Welcome to the 2009 Grabine Music Muster FestivalThe Grabine Music Muster will be staged on Friday night 27th and Saturday 28th November 2009. This year artist line up includes Lee Kernghan, Steve Forde, Shea Fisher, Paul Costa, Lee Forster and local band Brittle Jack. Talent quest is on Friday night and Saturday will offer 8 hrs of live entertainment. Tickets are just $50 per adult and $20 per child. Children under 10 years old can enter free of charge including camping and gate entry. Tickets can be bought online or by phone on 4835 2345. So grab your hat, grab your tent, grab your mates, and head to Grabine! |
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Line up:
Steve FordeGolden Guitar-winning performer Steve Forde is headlining again at the Grabine Music Muster. Steve Forde Steve Forde was born in the regional farming centre of Cowra, New South Wales in 1977. Steve spent most of his early childhood moving from town to town across NSW with his family. He is a singer, a songwriter and a touring country star. Although retired now, Steve was a successful bull rider and bareback bronco rider. Moving to the South Coast, the rawboned 18 year old Forde joined his first band and tasted the life of a touring country musician. It was also during this time that Forde decided that he wanted to join the rodeo as a bull rider. He first left for the USA in 1998 he joined a country band in Texas and toured through Colorado, South Dakota and into Canada. When the gigs were lean he would often be working in bars, building fences or riding bareback broncos in Lubbock, Texas. When his rodeo friend from Brisbane, Australia broke his back riding bareback in the rodeo Forde left for Nebraska however his car failed and he had to hitch a ride to Missouri where he found a man that was headed for a rodeo in Franklin, Tennessee Forde went to the rodeo strapped for cash hoping to win some much-needed money. Forde then headed off to Nashville, Tennessee where he was introduced to songwriter Dan Roberts. (Beaches of Cheyenne, The Old Stuff, The Fever, Dan also toured as opener for Garth Brooks for two years.) Hitting it off well with Dan he moved in for a time and had the pleasure of playing songs and working on new material with the writer who soon became his friend. Steve headed back to Australia when he heard that his father needed help on the farm and he went to work on the farm, still doing rodeos during the weekends. He bought his farm, near Grenfell, New South Wales and set about getting it cleaned up, stocked up and productive while still helping his father on his farm and finding time to getaway riding broncos. In 2007, Steve Forde teamed up with leading US producer Richard Landis and recorded his self-titled album - his first with ABC Music. The success of the album, which was one of the highest selling Australian country albums in 2007, firmly established Forde as one of Australia's premier country music artists. He went on to win three Golden Guitars in January 2008 for his part in the 'Spirit Of The Bush' collaboration with Lee Kernaghan and Adam Brand. Forde re-teamed with Landis in Nashville over the most recent US summer to record his next project - his new album, Guns & Guitars. The first single, 'Life's Got Something Good For Me' is a great example of what to expect on the new album, which is rawer and lyrically deeper at times than anything Forde has released before.
Lee KernaghanHis music is country but it also rocks and was the harbinger of a new era for Australian Country Music. Lee Kernaghan was born on April 15, 1964, in Corryong, Victoria on the foothills of the Snowy Mountains high country. The son of a truck driver and later multi platinum recording artist Ray Kernaghan, Lee spent his formative years growing up in the Riverina country of Southern NSW. Lee's Grandfather was a third generation drover of sheep and cattle and his experiences on the road with his Pop ran deep, producing a string of hits that began with the release of his first album, the ARIA award winning The Outback Club in 1992. His first number one hit 'Boys from the Bush' became an anthem, a celebration of a way of life that connected with the hearts and minds of a younger generation of rural Australians. His music was country but it rocked and was the harbinger of a new era for Australian Country Music. "When Garth (Porter) and I first wrote Boys from the Bush I had no idea it would ever be a hit. It was just a song about me and my mates, working on the land, going to the pub and tearing around in utes. I didn't think anyone would be that interested in us...we were just kids from the bush but Garth said "this record (The Outback Club) has to be about your life and where you come from" so we wrote that song and several others and before long I had a band and we were out on the road performing them live." In January 1993 Kernaghan was awarded his first Golden Guitar for Song of the Year (Boys from the Bush) along with more Golden Guitars for Album of the Year (The Outback Club) and Male Vocalist of the Year. Kernaghan and Porter collaborated again in 1993 to produce the highly acclaimed Three Chain Road album which featured the smash hits She's my Ute, The Outback Club and the award winning duet Leave him in the Longyard with Slim Dusty. Three Chain Road won Kernaghan a record five Golden Guitars at the Australian Country Music Awards, the 1994 ARIA Award for Country Album of the Year and Double Platinum Certification from the Australian Record Industry Association. Throughout his career Lee Kernaghan has dominated the charts with successive hit albums including Three Chain Road, 1959, Hat Town, Electric Rodeo, The New Bush, The Big Ones and #1 album Spirit of The Bush. Awarded Hit Maker of the Decade in recognition of unprecedented chart success throughout the 90's Lee was recently named the biggest hit-maker of the last twenty years on the Australian Country Tracks Chart 2009 edging out musical greats from Australia and America for the number one position. It hadn't always been smooth sailing for Kernaghan who after winning the 1982 Starmaker award soon found himself in the musical wilderness. "I remember being on a real high after Starmaker but my first single didn't have any impact at radio, there was a failed record and management deal somewhere in there and before long I was back in Albury, NSW trying to get gigs anywhere for me and my band. Nobody wanted to hear much country back then so I was mainly singing pop/rock covers and some rock 'n roll. I remember working in a piano bar playing cocktail music for a couple of years and even called bingo at the SS&A club between sets. Probably the darkest day was playing at the Carriers Arms Hotel in early 1990. I loaded in my PA and started playing at 8pm but a couple of hours went by and nobody turned up. At 11pm the bar manager said I could knock off and I loaded all my gear back into this little modified horse float I was towing, knowing that not a soul had turned up to my show, not even my Mum!" Kernaghan has always been passionate about the bush, children, families and the people of rural, remote and regional Australia. "The boys and I rolled into Charleville QLD one Saturday morning back in 1997. We'd been touring hard through the bush for the previous few years and had seen first hand the effects of drought and economic rationalisation on smaller towns and communities. We'd also experienced first hand the mighty spirit of country people that binds so many towns together and helps keep people going through good times and bad. As I looked up and down the main street of Charleville that morning I turned to the boys and said this is a Hat Town. As soon as I had said the words I knew it would be the title of my next album." 'Hat Town' became the first number one hit from the album which also produced the number one songs and music videos 'Gettin' Gone' and 'Goondiwindi Moon', which featured the stellar guest vocals from Grammy Award winning Trisha Yearwood. Wanting to give something back to the country Lee announced the "Toyota Pass the Hat Around Australia Tour" that went on to raise over one million dollars for country communities doing it tough. Funds were raised to air-condition country schools, for bushfire rebuilding projects, for the purchase of medical equipment for remote hospitals, emergency services, drought and flood relief. By the end of the 90's Kernaghan had spent the last eight years of his life recording and touring at a heavy pace. He entered the new millennium with his retrospective Rules of the Road album that featured his reworking of the Coster/Dusty classic Cunnamulla Fella and posthumous duets with the legendary Tex Morton and Buddy Williams. By 2002 Kernaghan was ready to rock and released Electric Rodeo, which topped the Australian Country Chart and debuted #4 on the ARIA Top 50 Album Sales Chart. Electric Rodeo was released in tandem with Kernaghan's performance as The Balladeer in the hit stage production "The Man from Snowy River Arena Spectacular" which won him his third ARIA Award for Best Musical Soundtrack. 2006 saw the release of his Album of the Year The New Bush, which was certified Platinum by ARIA and in 2007 the companion album Spirit of the Bush featured the Vocal Collaboration of the Year with Adam Brand and Steve Forde. Kernaghan's dynamic live performances have been a trademark to his stellar career which has enabled him to take country music "out of the box" and serve it up, pyrotechnics and all to a mainstream audience. Lee Kernaghan has become a leading figure in Australian music and a fine ambassador for his craft. Kernaghan has an undisputable passion for his music and his country and was named 2008 Australian of the Year by the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. To many people he represents the spirit and values of contemporary rural Australia but for Lee it's everyday Australians that inspire him the most. He has sold over one million albums in Australia, won 27 Golden Guitars, 3 ARIA awards, had 26 number one hits and 10 hit albums - all of which have achieved Platinum or better sales. On November 6, 2009 Kernaghan releases his latest collection of songs, Planet Country. Two years in the writing and producing, Planet Country may very well be his finest album to date. Recorded in Sydney and Nashville with what Lee describes as "some of the best musicians in the world", Planet Country reveals enormous depth, masterful songwriting and maturity in Kernaghan that can only have come from experience. Standout singles include 'Planet Country', 'People like Us', the majestic 'Love In The Time Of Drought', 'Dirt', 'Australian Boy', 'Gold' and 'Scars' the southern rock inspired duet featuring U.S. country superstar Dierks Bentley. "Planet Country is about me and it's about us. There's not one line from any song that I haven't lived myself or believe in. Every song on the album is there for a reason. Everyone who has contributed, from the players, songwriters, production and engineering team has made making Planet Country a highlight of my career. At the end of the day it's only music, but there's something special about this one for me."
Lee ForsterLee Forster is one of Australia's most exciting new singers, songwriters and performers, and his debut album, Keep Safe on the Track shows exactly what this hot new star is made of! Lee is one of the few Australian Indepedent Artists currently touring Australia with a Band. The past 12 months they have travelled over 112,000 kilometres. They have played over 150 shows including, the Gympie Muster (QLD), Mudbulls and Music(QLD), the Mildura Country Music Festival(VIC), Urban Muster(QLD), The Top of the Gulf Festival(SA), the Mountain Cattlemans Get Together(VIC), St. Arnauds Truck show(VIC), The Kalgoorlie Race Round (WA) and the Darwin Show and Darwin BNS (NT) and also Elquestro, Kakadu and Ayers Rock resorts. Most of these events have already asked them back to perform this year. Lee and his band have performed at various shows, from BnS Balls, Rodeos, Aboriginal Communities, pubs, clubs, country music musters and festivals, peoples paddocks, and in numerous towns from Kalgoorlie to Caboolture, Broome to Orbost, Fremantle to Tamworth. They have performed in front of over 53,000 people in the past year. Lee Forster is one of Australia's most exciting new singers, songwriters and performers and his debut album, "Keep Safe on The Track", shows exactly what this hot new star is made of! It's all about fun, cheekiness, drinkin, trucks, dogs, trains, utes, dams, girls and even love. I guess the themes are what you'd expect from a young Aussie bloke with a heart of gold who can write a good song and sing. Recorded at Stuie French's Swingin' Doors Studios in Sydney - the album sees Forster take full flight and position himself exactly where he wants to be. A stellar line up of Australia's best musicians add an exciting new dimension to the overall sound - blending today's country elements with the more traditional banjo, pedal steel and even bagpipes - giving Lee Forster a whole new groove and making him one of the most talked about acts right now.
"Keep Safe on the Track" has already had some hits from it. Including "A Fire in the bar" which reached number four on the singles charts. "1,000 Headlights" made it to number 5 and has also been featured on Bundy Country 2 album. It is also on the brand new "Boys from the Bush" Australian Men of country music compilation album featuring, Lee Kernaghan, Adam Brand, Steve Forde and many other leading Australian Male country singers. Some of Lee's Achievements have been listed below.
1. Winner - Male Vocal, 2007 Tamworth Independent Awards.
Shea FisherShea Fisher has made a huge impact on the country music scene with her debut album, entitled Everyday Girl. "The dream started here..." ... says Shea Fisher, smiling as she recalls her first visit to the United States at age 10. Her father, a champion bull rider, had brought the family from Australia as he chased his own dreams, but it was American country music that caught Shea's imagination. A champion barrel racer herself, Shea had become a huge fan of Reba McEntire while in Australia, but her world changed when she first heard Shania Twain's music while performing in a school play in tiny Elida, New Mexico. "I sang 'Any Man of Mine' before I even knew who Shania was," she says. "Then I bought her album, and from then on I was the kid who wound the window down and sang at the top of her lungs. I remember seeing her perform on TV and thinking, 'I want to be that one day. I want to do that.'" Ten years later, just 21 years old, Shea is fulfilling that dream, introducing her own brand of cutting-edge country to American music fans. In between, she followed a path Reba knew well, singing the national anthem - in this case Australia's - at rodeo events, then hitting the road to pay the dues that would earn her a growing legion of fans as she polished her performing and songwriting skills. Her American debut, Shea, showcases an emerging artist with a clear sense of identity, combining youthful energy and a seasoned performer's way with a lyric. They are qualities that made her the first female signing to Stroudavarious Records. "The minute I heard Shea's music, I knew I wanted to sign her," says label head and founder James Stroud. "Our label is all about the music, and Shea comes to the table with her A-game. She has done what many young artists don't accomplish until later, which is to find her own voice and make a record that reflects her vision." The album, co-produced by Richard Landis (known for his work with Vince Gill, Kenny Rogers and Neal Diamond, amongst others) and Australian country artist and producer Steve Forde, is a journey through an upbeat landscape of love and life, with songs like "A Little Bit Of Love," "Being With My Baby" and "Another Day In The Sun" celebrating the pure joy of romance. "Getaway Heart" looks at a woman's reaction to a non-committal man while "What He Did To Me" is nothing less than the classic revenge song, sung with justifiable satisfaction. Adding depth to the mix are songs like "Children," a look at the trials and anguish faced by so many young people in a troubled world, and "You Will," an exhortation to all of us to reach for our dreams. The project's first single, "Don't Chase Me," is a hook-laden bit of fun Shea describes as "girl-empowering" and which, she says, she can relate to. "When I first heard the song," she says with a laugh, "I thought, 'How did they know this was about me?" In fact, she looked throughout the process for songs that meant something to her. "I was looking for variety," she says, "but most importantly I wanted to be singing about things I can relate to. I wanted to deal with real issues, so there are songs about young love, heartbreak, relationships, self-motivation, and one that offers a reflection on the world's problems." Shea's journey toward the country charts began not long after her birth in Victoria, Australia. In fact, her talents on two fronts were evident at a very young age. She was just 3 when, influenced by her parents (rodeo champion father Eddie Fisher and barrel racing champion mother, Joanne) she began competing in - and winning - barrel racing competitions. "I don't even remember the first ones," she says, but competition and travel with her family became a way of life. She was soon beating 18-year-olds, and she was just 9 when she won her first National Rodeo Association Junior Barrel Racing Title. Many titles would follow. Her family's trip to the U.S. expanded her horizons - besides getting hooked on music, she branded cattle and drove her first pick-up truck - and when she returned to Australia at the age of 12, it was as a singer as well as a rodeo champion. She asked for and got the chance to sing the national anthem at a rodeo and, she says, "loved the adrenaline rush. It was almost the same as getting on a horse or a bull." She met Australian country star Steve Forde at another rodeo and "asked him if I could hop up on stage before he performed and sing a couple. He was wonderful - he let me do it!" The two formed a friendship and before long she was touring with him as his opening act. She formed a band, began writing songs and finally went to the U.S. again, this time to record. After that project spawned hit singles in Australia, she returned to the U.S., recording this time with hit producer Landis. "I've grown so much since then," she says. "Working with Richard is such an honor, because putting Richard's knowledge and my approach together captured something really special. This album reflects where I've come from and shows my progression." Stroud heard part of the project once Shea had returned to Australia, loved it, and offered to fly her back to talk about a deal. "I couldn't wait to work with the people at Stroudavarious," she says. "To have somebody like James, who's had so many 1 hits and has produced albums that have sold millions of copies, being so supportive of what I do is really incredible. I've been so lucky being a girl my age, being able to travel the world with my parents and now having the experience to live my dream and give it a real shot. I'm an everyday girl with a really cool job." As sure as Shea introduces a top-notch young singer to American audiences, it introduces an upbeat force of nature as well. "I believe the sky's the limit," she says, "for me and for everyone. Dream big. Work hard and you'll get there. It's just a matter of time. I'm going to keep dreaming big and keep striving to achieve new things every day." And, with the hard-won wisdom of one for whom being bucked from a horse or bull is no mere metaphor, she adds, "If you fall, get back up again and keep going. Whatever you want to do is possible if you want to make it happen." 
Paul CostaThe rising star of PAUL COSTA has burned brightly since 2004 with the release of his debut solo album Walkin' In These Shoes. The ground breaking album was a fresh and exciting debut that saw Paul jump emphatically onto centre stage with a string of Top 10 radio singles and a host of awards and accolades. A vocally compelling and charismatic performer, Paul drew audiences in with a bunch of great songs that struck a chord with the listeners. On both the debut album and the subsequent release, Restoration, Paul revealed his skills as a singer and interpreter, and there was also an underlying personal intensity with his choice of songs on both albums. He really related to the stories and emotions - and this truly was a young man revealing himself through the words of other songwriters. But there was also a highly individual writer beginning to emerge - three songs on his debut album were co-written by Paul - and that lit a fuse that was to smoulder until the release of his new album In This Life. The title track of the new collection is a window into Paul Costa in 2009. "In This Life is the song that I wanted the whole album to be about," reveals Paul. "It's about life from where I see it - the many choices and goals we have and being aware that it's OK to have dreams and to be different. "It's about working towards a better future in life and love." And instead of walking in other people's shoes to present his thoughts and emotions, this time Paul treads his own individual path. "For me, singing is about feeling the story and the emotions - and then conveying them to the listener," explains Paul, and that exactly what he's achieved with the outstanding collection on the new album. These are songs from the heart - Paul's heart to be specific. All 14 songs on In This Life have been co-written by Paul, drawing in fellow songwriters like Ron Sinclair, Gina Jeffreys, Matt Scullion, Sara Storer, Damian Portaro, Noel Costa, and most notably Rod McCormack. "It was an amazing experience," says Paul. "All the writers understood where I was coming from, and more importantly, where I was heading." Certainly the most important collaborator in the project was Rod McCormack - the producer of Paul's two previous albums. The two had already built a strong musical relationship through the Walkin' In These Shoes and Restoration projects, but this jumped to another level on In This Life with Rod's songwriting contribution to 10 of the cuts. "Rod and I have built up a real empathy," says Paul, "and it was just such a natural progression to the co-writing phase. "Rod has put his heart and soul into this project and I feel very honoured that he's thought enough of me to do so. "In This Life lyrically was from the very start going to be mostly a positive album about real life and events. Rod's resolve in staying the course through the many months on and off working on this project has been a large part of producing just that. "Musically we wanted to try a few new things to give us other flavours, and when it came down to picking who played on the album it was simple. Let's just get the best person we can for the job. "Rod has produced an album that's made us very proud, and speaking for myself, very excited about how it will be received." Paul's new walk down the road of life is uplifting - when he talks about the title track and goals, dreams and a better future, there's an overwhelmingly positive attitude that permeates the songs throughout In This Life. Perfect examples that jump out immediately are the long term optimism of No Turning Back, the lyrically enthralling Half The Man, and the life-changing Hello Smile with a title that virtually talks for itself. "Hello Smile is simply about that point in time when a person says to themselves 'goodbye to my broken heart and hello to the good times'. They no longer have the dark cloud hanging overhead - just sunshine from now on." Of course life isn't always a bed of roses, and Paul certainly shares the odd heartache and regret, like Man Overboard and Real World, but it's with no malice and a feeling of "lesson learned". Paul Costa is a reflective man. His superb Survivor 1932 harks back to days of hardship, pulling together and shaping a nation - and the message is eerily relevant in these current times. The idea came from Paul's brother Noel who had read a book on that era and 1932 jumped out as an unforgettable year in Australian history because of so many characters, events and heroes. "We decided to come from the aspect of a Grandfather talking to kids and painting a picture with his memories about what life was like back then - maybe even getting caught up and drifting as they unfold." The most biographical song in the set is Band Of Brothers. "It's a look into a great part of my life when I used to travel and perform shows every weekend with my three brothers," says Paul, "often juggling farm work, school and personalities. "Everyone's moved on now with there own lives and careers, but at the rare family function when we're all together, always ends up in a big jam session and bringing up ideas of a reunion concert or even tour." There are plenty of good country kickers here as well - the tongue-in-cheek swing masterpiece How'd I Fall For That, the two-stepping Real World and the party feel of Big Time In A Small Town. "Big Time is a fun song that makes me want to dance and party," says Paul. "The feeing that just because we live in a small town doesn't mean we can't have a big time and kick our heels up. It's the sense of a fun community spirit that goes with so many smaller towns - we don't even need an excuse - let's party hard." In This Life is a pivotal album for Paul - insightful, personal and driven by exemplary production from Rod McCormack and a studio roster of Australia's finest musicians. Paul Costa is a package for the future - he's got the looks, the voice and the attitude - but most importantly he's got the music. In This Life for this talented young man doesn't have a "use by" date on the package. 
Brittle JackYou come away from a Brittle Jack gig with a sore jaw from laughing and singing your head off and a sore pair of feet from stomping for hours. Brittle Jack is the hardest timber around. It's tough, rough and hard as steel. Brittle Jack trees can be found scattered here and there around the Southern Tablelands and when you meet one you are struck by its size and beauty. Tall and sturdy, no nonsense. This is far from the truth where the Brittle Jack band is concerned - these boys are ALL nonsense. You come away from a Brittle Jack gig with a sore jaw from laughing and singing your head off and a sore pair of feet from stomping for hours. Dasher and Appsey on vocals and guitar have been playing this way for eighteen years. Their voices complement their styles with moving ballads and jumping country rock standards. Pete the bass player adds to the chorus with vocal harmony and solid riffs while Scottie on drums will simply blow you away - they call him the human buffalo stampede. Andy tries to jump off stage with his lead guitar at any chance he gets - you may even see him try to pour your next beer while riffing on Jelly Roll. Brittle Jack is a good time - you'll dance 'til you drop your pants, and then come back next weekend for more. These boys may be "the other side of thirty five" but they go at that sound with a passion - popular standards like "Kiss an Angel Good Morning" to modern classics such as "Ticks". From ballads and blues to rock and roll, you yell it out and they'll give it a whirl. And you'll never really know what's coming, every gig is just like their latest album - Same But Different. |
 
Talent quest with over $1500 in prize money and exposure on Saturday night. 
Talent quest with over $1500 in prize money and exposure on Saturday night. Visit and join the Grabine Music Muster Facebook group!
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