DAVE'S DIARY - 7/12/08 - PREVIEW OF EPISODE 1 - SERIES 11

KASEY AND SHANE - MONKEYS ON A WIRE

Aussie country music queen Kasey Chambers and singing spouse Shane Nicholson headline the premiere of Series #11 of Nu Country TV this Saturday - December 13 - at 8 p m on
C 31.

Blue Mountains belle Jayne Denham also returns to the show, hosted by Mid Pacific Bob Olson, on the eve of her debut at the famed Red Hill Country Music festival.

Olson also takes viewers inside his salubrious kitchen in the Beer Can Hill delta for his soothing summer recipe.

Yes, the Mathematics lecturer glides around his kitchen to create a festival holiday light lunch - ruby grapefruit and salad with prawns in a chilli chocolate sauce.

That's a sure fire catalyst to speed up traffic through the arteries of lithe bodies and suburban bypasses.

Veteran Georgian singer-songwriter Larry Jon Wilson, fresh from a 28-year hiatus, also performs a live version of the Dylan-Willie Nelson song Heartland.

Jim Lauderdale, son of a recently deceased North Carolina Presbyterian minister, showcases one of his many humorous bluegrass tunes.

And fellow North Carolina nymph Kellie Pickler performs a video of a recent hit from an album that features a song penned by Chambers protégée Catherine Britt.

The sextet adds spice to the series sponsored by the promoters of the CMC Rocks The Snowy festival at Thredbo in March and Brooks & Dunn return tour in May.

ARIA WINNERS GO APE ON CHARTS

It was no surprise Chambers and Nicholson won an ARIA award for their acclaimed album Rattlin' Bones on the Michael Gudinski boutique label Liberation.

The duo also topped charts with its album and single and is set to collect a brace of Golden Guitars in Tamworth in January.

Monkey On A Wire is an organic country and bluegrass oasis in the rock, rap, disco and hip hop radio jungle in the big smoke.

Chambers and Nicholson created their musical magic in their rustic retreat perched on the NSW Central Coast - also known as Hillbilly Heaven because of its country artist enclave.

The duo cut its disc at Jimmy Barnes home studio and released a DVD, with a bonus docco, about song sources and family band.

CLICK HERE for a DVD review from the Diary.
CLICK HERE for a live concert review by web mistress Anne Sydenham on August 14, 2008.
CLICK HERE for a feature on the duo in the Diary on July 19, 2008.

JIM LAUDERDALE BATTLES BLUEGRASS BROADS ON BROADWAY

Multi-talented singer-songwriter and bon vivant Jim Lauderdale impressed on his first Australian tour at a singer-songwriter showcase at the Corner Hotel in Richmond on January 30, 2002.

Lauderdale, 51, returned in March for a whirlwind gig at the inaugural CMC Rocks The Snowy festival at Thredbo in March.

The singer, who has penned hits for artists diverse as Texan troubadour George Strait and Kentuckian singing actor Dwight Yoakam, also has a great sense of humour.

Check out what happens when Jim upsets a female flotilla on fiddle, double bass and banjo on Nashville's famed Lower Broadway.

The Presbyterian minister's son promises from the mount attract a police posse in the shadows of the famed Ryman Auditorium - original home of the Grand Ole Opry - and icons such as Tootsie's Orchid Lounge and BR549 launch pad Roberts Western Wear.

The occasion is the filming of the video for Who's Leaving Who from Jim's eclectic 15th album Bluegrass.

CLICK HERE for a Lauderdale feature from the Diary on December 14, 2006.


LARRY JON WILSON IN LOST KEY HEARTLAND

Georgian singer-songwriter Larry Jon Wilson had a fiery fame flirtation back in the seventies when he cut acclaimed but modest selling albums for major Nashville labels of the day.

But, like many of his peers landed with an outlaw tag, he took a hiatus to recharge his batteries.

Wilson's 29-year sabbatical, preceded by his memorable role in twice released docco Heartworn Highways with David Allan Coe, Guy Clark, Steve Young, Steve Earle and the late Townes Van Zandt, was fruitful.

He travelled south to Perdido - The Lost Key - in Florida and made another docco, replete with live acoustic originals and covers.

Wilson, 68, performs Heartland - a song originally cut by its writers Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan on Willie's 1993 Across The Borderline album.

The song is on Wilson's self titled fifth album released here by Shock Records icon Ian Bennett, still shell shocked from Geelong's defeat in the 2008 grand final.

CLICK HERE for a Wilson feature from the Diary on August 27, 2008.

COUSIN JUDE RIDES INTO RED HILL

Jayne Denham won a vast new army of fans when she dismounted last year at the Gippsland gateway - the famed Bunyip Country music festival.

But this time around Jayne struts her stuff at the equally historic Red Hill festival on Sunday January 11.

As a preview the Ute Chick performs her tribute to real life Tamworth mother trucker Cousin Jude and her powerful 18-wheeler.

"Cousin Jude is a female truck driver from Tamworth who's always immaculately made up and dressed," Denham revealed.

"I'd heard about her, and did my research before I wrote the song. Then during a show in Tamworth she came up and introduced herself - and as the stories all claimed, she really does look like Sandra Bullock. She thinks the song is just great!"
Cousin Jude, a companion song of sorts of debut single Ute Chick, is on her first CD Sudden Change In Weather, produced by John Kane and Mark Walmsley.

The Cousin Jude video was shot at Somerton - 35 kilometres west of Tamworth - at the Moo Cow Inn.

"We first came up with the idea after I had heard of a female truck driver who looked like Sandra Bullock and drove a 22-wheel Kenworth," Jayne recalled.

"I took it with a grain of salt of course until one day of course I met the real Cousin Jude herself! Cousin Jude was everything I'd hoped and she is the only truck driver I know who has lip gloss on the dash board and drives in high heels! Cousin Jude drove us all around town in her Kenworth and the locals kept wondering what we were doing."

Denham's career began with Boy From Blackhill - a song inspired by a poem penned by her father Don Carter.

Further info - WWW.JAYNEDENHAM.COM
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/JAYNEDENHAM

KELLIE - PICKLED BY PARENTS

North Carolina chanteuse Kellie Pickler exudes the vibrance of a glamorous blonde reality TV temptress.

But behind chart candy is the source of the singer's real talent - songwriting.

Pickler, 22, performs her hit I Wonder - penned about family traumas that haunted her long after her recent success.

Kellie wrote her true life tear jerker - from debut album Small Town Girl - about being abandoned by her mum and dad at the age of two and being raised by her grand parents.

Since topping charts Kellie has been reunited with her mum and dad Bo who did time in a Florida prison for some illegal knife tricks.

Pickler, an American Idol loser, Kellie battled depression because of family problems and split with hockey star Jordin Tootoo

But the singer boomeranged onto charts and cut Newcastle star Catherine Britt's hit Lucky Girl for her Chris Lindsay produced self-titled 2nd album.

Britt is hoping Pickler will release her song as a single, with a new video.

Others are rooting for Rocks Instead of Rice - the Pickler penned saga of a wedding crasher who wants to stone the bride.

"Long white dress/this must be some kind of joke/ virgin? Please! She ain't foolin' these folks/If the three of us were on Jerry Springer, I'd be pulling her hair."

Maybe you are hanging out for Best Days Of Your Life - penned with teen sensation Taylor Swift.

More info - www.kelliepickler.com

WIN NEW CDS BY BEING A NU COUNTRY MEMBER
TAYLOR SWIFT, JASMINE RAE & STEVE FORDE

Nu Country TV celebrates its 11th series with a brace of prizes to celebrate the CMC Rocks The Snowy festival and the national tours by superstars Brooks & Dunn, Dierks Bentley and Taylor Swift.

We have the following CDS for viewers who email our web page and pledge their $22 membership at music@nucountry.com.au

Taylor Swift - huge selling second album Fearless.

Jasmine Rae - debut CD Look It Up by the Telstra Road To Tamworth winner and touring partner of Brooks & Dunn and Bentley.

Steve Forde - fifth album Guns & Guitars by the tour mate of Brooks & Dunn and chart topper Gary Allan.

ADAM BRAND CD-DVD PRIZES

We have more good tidings for viewers wanting to join Nu Country TV and keep us on air in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and New Zealand.

Major independent label Compass Brothers has donated autographed copies of Adam Brand's seventh disc Blame It On Eve for viewers who become Nu Country members or renew their membership.

The CD has a bonus DVD of the making of the album and the video clip of Get On Down The Road that we aired on our show.

Adam also did an exclusive interview with Nu Country TV that we broke up into two episodes during Series #10.

We have limited supplies of Adam's big selling CD-DVD so please email us first at music@nucountry.com.au so we can allocate your reward.

CLICK HERE for the Adam Brand interview from the Diary on March 3, 2008.

KACEY JONES CD, DVD, POSTER AND TEE SHIRT PRIZES

Internationally renowned country comedienne, singer-songwriter and producer Kacey Jones has given us a box of autographed merchandise for viewers and members who renew their membership.

A highlight is her acclaimed tribute disc Kacey Jones Sings Mickey Newbury that is scheduled for Australian release in July.

We have autographed collectors' copies of the CD for viewers who want to become members of Nu Country TV.

She also autographed tee shirts and posters for Nu Country members.

For your $22 membership and postage you can take your pick of Kacey memorabilia. We have limited supplies so please email us at music@nucountry.com.au first.


WILLIE NELSON EXCLUSIVE BOOK

We also celebrate Shotgun Willie Nelson's 75th birthday on April 30 with a special giveaway of his collectors' book.

We have limited stock of Willie Nelson - The Collected Writings Of A Living Legend - The Facts Of Life And Other Dirty Jokes.

The book, featuring yarns, jokes and Willie Nelson song lyrics, is the latest addition to out prize treasure trove.

It's available for viewers wanting to become members or current members wishing to renew their membership.

Please email us at music@nucountry.com.au for a chance to win a copy of this book with your membership.

MIKE BRADY MUSIC FOR YOUR MEMBERSHIP

Internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Mike Brady volunteered to become a VIP guest host of Nu Country TV during our eighth series.

Brady hosted an episode that also featured an exclusive interview about recording the album in Nashville with expatriate Australian producer Mark Moffatt.

Mike has also donated autographed copies of his brand new CD Country To Country to viewers who become members or current members who renew their membership.

The generous singer donated his autographed CDS to attract your membership to ensure our survival.

So for your $22 membership including postage you can win Mike's CD Country To Country.

We have limited supplies so please email us first at music@nucountry.com.au so we can allocate your reward.

TANIA KERNAGHAN AUTOGRAPHED CDS

Tania Kernaghan has offered autographed copies of her fourth album Higher Ground to viewers who either become new members or renew their membership.

The album was produced in Santa Monica, Franklin, Nashville and the Gold Coast with Daniel Kresco.

Tania recorded 11 songs written by younger sister Fiona and producer Kresco on the acclaimed disc.

If you wish to be rewarded for your membership with Tania's new CD please email us at music@nucountry.com.au.

We also have other CDS in our library as rewards for your valued membership - we rely on membership for our survival.

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