Üritus: James Blundell - LIVE

Üritus: James Blundell - LIVE

James Blundell is acknowledged by many as the act single-handedly responsible for turning a younger demographic of Australians onto country music. He was the first young Australian country artist to create an impact on the mainstream pop charts and for many years was the highest selling country artist in the nation. James was also the first Australian country act to sign a major label recording deal in Nashville paving the way for the likes of Keith Urban, Kasey Chambers and others. In addition to his own success James has penned hits for Lee Kernaghan, Slim Dusty and Jimmy Little. James has been the recipient of 9 CMAA (Country Music Association of Australia) Golden Guitar Awards, double platinum, platinum and gold sales awards and is a 5 time ARIA (Australian Record Industry Association) Award nominee with one win to his name.

After a 6-year hiatus James re-emerged in early 2005 with his 8th album ‘Deluge’ which spawned 3 country music hits: the title track, ‘Greylands’ a song dealing with the sensitive subject of mental illness, and ‘Postcards From Saigon’. In June 2005 he was appointed the official ambassador of the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia during the association’s National congress and added this organisation to his long list of supported charities. James was recognised for his work at the Australian Independent Country Music Awards winning the awards for Male Vocalist, Heritage Track and APRA/AMCOS Independent Country Music Single of the Year. James also received four nominations from the Country Music Association of Australia – APRA Song of The Year, Single of The Year, Male Vocalist of The Year and Video Clip Of The Year – for the 34th CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia.

In November 2006 James joined acclaimed Australian country label Compass Bros Records who released the album ‘Ring around the Moon’ on March 31st 2007. The album quickly became a favourite amongst country fans spawning 4 country radio hits – ‘Nature’s Gentleman’ (a song penned by James that was previously recorded by Slim Dusty), ‘Higher than Heaven’, ‘4 Feet Tall’ & the powerful title track. In October 2007 the album was a finalist in the country album category at the ARIA Awards and in January 2008 a finalist in Album of the Year at the Country Music Awards of Australia. James was also a finalist in Male Artist and Heritage Song of the Year. In May 2008 ‘Higher than Heaven’ was nominated in the Country Work of the Year category by the Australasian Performing Right Association for the 2008 APRA Music Awards, the annual celebration of Australian songwriters. He was inducted into the prestigious Galaxy of Stars by Tamworth Regional Council in January 2009 joining country music legends including
Slim Dusty, Smoky Dawson and John Williamson as well as peers such as Lee Kernaghan and Troy Cassar-Daley.

James’ 9th studio album ‘Portrait of a Man’ was released on the 17th January 2009 and featured contributions from Lee Kernaghan, Felicity Urquhart and Mick Thomas of Weddings, Parties, Anything fame. Critically acclaimed from all parts of the music industry the album was preceded by the single ‘Good Wood’ which was released in December 2008 and quickly added to country/AC radio playlists across the nation. ‘Good Wood’ was followed in March by the moving title track, whose video became a mainstay on CMC (Country Music Channel). ‘Moving On’ (a duet with Mick Thomas) was released as a single in October. In November 2009 James was named as a finalist for Male Artist of the Year (a feat he has now achieved for the third album running) at the 38th Country Music Awards of Australia. “Portrait of a Man’ was also named by The Australian Independent Record Labels Association as a finalist for Best
Independent Country Album at the 2009 Jagermeister AIR Awards. A long known supporter of young talent James was approached by Mushroom Music to be involved with the talent search ‘Telstra Road To Tamworth’ during 2009. His role as a judge, spokesman and mentor continues throughout
the 2010 competition.
In August 2010 James started work on a play titled ‘The Ultimate Rock N Roll Jam Session’ alongside Dave Larkin (Dallas Crane), Nick Barker & newcomer Ezra Lee. The show which tells the story of one electrifying day in 1956 when four of America’s top recording artists of the time - Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins - met and forever changed the face of popular music is re-created in this new Australian show. How these mega-stars came to record together for the first and only time is told in ‘The Ultimate Rock N Roll Jam Session’, which took place at Sun Records in Memphis. The event premiered in leading suburban venues ahead of a season in Brisbane in late 2010 and the Sydney Opera House in February 2011 followed by an Australia-wide tour.

From October 2010 James was heard on Channel Ten as the narrator for the exciting new television show, ‘Keeping Up With The Joneses’, which follows the extraordinary life and times of the Jones family on Coolibah Station in the Northern Territory. The hit TV series returns shortly in 2011. James new CD ‘Woolshed Creek’ featuring a selection of new tracks and re-workings of previously released material
will be released in February 2011. Recorded in the Wool Shed, on the family property Mount Malakoff, this is James Blundell like you have never heard him before.

What the critics are saying about James’ last CD ‘Portrait Of A Man’ …

"If there's a contemporary singer/songwriter in this country today writing about and commenting on the nature of being an Australian with a quiet honesty, real integrity - and a cheeky humour when things get a bit too serious - it's James Blundell." Michael Smith, Drum Media
“Portrait of A Man is an album rich with credible stories and sounds” Rhythms Magazine
"A rollicking return to strong country-rock roots and lyrics that don't mince words; No matter how you like your country this album will have you pining for the great Aussie outdoors James clearly so loves" Australian Women's Weekly
“Portrait Of A Man confirms James Blundell’s status as one of the richest – and most honest – voices in Australian music” Music Network
“Portrait Of A Man is without doubt one of the best albums that James Blundell has recorded and it consolidates his place as one of Australia’s finest songwriters” Jon Wolfe, Capital News

From ‘The Definitive Collection’ DVD …
"James Blundell is one of the greatest singer-songwriters this country has ever produced. He kicked down the doors and busted through with a new kind of country... it was a revolution." Lee Kernaghan, 2008 Australian of the Year
"As a young Country Music singer James Blundell was the guy I looked up to. He forged a path that I and many others have followed." Adam Brand, 2009 Dancing With the Stars Winner & 2010 Arista Nashville signing
"James Blundell brought the modern sound of country music to Australia, and paved the way for all of the contemporary country music artists that followed. James played a critical part in broadening the appeal of country music to mainstream Australia. He was the bridge between the traditional and the modern. Country Music in Australia wouldn't be where it is today without the contribution of James Blundell." Tim Daley - Program Director, Country Music Channel
“James changed the landscape of Australian country music when he emerged in the late 80's, he absorbed the tradition of the great story tellers of Australian country music and served it up fresh in a way that really connected with a broad audience. His music resonated with young and old, male and female, in the country and the city and paved
the way for many of our contemporary country artists." Compass Bros Managing Director Graham Thompson