Corowa Country Music Round Up 2014

Corowa Country Music Round Up – June 2014 at the Corowa RSL

Corowa’s RSL Club has been hosting the Country Music Round Up for about five years. Spread over  four days, it starts on a Thursday and ends on the Sunday, mid June. The Main stage is undergoing renovation and the Federation Room was used instead.

The event was free to attend except on the Friday night, a ticketed event ‘Elvis Meets Dolly’ that I could not attend. A second stage was set up at the Club Lounge. I missed the Grand Finale on Sunday due to a prior engagement in Melbourne.

The artists are well known and are familiar faces around the many Country Music Festivals and Round Ups around Australia.   A few of the Artists playing were:

Rod Williams: Australia’s Country Music Gentleman is an accomplished Singer Song writer and recording artist from Queensland is well known in the Eastern States of Australia. His last album release singing in that  smooth velvety voice, is a tribute to Hank Williams, ‘Sings Hank’.   More info at http://www.rodwilliams.net.au/gallery1.htm

Allan Carroll has been around the Country Music scene for decades, singing, compering and a judge at many of the Country and Western  Music events. Allan was the MC for this event. More info at http://www.saccm.com/artists/carrrolallan/index.html

Whisky River Duo  consists of Skip  and Michelle. They started out together as yougsters many years ago and have rejoined, taking their country music to the many shows around the country. Skip did back up vocals for Adam Harvey and a host of others and Michelle did the same with Keith Urban, Allison Dublin and others.

Allan Webster, a favourite with fans,  has an impressive track record from playing a violin in a school band in England to being  nominated by Mr Bob Everhart, President of the National Traditional Country Music Association, to be inducted into “America’s Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame” at Iowa, at the 33rd Annual National Old -Time Country and Bluegrass festival from 25th – 31st  August 2008. http://allanwebster.wordpress.com/

Annalea Mitchell: A solo Country Music artist has grown from strength after performing at the Club Barham Country Music Stampede in February 2013. Annalea got emotional and teary that also brought tears to the eyes of many as she sang  ‘Travelin Sodier’ (by Dixie Chicks) a dedication to all Soldiers and specially  to her Great grandfather Allan Cowan, who fought in World War One. She said, it was such a wonderful festival spent with beautiful people. It truly was.

Dwayne Elix a multi talented recording artist is a singer songwriter performing throughout Australia at most venues and festivals  around the country, singing Country and Bluegrass Music.

Charlie McCracken, a country and western singer from South Australia is popular wherever he performs. Many would say he has the voice of  Waylon Jennings and has recently released an Album – A tribute to Waylon Jennings” in May this year.  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Charlie-McCracken/273034039540677

Andrew (Andy) D’Rosario migrated from India in the 70’s and has grown in popularity singing songs from his favourite artists Merle Haggard and Marty Robbins among others. Andrew is from Melbourne and plays at various fests and  at the Noble Park RSL most Friday nights.

Rod Bryant, has been around the Country and western music for quite some time and is a delight to hear.

Terry Leonard, the King of Elvis Tributes, keeps the Elvis legend alive, in his own unique inhibitive style. A regular at Parkes, he will be performing at the Blue Mountains Elvis Festival in August 2014. Shannon Leonard accompanied Terry for a few songs.

The backup band Denva, had Don Cook (Pedal Steel), Karran Johns (Bass Guitar) Peter Westwood (Drums) and Kerran Keats (Lead Guitar).

The music was so good, it got the audience on their feet, line dancing, jiving, rock and rolling, and what have you –  with little dancing space to spare. The Corowa ‘Round Up’ appears to be growing in popularity each year and most Motels had a – ‘No Vacancy’.

A few photos in no particular order:

 

 

Corowa RSL