Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley
Brooke McClymont is one third of top-selling, award-winning Australian country music trio The McClymonts. With over 200,000 album sales, 40 million streams, two ARIA Awards, fifteen Golden Guitar Awards, one CMA (USA) Award, one APRA Award and five #1 ARIA Country Albums, the McClymonts are a dominant female group in Australian country music with major success from hits such as ‘Kick It Up’, ‘Wrapped Up Good’ and ‘I’ve Got This’.
Adam Eckersley has won five Golden Guitar Awards: the first in 2015 for New Talent of the Year; and then in 2016 in the Group or Duo of the Year category with The Adam Eckersley Band whose 2014 debut album, The First Album, debuted in the Top 5 on the ARIA Country Chart, with The Second Album debuting at #7 the following year. Adam has also been recognised for his songwriting, winning the APRA Award for Country Work of the Year (2015), and receiving an Honourable Mention in the International Songwriting Competition in 2014.
Darlinghurst
Darlinghurst is a Golden Guitar Award winning act from Melbourne VIC, Australia. Originally a four piece, it was announced in December 2023 that they were moving forward into 2024 as a duo; comprising original members, Cassie Leopold and Pagan Newman.
Darlinghurst created a new sound in the Australian country sphere that is as accessible as it is unique. Grounded in refined song writing, a keen ear for melody, relatable lyricism and exceptional performances, Darlinghurst has broad appeal that has been reflected in the success to date.
Their debut album, “Darlinghurst”, entered the ARIA Australian Country Albums Chart at Number One, earned them the Golden Guitar Award for New Talent of the Year in 2022 and have played major festivals and support to some of music’s biggest names including The Corrs, The Black Sorrows and Jon Stevens.
The first taste of the new Darlinghurst lands Friday January 5 with the brand-new single, “Unapologetic”. Co-written by all four original members along with producers, M Squared. The song is uplifting and anthemic while capturing a whole new feel that is surprising yet exciting – it’s a sure fire hit that will please the loyal Darlinghurst followers and capture the hearts of new fans.
Amy Shark
Already well-established as one of Australia’s premier pop successes, Amy Shark enters a new era of artistry – one built on a foundation of inner peace and fulfillment. Don’t let the idea of peace fool you however, this new chapter for Amy Shark is one marked by fresh and powerful turbo-pop; a creative mode the acclaimed songwriter and performer is excited to share with her fans and newcomers alike.
The new single ‘Only Wanna Be With You’ is easily one of the sharpest pop compositions from Amy Shark to date. It’s the perfect gateway to the wider Amy Shark world for newcomers. And for those who have followed Amy since the beginning – this first new music is a confident stride forward in her artistic evolution. It’s no mean feat to keep the fires of inspiration and influence burning when you’ve already crafted some of modern Australian pop music’s most memorable songs.
Yet for Amy, the chase for a new sonic realm and creative challenge has never been more important for her as she navigates this new time of her career. “The second this song was birthed I was like, “I’m sorry, that’s an undeniable chorus”. It’s got so many pop, Amy Shark elements to it, but there’s this gritty, fuzzy punk guitar that comes in…I used to be really
scared of guitars and maybe just recently, with what I’ve been listening to, it’s brought it to life. I’ve gone with my gut a lot more on this song and the whole new era.” AMY SHARK
Kip Moore
Drill down deep enough, and there’s a beautiful conflict at the core of most things. A push and pull that inspires buildings and books, dream chasers and 9-to-5ers. It drives some to greatness, drives others mad, and even the finest poets struggle to capture it in words. But Kip Moore puts it simply enough:
Damn Love.
The beating heart and title track of his fifth studio album for MCA Nashville, it’s a yearning that seems engrained on each and every soul – no matter how hard we fight it.
“There’s a reason love and relationships have been written about so much – and why they continue to get written about,” Moore says. “Because at the core of us, that’s what we desire the most.”
Of course, there’s more to love than romance; passion takes many forms. And after almost 20 years in orbit around Nashville, Moore sees it all clearer than ever.
A genre-blending songsmith with a warm, honey-infused growl, four previous albums have brought the Georgia native success, often driven by deep-feeling lyrics with an easy Southern charm, and a hint of rock ‘n’ roll mystery. His five Top 10 country radio singles include 2012’s 3x Platinum Number One, “Somethin’ ‘Bout a Truck,” which he followed up with three more best selling chart toppers (“Hey Pretty Girl,” “Beer Money” and “More Girls Like You”), each one coaxing cosmic truth from down-home simplicity.
Wielding a rugged poetic flair, he’s sold millions of records and garnered over 2.7 billion streams through that time, traveling the world and growing a truly global following in the process – all with the focus of an avowed lone wolf. He was even uniquely situated to embrace the pandemic shutdown, going back to nature after 2020’s Wild World to rock climb, write songs and generally “stay quiet and away from the madness of humans” in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge. In the beginning, it suited his nomadic spirit fine.
“I think it was the most creative I’ve ever been, because I’ve always internally craved solitude, and I was in it every day,” Moore explains. “That part was soul filling for me.”
But gradually, something changed.
Getting off the treadmill he’d been on for a decade-plus, Moore slowly began to feel the weight of his solitude, self-imposed or otherwise. The lockdowns lifted and Moore got back on the road, back in front of fans and back on stage, but the shift stayed with him. “I think it’s in our DNA,” he says now. “We need companionship. … Maybe I do a little less than most, but it’s still there.”
Somewhat suddenly, that realization began to fill his work. Over 13 new tracks, emotionally raw and thick with epiphany, a tug of war emerged between adventurous wanderlust – a love that keeps him writing music and traveling highways – and that basic human craving for someone to share it with.
Tyler Hubbard
With 21 No.1 singles on country radio, countless awards, and sold-out tours, Tyler Hubbard has already had a remarkable career as a songwriter and as one half of multi-platinum duo Florida Georgia Line.
Hubbard’s debut solo album, aptly titled Tyler Hubbard, was released in January 2023 and has amassed more than 1 billion streams to date. It features Hubbard’s hit debut solo single “5 Foot 9,” which hit No. 1 at Country Radio, was certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA and has 548M global streams. It also features Hubbard’s second No. 1 single, “Dancin’ In The Country,” which already has more than 380M global streams, has been certified Platinum by the RIAA and marked his second No. 1 at Country Radio.
Hubbard has made several television appearances as a solo artist, most recently at NBC’s TODAY Show, and also on the CMT Music Awards, Good Morning America and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Hubbard’s new radio single “Back Then Right Now” is out now, and it is the first of Hubbard’s album ’Strong,’ which is due April 12 via EMI Nashville. The Georgia native is set to headline CMC Rocks in Australia this Spring, and he’ll support Kane Brown on his In The Air Tour throughout early 2024. Listen to “Back Then Right Now,”
John Williamson
John Williamson’s career now spans an incredible 54 years. With his audiences continuing to grow it’s hard to consider retiring, but 2024 will see John travelling less and performing at larger and more selective venues.
John’s musical journey started in 1970 when he left the farm and wandered into Melbourne’s GTV9 studios with a guitar under his arm and the chance to perform his first ever song ‘Old Man Emu’ on Channel Nine’s New Faces program. John walked away with a recording deal and a number one single followed.
‘Old Man Emu’ topped the charts for five weeks. John said it took the next 16 years of honing his skills in pubs and clubs before he ‘made it’ when his ‘Mallee Boy’ album was released. It went triple platinum, won Golden Guitars for Album of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year and an ARIA for Best Australian Country Record. The album included the enduring classics of ‘Mallee Boy’, ‘Galleries of Pink Galahs’, ‘Raining on the Rock’, ‘Cootamundra Wattle’ and ‘True Blue’ all songs that John can’t leave out of his concerts to this day.
Amber Lawrence
6 x Times Golden Guitar winner, Australian singer-songwriter, Amber Lawrence is one of Australia’s most celebrated and hardest working country artists, and just been announced the 2023 Female Artist of the Year at the CMAA Golden Guitar Awards! The Tamworth Country music festival also saw Amber inducted into the prestigious Galaxy of Stars – alongside legends such as Kasey Chambers and Lee Kernaghan.
Amber is prolific as an artist, having released 7 studio albums and 3 children’s albums. Amber is constantly creating new music and touring this wide land of ours – she’s now about to enter the 20th year of her career, a remarkable achievement.
2022 was the biggest year of Amber’s career so far – releasing her ARIA Number 1 Country Album “Living for the Highlights”, as well as going on to receive a Best Country Album nomination at the 2022 ARIA Awards, plus 6 CMAA Golden Guitar nominations, including Female Artist of the Year and Album of the Year, which she won. She was also the highest
selling female artist for 2023.
This is a reward for the relentless touring schedule Amber undertook in 2022, performing over 90 shows Australia wide. Amber is a an 2 x ARIA Nominee and 6 x CMAA Golden Guitar Award winner.
Brad Cox
Brad Cox, the beloved Australian artist, and songwriter, has carved a remarkable path in the music scene, captivating audiences with his authentic spirit and down-to-earth persona. With a series of chart-topping albums and hit singles, Cox has solidified his place as one of the most celebrated musicians in the country.
In 2023, Brad’s third studio album ‘ACRES’ reached #1 on ARIA Country Charts and #7 on ARIA Album Chart and was awarded the Golden Guitar for ‘Top Selling Country Album of the Year’. The album stands as a testament to his versatility, navigating thematically from earthy country pop to heartfelt piano-led ballads and anthemic party songs.
Following the album release Brad and his band of brothers embarked on the ‘Acres Tour.’ The tour was met with overwhelming support, with packed houses singing along word for word, highlighting Brad’s powerful connection with his fans, and his established status as a renowned festival headline act.
Elestial
Newcastle’s sonic storytellers. With a blend of ethereal melodies and raw indie energy, Elestial paints emotive landscapes through their music. The band’s introspective lyrics, woven into captivating arrangements, invite listeners to explore the depths of human experience. Emerging from Newcastle’s vibrant music scene, Elestial’s sound is a fusion of dreamy introspection and anthemic uplift.
Fronted by Elyssa’s vocals, the band is comprised of Jye on bass, Rohan playing lead guitar and Toby on kit. From intimate venues to larger stages, their performances create an immersive journey, connecting hearts with each chord. Elestial’s music resonates with those seeking both catharsis and connection, making them a distinctive and resonant presence in the indie music scene.
Fanny Lumsden
2x ARIA and 8x Golden Guitar winner Fanny Lumsden’s shows are one of a kind. An all-in affair, where joy and exuberance meet intimate storytelling, delivered with wit, warmth & luscious harmonies. Alongside her band The Prawn Stars, Fanny has ‘established herself as one of the genre’s most esteemed performers’ (The Australian), honing her craft in hundreds of halls on their annual ‘Country Halls Tour’ all the way to her first UK show – a packed-out Avalon Stage at Glastonbury.
Fanny has just released her 4th studio album Hey Dawn which just took out the ARIA for Best Country Album presented by Dolly Parton, was nominated for the AMP (Mercury Prize equivalent) and nominated for 4 CMAA Golden Guitar awards. Hey Dawn debuted at number 1 on the ARIA Australian Album charts and in the top 10 global ARIA charts and has gone on to hold the number 1 Australian Country spot for 5 weeks and been in the top 10 for 16 weeks. Hey Dawn has gained high praise including 4 stars in Rolling Stone Magazine and being claimed as being as ‘unique and timeless’ (Capital News), a ‘triumph’ (Women in Pop) and cementing Fanny as ‘undoubtedly the brightest new country star of this era’ (Capital news). Featuring standout tracks including the ‘breathtaking (Rolling Stone) opening track Hey Dawn, the country radio top ten and CMT #1 hit Millionaire, and fast fan favourites ‘When I die’ and ‘Ugly Flowers’.
Sunny Cowgirls
For homegrown country duo the Sunny Cowgirls, there’s a whole lotta road strung out behind the battered old red WB – and plenty of dust coating the guitar cases rattling and shifting in the tray. But after 15 years on the road, sisters and now mothers, Soph and Less Clabburn show no signs of slowing down.“We’re still alive – and we’re still making music!” Less jokes.
With eight acclaimed albums, a monumental live CD and two stellar DVDs already to their credit, the Sunny Cowgirls have been delighting Australian audiences and fans ever since their tearaway debut album Little Bit Rusty landed in 2005. Now with more than 83,000 likes on the Facebook page, the Sunny Cowgirls rank among the best-loved artists in the country.
To celebrate a decade and a half on the road, the Sunny Cowgirls kicked off 2019 by setting up shop in the historic Gunnible homestead outside Gunnedah to record some new songs with great mate and sought-after producer Matt Fell. “We had some new songs,” Soph explains, “and we thought the way to get it done would be to record at home – to bring the studio to us! We wanted to go into an old shed or a homestead to get a different sound and a different kind of vibe.”
For the Sunny Cowgirls, recording in a beautiful old farmhouse was a natural homecoming