What's On Tablelands May 2018 | Page 7

Amber and Travis by Rebecca Wallis T he Tablelands is in for a treat this month with the arrival of two of Australia's most exciting country music stars. Amber Lawrence and Travis Collins will be taking to the stage at Malanda RSL on 17 May on what is the first stop on a nation-wide tour for the pair. The collaboration is the product of a joint debut EP called Our Backyard which is due to be released later this year. It brings together two friends and Golden Guitar winners that are famous for their quintessentially Australian story telling. “Now that our solo careers are cemented and we’ve both come off our own solo albums we can have a little fun and throw caution to the wind,” says Amber. 2018 HISTORIC VILLAGE HERBERTON With both artists coming off album releases, Amber and Travis agree that now was the best time to combine their talents and dedicate their efforts to creating a collaborative and genuinely enjoyable album. Prior to this release, Amber has been on the road promoting her fifth studio album Happy Ever After which came out in September 2016. The two singles Happy Ever After and Cheers to the Girls were snapped up by country radio, hitting the top chart radio and video playlists. One of the hardest working artists in the industry, the 2015 and 2016 CMC Oz Female Artist of the Year and 2015 Golden Guitar Female Artist of the Year continues creating authentic and progressive country music that engages her fans like no other. H I L L B I L LY G O A T S Brimming with classics that tell quintessentially Australian stories, the music and lyrics on the Matt Fell produced Our Backyard reflect the true Australian experience across life, love and friendship. The first single from the EP is the title track. N WIN E A KITCHENA ID ARTISAN MIXE R Earlier this year Travis Collins took home not only his first Golden Guitar but a total of three: Male Artist of the Year, Single of the Year (Just Another Girl) and APRA AMCOS Song of the Year (Call Me Crazy). Two months later, Travis was also awarded three CMC Awards: Australian Video of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, and CMC Oz Artist of the Year. As well-known for his masterful guitar playing and powerhouse vocals as he is for his depth of song-writing and high energy live performances, Travis continues to go from strength to strength with his most recent album Hard Light producing three #1 songs and charting in the ARIA top 20 all-genre charts. Amber Lawrence and Travis Collins - Our Backyard Tour Thursday 17 May 8pm @ Malanda RSL Tickets $20 (pre-purchase to avoid disappointment or tickets at the door) Friends since 2004 when they met at the College of Country Music (now Academy of Country Music), Amber and Travis wanted to create music that was more than simple duets but a true collaboration containing the essence of both artists; two distinct voices coming together. Amber Lawrence and Travis Collins BA K O I NG C 39-year-old Amber is recently engaged to boyfriend Martin Newman and riding the crest of a wave of success as her home-grown, catchy country music is garnering attention from all over the country. F R E E S AU S A G E S I Z Z L E WOOD CHOPPING DISPL AY CHILDREN’S GAMES P I O N E E R FA S H I O N S O N T H E F I E L D • B L A C K S M I T H I N G VINTAGE MACHINERY DEMONSTR ATIONS • LIVE EXHIBITIONS T R A I N R I D E S • B U S H P O E T R Y • PA C K D O N K E Y S 9 AM to 5 PM SAT 5 & SUN 6 MAY 2018 Adult $29 • Concession $26 • Children $13 • Family $72 6 Broadway, Herberton, Queensland 4887 Ph: 07 4096 2002 www.historicvillageherberton.com.au May 2018 What’s On & Where To Go 7