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This month has been a busy one for Karen Lynne who is currently filming a new music video for another of the Wishing Well tracks, a self-penned co-write with Richard Porteous, Blue Mountain Rain. The video is being shot by Dusk Music Video Productions and is expected to be released to CMC in the coming weeks.

A few weeks ago Karen was featured on the main concert at this year’s Redlands Bluegrass Festival in QLD. This single comes just prior to the release of her first forthcoming single from her forthcoming album Heart Songs, a return to straight traditional Country Music, due out in October 2010.

News from ABC Music

Following the success of her first single, ABC Music has just released the second single from Karen’s latest album, Wishing Well, to Australian country music radio through ABC Heartland/Universal music.

The track, Sweetheart Darling of Mine is a great Bluegrass & Acoustic song which showcases Karen’s strong vocal ability and is once again being supported by many of Australia’s Country Radio DJ’s, being quickly added to play lists across the Radio airways.Radio Presenters wanting the track, should simply go to this link, where there is broadcast quality WAV file download of the track.

Submitted by Neil and Cilla Wills – Qld.

The weather was kind for July in Queensland, clear sunny days and cold nights.

Friday night started with a concert after dinner, featuring The Wayward Sisters, The O’Donnell Family, Redland Bluegrass Boys , Pirate Brides, Innes Campbell & Present Company, Groundspeed and closed with Brendan Radford’s Glasshouse Mountain Boys.

The well attended workshops ran through Saturday and many of the artists contributed their time to pass on techniques and other wisdoms to the eager audiences. The workshops form an integral part of the festival, giving many of the attendees lots of inspiration to keep on learning and practicing every day.

The walk-up concert early in the afternoon gave many of the performers the opportunity to perform on the main stage and they showed that there is plenty of Bluegrass happening locally in the Brisbane area.

Mid-Saturday afternoon, George Jackson had organised a Tony Rice Tribute and ten different artists / groups presented wide selection of Tony’s well known tunes. The audience was enthralled and it was just great to see the young hot shots like George, Daniel Watkins, Inness, BB Brownes and Lachie Davidson show the more established artists that they better keep looking over their shoulders because these young guys are coming up fast.

Saturday night kicked off with Bluegrass Parkway. The power cut out for a couple of minutes during the set however BGP did not notice and just played on!. The audience loved it and there was a great roar when the lights came on again.

George Jackson & Twisted Oak, Karen Lynne, then Kristy Cox finished off the first half. Interval and the now famous ‘mulled wine’ warmed the crowd before the boys from Nashville hit the stage.

Midnight from Memphis consisted of David Long on mandolin, Scott Simotacchi on guitar, Preston Schmitt on fiddle and Eric Thorin on upright bass. It was such a pleasure to see these four guys in action, often doing some of their own compositions.

As has been the case for the past seven years, the Davidson Brothers closed the concert with fast and furious Bluegrass. These guys just keep getting better and better.

A great weekend was had by all, many of our guests kicked on Sunday night with the traditional jam / party. Monday was R&R on Stradbroke Island whale watching and sight-seeing for the day.

It was an honour to see Midnight From Memphis in action. Their unique style, great own compositions, harmonies, musicianship and single mike theatrics left the audience demanding more.

That was 2010 and now it’s back to the planning for 2011 - Neil & Cilla Wills.

Karen Lynne to Launch “Wishing Well”

Karen Lynne will officially launch her new album Heart Songs in a bluegrass concert scheduled for Friday, 22nd January, 10am, at the Tamworth Community Centre, Darling Street, Tamworth, (Heritage Room)

Entry is free. (Gold Coin Donation if you want to help cover room hire).

I am currently in the studio working on my next album, a country album called Heart Songs. We will make pre-release copies available to those that would like them, so please keep in touch. It’s as country as,.. ‘Cow poo’ and you can’t get much countrier than that. It’s also gorgeous and allows me a gentle return to that lovely traditional country that I have always loved. If you loved Second Wind you’ll love this one more. It has all the sweetness and gentleness of the way ‘real’ country music is supposed to sound,.. yep!, without even a hint of crossover country/pop or country rock (which always sounds like rock to me). That, along with Australia’s best musicians, some of the best (& most familiar) country songs ever written and Herm Kovac’s magic at the producing desk, this is a real winner. This album is also different to my others in that it is full of well known songs – rather than new ones,.. although there’s a few you won’t have heard too. Karen Lynne

25 Years as part of the Tamworth Country Music Festival

Karen Lynne is to celebrate 25 years at the Tamworth Country Music Festival with a free concert to include guest artists, giveaways, prizes, and lots of fun.

Thursday, 21st January, 2:00pm at the Tamworth Community Centre, Darling Street, Tamworth, (Heritage Room)

Wishing Well – Karen Lynne

The first thing you notice about this album is the clean sound and a great selection of easy listening songs. Karen has selected a range of songs that suit her vocal range and singing style perfectly.

The other noticeable surprise is the quality of the music behind the vocals and a look at the liner notes explains why. With Rod McCormack, Ian Simpson, Trev Warner, Michel Rose, Mick Albeck James Gillard in tow, Karen Lynne is in great musical company on this album.

The CD kicks off with the title track, Wishing Well (Blues), written by Marshall Willborn – husband and bass player for the famed Lynn Morris and her band. Karen’s version of this song is smooth and silky with an beautiful  musical arrangement offered up from the aforementioned super group.

Another track that stands out is Karen’s arrangement of Paul Craft’s Jealous. This may well become a classic arrangement with its unusual bluegrass and jazz feel.

The album also includes Karen’s collaboration work with Richard Porteous, Blue Mountain Rain, a depiction of lost love no doubt inspired by a rainy day amid her home town in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney.

The remainder of the CD offers up more of the same with some very pleasing musical arrangements, excellent harmonies and high quality musicianship jointly produced by Rod McCormack and Herm Kovac and released on ABC’s new Heartland label.

This album showcases Karen Lynne at her very best. It is little wonder that she has been nominated for and awarded so many accolades during her 20 year career.

Karen has released eight albums, received twelve major awards, been nominated for over forty major awards, completed three international tours, over ten Australian Country Music Radio Chart hits and a number of overseas chart hits, and now a place in Country Music Capital’s Historic Hands of Fame Park,

Karen is doing bluegrass music proud in Australia.

Brief Listing On-Site Concerts

Here’s a brief rundown on the 2009 Harrietville program. This is s very impressive lineup.

Thu 19th Nov.

• 7:30pm  Hungry Hill, then Bluegrass Parkways +WSM 1945– 9:30 Old time Mountain Square dance (Community Hall) The West Virginia String Band

Fri 20th Nov. in the Marquee

• 3:00 – 3:55 West Virginia Stringband( USA)
• 4:00 – 4:55 Hungry Hill – (Canada)
• 7:00 – 7.25 Senile Delinquents (Vic)
• 7:30 – 7:55 Fatchance & The Bluegrass Playboys (Vic)
• 8:00 – 8:25 Burnt Creek Deviation (NSW)
• 8:30 – 8:55 Chilly Strings (Vic)
• 9:00 – 9:25 Hunter & Suzy Owens Band
• 9:30 – 9:55 Pigeonwing Strings – (Aust & USA)
• 10:00 – 10:25 The Bridgeland Brothers ( SA)
• 10:30 – 11:00 The Acoustic Shock Reunion Band (NSW)

Fri 20th Nov. in The Hub restaurant

• 11:00 – 1:00 Hungry Hill; Jimmy Martin Half Hour

Fri 20th Nov. in the Community Hall

• 11:00 pm  – 1:00 am Mike Seegar Memorial Old Time Country Show – M.C. Ken Mc Master (see him for spot)
• 1:00 am til late Craig Woodward’s Friday Night Band

Sat 21st Nov. Evening in the Marquee

• 1:30 – 1:55 The Cowrippers (SA)
• 2:00 – 2:25 Archer (Vic)
• 2:30 – 2:55 Appalachian Heaven (Vic)
• 3:00 – 3:25 Bluestone Junction (Vic)
• 3:30 – 3:55 My-T-Fine Sringband (NSW)
• 4:00 – 4:25 Coolgrass ( Vic)
• 4:30 – 4:55 High Times String Band (Vic)
• 7:00 – 7:25 Davidson Brothers (Vic)
• 7:30 – 7:55 Pigeonwing Strings(Aus & USA)
• 8:00 – 8:25 Karen Lynne & Blue Mountain Rain (NSW)
• 8:30 – 9:10 West Virginia String Band (USA)
• 9:15 – 9:40 Hardrive (Vic)
• 9:45 – 10:20 Hungry Hill (Canada)
• 10:30 – 11:00 Redlands Bluegrass Boys

Sat 21st Nov. in The Restaurant

• 11:00 pm – late Jack Johnson Memorial Show (see Nick Dear for 15 min spot)

Sun 22 Nov. in the Marquee

• 9:00am – 1:00pm Radio Gospel Show—Live over WAMU-FM Washington.DC and internet over Bluegrasscountry.org
• 2:30 – 4:30 Overseas Guests Farewell Show
• 4:35  All-night Longers
• 7:00 – 7:25 Guitar Pickers Spectacular (National)
• 7:30 – 7:55 Hill Williams ( Vic)
• 8:00 – 8:25 The Pecking Order ( Vic)
• 8:35 – 9:15 Bluegrass Parkway (WA)
• 9:20 – 9:45 The Wayward Sisters (Tas)
• 10:00 Host Paul Duff ( Walkup—15 min spots-see Paul at Weekend)

Workshops Saturday and Sunday: vocals, harmony, banjo, fiddle, guitar, dobro and bass
There is a detailed program available  at www.harrietvillebluegrass.com.au

Blue Mountains based singer Karen Lynne has a style of music that ranges from Country to Bluegrass to Folk and everything in between. Karen Lynne has taken great strides in her career as a singer/songwriter since starting out more than 20 years ago. She has had considerable success with her recordings and has collected many accolades and Awards along the way including Golden Guitar Awards finalist placings, her hand-prints in the Tamworth Hands of Fame Park, the Frank Ifield International Spur Award and many other Independent artist Awards.

As one of Country Music’s quietest achievers, Karen demonstrates not only great talent but remarkable perseverance and the staying power necessary to achieve longevity in an industry so fickle. Now, with eight  great albums, twelve major Award wins, over forty major Finalist Nominations, three international tours, over ten Australian Country Music Radio Chart hits and a number of overseas chart hits, and now a place in Country Music Capital’s Historic Hands of Fame Park, she continues to demonstrate a dedication not often recognised in her field – ABC Music

Karen Lynne’s new album Wishing Well is her first through ABC Music’s new Heartland label.  The tracks have been produced by Herm Kovac & Rod McCormack and include celebrated Australian musicians including Mick Albeck, Trev Warner, James Gillard, Michel Rose & Rod McCormack.