NEWCASTLE'S Morgan Evans owes plenty to the Country Music Channel - a musical education, a career and even a wife.
Understandably the Day Drunk hit-maker was upset on Tuesday when news broke pay-TV network Foxtel were axing their Australian-produced music channels [V], Music Max and CMC on June 30 and replacing them with the US-owned ViacomCBS.
CMC were one of the earliest supporters of Evans' career and he met his wife, US country star Kelsea Ballerini when the pair co-hosted the Australian CMC awards in 2016.
"I remember, as a kid, when my family got Foxtel all I cared about was that channel," Evans said. "They knew the international artists that Australians would love and introduced us to them first. But even more than that, they prioritised the discovery, nurturing and elevation of home-grown talent on an even stage.
"Personally so many of the great moments in my life have been associated with CMC and the wonderful people that have worked so hard on the channel over the years. My first visit to Nashville, my first performance on a big festival stage, my first time hosting a TV show - hell, I met my wife hosting the CMC Music Awards."
REVENUE STREAM
WHEN the COVID-19 restrictions came into place in March Newcastle entertainment booking agency EAO saw six months of events and revenue evaporate overnight.
Everything from national music and comedy tours, to your weekly pub cover gigs were cancelled.
Even as some restrictions begin to ease, there remains no clear resumption date for organised concerts inside licensed venues.
In response EAO has launched Livestream Celebrations where music lovers can book Newcastle artists like Tim Harding, Jess Knaus and Caleb Coles for a personal live performance streamed through Zoom.
People can either book a special song performance, live or pre-recorded, or a whole virtual house concert.
"Livestream Celebrations aims to not only provide our artists with work, but to more importantly, allow people to access quality live music and add that special element to their private celebration," EAO events & marketing coordinator, Eliza Taylor, said.
"Being in self-isolation and not being able to celebrate with family and friends like we're used to will be hard and very different this year, so we wanted to come up with a way live music can still be a part of that celebration and people can have a memorable private function albeit online via Zoom."
LOOK AT NEW BOO
NEWCASTLE indie-electro heavyweights Boo Seeka will unveil the first taste on their second album on Friday when they release the single Take A Look.
The duo of Ben Gumbleton and Michael May have been busy recording their second album, due for release in November with producer Matt Bartlem (Matt Corby, Lastlings, Jarryd James and Dead Letter Circus).
The forthcoming record follows 2017's Never Too Soon, which spawned the hits Does This Last, Gold Sail and Turn Up Your Night, and accumulated 60 million streams.
Take A Look is also the first music from Boo Seeka since they signed with the label Daily Nightly and joined Untitled Group management.
Fans are likely to hear Take A Look and Boo Seeka's other new material when they tour in October, pending COVID-19 restrictions.
READ MORE:Michael May makes seamless move into the Boo Seeka dynamic
GRAYSON SHAPES UP WITH SINGLE
IF you've ever gotten too drunk and woken up embarrassed about what you did the night before, (and let's face it, who hasn't) you'll understand Grayson's latest single.
The title Beermuda Triangle sounds like a bad dad joke, but it's about "those nights out where you go and do crazy things," said Grayson, aka Newcastle-bred Nashville-based country-pop artist Michael Edser.
"It's like someone else takes you over, leads you astray and you don't even realise until the next day."
Beermuda Triangle continues Grayson's recent trend of writing alcohol or party-themed tunes for the US country radio market, following on from 10-9-8-7 and Margarita.
The single was recorded in Nashville and co-produced by Grayson and Justin Ray Miller. It is expected to feature on Grayson's next album Window Dreams.
BOLD SPACEY JANE
ONE of the first major bands to arrive back in Newcastle if the COVID-19 restrictions are eased during the winter will be rising indie band Spacey Jane. The Fremantle four-piece announced this week their sold-out April 11 gig will be rescheduled for August 9 at 48 Watt Street.
Given health officials have predicted venues like pubs and clubs aren't expected to be reopened until September, some might argue the scheduling is optimistic.
RUBENS REBOOKED
SOUL-rockers The Rubens have also rescheduled their Live In Life tour, which includes a gig at Newcastle University's Bar On The Hill on September 18.
