Fresh country music voices in town for awards
Country music singer-songwriter T . C . Cassidy takes the stage at the Country Music Showcase in North Richmond .
by Maryann Callaghan
Country music comeback queen T . C . Cassidy heads a showcase of legendary artists as well as up-and-coming young stars Courtney Keil and Finnian Johnson at North Richmond Panthers next month .
The Golden Guitar Award nominee for New Talent of The Year and Female Artist of The Year , Tania will be performing many of her hits , including songs from the Travelling Heart album .
The singer-songwriter leads the annual Country Music Showcase and Maureen Wagner Country Music Awards , staged by music promoter Don Wagner and supported by musician , singersongwriter Steve Passfield .
Steve , a former member of Slim Dusty ’ s band , is a Golden Guitar Award winner and Aussie country music star , who also acts as music director , production and stage band manager for this annual show . He will be joined by balladeer and country crooner Harry Court who comperes the show , with accompaniment by the Down Town Country Band .
The prized feature of the annual show is the award for Most Promising Young Artist in Australian country music , which is dedicated to the memory of Don ’ s late wife and childhood sweetheart Maureen .
The finale is a ripper , when the new talent performs on stage with the established star , T . C . Cassidy .
This year Courtney Keil and Finnian Johnson are the young talent .
“ Courtney has just released her first album and Finnian has appeared on The
Twenty-year-old sensation Finnian Johnson .
Young talent Courtney Keil .
Voice TV show . Both are remarkable artists and will definitely go a long way ,” Don told the Independent .
“ Courtney recently went to Nashville with Gina Jeffries and Rod McCormack and collaborated on a beautiful single ‘ Where does love go ?’ which is getting good airplay .
“ Finnian appeared on The Voice last year and Keith Urban said ‘ I love this guy ’ in the blind auditions , Rita Ora said he ’ s ‘ an amazing storyteller ’ and Rita and Jess Mauboy fought over him .
“ They couldn ’ t believe he was just 19 years old at the time .”
Don ’ s previous shows have featured country music greats such as Tanya Kernaghan , Angus
Gill , Adam Harvey , Gina Jefferies , Felicity Urquhart , the Chambers family , Amber Lawrence , Rod McCormack , Charley Boyter , Tracey Killeen and even Slim Dusty ’ s wife Joy McKean , who presented the first award for Most Promising Young Artist in Australian country music .
The annual shows have been staged at Windsor , Kurmond , Kurrajong Heights , Rooty Hill , North Richmond , Richmond and the Central Coast .
“ We ’ ll also have raffles and a guitar signed by Golden Guitar artists from Tamworth this year . Money raised is donated to the Cancer Foundation ,” Don said .
The 2023 Country Music Showcase is being staged at North Richmond Panthers , Saturday , 20 May , from 8pm .
Tickets are $ 35 per person , under 12s are free when accompanied by an adult . Contact 4560 5000 to book your tickets .
THE HILLS INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 94 // APRIL 2023 29