Go Country - Go Gympie
Apologies for the break since the last newsletter but big things have been happening in the meantime. The AICM has been successful in gaining significant funding under the Get Communities Working program administered by the Federal Government's Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.
Our project, entitled Go Country - Go Gympie and valued at $ 687 000, will create employment for construction workers to refurbish the remaining two rooms of the AICM building and refurbish the bomb shelter into a recording studio. The AICM will also employ a manager and education director for 12 months as well as trainees in the fields of office administration, studio engineer, music video, live music producer and online producer for 12 months.
The project is about generating employment in the creative industries so that Gympie can become a hub for Australian country music with a focus on the youth market. Keep an eye and ear out for future exciting developments.
Caboolture
The Urban Country Talent Search, May 2, 3, 2010
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Gympie's Stephanie Ward-Wrigley performing in the finals of the juvenile section at the Caboolture Urban Country Talent Search |
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CMSOE students Grace Sleeman and Caitlyn Shadbolt after competing in the heats of the junior section of the Caboolture Urban Country Talent Search. |
Gympie was well represented by very talented artists and musicians at the recent Urban Country Festival. Stephanie Ward-Wrigley, Letitia Cumner, Caitlyn Shadbolt, Grace Sleeman, The Bandicoots, Jessamy Fox and Fiona and Mark O'Shea travelled to Caboolture on Saturday and Sunday to compete in 2010 Voice of Urban Country Talent Search.
In the heats held on Saturday and Sunday, all performers did themselves, their parents and tutors proud. Stephanie made it to the finals of the juvenile (under 12 years) section, Caitlyn and The Bandicoots made it to the finals of the Junior (13 - 17 years) section and Fiona and Mark were selected for the finals of the open section.
The finals were held in the Caboolture RSL on Sunday evening and Gympie was well represented in the winners circles. Stephanie was awarded third place in her section, Caitlyn came second in her section and Fiona and Mark were very excited to be awarded the encouragement award. Fiona and husband Mark were also awarded third place in the busking competition held over Saturday and Sunday. "We met the most friendly and supportive lot of people you could ever wish to meet during the festival. Huge thanks must go to the organisers who ran the entire event like clockwork and offered lots of positive encouragement" said Fiona after the event.
See section below for links to video of some of the performances.
What's new at goCountry.tv
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Caitlyn made the finals of the junior section at the Caboolture Urban Country Talent Search and was placed second
Bandicoots made the finals of the junior section at the Caboolture Urban Country Talent Search.
Leticia performed in the heats of the junior section at the Caboolture Urban Country Talent Search
Bandicoots go South
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Bandicoots performing a lunch hour concert at Gympie South State School |
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AICM young guns The Bandicoots had the pleasure of performing a lunch hour concert for students at Gympie South State School recently. It was a great opportunity for Jess, Jasper, Jake and Ben to perform for an appreciative audience. We all look forward to them performing for more local schools in the near future.
The Duke Wilde Band
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Duke Wilde at Billy's Honky Tonk Fridays
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As this I write this, the Duke Wilde Band is in the Gold Coast's Oasis Studios recording with legendary guitarist/producer Louie Shelton. Louie is a member of the Nashville Hall of Fame and has worked with some of the really big names in the music industry including John Lennon, Jackson Five and Kenny Rogers. The result is sure to be interesting.
The band is currently developing their local show and has been invited to be part of an Australian Showcase in Los Angeles should they be able to be in the US when the showcase is presented.
Nick Aitken and Linc Phelps, members of the band and of the aICM have been invited to attend the 2010 Country Music College in Tamworth. This is a great honour for the guys, for Gympie, for the AICM and for the band, given that only 25 people are hand picked by industry experts to workshop for two weeks with leading country music people.
Hitmakers 2010
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Singer/songwriter Fiona O'Shea performing some original material at Hitmakers |
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Margaret Bye sings some of her original material. |
Hitmakers, a group of songwriters interested in a range of musical genres, has been meeting in the AICM building at 7.30pm on the third Wednesday of each month.
The aim of the group is to provide an outlet and support for local songwriters as they develop their skills. During each meeting, members are given fifteen minutes to perform original material. If they want constructive feedback, they can ask and those in attendance will provide it.
Hitmakers has also set itself the task of writing enough original material to present a program during the 2010 Gold Rush week. Each original song will deal with some aspect of Gympie's past or present and it is planned to have a CD of the songs available for sale on the night.
Local song writers are invited to attend the meetings. For further information, contact Geoff Walden at the AICM on 5481 2355 or 0418 792 159.
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.