DAVE'S DIARY - 7/11/2021 - PREVIEW OF EPISODE 2 - SERIES 50
KACEY MUSGRAVES HEADLINES NU COUNTRY TV
Texans Kacey Musgraves and Cody Johnson headline Nu Country TV on Saturday December 11 at 9.30 pm.
Grammy winning Michigan born bluegrass star Billy Strings and Arkansas singer Blane Howard appear in Behind Bars on the show repeated Wednesday at 11.30 pm.
Expat Kiwi singer-songwriter Matt Joe Gow and NSW Tablelands artist Dan Higgins boomerang to the program ending with a Christmas entrée from Melbourne artist Chris Swayn.
Nu Country TV is a highlight of C 31 streaming list on Digital 44.
Further info - https://www.c31.org.au/
KACEY CELEBRATES SIMPLE TIMES
 |
Six-time Grammy winning Texan Kacey Musgraves is joined by sisters in song on return.
Kacey, 33, filmed her Simple Times video as part of her new movie Star-Crossed and her eighth album that follows Golden Hour.
The 15-song disc tells a personal journey of heartache and healing inspired by splitting with singing spouse Ruston Kelly after a short marriage.
Kacey fashioned her song and movie to resemble a Greek tragedy in three acts.
The video takes place near conclusion of first of three segments of 50-minute film which, like the album is three acts of five songs, each similar to the arc of a Greek tragedy.
It features in the film directed by Bardia Zeinali and streamed on Paramount.
The 50 minute movie, filmed over ten days in Los Angeles , features cameos by Emmy Award-winner Eugene Levy, Victoria Pedretti, singer-songwriter Princess Nokia, Symone RuPaul Drag Race winner and comedian Megan Stalter.
CLICK HERE for a Kacey interview in The Diary on June 18, 2018.
CODY JOHNSON HUNTSVILLE HUMAN
 |
Fellow Texan and bull rider Cody Johnson returns with a fatalistic fable about a sudden death with a twist directed by Dustin Haney.
“When you have a video that can change an artist's perspective on their own song, that's powerful,” Cody revealed.
“The idea that the young man in the video is the one who passes away - when you hear the song about fixing up your car with your grandpa - it twists the idea that people would think that the grandfather would die. When the storyline came together, it was beautiful. When they sent me the rough edit of the video, it was powerful and brought tears to my eyes. It put into perspective the song that I had been singing for months. The takeaway is real easy on this one. If you've got a dream, chase it. Live every day. Don't wait on tomorrow.”
Cody, now 34, grew up in Huntsville , East Texas , where his dad - a prison warder - was in one of his bands
Til You Can't Tell is on his eighth album Human - an 18 track double disc that features four Cody originals.
Further info - http://www.thecodyjohnsonband.com/home.php
BILLY STRINGS BEHIND BARS BLUEGRASS
 |
Michigan bluegrass Grammy winner Billy Strings proves why he is a major star in his Behind Bars debut.
Billy, just 29, is in demand live and the studio in his In The Morning Light video.
On November 8 he proved his altruism as he donated 208 guitars to Twin Rivers Elementary School in Muir, Michigan, from his tour bus and U-Haul truck.
The 208 students each received a Fender guitar.
Billy, aka William Apostol, attended Twin Rivers Elementary where his music teacher Mrs. Mercer still works.
“I went to this school when I was your age. I started playing guitar, and the guitar has always been a really cool friend of mine,” Billy told the students.
“Even when times were really sad a guitar was my friend. So I wanted to give you guys some guitars that you can take home with you. Everybody gets one. The guitar has taken me places that I could only dream of. My hope is that one of these guitars does the same thing for one of these kids. I look forward to coming back and seeing how these future musicians progress for years to come.”
Billy has new duet The Great Divide with North Carolina nouveau outlaw chart topper and 2021 CMA Entertainer Of The Year Luke Combs.
In The Morning Light is on Billy's 16 track fifth album Renewal released on September 24.
Further info - https://www.billystrings.com/
BLANE HOWARD ROCK ON WINDOW
Arkansas born star Blane Howard chances his arm and heart on his Behind Bars debut.
The rock he tossed at a belle's window morphed into a rock on her hand in a story of young lovers sneaking out, getting into trouble and growing love together.
Howard wrote Rock On Her Window with Doug Johnson for the video directed and produced by Jenny Gill.
It follows biggest success Promise To Love Her , written with Jordan Reynolds, as a wedding gift to his wife Megan.
Rock On Her Window is on the third album by the singer who also wrote the Run it Back anthem for Kansas City Chiefs NFL team.
Further info - https://blanehoward.com/
MATT JOE GOW CELEBRATION
 |
Expat Kiwi singer-songwriter Matt Joe Gow finds good reasons to celebrate his return to Out On The Weekend festival Saturday at Steamworks in Williamstown.
Matt Joe awoke from dreams and headed to Dandenong Ranges where he was backed by his band the Dead Leaves .
Gow, 42, also played famed Brunswick Ballroom and diverse Lilydale venues on return from lockdown.
“My band was riding high having won the Music Victoria Award for best Country Album,” Gow revealed.
“We were being invited to play some amazing festivals and shows and were preparing to record the new album. We were feeling good, and after the highs and lows of the previous three albums, this song was about taking stock of what you have and celebrating the moment. The song and the new album will be the third album to be produced by myself and longtime guitarist Andrew Pollock and I feel the song's sentiment still rings true. Perhaps even more so today in the face of what appears to be a completely changed landscape for myself and much of society as whole. Now, more than ever, I feel we need to celebrate the little things, the moments together, the wins.
Go Ahead Celebrate is on the Melbourne singer's fourth album written in 2019 but delayed for release until next year.
CLICK HERE for a Matt Joe interview in The Diary on September 26, 2018.
DAN HIGGINS ROWS HIS OWN BOAT
 |
Dan Higgins illustrates a rowing metaphor on his debut as he is guided by a lantern and moonlight to the lady of his dreams in a video directed by Duncan Toombs.
Be The Moon For You is on his debut album Make Love Enough.
Dan grew up on a family farm near Nowendoc south of Walcha in northern NSW tablelands.
“It's been a long journey from starting my debut album Make Love Enough to its release alongside my new single Be The Moon For You,” Higgins revealed.
“We can all have moments in life where there may seem to be no way out, but it's the ones who are able to give you hope in that moment that can change your whole course of action. There is a simple truth behind the moon and how it illuminates the darkest nights. I am humbled by the way that radio has embraced all my songs and excited to share this new music video with everyone now.”
Dan recorded his album with producer Matt Fell at Love Hz studio and Steve Newton at ENREC Studio.
It features seven originals including some written with Golden Guitarists Carter & Carter.
“This album is a collection of songs written about the journey that we all share called life,” Higgins added.
“It's a personal encouragement from me to you that through the ups and downs, you can keep your head high knowing that you have a purpose” says Dan.
Further info - https://www.danhiggins.com.au/
CHRIS SWAYN CHRISTMAS ENTRÉE
 |
Melbourne singer-songwriter Chris Swayn of Warrains and Leadbetter Swayn ends our show with a family slice of Christmas wishes.
I Just Want To See Christmas was inspired by his dad Barry.
“Off the back of a Covid poem about my need to hang my hat on Christmas Christopher my eldest son massaging my pathetic needs got to and wrote a song, I Just Want to See Christmas ,” Barry revealed.
“I like to think my work inspired him, by the time we finished the video I feel Chris may have wished he'd left it in the drawer.”
You can help us celebrate Christmas by being Nu Country TV members.
WIN WAYLON, GEORGE JONES AND MERLE HAGGARD
George Jones, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson were among country historian Barbara Dowling's favourite Texans.
You can win Waylon, Highwaymen , Merle and George discs donated by Barbara who died at 77 in December by becoming a Nu Country TV member or renewing your membership.
She co-hosted Long In The Saddle in our Nu Country FM era and was pioneer Australian and Victorian country music awards judge.
Barbara was admired for rising above losing her sight as a young woman and her country passion with annual trips to Waylon's birthplace in Littlefield, West Texas.
Waylon died at 64 on February 13, 2002, and is survived by singing spouse Jessi, now 78, and son Shooter, 42.
WIN KEITH URBAN CDS ALSO
We have expatriate Australasian superstar Keith Urban's chart topping 12th album The Speed Of Now - Part 1.
Also BR5-49 CD Big Backyard Beat Show and Billy Ray Cyrus's historic 1992 album Some Gave All that features Achy Breaky Heart.
Join Watling & Bates as members and win their 13 track CD Small Town Tales.
We have other CDS by major artists you can win by becoming a Nu Country TV member or renewing your membership.
They include Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Eric Church, Kip Moore and late larrikin legend A.P. Johnson.
CLICK HERE for our Membership Page for details.