Lyn Bowtell preparing for awards blitz in Tamworth

Those memories have been flooding back for Lyn Bowtell in rehearsals as she prepares to relaunch her childhood band, Southern Steel, at the Tamworth Country Music Festival on January 29.

It has been 18 years since Southern Steel’s Duncan Toombs (guitar), Mik McCartin (drums) and Joel Oakhill (bass) have performed together. During that time Bowtell has become a country music star and left her native Queensland and settled in Greta, after stints living on the Central Coast and Newcastle.

The group was forged at the Toowoomba Country Music Club, where they met as a bunch of like-minded teenagers learning their craft.

“We first formed the band 25 years ago when we were kids in school,” Bowtell tells Weekender. “I’ll tell you, the rehearsals we’ve had have been a real cack up and loads of fun and been good for the soul.

“It’s really good that we’ve all got our own lives and have moved ahead really well. It’s also really funny that when you throw us all in a room together that we still act like kids aged 12 or 13 telling stupid jokes.”

If everything goes according to plan Bowtell will have extra cause for celebration at Southern Steel’s reunion show at the Albert Hotel. Next Saturday at the Golden Guitars, Bowtell has seven chances to pick up a shiny trophy, the most of the awards’ 45^th edition.

Five nominations are for her critically-acclaimed collaboration with Kevin Bennett and Felicity Urquhart.

The album Bennett Bowtell Urquhart is in contention for best alternative country album, country album, best group or duo, heritage song (Goulburn Valley Woman), best bluegrass recording (I Hear Them All) and APRA song of the year (Goulburn Valley Woman).

The other two nominations are for best vocal collaborations for Bartender Blues with Adam Harvey and F U Cancer with Catherine Britt, Kasey Chambers, Beccy Cole, Josh Pyke, Wes Carr, and Wendy Matthews.

“You kind of think you’ve got enough odds in there that you’ll at least win one, but you never know,” Bowtell says. 

“It really is an honour to be nominated for that many. To me, it says the industry are liking what I’m doing and the fans will hopefully too.

“You have to make the most of it because it’s not a sure bet that you’re going to win one. I’ve seen mates with six noms bring home nothing in the past.”

Bowtell was the driver behind the collaboration with Bennett and Urquhart. Bennett, who commands legend’s status due to his band The Flood, has been a long-time mentor for Bowtell. While Urquhart and Bowtell grew up together in the industry and boast a close bond.

From the minute the three came together in the studio they knew magic was abound. The blend of harmonies on the collection of alternative country, bluegrass and folk tracks came together seamlessly.

“There were a few goose-bump moments in the studio when we looked at each other and thought, wow that was pretty cool,” she says.

“We’re very proud of it and it’s something about being in a group that allows you to be a bit up yourself about it, whereas if it was a solo project you might be more backward about it. 

“I think it’s the blend of the harmonies which make it particularly special. There’s a certain sound we have and you can’t fluke that kind of stuff. It’s a very unique sound and it helps having such as strong writer like Kevin Bennett in the group.”

Plans are already afoot for the second Bennett Bowtell & Urquhart album to be released later this year.

“We haven’t recorded anything yet, but in true Bennett, Bowtell & Urquhart style it won’t take too long,” she says. “We recorded the last one in two days. We got in there and played live and did it.

“It was good for us as a group too because it meant we went through a baptism of fire of having to get to know each other’s ideas and opinions quite quickly.

“There’s wasn’t that lull into all that stuff. It meant we could be upfront and real with each other.”

Bennett Bowtell & Urquhart perform at Wests Tamworth next Wednesday and Bowtell & Southern Steel play Lizotte’s on February 17.