January, February and March saw me doing shows in Australia. I appeared at the Tamworth Country Music Festival in NSW for the 31st year in a row. A couple of visits to my home town of Benalla, Victoria to spend time with my parents and celebrate their 60th Wedding Anniversary, plus a trip to Perth, Western Australia to visit my brother.
Recording the new ‘Born Free’ CD in Sydney took up a lot of time during February, March and April. My producer, Bob Howe, did a wonderful job with this new ‘easy listening’ album and I am proud to make it available for your listening pleasure.
Then came the long flight to Los Angeles and then to Branson, Missouri ready for another season in the USA.
In June I spent time in Nashville, TN and during the Fan Fair week I caught up with some Australian entertainers, including Bob Howe, and I performed on the Tomkins Guitar Showcase at the Sheraton, as well as celebrating my 53rd birthday.
Back in Australia the ‘Australian Entertainment ‘MO’ Awards were held in Sydney and I was delighted to get an early morning phone call in Nashville to say that I had won the ‘Male Country Performer’ category. This makes five ‘MO’s that I have won during my career.
I returned to ‘Kentucky Down Under’ for a weekend of performances mid June. This Australian Theme Park is a wonderful place to experience a taste life ‘down under’. I also performed at Bakersville, Mansfield, Missouri on a number of occasions. Just nearby is where the ‘Little House On The Prairie’ books were written many years ago.
Performing at the MidWest Country Theatre in Sandstone, Minnesota in September was certainly a highlight. The show is broadcast on RFD-TV throughout the USA to an estimated 35 million households — great exposure for me as my performances are aired to a huge audience.
"A Salute To The Great American Cowboy" was the theme of the National Harvest Festival at Silver Dollar City during September. Other artists who performed during this festival were, Roy Rogers Jnr, Asleep At The Wheel, Sons Of The San Joaquin, Texas In The Swing, to name just a few. Then in October we payed tribute to the ‘American Farmer’ with performances by John Conlee, The Wilders, Les Gilliam & His Silver Lake Band…and many more.
I loved working with the HorseCreek Band each day for the popular Barn Dances doing all that Country & Western music.
Once again I was a final nominee in the Australian Club Entertainment (ACE) Awards for ‘Male Country Performer’. They were held in Sydney at the end of October. My congratulations to Troy Cassar-Daley on his win.
I returned home to Sydney early in November, just in time to start a tour to Tasmania, South Australia and Victoria with the Howie Bros. Band.
Check out my touring schedule for Australia and the USA on the links provided to keep up to date with my travels around the world.
All the best,
Wayne
November 14, 2008
2007
First was an extensive tour in Australia and New Zealand. Then came the long flight to Los Angeles (and then on to Missouri) and before long I was entertaining thousands of Americans throughout the MidWest region of the USA.
World-Fest at Silver Dollar City in Branson was a lot of fun and I enjoyed representing my home country of Australia. There were many excellent groups and acts from all over the world taking part in this wonderful festival.
A couple of weeks in Hawaii for research and relaxation came in May, followed by a busy performance and travel schedule during June, July and August, with shows in Kentucky, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois, as well as Branson, Missouri.
The Hodag Country Festival in Rhinelander, Wisconsin was certainly a highlight as it was my ninth time to perform at this huge festival. Alongside so many American country music stars, such as Mickey Gilley, Lonestar, Montgomery Gentry, Trace Adkins, Gary Nichols and many others, the people had a wonderful time and so did I.
Performing at the MidWest Country Theatre in Sandstone, Minnesota in July was also a highlight. The show is broadcast on RFD-TV throughout the USA to an estimated 35 million households — great exposure for me as my performances are aired to a huge audience.
"A Salute To The Great American Cowboy" was the theme of the Fall Festival at Silver Dollar City during September and October. I loved working with the HorseCreek Band each day for the popular Barn Dances doing all that Western music.
Nice to be a final nominee in the ACE Awards back home in Australia for ‘Male Country Performer’. The Australian Club Entertainment Awards were held in Sydney at the end of October. My congratulations to Troy Cassar-Daley on winning Male Country Performer.
I returned home to Sydney in November. The, a tour of the State of Victoria — with the Howie Brothers — finished the year off nicely for me, just prior to Christmas with my family.
2006
The biggest highlight for me in 2006 was performing at the International World Festival at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, last April and May. I was backed by the Flores de Praga Orchestra and the Modrotisk Bluegrass Band, all of Prague, Czech Republic.
We came together to perform a Salute to American Country Music. I certainly enjoyed working will all 13 talented musicians, doing three shows a day during the huge, five-week festival.
Another highlight for me was my October tour of the United Kingdom. I did a number of shows with Barbary Coast (Frank Ifield's former band) and got to tour many towns and cities, performing in clubs, pubs, theatres and holiday villages. I've been on tour in England five times and they've been playing my music on radio throughout Europe as well as the BBC radio shows.
Come November, after a short stop back in Branson to organize things, I headed home. It was good to get back to Sydney, summer and the Christmas season.
All in all, 2006 was a great year.
Wayne with Silver Dollar City favourites, The HorseCreek Band.
Photo credit: Joshua Heston
• Highlights of 2006 & 2007
• Hodag In Rhinelander
• Nashville Memories
• Branson and The City
• Wisconsin Travels
• Silver Dollar City Moments
Note: because of the file size of some photos included in this section, performance may be reduced with some internet connections.
"A couple of weeks in Hawaii for research and relaxation came in May, followed by a busy performance and travel schedule during June, July and August..."
Photo credit: Kent Woolston
It really was a lot of fun to perform with everyone of the Flores de Praga Orchestra and the great bluegrass band Modrotisk. Near the end of the festival, we had time for a few group shots at the Riverfront Playhouse.
Photo credit: Kent Woolston