Road To Tamworth 2007


Click here 2008 Tamworth Festival Info
Click here 2007 Road to Tamworth Winners
Click here 2007 Tamworth Festival Photos

Festival fever hits with promising talent on display Tamworth, 3 July 2007:
With the promise of Adam Harvey, Aleyce Simmonds, Nick Kingswell, Brianna Lee, Morgan Evans, Jessica Mauboy, Kirsty Lee Akers and a swag of hopeful competitors on offer, last Saturday (30th June 2007) Tourism Tamworth packed up the colourful corporate vehicle and head south to support and take in the excitement of the first heat of the Telstra Road to Tamworth (TRTT).
With over 1,200 country music fans gathered at the Hunter Valley Gardens (Pokolbin), the show featured the headlining stars that delivered high energy performances to inspire the hopefuls what could await them if they take out the overall crown. The event officially marked the first activity in the lead up to the January 2008 Tamworth Country Music Festival, presented by Telstra. Tourism Tamworth’s presence was to chat to potential festival visitors, distribute Festival Information Guides and represent Tamworth’s support of the auspicious competition that provides a launching pad and education for emerging artists. Taking to the stage one by one, the thirteen competitors at the HEAT 1 TRTT event used their opportunity to present 2 songs to the crowd of country music aficionado’s and await their rapturous applause and the judges scores. Walking away the overall winner for HEAT 1, $1000 richer and securing his place at the Final series included at the 2008 Tamworth Country Music Festival, presented by Telstra was Newcastle local, Mark Wells. The young Novocastrian will now spend the next 6 months preparing for the finals and the chance to be awarded the ultimate prize - an all expenses paid return trip to Nashville, a full album deal with ABC Music, distributed by Warner Music Australia and the crown of 2008 Telstra Road to Tamworth winner. In his heat, Wells sang “To Be Young (Is To Be Sad)” by Ryan Adams and a self penned number “Be Your Lover”. He wowed the 1,200-strong crowd with his confident and enthusiastic style and said later he tries to deliver strong songs and entertaining performances. ”I really didn’t know what to expect and was surprised at how warm and friendly the crowd was. I still can’t believe I won – I was literally blown away by the other contestants,” Wells said. Multi-Golden Guitar award winner and 2008 Telstra Road to Tamworth Ambassador, Adam Harvey said Wells is now within reach of achieving his musical dream. “It is every aspiring artists dream to record an album and perform at Nashville and thanks to Telstra; we are traveling the country to find the next Australian country music star. Opportunities like this don’t present themselves every day,” Harvey said. Industry professionals, ABC Radio Newcastle presenter, Madeleine Randall, Rob Potts, CEO of country music promotion company Entertainment Edge, and Greg Swain, National Sponsorship Manager, Telstra were the judges of Saturday’s event. A second prize is also on offer with an additional trip to Nashville, the Telstra Road to Tamworth Songwriters Award is also on offer with the winner afforded a number of songwriting appointments with some of the industry’s best. All 20 heat winners receive $1,000 to assist their travel to the Finals series held during the 2008 Tamworth Country Music Festival presented by Telstra, the largest country music festival in Australia. From these 20 heat winners, the top eight contestants will receive an MP3 player and progress through to the Grand Final Series showcase, where contestants will perform in front of a live audience including a judging panel of high profile industry heavyweights. “What an amazing event! We (Tourism Tamworth) are so grateful to Telstra for allowing us to be involved. Their Telstra Road to Tamworth heats reach fans that our advertising budget doesn’t stretch too, it’s a unique opportunity for us to promote the Festival and meet and speak directly with potential visitors to Tamworth “, said David Woodward, Tourism Tamworth Marketing Manager. For further information about the Telstra Road to Tamworth log onto www.beinvolved.telstra.com/countrymusic . For more information or details regarding the 2008 Tamworth Country Music Festival presented by Telstra contact Tourism Tamworth on 02 6767 5300 or log-onto www.visittamworth.com . The overall Telstra Road to Tamworth, winner receives: An album with ABC Music and distributed by Warner Music Australia; The opportunity to record with a leading Nashville producer; A return economy airfare to Nashville, USA with living and accommodation expenses; A performance on the River Stage at CMA Music Festival in Nashville; A performance at the Global Artist Showcase at CMA Music Festival in Nashville; Publicity of their visit and performances in Nashville by leading PR company AristoMedia; Two Passes to CMA Music Festival 2008 in Nashville; One year’s Sterling Membership to CMA America; A video clip produced by Rob Potts Entertainment Edge and played on the Country Music Channel shown on Austar and Foxtel pay TV; 12 months exclusive management and agency representation plus 12 paid professional live performances through leading Live Entertainment company, Rob Potts Entertainment Edge; A Maton ECW80C acoustic guitar, including case, fitted with AP5 professional pre-amp; A professional photo shoot with stylist to the value of $1,500 organised through Rob Potts Entertainment Edge. For more information on heat locations and how to enter the 2008 Telstra Road to Tamworth please visit www.beinvolved.telstra.com/countrymusic
30th June 2007

The judges -- Greg Swain - Madeleine Randall - Rob Potts.

Madeleine Randall


Adam Harvey (r)






Aleyce Simmonds


Kirsty Lee Akers


Briana Lee


Nick Kingswell and Band

: Jake Nickolai and Nick Kingswell


Darren Carr & Mark Wells The Winner of the first heat of the 2008 Road to Tamworth.
Contestants

Melody Pool

Jodie Gibson


Laura Sheil


Stuart Maher


Ryan Daley


Caitlin Holand


Victoria McGee



Jordan Hadfield


Mark Wells (eventual winner)


Hamish Fibbens


Beth Robertson


James Johnston

Telstra Road To Tamworth 2008 Dates

http://www.beinvolved.telstra.com/countrymusic/
Telstra Road to Tamworth 2008 kicks off in June The 2008 Telstra Road to Tamworth country music talent competition will kick off on Saturday June 30 in the NSW Hunter Valley with a star studded concert to mark the first competition heat.
Telstra Road to Tamworth is a national competition which has been providing an outlet for aspiring country music stars since its inception in 2004. The competition traverses the nation with heats in various regional locations throughout the year, culminating with the grand final series at the annual Tamworth Country Music Festival. The 2007 winner Morgan Evans from Newcastle heads to Nashville in June as part of his prize package to record a single with SonyBMG and perform at the CMA Country Music Festival. Twenty heats will be held for the 2008 competition in various regional locations across the nation. This year’s program will see several changes reflecting the growing importance of the competition to the Australian country music industry. Full details will be announced next month. Following are heat details 1 –       Saturday June 30 – Hunter Valley Gardens "Village Green" - NSW         Open to enter 2 –       Saturday July 7 – Rupertswood Horse Club- Townsville - Qld 3 –     Saturday July 14 – Penrith RSL - Auditorium - NSW 4 –    Sunday July 22 – Rockhampton Leagues Club - Qld 5 –     Friday July 27 – Launceston Country Club - Tas 6 –    Sunday August 5 – Shepparton RSL - Vic 7 –     Saturday August 11 – SkyCity Casino - Darwin - NT 8 –     Saturday August 18 – Bairnsdale RSL - Vic 9 –     Saturday September 1 – Shellharbour Workers - NSW 10 –     Sunday September 9 – St Arnaud Sports Club - Vic 11 –    Sunday September 16 – Brothers League Club Cairns - Qld 12 –    Saturday September 22 – Woodchoppers Inn Mudgeeraba - Qld 13 –    Sunday September 30 – Harvey Dickson CM Festival - WA 14 –    Saturday October 6 – Floriade 2007 presented by Australian Capital Tourism -
Stage 88 Commonwealth Park Canberra - ACT 15 –     Saturday October 13 – Bathurst Panthers League Club - NSW 16 –    Saturday October 20 – Rochford Winery Yarra Valley - Vic 17 –     Saturday October 27 – TCW Inverell Saphire City Festival - NSW 18 –     Saturday November 10 – Dalby RSL - Qld 19 –     Saturday November 17 – Melrose Showgrounds - Melrose SA 20 –     Saturday November 24 – Kinross Woolshed Albury - NSW

http://www.beinvolved.telstra.com/countrymusic/

Click here 2008 Tamworth Festival Info
Click here 2007 Road to Tamworth Winners
Click here 2007 Tamworth Festival Photos
Print out and have the memories