing cowboy Gary
Allan.
Australian artists Melinda Schneider and Felicity have also recorded Jim's
songs on recent albums.
Click Here for a
Lauderdale interview from the Diary on December 14, 2006.
CHUCK'S WAGON - FROM BADLANDS TO TEXAS
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Sydney
band Chuck's Wagon is no stranger to honky tonks and their forbidden
fruit after touring and recording in Texas. Bandleader Chuck Stokes grew up in Sydney's wild west - the badlands beyond the urban sprawl of Cabramatta. It was there he learned guitar from a cricket teacher, wrote songs while working as a boilermaker, went to hell and back on booze and dope and indulged his love of roots music as a writer for street magazine On The Street. For a decade Stokes served time in suburban beer and wine mines with blues outfit Warning, and later with other combos and punkers Deadwood 66. |
But it was
ascension to the mountain air of Wyoming that spiked Chuck's wagon.
"I fell in love with a cowgirl from Wyoming," Stokes revealed.
"I went and lived there for a few months, and that got me into country
rock - bands such as Outlaws, Pure Prairie League, Marshall Tucker Band,
Flying Burrito Brothers. I have loved country rock ever since."
So Chuck rolled salient spokes of his wagon over to Texas where they performed
and recorded Live In Austin, Texas, at Roadhouse Rags in 2008 as Chuck's
Wagon Duo.
Stoke and guitarist Kinnon Holt did the recording as they played 25 dates
in 28 days. It was a vastly different journey to his Chicago sojourns
as music writer where he was on the other end of the microphone.
"When I perform I like to say I grew up out west, Cabramatta West,"
quips Chuck.
"I was the eldest in a family that was not really into music, but
my mum says I use to stand in front of the TV, and rock back and forth
to Gene Autry. She was in Maroubra women's banjo club, and they recorded
one record, so maybe I get the country from there."
But it was a sporting link that inspired Stokes muse.
"A cricket teacher I looked up to inspired me to play guitar, and
I got lessons, but never really showed much promise," Stokes recalled.
"When I left school for a boilermaker apprenticeship, I was writing
songs, and had heaps of lyrics I wrote, while manning a mechanical steel
saw. It had this rhythm and I wrote heaps of bad teenage tunes, still
have those in a book, and cut my teeth writing all that stuff out of my
system."
With refreshing honesty, peculiar to country songwriters, Stokes reveals
his biggest hurdle.
"I tried to learn more guitars but to be honest lost my way with
alcohol and drugs and saw heaps of shows but ended up in hospital, at
22 from addiction," Stokes recalled.
"And a miracle happened, I got clean, and have remained so!"
Chuck's Wagon performs the video for its song Black Road this week
on Nu Country TV - the tune is from second album Lipstick & Sin.
The Chuck Wagon boys, formed in 2006, did a whirlwind Victorian tour in
spring of 2008 and returned last week.
Further info - www.chuckswagon.com.au
TALIA WITTMAN - RECKLESS SIDE
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Talia
Wittman, the 2008 Tamworth Starmaker winner, debuts on Nu Country
TV with the title track of her debut album The Reckless Side Of
Me. The 24-year-old Adelaide born singer wrote six songs on her Compass Brothers CD, produced by label boss Graham Thompson. Wittman chose The Reckless Side Of Me by Dead Reckoners singer-guitarist Mike Henderson and Chris Stapleton as her first single. She also covered Lay A Little Love On Me - a song recorded by stone country singer Lacy J Dalton who appeared on Nu Country last week with David Frizzell. Expatriate Australasian publisher Barry Coburn - former manager of Lacy - is also the publisher of Angaleena Presley who wrote Ladylike and Ain't No Man - highlights of the Wittman album. Talia began vocal and guitar lessons and competed in South Australian talent quests during primary school. |
In 2003 she
completed Certificate III in music at TAFE and studied a Bachelor of Music
by correspondence for 12 months through Mackay Conservatorium of Music.
She then moved to Mackay for a further semester of study on campus.
The singer, now living on the NSW Central Coast, is also a graduate of
the 2007 Australian College of Country Music in Tamworth.
Further info - www.taliawittmann.com
DAVIDSON BROTHERS - LONG DISTANCE LOVE AFFAIR
 Photo by Andrew Wuttke |
The Davidson
Brothers return to Nu Country TV with the second single from their fourth
self-titled album.
Hamish and Lachlan Davidson wrote Long Distance Love Affair about
trying to hold a relationship on while travelling on the road.
Mark Thornton produced the album in Madison, Tennessee.
And previous single I Still Miss The Sound Of Rain was released
in the U.S. last year to 1.000 bluegrass radio shows.
Guests on the disc include Nashville guitarist Bryan Sutton, bassist Dennis
Crouch, Rob Ickes on dobro with harmonies by Trev Warner, Cia Cherryholmes
and Larry Marrs.
The brothers hail from Gippsland town Yinnar - population 531 - and the
Aboriginal word for Woman.
It was first settled in 1874.
Hamish and Lachlan showcase their CD on the local summer festival circuit
including Tamworth, Cobargo and Brunswick.
They then return to the U.S. for a tour in September to build on a fan
base on previous visits including famed annual Bill Monroe festival.
Dates this time include the Tri-State Bluegrass Festival in Kendallville,
Indiana, on September 5 and 6 and the Starvy Creek Bluegrass Festival
in Conway, Missouri, on September 18 and 19.
CLICK HERE for a Davidson
Brothers feature from the Diary on January 12, 2005.
WIN NEW CDS BY BEING A NU COUNTRY MEMBER
TAYLOR SWIFT, JASMINE RAE & STEVE FORDE
Nu Country
TV celebrates its 11th series with a brace of prizes to celebrate the
CMC Rocks The Snowy festival and the national tours by superstars Brooks
& Dunn, Dierks Bentley and Taylor Swift.
We have the following CDS for viewers who email our web page and pledge
their $22 membership at music@nucountry.com.au
Taylor Swift - huge selling second album Fearless.
Jasmine Rae - debut CD Look It Up by the Telstra Road To Tamworth
winner and touring partner of Brooks & Dunn and Bentley.
Steve Forde - fifth album Guns & Guitars by the tour mate of
Brooks & Dunn and chart topper Gary Allan.
ADAM BRAND CD-DVD PRIZES
We have more
good tidings for viewers wanting to join Nu Country TV and keep us on
air in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and New Zealand.
Major independent label Compass Brothers has donated autographed copies
of Adam Brand's seventh disc Blame It On Eve for viewers who become
Nu Country members or renew their membership.
The CD has a bonus DVD of the making of the album and the video clip of
Get On Down The Road that we aired on our show.
Adam also did an exclusive interview with Nu Country TV that we broke
up into two episodes during Series #10.
We have limited supplies of Adam's big selling CD-DVD so please email
us first at music@nucountry.com.au
so we can allocate your reward.
CLICK HERE for the Adam
Brand interview from the Diary on March 3, 2008.
KACEY JONES CD, DVD, POSTER AND TEE SHIRT PRIZES
Internationally
renowned country comedienne, singer-songwriter and producer Kacey Jones
has given us a box of autographed merchandise for viewers and members
who renew their membership.
A highlight is her acclaimed tribute disc Kacey Jones Sings Mickey
Newbury that is scheduled for Australian release in July.
We have autographed collectors' copies of the CD for viewers who want
to become members of Nu Country TV.
She also autographed tee shirts and posters for Nu Country members.
For your $22 membership and postage you can take your pick of Kacey memorabilia.
We have limited supplies so please email us at music@nucountry.com.au
first.
WILLIE NELSON EXCLUSIVE BOOK
We also celebrate
Shotgun Willie Nelson's 75th birthday on April 30 with a special giveaway
of his collectors' book.
We have limited stock of Willie Nelson - The Collected Writings Of
A Living Legend - The Facts Of Life And Other Dirty Jokes.
The book, featuring yarns, jokes and Willie Nelson song lyrics, is the
latest addition to out prize treasure trove.
It's available for viewers wanting to become members or current members
wishing to renew their membership.
Please email us at music@nucountry.com.au
for a chance to win a copy of this book with your membership.
MIKE BRADY MUSIC FOR YOUR MEMBERSHIP
Internationally
acclaimed singer-songwriter Mike Brady volunteered to become a VIP guest
host of Nu Country TV during our eighth series.
Brady hosted an episode that also featured an exclusive interview about
recording the album in Nashville with expatriate Australian producer Mark
Moffatt.
Mike has also donated autographed copies of his brand new CD Country
To Country to viewers who become members or current members who renew
their membership.
The generous singer donated his autographed CDS to attract your membership
to ensure our survival.
So for your $22 membership including postage you can win Mike's CD Country
To Country.
We have limited supplies so please email us first at music@nucountry.com.au
so we can allocate your reward.
TANIA KERNAGHAN AUTOGRAPHED CDS
Tania Kernaghan
has offered autographed copies of her fourth album Higher Ground to
viewers who either become new members or renew their membership.
The album was produced in Santa Monica, Franklin, Nashville and the Gold
Coast with Daniel Kresco.
Tania recorded 11 songs written by younger sister Fiona and producer Kresco
on the acclaimed disc.
If you wish to be rewarded for your membership with Tania's new CD please
email us at music@nucountry.com.au.
We also have other CDS in our library as rewards for your valued membership
- we rely on membership for our survival.