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There were many highlights for me this year:
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.
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. There are also lots of new photos to enjoy.
All the best,
Wayne
February 1, 2008
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.