COUNTRY MUSIC SHOWDOWN INFORMATION GUIDE
2019 Competitions Emerging Country stars The Country Music Showdown Competition presented by Ringers Western has helped launch the careers of Queensland’s up and coming country artists for the past six years. Budding music stars will have the chance to share in $15,000 worth of cash and prizes when they compete at the XXXX Stockmen’s Bar and Grill on Saturday 17 August 2019. A win in this competition means a boost to an artist’s music career. Previous winner Blake O’Connor went on to become Toyota’s Star Maker for 2019, recently touring Australia with country music couple Brooke McClymont and Adam Eckersley on their Highway Sky Tour as well as releasing his debut self-titled EP in June 2018. Top Prizes Taramalin Sound Recording Package $1,500 cash prize for Open Category winner Ekka scholarship to the Tamworth Academy of Country Music 2020 for Junior Category winner
1 | country music showdown information guide New in 2019 Increased prize pool ($15,000+) Contestants to sing not one, but two songs in front of a panel of expert judges Age category change Digital heats Junior Category winner to perform National Anthem in EkkaNITES show
We’re upping the ante for the sixth Country Music Showdown, with an increased prize pool and stage time, digital heats and changes to the Open Category age, which will now see musicians 18 years and over encouraged to enter.
Country music hopefuls will now apply via video submissions, which will determine who makes the shortlist to compete at the Showdown at Ekka.
Entrants have the option to submit videos of either two song covers or one cover and one original song. Video submissions for Junior entrants must include a rendition of the National Anthem with both verses, backing track available to download here.
The successful applicants will take the stage and sing live accompanied by four piece backing band, Southwest, at Ekka’s Country Music Showdown on Saturday 17 August 2019.
2 | country music showdown information guide Entry Checklist Junior Category - 12-17 years n Three (3) video links for submission: One (1) National Anthem cover and two (2) Country genre songs (two covers OR one cover and one original) n One (1) High Res, Headshot Promo Image (1-6MB) n Bio details, including information on performance history, music inspiration, career aspirations and previous competition experience n Entries close Sunday 30 June 2019 n Save the date: Shortlisted entrants will be notified on Wednesday 10 July 2019 n Entrants must be able to attend the Country Music Showdown presented by Ringers Western, Brisbane Showgrounds, Saturday 17 August 2019
Open Category – 18+ years n Two (2) video links for submission: Two (2) Country genre songs (two covers OR one cover and one original) n One (1) High Res Promo Image (1-6MB) n Bio details, including information on performance history, music inspiration, career aspirations and previous competition experience n Entries close Sunday 30 June 2019 n Save the date: Shortlisted entrants will be notified on Wednesday 10 July 2019 n Entrants must be able to attend the Country Music Showdown presented by Ringers Western, Brisbane Showgrounds, Saturday 17 August 2019
Tips on Entering If you are using your phone to record your entry, shoot in horizontal mode No giant logos on shirts, hats or featured anywhere in the shot Ensure there is good lighting and a quiet space so we can see and hear you Utilise the backing track we provide (National Anthem only) Most of all, make it your own and have fun with it!
3 | country music showdown information guide Judges Dan Biddle – Chairman, Country Music Association of Australia Sydney based artist manager; Dan Biddle currently oversees the careers of some of Australia’s top country artists including The McClymonts, Adam Eckersley & Brooke McClymont, Adam Eckersley Band, and Fanny Lumsden. Dan currently holds the position of Chairman of the Country Music Association of Australia. In January 2014 he formed TCO Artists, an artist management and services company and his roster has produced five ARIA #1 country albums to date and received numerous awards. Johnno Keetels - PR & Media Manager, Universal Music Australia Johnno Keetels landed a full-time job with Triple M Brisbane in 2001 and worked in a variety of roles across the station before landing a role on-air. In 2011 he started a new role and a career change as the QLD Media Manager at Warner Music Australia. After working on media and marketing campaigns for artists like Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, Illy, Grouplove and Michael Buble, Johnno was offered a new opportunity with the worlds’ largest record label, Universal Music Group. Johnno made the move to Universal Music Australia in 2013 and has since moved into a national role as PR & Media Manager for the iconic label. Jess Anderson – Founder & Director, Hometown Fest Jess Anderson is founder and director of Hometown Fest, a two-day music festival that will be launching at Brisbane Showgrounds in November 2019. Jess’s love of music stems from a trip she took with her dad in 2015, where she experienced her first ever CMA Fest in Nashville. She has been returning to Nashville every year since, drawing a lot of inspiration from a number of US festivals she has since attended for the Hometown Fest event. In addition to founding Hometown Fest, Jess is also the Managing Director of Music Tracks Travel, a travel agency specialising in music festival holiday packages and also known for their reviews of local concerts and rumoured tours. Alethea Beetson Alethea Beetson (kabi kabi + wiradjuri) is an artist and producer who has worked extensively with Indigenous communities across multiple art forms to inspire new works responding to societal issues, cultural heritage and colonisation. More recently she worked as the Indigenous Engagement Coordinator at the Queensland Museum and was the Curator of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander program for Festival 2018 Brisbane. Her research explores the function of ritual, resistance and resurgence in the creative development Casey Barnes – Country Music Artist Golden Guitar Finalist Casey Barnes is making a monumental impression on the Australian country music scene. He’s had hits in Europe, recorded and toured in America, appeared in a top-rating TV show in Australia and performed alongside many international stars including Mariah Carey, Lady Antebellum and Bryan Adams. Casey is gearing up for an exciting and massive start to 2019 with his association with PBR continuing, this time internationally with performances locked in as part of the USA major event ‘Unleash The Beast Tour’. This will see Casey performing at arena events in Kansas City, Missouri and two events in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in the first quarter of this year.
4 | country music showdown information guide Host Brooke Schubert Brooke Schubert, from Moranbah in Central Queensland, is possibly one of Australia’s hardest working musicians, and her hard work is finally paying off. Brooke has performed relentlessly all over Australia, toured with Keith Urban, recorded in Nashville, released 3 EPs and has just performed on national TV to over four million people. The exposure not only allowed Brooke to show off her powerhouse country vocals, but gave people a chance to get to know Brooke and her story so far. Her influences range from Carrie Underwood to Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Ray Vaughan toJason Aldean, and Brooke’s own brand of country music and performance sets her apart as the name to watch. Backing band Southwest Band This Brisbane band has spent numerous years touring and performing with the elite of Australia’s country music industry, including Lee Kernaghan, Adam Brand, James Blundell, Beccy Cole, Troy Cassar-Daley and Keith Urban. Their wealth of experience ensures a professional entertainment experience every time. They are a four piece band consisting of Bass Guitar, Drums, Electric Guitar and Keyboard.
5 | country music showdown information guide Prize List Junior Category (12-17 years) 1st Place n $500 cash prize from Ringers Western n Ekka Scholarship to The Academy (Tamworth - July 2020) n Guaranteed Ekka performance singing the Australian National Anthem in the Main Arena during EkkaNITES on Saturday 17 August 2019 n Renee Brazel Photography Shoot Package n Riffs and Licks Music Instrument/Equipment Prize n 2 x 3 day VIP ticket and meet and greet at CMC Rocks n Guaranteed Paid Performance at Ekka 2020 n Guaranteed Performance at Hometown Fest (November 2019)
Open Category (18+ years) 1st Place n $1,500 cash prize from Ringers Western n Ekka Scholarship to The Academy (Tamworth - January 2020) n Recording Session with Taramalin Sound n Renee Brazel Photography Shoot Package n Riffs and Licks Music Instrument/Equipment Prize n BIGSOUND Rainbow Pass (3-6 September 2019) n 2 x 3 day VIP ticket and meet and greet at CMC Rocks n Guaranteed Paid Performance at Ekka 2020 n Guaranteed Paid Performance at Brisbane Racing Club Country Music Raceday (13 or 14 September 2019) n Guaranteed Performance at Hometown Fest (November 2019)
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