The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia • Page 147

Statewide news Memories off mud mad the Gympie Muster ter performance, it will be a good one. The McCormacks also backed Greg Champion during his Saturday afternoon show complete with a mud-sliding demonstration in front of the stage. The combination was a magic one and the show was yet another highlight of a weekend of great country music. The other big successes of Saturday night were Shanley Del and Blazing Salads. Both are on the fringes of the country scene, but the crowd just loved Del's jaded and somewhat cynical style of music, and the 70s-inspired tunes of Glen Shorrock and Brian Cadd.

Traditional country fans had plenty of opportunity to indulge in their favourite music, too. The big Heritage segment on Saturday, featuring Brian Young, Lindsay Butler, Brian Letton and Reg Poole, was a real crowd-pleaser, and Owen Blunders segment later in the day was also extremely popular. The big show on Sunday afternoon featured James Blundell and' the crowds stayed in droves to hear a top-class concert from country music's major sex symbol. Despite the muddy and wet conditions, country fans who travelled to Gympie for the muster obviously has a wonderful time. Looking at the smiles on the faces of the crowd both those dancing down the front and the more sedate fans up the back it was obvious that country music has a loyal and enthusiastic following in Australia.

The muster organisers, headed by' Brian Sansom and Gayle and entertainment co-ordinators Trisha Larfield and Robyn Ryan, deserve to be congratulated for an exceptionally well organised festival No matter how bad the conditions got, the well-oiled muster machine moved into action, dumping sawdust, arranging for tow-trucks, providing information and advice and keeping the muster site and facilities clean and in working order. Many of the artists went out of their way to keep the fans happy, signing autographs and shaking hands. Lee Kernaghan now a major star made a special effort, returning for a second signing session. The 1993 muster Talent Search was won by 16-year-old Dalby singer Mark O'Shea, who also took out the -Modern Country section of the quest And the winners of the Lada Niva 4-wheel drive vehicle were Des and Edith Ryan of Gayndah. entertains the) crows wMs the rain tumble down at the GympU Musts.

CROWD PUASER: John Fi country music's most popular artist, launched his new album ihrte Chain Road, later in the night. Despite a few technical hitches, Kernaghan put on an impressive show. One of the crowd's favourite moments was when he sat down at the piano and belted out a rendition of Grtmt Balls Of Fir. Kernaghan is an accomplished piano player but has stuck to the guitar since the release of his highly successful debut album Th Outback Club last year. It is time he hit the keyboards on a regular basis again.

John Farnham proved what a professional performer he really is during his show, which was performed in teeming rain. Farnham, who donned a hat and country shirt for the occasion, walked out on to the catwalk in front of the stage and SUSAN JARVIS IT seems to a quirk of fat that whenever there's a drought relief benefit, it pours with rain. Thi yssr'i Gympie Mutter wm no excepioa. After months of dry, tunny weather, last weekend saw a downpour of rain ca the mutter site at the Amamoor Creek State Forest Recreation area near Oympie. And where there's rain, there alto mud -low of it.

Despite the conditions, however, the 199) Australian Farmers National Country Music Mutter was a hug success. More than 50,000 people enjoyed the two days and three nights of top-claas music, and wU over $50,000 was raited for the farmer's Aid Appeal "The numbers of day visitors were down a bttle because of the weather, but we had the biggest-ever single-mghl crowd there on Friday night, and overall the attendance was on par with last year," said mutter spokesman Brian Santom, "There hat alto been a considerable amount of money raised through our phone-in, which was really boosted through mutter broadcasts on ABC radio, a host of other media, and particularly the hour-and-a-half television special on Lan-41m. When the Lamllin special went to air, the phones Just went cray-w couldn't handle the calls. "In fact, the lines have been busy ever since. Well keep them open for a while, so anyone who couldn't get through csn still ring on (008) 6 6.13, or send a cheque to PO Boa 16, Oympie, Old.

4570. They can also still buy the muster CD or cassette, or the special mutter coin featuring James Blundcll" The 1941 Oympie Mutter had many highlights, both expected and unexpected. Oraeme Connors stunned the crowd with a spectacular set on Friday night, thanks not only to his own talents but also those of his band, one of the best outfits in Australian country music today. Lee Kernaghan, undoubtedly New Slim PARTNERSHIP! Joy McKaaa and jr got just as soaked as the crowd during his set much to the delight of the many fans watching. Saturday's show featured a number of newcomers to the country scene and demonstrated just how much talent is around these days.

1993 Star Maker Quest winner Bcccy Cole won over plenty of fans and quite a few hearts as well with her big voice, great guitar playing and warm, vibrant personality. Cole is about to release her debut single her prize for winning Star Maker and gave the Gym pie crowd a sneak preview of the songs. Also impressive was singer-songwriter Troy Cassar-Daley. Cassar-Daley has been around for the past couple of years, but until now hasn't really found the right direction. Judging from his Gympie perfor mance, however, Cassar-Daley has now well and truly got his act together and is potentially the hottest thing to hit country music for quite a while.

He is writing some impressive material and is currently working on his debut album. Lee Kernaghan's band. The McCormack Bros Band, got a chance to show the full extent of their talents on Saturday night Reigning fiddle champion Mick Albeck, bass player Jeff McCormack and talented guitarist and banjo player Rod McCormack picked up a storm, demonstrating skills they get to use far too infrequently in their work with Lee. The band members are currently working on an album of their own, and judging from the quality of the material presented during their mus Dusty single release Country Tracks Top 20 TW LW Wl SLIM Dusty -still the King of Country Music after five decades in the business has released a new single. Titled Ringer From The Top End the single features two tracks from his forthcoming album also to be titled Ringer From Th Top End which is due out in October.

Both tracks were written by Slim's wife. Joy McKean, who is one of Australia's leading country songwriters and this release demonstrates why. The first song. Ringer From Th Top End. is a catchy, driving, up-tempo track which features some great instrumentation.

It is followed by a gentler ballad. I've Been, Seen And Done Thai, which provides the perfect balance and shows Dusty's softer side. As usual, the songs have been expertly produced under the guiding hand of Slim's long-time producer. Rod Coe. On both tracks, Coe has managed to maintain the traditional feel that Slim is so well known for, while at the same time injecting some of the elements of contemporary country music.

Slim is celebrating half a century of continuous recording with EMI and this release demonstrates that he is getting better all the time. 1 AINT THAT LONELY YET Dwight Yoakham 2 10 2 SHE DON'T KNOW SHE'S BEAUTIFUL Sammy Kershaw 1 10 3 SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN THE NIGHT Garth Brooks 4 9 4 HELPLESS HEART Graeme Connors 6 5 5 SON OF THE SOIL Glenn Jones 5 9 6 GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN ShanleyDel 7 7 7 FARTHER DOWN THE LINE Willie Nelson 3 12 HONKYTONK ATTITUDE Joe Diffie 11 4 9 SHOULD'VE BEEN A COWBOY Toby Keith 12 4 1 0 THE HEART WONT LIE Reba McEntireAince Gill 1 0 5 11 HARD WORKIN' MAN Brooks Dunn 16 3 12 IN HIS BLOOD Colin Buchanan 15 5 13 HEY BABY Marty Stuart 8 13 14 GAME OF LOVE Anne Kirkpatrick 20 2 15 FEELS LIKE HOME TO ME Norma O'Hara-Murphy 9 8 ie WHEN MY SHIP COMES IN Clint Black 17 3 17 I'M GETTING OVER YOU Gina Jeffreys 18 2 18 IN THE HEART OF A WOMAN BiUyRayCyrus 1 -19 MATARANKA MOON Johnny Chester 13 7 20 I JUST WANT TO DANCE WITH YOU Daniel O'DonneU 1 TW: This week. LW: Last week. Wl: Weeks in. Aust recording Compiled by the HOEOOWN Radio Network, Tamworth, NSW.

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