ARBA Best Roots Album 2014/15

The second of my big surprises in November came when I became the recipient of the inaugural ARBA Best Roots Album for 2014/15!! holey moley!!!! So damn lovely to have my album acknowledged by peers for the beauty that I believe it is. I'm so humbled to be the recipient of this award and overwhelmed with joy!

Presented at the Gov on Sunday 22nd November, I was a finalist alongside friends and extremely talented musicians, Craig Atkins (with his album "Fall or Fly") and The Streamliners (with their album "House Of Fire").

Huge thank you to ARBA for their support and this award!

Pic by Jeff Parham:
 

SA Music Award - Ryan Freeman Live Music Award

On Wednesday 11th November, I was awarded the inaugural Ryan Freeman Live Music Award at the SA Music Awards. I don't think it has quite sunk in yet and can't express what an enormous honour it is to have even been selected from the huge amount of talent that calls SA home. 

Roger and Yvonne Freeman, along with a group of volunteers run Trinity Sessions live music venue and are two of the biggest supporters of live music in South Australia. In 2009 they tragically lost their beautiful son, Ryan, whilst he was working in Canada. A group of SA musicians including Steve Pederson (who now joins me on stage at band shows), Kathie Renner and Mel Horsman helped put on a memorial concert in Ryan's honour. Money rasied from this concert was put in to a trust as Roger and Yvonne weren't sure what to do with it, until now.

The award was, in Roger and Yvonne's words, awarded "to a person or group that, through their invoivement in live music reflects some of Ryan's attributes; works hard, collaborates with and encourages others, is selfless and makes people feel good".

It still gives me shivers to read those words and to be the recipient of Ryan's award. Its incredibly warming to know that I am making a positive contribution to the world with my music and I am incredibly grateful, as are so many SA musicians, for the support from Roger and Yvonne, two of the most incredible, generous and kind people I've had the privilage to cross paths with.

Yvonne & Roger Freeman with me at the SA Music Awards after I was presented the inaugural Ryan Freeman Live Music Award:

Preloved Folk

Dear Friends... 

We need your help.

WHO WE ARE: Preloved Folk is a collective project bringing together ten of Adelaides finest folk musicians: Cal Williams Jr, Emily Davis, The Yearlings, Courtney Robb, Anthony D’Antonio, Kelly Menhennett, Andy & Marta, Simon Peter, Mary Webb and The Timbers.

WHAT WE ARE DOING: We are recording a collaborative album. Each of us is going to create a cover version of each others songs. It will become an album of all the songs you know by the artists you love... as you’ve never heard them before.

WHY? We know that here in South Australia, we have an amazing and wonderfully welcoming music community and we are so proud of that. This is our chance to strengthen the bonds between artists and in turn, strengthen the Adelaide music scene for all of us. It is also an opportunity to showcase our lovely selves to the rest of the country (and maybe even the world!). And of course, this is going to be an album we would all love to have in our collections... isn’t it?

HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED? We want to be able to share our music with the world! But sometimes, us musos need a little help getting our songs out there. We are passing around the hat (or perhaps opening the metaphorical guitar case at our feet) and asking that you throw a dollar or two our way. You will be handsomely rewarded for your generosity and have our everlasting gratitude! We are all super excited about this project and we hope you can be a part of it

xoxox

To fund the project Preloved Folk have set up a crowdfunding page through Pozible. If you want to support quality South Australian folk music we recommend getting yourself over there and throwing Preloved Folk a couple of bucks. And while you’re doing that check out the introductory video to the project below.

Preloved Folk Project from Courtney Ball on Vimeo.

Adelaide Matters CD review

Adelaide Matters journalist, Kylie Flemming, wrote a lovely review on my album, World of Mine, which was featured in the November 2010 issue of Adelaide Matters. Click here to see the review.

Riverland Album Launch - Murray Pioneer Review

Here's a lovely article from "The Murray Pioneer" journalist, Pam Perre, following my album launch show at the Mallee Fowl Restaurant on Sunday the 14th of November. Click here to download full article.

Cherrie Magazine Nov 2010

Recently I spent some time with Cherrie Magazine to chat about my musical past, my album and plans for 2011. Click here to read the full article.

Murray Pioneer Article August 2010

Riverland newspaper the Murray Pioneer recently caught up with me to get an update on my musical journey and ask a few questions. Click here for the full article.