Brand has been nominated for multiple ARIA Awards, has won 12 Golden Guitars, earnt three platinum and five gold albums and has won a record seven Country Music Channel (CMC) OZ Artist of the Year awards. His current album, Milestones, is #1!

AND THE EXCITING NEWS IS …. organisers have just announced an exclusive opportunity to meet the star, up close and personal – everyone who purchases their tickets online before August 10 goes into the draw to win a VIP Meet and Greet experience with Adam Brand!!

All event details and online tickets are available at cunnamullafellafestival.com.au.

Cunnamulla Fella Festival events begin from August 24, with the Festival proper from Saturday, August 30 to Sunday September 1. A larrikin-inspired country celebration starring live entertainment, bushman challenges, music, motorbikes, rodeo, plus the PBR Bull Ride — otherwise known as ‘the toughest sport on dirt’ – the Cunnamulla Fella Festival is about as authentic as any experience could be, and for 13 years has been shining the national spotlight on this little town of 1,200, where “the handshake’s stronger and the smile lasts longer”.

Over the famous final weekend in August, cowboys and bull riders, shearers and stockmen, foodies, travellers, music lovers and visitors from all over Australia converge to celebrate!

Joining ADAM BRAND this year is the rising three-piece country sensation, Redneck Gentlemen, young Sydney-based singer-songwriter and collaborative country composer Dani Young, the well-known performer Cathy Drummond and DJs, as well as Australian whip-cracking sensation Walter Whip, Trick Riding, the thrilling motorbike Globe of Death act and the internationally acclaimed magic maker extraordinaireCosentino!

A Junior Rodeo School will be held over three days, led by some of the country’s best stockmen. Sheep dog displays, sheep shearing demonstrations, woodchopping, for this first-time barrel racing, and a Ute Muster will all take centre stage during the Festival, along with a full program for kids including FREE Circus Workshops, performance classes and fireworks.

On the Saturday evening (August 31), the “toughest sport of dirt” will be held – the PBR Bull Ride. Today more than 1,200 bull riders hold PBR memberships and compete in more than 300 PBR sanctioned competitions around the globe for a total prize pool of some AU$20 million; some of these will be riding at the Cunnamulla Fella Festival!

Cunnamulla Fella Festival
Main event dates: Friday 30 August – Sunday 01 September
Pre-event activities from Saturday 24 August – Thursday 29 August
Cunnamulla, Queensland
www.cunnamullafellafestival.com.au

His delivery has changed little in all these years and that’s just fine. The thought of him continuing to fall out of the tour bus amid a cloud of green smoke and then take the stage to deliver one of his laconic sets still warms the heart.

Returning to the duet formula for his latest release also fits just fine in these ears. It also helps getting your country on first thing on a lazy Sunday morning after a previous night of working an Aussie hip hop show. If definitely helps to balance out all those yo yo yos.

Teaming Willie with a plethora of Country Darlings (past and present) will always work with someone so generous with the vocal spotlight. “Time to wake up Willie, it’s your verse!” With names like Dolly, Rosanne, Wynonna, Loretta and Emmylou, you know the proceedings will have that hickory smoked appeal.

Country Music may be a dirty word in a lot of households but when you want to chill, really chill, that pedal steel guitar, relaxed to the point of slumber vocal approach and easy swing always goes down easy. Might have to balance it out with some metal later on but for the moment, cowboy hat happiness prevails.

Rob Hudson
www.willienelson.com