The Duke Wilde Band
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The Duke Wilde Band (Nick Aitken, Aaron Partridge and Linc Phelps) performing in the Coca Cola Battle of the Bands in Tamworth, January 2010. |
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That winning feeling. Nick Aitken, Linc Phelps, Aaron Partridge and Jason Bray enjoying their win. |
The Duke Wilde Band hails from Gympie and is led by the AICM's studio engineer and resident musician Aaron Partridge. In January this year the band travelled to Tamworth with the hope of making some noise in Country Music's Australian capital - noise that would get them some attention.
And get attention they did. Not only did they win the Coca Cola Battle of the Bands, OZ Country's premier competition for bands held on the last Saturday of the Festival, they also won the Northern Daily Leader's Battle of the Country Bands held the next day.
Probably the most significant thing about the set that the boys performed in both competitions is that they are all original songs with topics ranging from "Steaming up the windows" by Nick Aitken to the very pertinent question to ask at Tamworth 2010 "Why don't we hear old Waylon anymore?" written by Aaron.
Groups from Gympie have been travelling down to Tamworth for the past 5 years and this is by far the most successful tour to date. Congratulations to the Duke Wilde Band and we wish you all the best in the future.
Tamworth 2010
The Bandicoots and The Institute were in Tamworth in January.
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The Institute (Jordan Beach-Willow (guitar), Zoe Betts-Bailey (drums), Rachel Hogan (vocals) and Lennan Beattie (guitar)) perform in the Coca Cola Battle of the Bands |
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The Bandicoots (Jessamy Fox (guitar), Jasper Barr (guitar), Ben Wight (drums) and Jake Reid (bass and vocals)) perform in the Jazzer Talent Quest at The Pub. |
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Some of the tour party chill out at McDonalds after the 10 hour bus ride from Gympie Down to Tamworth. |
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Bandicoots drummer Ben Wight catches up with Jay Collie, member of the successful band Jonah's Road |
Another very successful trip to Tamworth has come to an end and the concept of a combined CSMOE / AICM tour proved to be very successful again this year. Tour leaders were Don Reid and Geoff Walden and the students were also accompanied by a number of parents.
The group was accommodated at the Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School which is a boarding school with facilities to cater for 360 boarders. The Gympie group had two dormitories, one for males and one for females. As well as a bed, Farrer provided breakfast each day and a swimming pool which provided much needed relief from the heat. Tamworth weather varied a little from the norm this year with the first couple of days feeling more like winter than summer. It tricked those of us who took only bedding suitable for summer weather.
As well as the success enjoyed by the Duke Wilde Band, all students on the trip gained experiences that will help them in the future. For example, playing in the Coca Cola Tent and using its professional sound equipment and technicians is a learning experience that can only be had in the environs of a large festival.
As a result of contacts made by CMSOE staff, Gympie students had the opportunity of playing each morning in the Fitzroy Tavern, starting at 9am. While this is a little early for most musicians, it proved a great alternative to setting up in Peel St and busking in the open air. This meant that all tour members were able to perform at least once each day.
The AICM is thankful to Gympie State High School and the CMSOE for the opportunity to participate in the combined tour and looks forward to continued cooperation between the two organisations.
New music video website
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A new initiative of the AICM has been to develop a music video website specifically designed for those with an interest in country music. The website will feature only video clips that will fit into the country music genre and will be closely monitored by AICM staff. Only videos and comments approved of by the AICM staff will make it through to the web page.
The site is available at www.gocountry.tv
The first major use of the gocountry.tv website has been to provide access to the videos taken of AICM and CMSOE students during the recent Tamworth Festival. To view these videos, go to www.gocountry.tv and select "Tamworth 2010" from the Category list on the left of the page. You should see a list of thumb nails to the right and by clicking on any one of thumb nails should load the video into the screen.
If you wish to make a comment or suggest videos to be included on the site, you need to register, a relatively simple task.
We look forward to your making use of the site in the near future. Please don't hesitate to let us know if there is something you need included or changed on the site. Email us at geoff@gocountry.tv
AICM Teaching Program for 2010
The AICM will become even more busy this year we we develop the concept of a One Stop Shop for learning to play musical instruments that are associated with the contemporary popular and country music industries. For information and bookings, phone 07 5481 2355.
Private lessons:
| Di Cross | Popular Keyboard, Kinderbeat for pre-schoolers |
| Matt Perrin | Drums |
| Aaron Partridge | Guitar, bass guitar |
| Karen Thomsen | Onstage development |
| Geoff Walden | Guitar, bass guitar |
Group lessons:
| Karen Thomsen | Onstage development classes |
| Karen Thomsen | Movement to music classes |
| Karen Thomsen | Beginner guitar classes for adults |
| Geoff Walden | Intermediate guitar/bass guitar classes for adults |
| Geoff Walden | Gympie Kids Rock, Intermediate guitar, bass, drums |
| Geoff Walden | Gympie Kids Rock, beginner guitar, bass drums |
| Geoff Walden | Start a band |
aicmStudio - try it for free
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Nick Aitken tried both the aicmStudio and its engineer/musician Aaron Partridge. Between Nick and Aaron, they now have a number of songs that are attracting interest in the industry. |
Are you one of those people who has a song inside you but haven't seen fit to share it with the world on the outside?
Here is your chance to experience the recording process in a supportive and knowledgeable environment for free. The AICM is offering you the first day in the recording studio at no charge provided you book during the month of February.
Make some contact with Aaron and arrange to have your song recorded in the privacy of our studio. Aaron can also play all of the instruments for you if needed so don't hesitate any longer. Join the people who are making the world a better place by making their music available through recording.
Phone the AICM on 07 5481 2355.
Trip of a lifetime to Twang Town USA
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Some of the things you will see on the 2010 AICM recording tour to Nashville TN - The Bell South Tower and the Hard Rock Cafe on Broadway. |
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The Ernest Tubb Record Shop on Broadway, Nashvile TN |
Interested in a trip of a lifetime to Twang Town USA to record some of your songs in a Nashville studio using Nashville session musicians.
The AICM is organising a trip in 2010 to Nashville for people who would like to record in the city. The tour will be two weeks long and include a weekend in Memphis on the way over and a day at Disneyland on the way back.
Given sufficient numbers, the tour will be led by AICM manager (and regular Nashville visitor) Dr Geoff Walden and AICM studio engineer Aaron Partridge. All arrangements for studio time and session musicians will be made prior to leaving and Nashville contact for all of this side of things will be resident and ex-pat Aussie, Mark Moffatt.
If you are interested in being part of this tour, contact either Geoff Walden or Aaron Partridge by email of phone us on 07 5481 2355.