Tamworth Rage Page
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  Port Stephen's Concerts
 
 
 
2003 Festival of the Whales
Kate Ballantyne, Gary Ivory (Spike) compere, Karen O'Shea and Lyn Bowtell
Check out the Tomkins Guitars!
 
 
Karen O'Shea                                                      Kate Ballantyne
 
Lyn Bowtell"
 
Snape Bros.
 
Chris 
 
            Russel 
 
Mick 
 
Steve
 
 Karen, Lyn and Kate  as their group "Anam Cara" now changed to "Bella"
 
Kate and Lyn
 
  
                    Dances having a whale of a time                    Dog celebrating a birthday                          
 
Music Lovers enjoying the concert
 
Tex and Kay
 
 
Maddison dancing on Esky
 
The Snape Bros. became bogged and received plenty of help.
 
                      First Weekend                       
                   DATE:  Sunday, June 1st, 2003                                                 
VENUE:  Fly Point Park, Nelson Bay     
(If weather not permitting, acts are to perform at Nelson Bay RSL Club)        
 
FUNCTION:       Nelson Bay Town Management Family Fun Day          
Karen O’Shea        (11.00-11.30am)
         Kate Ballantyne   (11.30am-12 midday) 
            Lyn Bowtell             (12 midday – 12.30pm)
                Snape Bros.           (12.30-1.15pm)                 
                 Anam Cara               (1.15-2.15pm)……             
                   Featuring Karen O'Shea, Kate Ballantyne & Lyn Bowtell       
               Snape Bros.            (2.15-3.00)                    
 
 
 
 
Karen O’Shea has been mesmerising her audiences with her amazing vocal talents since an early age. She has been working professionally in her home town Darwin since leaving school. 
The first group was a show band called ‘The Sublimes’. Their repetoire consisted mainly 50’s 60’s rock and roll (which at the time was having a huge resurgence) and included costume changes. From there she joined a trio called ‘Thin Arthur’ covering songs from Chakka Khan to Patti Labelle to Heart to Tina Turner and John Farnham and Roxette (to name a few).                                                           
 Karen then went Sydney (for 3 years) and worked with an original band called ‘Sydney Sound Machine’ and then ‘The Temple Of Groove’. An 8 piece funk cover band doing James Brown, Earth Wind & Fire, The Brand New Heavies and Prince among others. Then came the touring with Richard Clapton as backing vocalist before returning back to Darwin.
On returning home Karen took to singing jazz as part of the ‘Phil Stacey Trio’ before meeting ‘Cat In The Hat’ duo partner Janet Hay. This duo covered almost all styles and genres from the old to the new. With Janet on piano Karen tried her hand at percussion (tamborine, shakers etc.) The duo received an invitation from the Australian High Commissioner in Brunei to go over and perform. Whilst there, they were asked to play for the Sultan’s (second) wife’s birthday.
In the last couple of years Karen has also had some success on the country scene playing in Tamworth during the festival and few others (festivals).
 In the 12 years (or so) she has been singing professionally Karen has supported numerous artists including Randy Crawford, Wilson Pickett, James Morrison, Christine Anu, Jimmy Barnes, CBD and some of Australia’s rising country stars.         
 Karen has appeared as a guest artist on both Bert Newton’s GMA show and the Denise Drysdale midday show, catching the attention of both audiences.  Karen was also awarded the coveted Frank Ifield International Spur Award for Best New Female Performer 2001.
 Having had so many opportunities to sing a diverse range of songs, there is no doubt that Karen could sing almost anything and she just loves to sing.
 
                            Kate Ballantyne 
 
                                                                            
 
She appeared on "It's Country Today" in 1994 & also started working on songs for her first album "Tomorrow's Girl' ".
The album was recorded at Kate's family recording studio in Kurri Kurri, NSW & features 12 songs written by Kate & others. The title track from the album "Tomorrow's Girl" won Kate an award at the Australian Songwriters Association National Song Contest held in Melbourne in November 1995.
Kate & her band 'Fandango' released their second album "Too Hot To Handle" in January 1998 to rave reviews. All tracks on the album were written by Kate, Rhonda Lee & renowned Guitarist Kelvin Nolan.
She entered the 1998 Toyota Star Maker contest with the intention of doing her very best & her best was good enough to take the coveted award.
 Kate's Toyota Star Maker single was released in August 1998 & has won Kate a nomination for 'Best New Talent' in the prestigious 'Country Music Awards Of Australia'. She also gained two nominations for the Tamworth Independent Artist Recognition Awards (T.I.A.R.A.) in the 'Vocal Duet' & 'Female Vocal' categories & as a finalist in the 'Victorian Country Music Awards' for 'Female Vocalist' of the Year.
As you can see Kate is a real talent, her albums are a culmination of effort & desire to be one of Australia's leading Country Singers & Writers. Currently working on her third album, this won't be the last you hear of this talented artist.
 For the small child Katrina Aitken, now a young woman known as Kate Ballantyne, her dream is coming true. Kate's determination to give the music she so loves to the people around her shows through in her performances.
 
Lyn Bowtell

"I was midway through a conversation backstage when the hairs suddenly stood up on the back of my neck!"back of my neck!"
The words came from Australia's leading country music broadcaster Nick Erby during the 1998 Tamworth Country Music Festival and the conversation breaker was the incredible talent of Lyn Bowtell performing 'A Broken Wing', one of those magical musical experiences that stops and audience in its tracks.

The simple statement actually came as no real surprise because it has always been Lyn Bowtell's destiny to be a star in Australian Country Music. The release of her debut album 'Headed South' with her band Southern Steel in 1996 drew instant radio attention and her win in the prestigious 1997 Toyota Star Maker Quest provided the impetus for the title track to become a Top10 hit on the country charts.

Suddenly the young lady with the superb voice was firmly on centre stage and the full range of her talents began to emerge. The voice is the focal point of her performance, but it's all the other factors that make up the star package. On stage she radiates a warmth and charisma that immediately establishes a rapport with an audience and has an amazing energy that transposes throughout her songs. Lyn is not just a singer, she's an interpreter and whether a particular song is one from her own prolific original folio or a cover, there is that indefinable Lyn Bowtell stamp that emerges.
Her recording success continued through 1997 with the release of her two Star Maker singles 'The One You Love' gained Lyn her second Top10 position and a finalist berth in the New Talent category of the 1998 Country Music Awards of Australia. The poignant ballad 'Searching For Jane' written by Lyn and co-writing partner Margie Mason provided a perfect follow-up and won the New Songwriter section at the Tamworth Songwriters Awards during the 1998 Tamworth Festival, as well the Female Vocal section of the 1998 Victorian Country Music Awards.

During the last eighteen months, Lyn has established herself as a major attraction at festivals like Tamworth, Mildura and the Gympie Muster, as well as club venues throughout Eastern Australia. They have even added an international flavour with a number of highly successful festival appearances in the United Kingdom and China.

Underlying all these impressive achievements is that wonderful gift that sets Lyn Bowtell apart - the gift of song. And the absolute proof of her great talent, her signing to the new ACMEC label and the release at the Tamworth 2000 Country Music Festival of her new album 'Hearts In The Country'. This is the definitive Lyn Bowtell - the superb songwriting, the awesome voice, excellent musicianship from Southern Steel and some eminent musical guests - it's the album that country music fans have been waiting for.
Performing under the moniker of "Elle Bee", Lyn combines her wonderful country music talents with a huge and varied covers repertoire to bring pub, club and function audiences a truly special experience. Also available in duo format with lead guitarist.
 
Natural harmonies are just one of the unique qualities of Newcastle's finest Trio - The Snape Bros.  
Mick, Russell & Chris Snape joined forces to become one of the most entertaining and professional sought after acts in the Newcastle and Hunter Valley region.  
With a repertoire of over 200 songs (and still growing!!!!) ranging from Country through to Rock 'n' Roll, it's easy to see and hear how and why these guys have such a prestigious reputation.
Guaranteed not to leave a warm seat in the house, from the first note to the last, the dance floor will be packed with punters taken for a nostalgic stroll through the music of the 50's through to the current sounds of today.
Let 'The Snape Bros' entertain you today!
For more information, see the Snape Bros website http://members.aol.com/snapebros/
 
"Anam Cara" 

Now "Bella"

Kate Ballantyne, Lyn Bowtell and Karen O'Shea
 
 
 
"Bella" is the most exciting vocal trio to emerge in the last twelve months. The musical collaboration of Lyn Bowtell, Karen O'Shea and Kate Ballantyne brings to it's audience a vocal versatility and uniqueness never before seen or heard!
 
These stunning ladies with awesome voices have already proven themselves as individual performers. All three have recorded successful solo albums, won major awards and released chart topping singles.
 
Now as the already popular "Bella" Lyn, Karen and Kate blend their unique voices to create something spectacular indeed. 
 
Print out and have the memories