In this issue 4 Tim McGraw Two Lanes Of Freedom 8 Zac Brown Band Finally Here 10 Sunny Cowgirls What Cowgirls Do 14 Baylou Viva La Dissonance 31 Kaylee Bell (Starmaker) Persistence Pays Dividends 32 The Mavericks To The Muster 34 Graeme Connors Kindred Spirit 36 Doug Bruce 5 Star Honky Tonk 40 Brad Butcher Ladies & Gentlemen 42 Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell Old Yellow Moon 46 Gary Allan Set You Free 48 Love & Theft 50 Melody Pool Pleasure & Pain - The Hurting Scene 52 Jeff Brown 54 Easton Corbin 56 Big & Rich Hillbilly Jedi 58 Jerrod Niemann Freeing The Music 60 Ben Ransom Ransom For A Song 62 Joel Smoker The Human Condition 64 Florida Georgia Line 66 A Tale Of Two Music Cities

Regular Features Countryline Festivals, Events & Travel WHO Deep Down South - Melbourne Country The Bluegrass Truth Book Reviews Roots & All Nashville Ramblings 5 Minutes With Pete Denahy CD Reviews

Greetings !

Every New Year never really gets underway for country addicts until the Tamworth festival and this one was fantastic. We ran ourselves ragged trying to see everything that was a hot tip, and found some incredible new talent and fabulous music.

I had several occasions where I was in seventh heaven, blissing out on the sounds and thinking to myself, “This is everything I first came to Tamworth for 30 years ago and more!” Of course there were the ubiquitous complaints about 'no real country anymore,' yet strangely the gigs that had superb country were not the most crowded, so perhaps people are not searching in the right places?

A big aspect of every Tamworth is the 'buzz' - the new acts that everyone is talking up as 'must-see,' and I have never seen consensus on one artist before like occurred for Melody Pool. From top stars to hard-bitten industry cynics, they all were left singularly stunned by Melody. Other names that cropped up repeatedly were Kaylens Rain, Ashleigh Dallas, Dozzi, Bob Corbett, and among the US visitors, David Jacobs Strain was utterly amazing.

The CMAA Awards were a breath of fresh air with lots of lovely personal moments and unique Australian humour sprinkled through the presentations and brilliant performances and tributes. We were bursting with pride to see our favourite sons and regular writers Luke O'Shea and Pete Denahy finally win Golden Guitars and the recognition they deserve. Congratulations to all the winners and thanks for the work you put in to bring us the music and the good times.

Now we look ahead to CMC Rocks the Hunter for the largest contingent of international stars ever seen here, and a colossal lineup. There is a lot happening in the first half of the year with not one but two new Qld festivals kicking off with Widgee-Thornside in April and Broadbeach in June.

Two more new and most welcome additions to the Country Update stable this issue with the skilful photography of David Jackson and a new writer in Gareth Hipwell (check out his blog at earthquakeinthepoorhouse.wordpress.com) See you at a festival very soon,

Kind Regards, Denise
Denise Torenbeek
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