TACKLING an iconic song like John Williamson's True Blue would be off-limits for many artists. The 1982 hit has become a quintessential Australian classic that's part of our national identity.
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But during the COVID-19 lockdown Kurri Kurri songstress Kirsty Lee Akers teamed up with her old friends Amber Lawrence, Aleyce Simmonds and Dianna Corcoran to record an emotional cover of True Blue to honour the efforts of frontline workers during the pandemic.
In fact, it was so moving it even made Williamson emotional.
"My fave comment was probably from John Williamson when he said it brought a tear to his eye," Akers said.
The four women, who performed together on the Chic Frontier Tour back in 2008, recorded their parts separately and then Corcoran mixed it together at her home studio in Nashville. The video was also shot separately in Parkes, Tamworth, Newcastle and Tumbarumba and then edited together by Akers' husband Jesse Anderson.
GOOCHIES HONOURED
NEWCASTLE punks The Gooch Palms may be on hiatus, but Leroy Macqueen and Kat Friend have received their first music award nomination.
The AIR Awards are held annually and recognise the best independent artists in Australia. The Gooch Palms' third record III, released last year, was nominated for best Punk Album or EP up against Ausmuteants (Present The World In Handcuffs), Dear Seattle (Don't Let Go), DZ Deathrays (Positive Rising: Part 1) and Hexdebt (Rule Of Four).
The 2020 Air Awards will be held at Adelaide's Freemasons Hall on October 1.
The Gooch Palms called it quits in March after 10 years. Macqueen has since launched his solo project L.M Queen.
ROCK TEST TOUR
THE rescheduled Under The Southern Stars tour, which passes through Newcastle Foreshore on February 27 next year, has been proposed as a test case for international touring in the post-coronavirus world.
Promoter Andrew McManus has outlined a plan to bring the international headline acts Stone Temple Pilots, LIVE (both US) and Bush (UK) to Australia in February which involves COVID-19 testing before departure and on arrival.
The bands would then be quarantined in a facility with a rehearsal space for two weeks before commencing the tour with an Australian crew. McManus hopes to officially present this plan to the Federal Government for approval.
Under The Southern Stars, which also features Australian bands Rose Tattoo and Electric Mary, was originally scheduled for April 19.
MORE PANACHE
NEWCASTLE indie band Vacations release their second single Panache on Friday off their forthcoming sophomore album Forever In Bloom, and if you're wondering who's that female voice on the track, that would be Sunscreen's Sarah Skyes.
The Sydneysider isn't the only special guest to appear on the song. Vacations frontman Campbell Burns also invited Newcastle electronic duo Craterface and local saxophonist Teleah Riordan, aka Teddie, to contribute.
"I had Sarah Sykes and Craterface in mind for this track and as soon as they came into the studio, the entire song started to come together," Burns said.
"Having Oscar [Dawson of Holy Holy] on production duty really helped solidify that initial groove too, while adding new elements. There's saxophone from Teleah throughout which I adore as well."
