Jasmine Rae Receives CMA Global Artist Award

ABC recording artist Jasmine Rae has been awarded the prestigious CMA (USA) Global Artist Award. The award was presented to Jasmine backstage at the CMC Rocks the Hunter festival by The Band Perry and CMA Board International Director Rob Potts. 

Previous Australian winners of the award include Lee Kernaghan, Kasey Chambers, The McClymonts, Tommy Emmanuel and Troy Cassar-Daley. 

The Global Artist Award recognizes outstanding achievements by a country music artist -- originally signed outside of the United States - in both furthering the popularity of country music and bringing attention to the country music format in their foreign based territory. 

‘It’s such an honour to be recognised by the CMA,” said Jasmine. “They play such an important role in making Country Music great. I'd also like to thank country music fans all over the world for their passion and support.” 

Jasmine Rae is a two-time ARIA nominee and the 2012 CMC Oz Artist of the Year. Her first two albums have yielded five #1 singles and she was the first Australian artist to reach a million plays on MySpace. She also has over a million plays on YouTube. 

Jasmine has just returned from Nashville, where she recorded her third studio album with producer Luke Wooten (Dierks Bentley, Kellie Pickler). The album is due for release in August this year. 

For all media enquires please contact:
National Promotions Manager - ABC Contemporary Music Nicole Stringer (02) 02 9207 0600/ nicole.stringer@umusic.com

Springsteen checks out the Zac Brown Band

The Zac Brown Band made their first concert appearance in Australia last night at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne. They blitzed through a raucous set, wowing not only the crowds, but a special fan watching from the side of stage.

Ashbury Park NJ's own, Bruce Springsteen, the most iconic musician of the past four decades, had taken up position in the wings and checked out the Zac Brown Band's set. His saxophone player, Jake Clemons, even stepped out on stage and joined them for a song.

After the show, Zac and Bruce hung out and chatted backstage.

Come and see what got the Boss's attention at the Deni Blues & Roots Festival this weekend, when the Zac Brown Band plays the main stage at 3.00pm on Saturday.

Get tickets to the festival, which also features Santana, Chris Isaak, Jason Mraz, Bonnie Raitt, Status Quo, Jimmy Cliff, Newtown Faulkner and Tony Joe White, here.

Morgan Evans is the CMC New Oz Artist of the Year

This evening, Country Music Channel (CMC) announced the winners in the CMC Music Awards 2013 at a special event held at The Great Cask Hall, Hope Estate Winery in the Hunter Valley, to launch the annual roots and country music festival, CMC Rocks the Hunter.

The CMC Music Awards celebrate country music in Australia and allow fans to the opportunity to vote for their favourite artists in five categories, as well as honouring one artist with the CMC Lifetime Achievement Award. This was the biggest year of voting in the history of the Awards.

Rising star, Morgan Evans, was awarded CMC New Oz Artist of the Year. Already he has racked up more career milestones than many performers manage in a lifetime – including award nominations, a number one single and number one video, as well as touring performances with Taylor Swift, Brooks & Dunn, Thirsty Merc, Shannon Noll and more. Morgan is set to perform at CMC Rocks the Hunter 2013 tomorrow as well.
 
Since joining forces six years ago, The McClymonts, sisters Brooke, Sam and Mollie, have taken the country music world by storm and tonight they were crowned CMC Oz Artist of the Year – Australia’s favourite country artist. With their exquisite three-part harmonies, soaring vocals and stunning onstage presence, it’s not surprising that the trio has become the hottest recording and touring act in Australian country music.

Country music king, Keith Urban, won two Awards, with CMC viewers voting him CMC International Artist of the Year and his music video for the Golden Globe-nominated song, For You, the CMC International Video of the Year. While the immensley popular duo, McAlister Kemp, were awarded CMC Australian Video of the Year for the title track to their sophomore album, Country Proud. They take to the main stage at CMC Rocks the Hunter 2013 tomorrow night.

In the final award of the night, icons of Australian country music, The LeGarde Twins were honoured with the CMC Lifetime Achievement Award. This Award recognises artists who have had an impact on Australian country music beyond their own careers. In 2013, CMC pays tribute to the road paved by Tom and Ted LeGarde who were the first Australian country music exports to the US.

With a career spanning seven decades, The LeGarde Twins were Australia’s youngest professional riders in rodeos before being signed to the fledging Rodeo label in 1950. They toured the country, releasing a number of singles over the years before leaving for North America in 1957 where they hosted their own TV series in Hollywood before settling in Nashville. Their career has seen them tour Australia, the US and the UK, release numerous albums, be inducted into the The Country Music Hands Of Fame in Tamworth and host a variety of TV shows. In January 2011, The LeGarde Twins’ previously unaired Country Style program, which was filmed in 1964 in Sydney, had its world TV premiere on CMC.

Celebrating their 83rd birthday today and in Australia to perform at the festival, Tom and Ted were elated at receiving the award and being back in their homeland saying, “How wonderful it is to be back to the land of the Southern Cross after 21 years. The land and people we love the most. We’re here to rock at CMC Rocks The Hunter. Let’s make it one big party. We’re ready. Join us.”
The brothers the closed the show with a very special performance.

Hosted by O’Shea, guests included artists Chris Young (USA), Stephen Barker Liles (Love & Theft), McAlister Kemp, Morgan Evans and Peter McWhirter. The event also included performances by Baylou and Adam Brand and Jasmine Rae.

The CMC Music Awards have struck a chord with viewers as it gives country music fans nationwide the opportunity to vote for the Australian country artists they think deserve to be crowned this country’s favourite. The 2013 were staged in conjunction with the sixth annual CMC Rocks the Hunter roots and country music festival, taking place this weekend from today to Sunday March 17.

ZAC BROWN BAND TO PLAY ONLY HEADLINING SHOW IN SYDNEY

Multiple Grammy-award winning artists ZAC BROWN BAND today announced that they will play a one-off intimate club show in Sydney as part of their highly anticipated Australian tour this month. The US hitmakers will play their first headlining show at The Hi-Fi in Sydney on Wednesday 27th March. This is sure to be one of the hottest tickets in town. Check out more HERE.

Since the release of their double-platinum-selling debut album The Foundation in 2008, the seven-piece has been nominated for over seventy major awards, winning several including Grammy Awards for Best New Artist (2010), Best Country Collaboration with Vocals (2011) and Best Country Album (2012). Their genre-bending musical style incorporates Southern rock, reggae, jam-band, folk, R&B, country and blues into a unique sound fuelled by incredible musicianship, relatable lyrics and irresistible melodies.

Led by the smooth-voiced Georgia-born picker Zac Brown, the band's frenetic, jaw-dropping live performances have become legendary. They’ve been compared to The Eagles, Dave Matthews Band and Jimmy Buffett. Aussie fans have been clamouring for Zac Brown Band to tour down under for years, calls that have only intensified with the release of their latest Billboard #1 album, Uncaged.

When news was announced that they would tour as special guest to Jason Mraz and appear on the bills for the Deni Blues and Roots Festival and Byron Bay Bluesfest, fans were thrilled. Now we're proud to announce this one-off headlining show, which will see the band tearing it up in standing room only. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the arena-level superstars up close and personal.

Special guest for the show will be BUSBY MAROU. Rockhampton’s favourite sons, the duo released their self-titled debut album in 2011 through Warner Music and have already racked up a shelf of awards, including APRA and Deadly Awards. Tom Busby’s cheeky on stage presence and Jeremy Marou’s freakish musical ability on all instruments combined with cracking harmonies, breathtaking musicianship and a natural feel for each others guitars.

TICKETS FOR THE HEADLINE SHOW GO ON SALE MON 11 MARCH, 9am AEDT


Wednesday 27th March    The Hi-Fi, Sydney
HEADLINE SHOW JUST ANNOUNCED
www.oztix.com.au 1300 762 545

Also appearing at:
Deni Blues Festival, Deniliquin - www.denibluesfestival.com.au