Day 4 - International Reception

Day 4 - International Reception
With Canada doing it's own thing later in the program, and the UK and Sweden not getting their funding together, it turns out that we're it!
Very happy about that as Anne McCue who's kindly agreed to represent us with a short set, now has more time to play. Great roots/blues guitar player and singer with a hot band - she wows 'em! - www.annemcue.com
Helping me out on the night is College of Country Music graduate and good mate Tracey Bunn from Darwin who just happens to be in town courtesy of a NT Arts grant to record an album with Anne. She does a couple of numbers from the new album. It's good - watch out for it - www.myspace.com/traceybunnmusic
Before all that happens though - I get a chance - as Sounds Australia 'ambassador' to welcome folks, tell them a bit about Australia and the country music scene, and a brief background to the grand plan.
All goes well and I present a 'surprise' to Americana CEO Jed Hilly for all his help and hospitality. It's an Akubra 'Henry Lawson' model - one of three that Austrade and US Supplier David Morgan have kindly donated. Needless to say he's chuffed! I got his office staff to secretly find out his hat size. Fits like a glove. Still wearing it next day - winner there!
Then it's the chook raffle!
I devised a quiz to try to generate added interest and, as well as the Akubras, we've got two Driza-Bone coats and numbers of CDs, including signed 'specials' from Americana Award nominees Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson.
Quiz goes down a treat. Everyone's very complimentary about the evening.
The bonus is we get to see two more Australian acts on the bill - both of them making theri mark on the music scene over here - Kara Grainger (www.karagrainger.com) and The Greencards (www.thegreencards.com). Both fantastic!
It's late, but got just enough petrol in the tank to head off to the Cannery Ballroom - the biggest of the showcase venues, to check out Those Darlins that I've heard so much about. Think Dixie Chicks crossed with indie rock/garage band, and you've just about got it. They rock! Check it out.
Conference starts tomorrow, so early to bed - well early-ish!