UKCountryRadio Listeners Awards – 6th Party
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| UKCR 6th Birthday Graphic CLICK to ENLARGE |
On, 1st
September 2013, UK Internet station UKCountryRadio.com
(UKCR) celebrated their Sixth
Birthday. Back on 1st September 2007, they ceased their test transmissions
and broadcast live for the first time. Just four presenters formed the UKCR
team in those early days, Allan Watkiss
the station head and former BBC Radio Sheffield presenter (CMA International Broadcaster of the Year 2010),
Bob Preedy (ex BBC Radio York), Graham L.Hall and James Gordon – all of whom
are part of the present day line-up.
UKCountryRadio.com
claim to have over 20,000 country
music tracks in play, many of them by UK artists. Their slogan reads “Playing
The Hottest Country Music For The UK”.
Allan
Watkiss writes “We
have been truly amazed at the vast array and diversity of country music talent
that exists in Britain, much of which I was unaware of before the launch of
this radio station. Hopefully, we have done our little bit in bringing those
artists and songwriters a little bit further into the spotlight”.
When: They celebrated
their Sixth Birthday Party on
Saturday 7th September with a live
concert lined up, along with a three-course celebratory dinner.
Where: The Best Western Premier Yew Lodge Hotel,
33 Packington Hill, Kegworth, DE74 2DF (just off Junction 24 of the M1).
Artists
appearing included The Annie Duggan Band,
The Kerr Donnelly Band, Nashville
singer-songwriter Ashley Robertson
and our Listeners’ Club Award finalists Chris
Green Project, Thorne Hill and Wayne Jacobs.
Those
attending had the chance to vote in the final of UKCR’s Listeners’ Club Award,
and the winner was announced towards the end of the night. The
votes on the night were added to the online votes secured during the online
voting period.
The winner was the song with the most overall votes at
the end of the night (Sept 7, 2013).
The 2013 finalists
(photo) for UKCountryRadio.com Listeners' Club Award were:
2) “The
Goodbye Song” - Ray
Peters Band - UKCR
Online Store
3) “Josie” - Sharon King & The Reckless Angels
- Audio Track - UK iTunes - Amazon UK
The Kerr
Donnelly Band
The first
country act to kick off the live UKCR event was The Kerr Donnelly Band who became
very popular playing around the Country Music Clubs in the Cannock and
Staffordshire area.
From their
website they state: The Kerr Donnelly Band brought a fresh style of original
Country and Rockabilly music to the Country Music scene. Over the years The
Kerr Donnelly Band recorded ad released 'NO HELP NEEDED' on the A.S.R. Record
label. Using the name from the recording studio 'ABBEY SOUND' they recorded all
their tracks plus other EP releases.
Kerr
Donnelly ("The old man") is an Established British Singer Songwriter
Who's Musical style is described as British Country Rock, (Country, Rockabilly,
Rock n Roll, Blues, & Ballads), He formed the "Kerr Donnelly Band"
in 1987, whose influences Kerr's has stated as "Elvis Presley made me pick
up the guitar & Raymond Froggatt made me pick up the Pen". With Andy
Purcell on Drums & Martin Holland on Lead Guitar, the band in 2013 is
Celebrating 26 Years in the Business 1987- 2013. To date the Band have had
various No1's in Charts all over the world (Overplay Country /folk Chart,
Airplay Direct Rock N Roll
Chart, Ness
MP3 Rock N Roll Charts), released CD's, EP'S & Singles to Worldwide Radio,
4 Tracks on a British Movie Soundtrack "DUST" (Directed by Adam
Mason).
Their sad
song "Stand In" (YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXF-VZYfrXM)
was released to an American record chart and label (unnamed) getting to #15
(possibly Soundclick Alt Country Chart?) and a #1 on the Overplay Country/folk
Chart.
Their set
included “Applause from the Crowd” and "Baby To You" (>>
Performance video) along with band
favourite "Alone At Night"
released in May 2012 (Kdml Records) from their IN THE SPOTLIGHT album which was
promoted heavily on ukcountryradio.com.
The Kerr Donnelly Band websites:
Listen to edited highlights of their UKCR 6th Party performance
here:
Wayne
Jacobs - 2013
Listeners' Club Finalist (introduced by UKCR presenter Peter Fairhead)
About: Wayne Jacobs, aged 51, hails from Kent, UK he is a civil servant
whose hobby is a singer, songwriter and performer. While a teenager in the
1980s, Wayne went to night school for three and a half years where he was
taught by a folk singer called Pauline. In 2010,
Wayne released an EP called "SOUNDS GOOD TO ME". It was produced by
Paramount Group in Nashville after Wayne entered their song writing competition
and won the Directors' Award.
Wayne performed at the
2011 UKCountryRadio.com Listeners' Club Awards when his song “My Tennessee
Girl" was voted into the final. Then in 2012 his nominated final song
“Kentucky Whiskey” won the
Listeners' Club Award which he described as "a dream come true". Most
Whisky songs focus on male protagonist’s problems with the demon drink but
Wayne reversed the roles penning a song about a wife with a drinking problem.
Wayne fell ill with flu last year and was unable to
attend. This year Wayne
was in the wars, involved in a horrific motor bike accident on a Scooter 125
losing his back wheel which slid out breaking his wrist and pushed his shoulder
joint out so he now has a metal plate which stops him currently playing his
guitar but he has found a computer App for a keyboard to enable him to continue
writing country songs.
In darting
terms Wayne was the first finalist to step up to the oche UKCR presenter Peter Fairhead introduced Wayne to the
audience, Peter hosts The Saturday Country Music Goldmine at 9am and 9pm every
Saturday - UKCR Showpage
Speaking of
Wayne on the night UKCR station head Allan Watkiss said " You are primarily
a songwriter, and it takes a lot of guts for you to get up here and perform
because you're not a performer are you". Wayne explained that
he writes the songs and has them produced in Nashville and then shares his
music with the world. Like many songwriters that is his key strength and not
his vocal prowess.
In April
2012, Wayne released his latest and nominated song, a country tear-jerker,
titled "I Want My Daddy".
The song is inspired by a US TV show Wayne was watching in which a fire-fighter
from Davies County, Kentucky, was seriously injured in a crash involving a
truck while he was directing traffic. The fire-fighter’s wife and daughter saw
the whole thing from the opposite carriageway. The incident shocked the state
of Kentucky, and inspired Wayne to write it. The song reached number one at
wildhorseradio.com.za
His
nominated song "I Want My Daddy" was released
digitally on Dec 28, 2012; available UK iTunes and Amazon UK
Wayne’s
live set included "Where We're You"
a new song which references to the passing of George Jones which you can hear
on soundcloud.com
Wayne Jacobs Setlist: "Kentucky Whiskey", "In Cold Blood" (Facebook
Video Link), "Where We're You", "I Want My
Daddy"
Wayne Jacobs websites:
ARTIST WEBSITE - FACEBOOK
- TWITTER - REVERBNATION
- SOUNDCLOUD - SPOTIFY
Listen to edited highlights of Wayne’s UKCR 6th Party performance
here:
Sharon
King & The Reckless Angels - 2013 Listeners'
Club Finalist
About: Sharon King
is an award-winning Edinburgh-based singer-songwriter who is building a
reputation for vibrant, funny, relaxed and intimate live shows.
Her astute
observations on Scottish life are carried in contemporary song writing,
delivered wrapped in easy banter and peppered with tales of her travels:
colours and textures are woven through the narratives by the mandolin, fiddle,
viola and voices of The Reckless Angels.
March 2012
saw Sharon supporting music industry song writing icons Gallagher and Lyle to a
packed house at the Queens Hall in Edinburgh. "In summer 2012, Sharon
released "Nothing=Everything", her fourth album to date. It's her
first with the Reckless Angels who are named after her previous album.
Maverick
Magazine describing their excellent country-folk album said: “overflowing with
beautiful songs that will seep gently into your soul”
The Reckless Angels are Jenny Hill (double bass & BVs), Laura Beth Salter (mandolin & BVs), Rowan Rheingans (fiddle, banjo & BVs), Dutch born Vera van Heeringen (mandolin player
& singer) & Scottish fiddler Amy
Geddes.
As trio
format toured together throughout 2012 and 2013 playing music influenced by
bluegrass, old timey and Americana.
Sharon
describes their style as “Scottish folk meets country”, bringing “the cowboy
spirit back to the glens”
Their
nominated song "Josie" was released digitally on Dec
28, 2012 and the Singer-Songwriter-Country album came on
18 July
2012 available on UK iTunes
On Facebook
it states: Due to a serious family illness Sharon King and the Reckless Angels
will not be taking booking for 2013 / 2014. They were not able to attend the
UKCR awards.
You can
find an archived interview on ukcountryradio.com - Sharon King MP3
Sharon King & The Reckless
Angels websites:
Celtic
Connections 2013 video 'It's
a Beautiful Day'
Listen to a clip of their nominated song and short interview with
UKCR presenter Martyn Williams:
Chris
Green Project - 2013
Listeners' Club Finalist
(introduced by UKCR presenter Simon Large) Image Chris with UKCR’s Simon Large, Martyn Williams & Allan
Watkiss)
Chris Green
Project band before the finals! - Photo
About: Chris Green Project is a country band from Sussex in southern England.
The bands
camaraderie is one of its strongest elements. Chris has known Kirsty 10 years
and they can read each others mind!
Vera is a
long-time friend and Chris' songs developed successful in competitions and
Kirsty then joined on vocals.
A 3.1/2
minute Chris Green song can be a painful one month journey to finally craft it.
The writing process is inspired by life observations which are scribbled down
initially on poster notes and then using a lectern to sit at and balancing a
guitar on his lap, Chris begins a songs evolution.
Chris
describes his songs as "children" which he nurtures and finally
releases to the outside world. The band thrives on original material - "You have to be
quite brave and bold to put that out to people" Chris
shares.
The band is
made up of Chris Green (songwriter
and musician), Kirsty Durkan (main
vocals) and Vera Groves (keyboards
and manager). Recently a new member, Julia
Alkema joined the project and Steve
King (guitar) and Steve Hayman
(drums) make up their full band line up.
Chris Green
Project was originally set up for singers and musicians to record Chris's songs
and has now become a band.
They record
and produce all their own music, have released two albums to date, and are
currently finishing their third which is due out in early 2013.
The band's
second album BEAUTIFUL WORLD has
also proved to be very popular. Written in varying styles, the album captures
heartfelt ballads - such as "Broken Heart" and "Tender Is The
Night" which was performed live in the finals of the International Song Of
Peace in Tipperary, Ireland.
They were introduced
to the Derby stage by ukcountryradio.com presenter and "Doncaster's Very
Own" Simon Large (Sat/Suns 2-5pm - UKCR Showpage) They opened with "Which
Side Of The Bed" from their album ROAD OF MANY COLOURS. The Chris Green
Project showcased new tracks from a brand new album titled GOLDMINE.
Their
nominated song "Beautiful World" is available on UK iTunes
Chris Green Project
Setlist:
"Which Side Of The Bed", "Because Of You" ##, "Paper
Moon"##,"Texas" ##, "Beautiful World"
## New
tracks from a brand new album titled GOLDMINE (out Sept 7) available from their
Music Page
Chris Green Project websites:
ARTIST WEBSITE - FACEBOOK
- TWITTER - REVERBNATION
- SPOTIFY
Listen to edited highlights of the Chris Green Project’s UKCR 6th
Party performance here:
The Ray Peters Band - 2013 Listeners' Club Finalist
About: The Ray Peters
Band sees lead singer Ray team up with Shaun Murray on guitar, mandolin and backing vocals and Phil Bennett on fiddle, mandolin and
backing vocals.
Ray Peters hails
from the Isle of Sheppey. Phil Bennett is from Rochester Kent and Shaun Murray is
from Rainham, Kent.
Ray has
played many genres of music but realised back in the late 90’s that he really
liked country music and bluegrass.
He set out
to get a country band together and, after many attempts, formed the Ray Peters
Band. Shaun and Ray first met in 2000 they have played together on and off
through those years. Ray was introduced to Phil in August 2009 by Shaun and
they started rehearsing the band.
The
momentum really gathered in 2010 and they now travel far and wide across the
UK.
Ray has two
new albums - an eleven-track solo album called SOMETHING DIFFERENT and a
16-track album with the band called SINGIN’ PICKIN FIDDLIN.
Both include
their UKCR nominated track "The
Goodbye Song" which was written by Ray so that the band could play it
at the end of their shows to say goodbye to old and new friends at the clubs
they play at.
The self
penned “Goodbye Song” was included on the promotional Hotdisc #155 (Nov 2011 - Rush Released). The track is voted on by
DJs from all over Europe and further afield, but not America. It made a #7
Hotdisc Top 40 and #3 debut on the British & Irish chart on the chart of Nov 6, 2011 with a #4 and #2 peak on Dec 4, 2011 chart
You can
watch a performance on >> YouTube
The
Ray Peters Band were unable to attend the UKCR 6th Party as they were playing a
gig in Southampton.
Listen to a clip of their nominated song and a short live phone
interview with UKCR presenter Martyn Williams:
Thorne
Hill - 2013
Listeners' Club Finalist
About: Thorne Hill spent 10 years touring worldwide then decided it
was time to plant his feet firmly on British soil and follow his lifelong
passion, country Music!
He joined one of the UK’s top live country bands
ARIZONA STORM in April 2009. He leads
the band through a set featuring a rich mix of timeless classics and
contemporary songs from many of the major US artists.
Hill is already well established as a
professional session singer and is an exciting newcomer to the country music
circuit.
Thorne has
been described by Country Routes magazine as "One of the finest vocalists heard in UK country". He continues
to perform with Arizona Storm, one of the UK's top live country bands and
Thorne has teamed up with producer/songwriter Andrew Kay and some of the
world's finest session musicians for the first single release from his
forthcoming debut album.
"Help Me Find The Strength", a
contradiction in terms, with an upbeat rhythm but lyrically downbeat, is
available to download worldwide via iTunes, Spotify, eMusic and all the other
major download sites. The music video will also be available on iTunes. It was
released as a single on the promotional Hotdisc #166 (Oct 2012) making a #24
Hotdisc Top 40 and #8 debut on the British & Irish chart Oct 7, 2012 it peaked at #10 peak and #2 on
the British charts of Nov
4, 2012 and was blocked of a No.1 slot by “How's The World
Treating You" from Paula Macaskill / Keith Macleod.
Carolann B ukcountryradio.com presenter and
"Yorkshire's first Lady of Country Music" introduced Thorne Hill to
the Yew Lodge Hotel stage. Join Carolann Ladies Night on the third Friday of
each month at 8pm, repeated the next day at 5pm - UKCR Showpage
Before
presenting Thorne Hill with his certificate for his UKCR nominated song “Help
Me Fin The Strength” Carolann paid tribute to Brit Country music circuit
saying: “This
evening we have been entertained by some fantastic songs both written in the UK
and in the US but ladies and gentlemen I think that the talent we have on our
shows far surpasses anyone else that we have anywhere in the world. We’ve got
some fantastic British songwriters, they’re in this room tonight and it proves
that they are the best because they have got to the top of the tree in this
years UKCountryRadio.com Listeners Club Award 6th Party”
It was not
Thorne's plan to exclusively showcase
"Help Me Find The Strength"
at the 5th Party in 2012 and then return in 2013 - "It was a pleasant surprise"
he shared. The song written by Yorkshire man Andrew Kay, who now works in
Dubai, can be viewed on >> YouTube
Thorne is
working on a new project of his own creation working with an "amazing producer" to suit both him and
the current commercial market. Dedicated fans left messages of support from
around the world including the Philippines and Maryanne in Sunny Fort Myers
Florida, USA! .
Once again
Thorne showcased brand new original material, this year from TOMORROW, the
"much anticipated" debut EP which finds him teaming up with producer
Christopher Barn.
Thorne Hill Setlist: "Watching You" (Rodney
Atkins cover) "Tomorrow" ##, "Graveyard Shift" ##,
"Help Me Find The Strength"
## From forthcoming
5 track EP TOMORROW available for pre-order on UK iTunes Nov 3, 2013 -
Thorne Hill websites:
ARTIST WEBSITE - FACEBOOK
- TWITTER -
REVERBNATION
(New EP preview) - SPOTIFY
Listen to edited highlights of the Thorne Hills best bits at the UKCR
6th Party performance here:
Ashley
Robertson – Special
Guest
Ashley Robertson Canadian born singer-songwriter and
Nashville based artist is a two time
winner of European CMA Vocalist of the
Year. She was on a UK tour which started off in Hammersmith in London at
The Regal Room (Read review) , on September 6th where she
started her set by inviting UK singer-songwriters Rachel Button and Fiona
Culley to join her on stage for the song "Heatwave", written by all three – See Flyer Image.
Attending
UKCR's 6th Birthday Party as a very special guest Ashley showcased this song
along with 3 tracks from her latest album START AGAIN and a couple from 2008
set WOMAN IN THE WHITE DRESS, plus some well known covers from her favourite
and inspirational female artists
Her song “Woman in the White Dress”, a favourite
of mine, written by Ashley, became part of the soundtrack for the Sundance
Institute film “Compliance”, handpicked by director Craig Zobel. The film
debuted at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and got picked up by Magnolia
Pictures for wide release.
Ashley not
only possesses a lovely spoken voice but a sweet and beautiful fragile vocal.
I’m sure she will have won over new fans both at the event in Derby and those
listening online.
Ashley Robertson
Setlist:
"Start Again" #, "Finished With You" (single) # *,
"When You Go to Sleep"##, "Woman in the White Dress" ##,
"Lay With You" #, "Heatwave", "Still The One"
(Shania Twain cover), "The Lucky One" (Alison Krauss cover) ,
"White Liar" (Miranda Lambert cover)
## From her
October 3, 2008 album WOMAN in the WHITE DRESS - UK iTunes
Ashley Robertson websites:
Listen to edited highlights of the Ashley’s lovely UKCR 6th Party
performance here:
Watch "I Want My Daddy" performed live at UK Country radio.com Awards
Listeners'
Club Award Winner 2013 Announced
UKCR
presenter Will "Big Dawg"
Downie (Saturday from 6pm UKCR Interactive Show) introduced Wayne to
stage, the winner from the 5th Birthday Party in 2012, to find out who the
winner was for 2013. Wayne didn't have his reading glasses with him on to
relate to the audience who the 2013 champ was but he humorously discovered it
was himself to land back to back victories!
Wayne presented
with his trophy - Photo
Press: News Shopper article
 |
| Wayne Jacobs UKCR Listeners Club Winner 2013 with UKCR Station head supremo Mr.Allan Watkiss! |
Watch "I Want My Daddy" performed live at UK Country radio.com Awards
ceremony on >> Facebook
Listen to Wayne Jacobs UKCR 6th Party presentation here:
Annie
Duggan Band –
Special Guests (introduced by UKCR station head Allan Watkiss)
About:
Blurb: For the past 10 years Ann Duggan
has slowly but surely been building a sizeable following on the U.K music
scene. It would be true to say that it wasn’t until her early twenties that Ann
ever considered a career in music.
In fact
until then, she hadn’t even sung in the bath, much less performed in public,
but a chance meeting with Norfolk based songwriter Colin Granger was to change the course of her life. Having been
persuaded to road test some of his songs with him in local folk clubs and
festivals she embarked on a journey from which there was to be no looking back.
Annie has
established herself as one of the most distinctive voices on the UK live
circuit, gigging extensively throughout the country to increasingly
enthusiastic crowds. Ann’s voice has taken her from the East Midlands to
Chicago and the Mississippi. Along the way she has formed her own band and
recorded 4 celebrated albums.
Some of
those present at UKCR 6th Party had come from far afield including Boston Massachusetts,
Michigan U.S and a couple from Winnepeg Canada and the Annie Duggan band had
made huge efforts to get there from 2 junctions down the M1 motorway!
The Annie Duggan Band were finalists at UKCR's Listeners’
Club Award Fourth Birthday Party on September 17th 2011 which was won by Rita
B.
Annie might
have been “Full of puddin'”, but she
and her 6th Birthday party meal had settled nicely into her country stride with
her Annie twist-country-style she described as coming from a journey “via blues, folk
and jazz genres”
With
current band members, that includes Rob Hines (guitars), Rich Paling (bass) and
Paul 'Slim' Williams (drums) Annie is able to perform with various line ups to
suit any venue or show style.
Allan
Watkiss welcomed her and the band to the Derby stage saying "its time to crank
this party up...every time they perform for us they are fantastic"
Kicking off
with "Shooter's Last Ride" from the album IF I KNEW THEN she followed up with a cover of Lucinda
Williams "Passionate Kisses" and as Babestation TV awaited for some
of us Annie and her band kept the ukcountryradio Party crowd
"entertained" into the late night and early hours.
Find them
on Facebook, Watch
their video of “Cold
Hearted Lover” - ARTIST WEBSITE
Listen to a flavour of the Annie Duggan Band experience!
Congratulations to all the Finalists and to the Winner of the UKCR Listeners Club Award 2013 Wayne Jacobs.
Could this second successive win be the "ladder" to stardom for Jacobs!
UKCountryRadio.com
Tweets:
Will Downie @BigDawgUK Well done
@waynejacobs777 second year in a row winner if @ukcountryradio
#listenersclubaward
Thorne Hill @Thorne_Hill Having a blast
@ukcountryradio Awards!!
Thorne Hill @Thorne_Hill @waynejacobs777: Wayne
jacobs 2013 listeners club winner 2013” Well done Wayne!!!
Ashley Robertson @RobertsonAshley All dressed up for
the UKCountryRadio party! Photo
Congratulations to all the Finalists and to the Winner of the UKCR Listeners Club Award 2013 Wayne Jacobs.
Could this second successive win be the "ladder" to stardom for Jacobs!
Happy 6th
Birthday UKCountryRadio.com! We Love Ya!
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