2022 Murgon Music Muster

The Murgon Music Muster is back in 2022. 

The small but dedicated Rotary Club of Murgon is currently organising to bring a talented group of country music artists to Murgon for the next Murgon Music Muster.  

The Muster will run from Wednesday 2 November to Sunday 6 November 2022 at the PCYC on the Murgon Showgrounds. 

There will be a huge line up of invited artists with 3 headline acts on Friday and Saturday.  

Various professional artists will make an appearance in the afternoon on Friday 4th November following the official opening.  Our feature acts on Friday night will be 5 times Golden Guitar winning Australian Singer-Songwriter, Amber Lawrence, who also performed for us in 2019, and multi award-winning country artists Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham

Amber is also presenting a free show for school children on Friday afternoon at another venue, and will feature in our Saturday morning line-up as well.

The Saturday night concert will see the return of the very talented award-winning and multi–Golden Guitar winner Adam Harvey

Talented local artists Dean Perrett and Lloyd Back will also be returning to the Muster for several appearances over the main weekend as well as Amber Goldsmith

Other artists to make an appearance over the weekend will include Alice Benfer, Pete Smith, Brendan Radford, Paul Ricketts, Clyde Cameron and Clarrie Weller.

It is also with great excitement that we announce Lindsay Waddington and Ken “Chainsaw” Lindsay will be making their first appearance at the Muster.   

All professional artists will have the option of being backed by the Murgon Music Muster Band led by Brendan Radford.  

The 2022 Muster will include:-   

·         Professional Country Artists from Friday to Sunday   

·         Walk-Up artists from Wednesday to Friday, with sound checks on Tuesday PM   

·         Bush Poets' Breakfast from Thursday to Sunday   

·         Dance on Thursday night with dance band, Doghouse.   

.         Artists’ merchandise for sale   

·         Catering from Wednesday night to Sunday breakfast.  Tea and Coffee available for gold coin donation.  

.         Bar from Wednesday night to Sunday   

.         Wednesday night to include Meet and Greet BBQ from 5pm  

.         Sunday morning to include Gospel Concert  

·         Indoor Event  

.         Limited Powered Camping Sites as well as Unpowered Camping Sites   

.         Hot Showers, including a new toilet block with wheelchair friendly shower and toilet.   

·         EFTPOS facilities available at the Gate and at Muster Merchandise Shop.   

·         Onsite RV Dump Point   

·         Dogs are permitted in the camping area on a leash only (unfortunately dogs are not allowed in the hall)   

So be sure to come and bring your friends and enjoy a relaxed week of country music fellowship.  

4 Day passes and daily passes, including camping can be purchased from this site leading up to the Muster. Go to our TICKETS PAGE for more details.  

Walk-Up Artists and Poets are welcome. Clarrie Weller will be organising the Walk-Up Artists and can be contacted on 0423 223 485 for any enquiries. A Backing Band will be provided for the Walk-Up concerts commencing on Wednesday 2 November through to Friday 4 November.  

Camping at the Showgrounds will be available from Sunday 30 October to Sunday 6 November, inclusive.  There will powered and unpowered sites available. 

The major beneficiaries from this year’s Muster will be RACQ LifeFlight Rescue, Blue Care Respite South Burnett and Murgon Hospital Auxiliary.   

This is one Muster not to miss.  Tickets will be limited.  

We hope to see you at the Murgon Music Muster in 2022. 

See below for a list of artists performing at the 2022 Muster together with their photos and bios.  

 

2022 Artists

Adam Harvey

With a career spanning over twenty years, half a million album sales, gold and platinum albums, and eight Golden Guitar Awards, Adam Harvey is one of Australia’s most popular & enduring recording artists.

Adam was presented with the CMA Global Country Artist Award in 2007, and has been awarded a Centenary Medal for his charity work. Adam is an Ambassador for the Fred Hollows Foundation, and the McGrath Foundation.

Following the outstanding success of his latest album "Songs From Highway One" , Adam spent most of 2021 performing to sell out crowds across Australia. Adam is currently writing a book "Tales From The Road."

Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham

Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham (of the Waifs), have a collective haul of Golden Guitars, ARIA Awards, multi-platinum album sales and extensive touring over nearly three decades, that serves as a readymade conventional definition of success.  But there are many ways in which success can be defined, and when the irresistible forces of music and love brought Felicity and Josh together, they set in motion something wildly successful and truly special. 

When they accepted an invitation to join "The Song Club" (a creative collective that tasked member with writing a song a week to a prompt) they were just looking to be productive during lockdown and push themselves beyond the comfort zone.

The experience proved to be a lifeline to creativity and community during a challenging year, and in time Felicity became not just a fellow song club member to Josh, but a muse.  Identifying herself in many of his weekly offerings, she decided the only thing to do was invite him over more frequently for cups of tea, so she could get to the bottom of why he was writing songs about her, and explore writing songs together. 

Fast forward and The Song Club has spawned a story of inspiring beauty, a family and an eleven track album, appropriately titled The Song Club.

The Song Club debuted at #1 on the ARIA Country Album Charts and #10 on the ARIA Album Chart.  It has since garnered four Golden Guitar nominations in the upcoming 2021 CMAA Awards and was also nominated for an ARIA in the "Best Country Album" category.

These accolades reflect the unique chemistry created by the pair.  Joyous and uncontrived, their music translates seamlessly from album to stage, with masterful musicianship on a humble array of guitars and banjo's providing the perfect vehicle to transport their exquisite songwriting directly to the hear.  It's stripped back and doesn't need dressing up to be full of life and energy. 

The pairing is unexpected, the songs unforgettable and the aura unique.  Untainted by the demands of fashion, Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham are able to be who they are in an unpretentious way that description cannot fully capture and experience alone can convey.  The song Club story and sound is arrestingly beautiful and quite unlike anything else.

 

Amber Lawrence

Amber Lawrence is a 5 times Golden Guitar winning Australian singer-songwriter who captures the nation’s attention and heart with her uplifting songs of self-belief, fun, family and ordinary Australians.

On July 22, 2022, Multi-Golden Guitar winner Amber Lawrence released her highly anticipated new album, Living for the Highlights through ABC MusicDebuting at Number 1 on the ARIA Australian Album Charts, Number 1 on the ARIA Country Album Charts and Number 5 on the ARIA ALL GENRE ALBUM Charts.

This is Amber’s seventh studio album, showcasing contemporary country at its finest. It is a realistic take on life after three years of highs and lows and follows the release of her much-loved 2019 long player, Spark.

Amber’s insightful and truthful songwriting has seen her craft a detailed, rich story of what it means to deal with the worst life can hand you. On Bring it Back she directly addresses the challenges of the music industry in recent times, and on the devastating You Were Mine she documents the greatest tragedy and heartbreaks of her life.  

Amber is a five-time Golden Guitar winner, scoring her most recent statue for her poignant and stunning collaboration with fellow country artists Dianna Corcoran, Aleyce Simmonds, Kirsty Lee Akers on their rendition of John Williamson’s True Blue (also performed on the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House for Australia Day Live 2022). She was nominated for Female Artist of the Year at the 2022 Golden Guitars, and recently filled in for Beccy Cole as the host of ABC Radio’s Saturday Night Country in addition to her iHeart Country radio program.

Amber is prolific – not only has she released 7 studio albums, but 3 acclaimed children’s albums (including an ARIA nominated kid’s album The Kid’s Gone Country II), an award-winning collaboration album with Travis Collins, a live album and a live DVD.  She is also one of our hardest working artists, with a touring schedule to rival any.

 

Dean Perrett

There is an old saying “write and sing about what you know”. For an authentic traditional Australian country sound, look no further than Bush Ballad Singer / Songwriter, Dean Perrett. Being raised and still working on the family cattle property “Bowenfels”, a soul of pure country is a natural thing for Dean.

Over the last 32 years, Dean has earned his place as one of Australia’s favourite Bush Balladeers and leading traditional Country Artists.

With five golden guitars under his belt, Dean’s creditability as a writer and singer of Australian bush songs goes unquestioned. Just like Dean, the songs he writes and sings are very authentic and genuine.

Dean has released 17 albums to date with his latest album “Kind Seasons”, truly highlighting Dean’s versatility and dedication as an artist of traditional country music.

Lloyd Back

Lloyd Back was born in Hughenden, Queensland, and has spent almost all his life living in rural areas of Queensland, including 20+ years in the South Burnett. His songs draw on both his own and other people’s life experiences, and are songs that move people. A relaxed and easy listening performer, Lloyd’s songs connect with a wide range of people of all ages from many differing walks of life.

To date Lloyd has six recordings, with his last three all being award-winning albums which delivered four #1 singles and lots of chart success. Some recent career highlights include;

  • “Strong Love” - 2021Traditional Country Music Awards of Australia Top 10 Album of the Year
  • “Everyone Has a Story” - 2020 Traditional Country Music Awards of Australia Top 10 Album of the Year
  • The title track ‘Everyone Has a Story’ was awarded Best Folk Original in the 2021 Fair Play Country Music Awards in Holland
  • Australian Gold Medallion Media Award for Male Vocalist of the Year and National Male Artist of the Year 2019
  • “Travelling With You” - America’s National Traditional Country Music Association Rural Roots Commission “Real Country CD of the Year”, and Lloyd an inductee into the Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame
  • Since 2019 Lloyd has had 12 singles in the Country Songs Top 40 Australian Airplay Chart, for a combined total of over 150 weeks.

 

Pete Smith

Growing up as a kid in Kempsey and Nulla Nulla Creek NSW, country music has been a big part of Pete's life. Pete's mum grew up with Slim Dusty and Shorty Ranger and their records were played all the time which played a great influence on Pete of the by-gone era in Australian Country music which Pete brings alive in his performances.

Pete Smith has earnt the reputation of being one of Australia's best Showmen on Australian Festival’s Circuit today . He brings to the stage an honest approach to his performances, which is hard to find these days.

Pete has thirteen albums to date.  He was named one of Australia’s top balladeers in 2010 in the Gold Medallion Awards and also been a finalist many times in Tamworth TSA awards for his song writing. He has also been a winner and finalist in the Gidgee Coal Awards.

Pete was given his name some years ago by Bert Newton when he entered a TV show.  He sang The Singing Cowboy with lots of yodelling in the song so Bert gave him the name, Yodelling Pete.

Pete has been singing in Tamworth for thirty years .

He took time off truck driving and he and his wife toured Australia for five years taking their Outback Travelling Country show to many audiences, until Covid 19 struck .

Pete is now back driving trucks and looking forward to travelling once again in the near future, but he is also writing new songs for his 14th Album.

Amber Goldsmith

Amber Goldsmith was born in Kingaroy out in the South Burnett Region of QLD. She has been singing since her early childhood years in churches, retirement homes, small town events, pubs, clubs and more and has won the hearts of many with her voice & personality combo on and off stage.

Amber is simply a girl with an acoustic guitar, who sings a bit of older country, modern country, country rock and some Aussie pub rock & more. She has travelled many thousands of kilometres over Outback QLD and parts of NSW entertaining at well over 1000 places including pubs, clubs, weddings, parties, festivals, local shows, functions, BnS's, rodeos and community events.

Amber wears her heart on her sleeve and uses music as a platform to share her rawness and talk openly about her life battles and experiences.

Amber Goldsmith self-released an album back in 2011 titled "Life's a test". Four songs on the album are her own compositions written from life experiences; which is where the title "Life's a test" came from, written in 2006. 

This young lass has had many highlights in her career and is working towards releasing her second album later in 2022.
 

Amber has been in and out of bands and duos over the years and has taken short breaks to have her children but has always come back to her safe place; music.

Sound Producer