Graham Rodger

NEWSLETTER - January 31 2010
Cheers Everyone - An update after Tamworth 2010

What a wonderful Tamworth. Firstly the weather was very kind to all the performers and visitors. The crowds may have been down, well that was the general comment around the city, but all reports that I heard from the Balladeers were that their shows were very well attended.

Firstly and most importantly I wish to sincerely and humbly thank all the people who voted for me in the People's Choice Awards. I was successful in winning the People's Choice Award 2010 for the Best Bush Ballad with the song "The First Lady of Country". What can you say but "Thank-you". I had a few supporters come along for the ceremony which was great.

After the presentation, each artist who won, did a song, I did one of my favourite songs "Burke & Wills" with Daly Stephenson who won the New Talent. With my friends we then went to the beer garden and had a quiet drink to celebrate.

I am very pleased to say that I also won 2 of the Tamworth Songwriters Awards. I was very nervous as there was a strong field in every category. I would like to congratulate firstly, all my fellow finalists for reaching the finals and secondly to the winners, "well done". The Bush Ballads will always be growing in strength so long as these wonderful awards continue to run honestly and on merit, so my thanks go to the organisers.

The Country Music Festival started off for me in a rather bad way as my car of 14 years literally died at 6am in the morning as I was going to my first Concert at the Community Centre. There I was, with a car full of food for the smoko and all the sound equipment. Luckily Tony Wagner was nearby and came with his yellow ute and transported all the equipment there for me. Tony was very kind to loan me his car for the next 3 days till my commitments were over and I had time to look around for a replacement car. The goodness and kindness displayed during this time was amazing. Tony with his car, all the country music artists and friends who were offering me help and money, and then I met Paul McCoy from Woodleys Motors in Tamworth. His generous offer of a car for me well under market value was unbelievable. I got a Toyato Prado 2003 from Paul and if anyone is looking for repairs, second hand cars or new cars for that matter, don’t go past this company. They are the most honest, helpful company with which I have ever dealt. So now I am travelling in style, pulling up the mountain ranges with a caravan, passing other vehicles, before cars with caravans were passing me just in the old Mazda.

I am delighted to say that after the wonderful concert Laura Downing and I had at Tamworth we have decided to join forces and do some shows in S-E Queensland initially and then travel further afield. If anyone would like to contact me to have a show in their district please don’t hesitate to contact me via email, austrakmusic@bigpond.com.au We had our initial conference together and have some venues to contact so let's hope things get underway for us in this new venture together.

Back in Monto for a week and a half then I travelled down to Noble Park and Moe for two big concerts with Amber Poulton, followed at the end of February to Victor Harbor. This is the first time Amber and I have done concerts together but at Mildura we both got talking and decided to do a couple together. I am looking forward to attending the Urban Country Music Festival at Caboolture in May 2010, big crowds attended the Balladeers Concerts, so pass the word on to come early to secure a seat. In May it is out to the outback for a couple of months.

I have a few more songs to write then it's back into the studio to record. Writing the songs may take me some time as you wouldn't believe, well maybe you would, how high the grass was when I got home from Tamworth. Apparently Monto had rain till the 10th of January so the paddocks are well recovered again for the stock. For the next 2 weeks I was pushing the mower through an acre of waist high grass! Good for the waistline I have been reassured by she who knows best. Speaking of "She Who Must be Obeyed", I can hear her gentle voice calling to continue with more mowing, wish we had a cow, so I suppose it's "Bye" for now.

Graham
austrakmusic@bigpond.com.au

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