“The Old Man’s Gone” is the third single to be released by Brad Butcher, one of Australia’s rising singer-songwriters and it’s yet another stellar example of the artist’s musicality and knack for the craft of songwriting.

Shortlisted for a host of high profile national and international songwriting awards, the track features on Butcher’s self-titled debut record, which has already spawned crowd favourites “Another Fall” and “Conversations and Complications” – an album, welcomed warmly by critics and the public alike.

”The Old Man’s Gone” is as honest as it gets. Written from the perspective of a young child wondering where home is now that Dad has gone, Butcher wears his heart on his sleeve. His voice is smooth and beguiling and there’s a genuine intensity to it as he literally breathes life into each and every lyric. By the end of the first verse you’ll be mesmerized by Brad’s intricate guitar melody and stunning vocal….a performance worthy of his 2013 Southern Stars Independent Male Vocalist of the Year nomination. Listen to the track now [MP3]http://itscountry.com.au/music/Brad Butcher The Old Man's Gone.mp3 [/MP3]

Produced by Anthony Lycenko (Busby Marou) and Ben McCarthy (Kate Miller-Heidke), the singles’ release comes as Butcher continues to power through 2013, captivating audiences across the country, most recently at the 2013 Gympie Muster. In addition to showcasing at NXNE in Canada earlier in the year, Brad has again been recognized at this year’s Queensland Music Awards.

Brad is as earnest as they come, one of that rare bread of artist able to plumb ‘the depths of his soul to create thoughtful vignettes of those small but powerful moments in life that affect us all.’ In the words of Susan Jarvis, ‘Brad Butcher is world class and has a very bright future ahead of him.’ And The Old Man’s gone is yet another reason to believe.

Check out one of Brad's earlier tunes 'Conversations and Complications'

[video]http://youtu.be/4XIj8NbVmtE[/video]

Brad Butcher | New Single | Old Man's Gone | Out Now

Brad Butcher | Self Titled Album | Out Now

www.bradbutcher.com

TICKETS FOR ALL SHOWS ON SALE FRIDAY, 4 OCTOBER AT 9.00AM

BRISBANE : Friday March 14 - 2014 - Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

Tickets available from www.ticketek.com.au or 132 849

HUNTER VALLEY : Sunday March 16 - 2014 - CMC Rocks the Hunter Festival, Hope Estate, Pokolbin, NSW

(Friday 14 March, Saturday 15 March and Sunday 16 March)

Tickets available from www.cmcrocks.com **ON SALE NOW**

SYDNEY : Tuesday March 18 - 2014 - Allphones Arena, Sydney Olympic Park

Tickets available from www.ticketek.com.au or 132 849

MELBOURNE : Wednesday March 19 - 2014 - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne

Tickets available from www.ticketek.com.au or 132 849

More information available :

www.chuggentertainment.com

www.entertainmentedge.com.au

[video]http://youtu.be/eGXmf8VV5qI[/video]

The idea of Mark Fitzsummons becoming an Australian country music artist would not come as a surprise to those who know him. Born and raised in Tamworth, the home of Australian Country Music, laid the base of what would become a rich tapestry of Australian experiences.

From droving sheep from the hills of Tamworth, picking tobacco in the fields of Moore Creek, working the bars of country pubs, to joining the Australian armed forces or working with wayward teens, Mark had a depth of experiences to draw from as he developed the art of storytelling. Some would say that Mark always had the talent for a yarn; the only thing missing was the music.

While working within the confinement of the Juvenile Justice system, Mark developed the skills to interact and converse with the teenage boys held in the centre. One of ways to break down the barriers between staff and detainees was music. During his time in the centres, Mark began to learn the guitar and participate in sing-along’s with some of the many talented teenagers, while passing on these basic skills to other boys to provide them with an outlet for their frustrations.

A serious injury in 2006 became the catalyst to merge his worlds together and would see Mark create a portfolio of songs that would ultimately culminate in his debut album BITTER SWEET (released 2013).

After connecting with Caravan Records (Central Coast NSW) to release an EP (Still Hope) in 2009 and a single (Strong Hands) in 2011, Mark’s skills as a song writer began to gather attention both nationally and internationally, receiving awards and acknowledgement from his peers in the Country Music industry. Mark entered the studio at Little Red Wagon Studio (Springwood NSW) with material that show case both personal and life experiences that Mark observed over his seven years of song writing.

Mark Fitzsummons has developed a dedicated following of fans through intimate performances at a number of Australian Coast Country Music festival, as well as shows around the Central Coast (NSW). Mark’s songs have received strong air play through country music stations across Australia, where he hopes to build on this momentum and break in to the market that is now Australian Country Music.

Bittersweet

As an artist, Mark Fitzsummons recognised that not all stories had a happy ending nor were all dark tales completely tragic. It was with this understanding that Mark developed the concept for the album BITTER SWEET. The album would attempt to create a life. One not content to survive in a safe haven of grey but filled with darkness and light, happiness and tears. With Production support from Brad Bergen and the talents of some of Australia’s most respected musicians, Mark Fitzsummons has developed a kaleidoscope of emotions that should touch the heart of any country music fan.

Mark explained that he sought the assistance of Ric Sugitha to visualise the concept that is BITTER SWEET. From the seeds of their discussion came the understanding of an album of *pleasure alloyed with pain/ pleasant but including or marked by elements of suffering or regret.

Ric Sugitha created the simple yet thought provoking art work for BITTER SWEET, that is of a flower representative of everything "sweet", beautiful/positive and good in life while the black running liquid represents the "bitter", negative, pain and its "marked" effect on the "elements" (the cracking of the petals). Both artists liked the fact that the negative is from within the flower as the image could also be looked as life as a whole and while most people have an overall positive life, if you delved into their lives you would find that even if small, most people are marked with past pain and suffering. The word sweet is upside down to reflect how opposite and unnatural it feels that sweet things can come out of bitter times.

Bitter life is the Title Track from BITTER SWEET. [video]http://youtu.be/AWVAQpjAfxA[/video]

Track listing:

• bitter life
• cardboard sign
• maybe tonight
• mr taliman’s bananas
• i knew love
• carry me home
• a man like that
• crying
• and they danced
• nation’s child
• sealed with a tear
• going to get by.

www.markfitzsummons.com

www.facebook.com/markfitzsummonsmusic

Hot Jerkey is the new album from 4 piece West Australian band, Stoney Joe. Roly Skender (lead vocals, guitar, ocarina, harmonica), Joe Scholz (slide guitar, synths, vocals, ukulele, percussion, ocarina), Chris Horan (mandolin, vocals, spoons, percussion), and Carl Jensen (bass, vocals) make a great foot-stomping, wobble boardin, spoon slappin' kind of country music sound!

Hot Jerky is set to generate a lot more Heat following on from their their debut album 'Brown Bread and Rice' which received rave reviews with Melbourne's National News paper The Age calling it "easy-rolling, beautifully melodic material, full of warmth and humour and great riffs".

As the boys say themselves - 'Like a good whiskey... this music goes down real easy', watch a couple of their clips and you will agree.

This is the opening track 'Dreamin' Tomorrow'

[video]http://youtu.be/UxxR1kKPgpc[/video]

www.stoneyjoe.com