Central west country stars to battle in festival competition
TWO central west country singers will face off in the 50th Tamworth Country Music Festival’s Toyota Star Maker competition this year.
Katie Jayne from Dubbo, and Clancy Pye who lives in Orange, will join the competition’s top ten in a series of free pop-up concerts in the lead-up to the grand final event on April 19.
Each participant will perform five songs at each of their home towns’ local Toyota dealership.
Toyota Star Maker coordinator Cheryl Brown says it will be a great opportunity for finalists to perfect their craft in the leadup to the grand final.
“This year’s top ten are a truly talented and inspiring bunch, and these free concerts will give fans a taste of what’s to come in this year’s Grand Final event,” Ms Brown said.
Ms Jayne first began performing professionally at 25 when she moved to England.
“I’d always been interested in writing songs but was too shy to perform until I was in a new country where nobody knew me,” she said.
“I started my first country band over there, we got to play some amazing festivals and from that point on I was hooked.”
Despite her nerves, Ms Jayne is excited to be part of the Tamworth music festival, which she first performed at in 2016 with her UK band.
“I’m so honoured to have been chosen to be a finalist in the Toyota Star Maker competition, it feels surreal.
“I’ve watched this competition for years, and to have the opportunity to be on that stage is such an amazing feeling.
“I really love the mateship that all the artists have with each other and the enthusiasm from the fans is like no other.”
Ms Jayne described herself as an autobiographical writer, inspired by the likes of Garth Brooks’ storytelling and Miranda Lambert’s girl power attitude.
Ms Pye grew up in a music family on a small farm outside Oberon, and first picked up a guitar at six.
“By the time I hit primary school, I was out performing most weekends with my family band in pubs and at events around the central west,” she said.
“I was exposed to all kinds of music from a very young age, particularly country music.
“I feel incredibly privileged to be a Top 10 Toyota Star Maker Grand Finalist... (it’s) the pinnacle of talent searches in Australian country music and so many of the artists who I look up to have built their careers off the back of winning Star Maker including Keith Urban, Beccy Cole, Travis Collins and Kylie Sackley.
“There is a lot of depth and talent amongst the Top 10 grand finalists... There is a lot of diversity which I think is really reflective of how Australian country music is continuing to progress and be received amongst a growing audience of fans.”
Inspired by the likes of Kasey Chambers, Shania Twain, the Dixie Chicks and Lori Mckenna, Ms Pye, who has written over 120 songs in two years, tries to write songs that people can “relate to in some way and take something away from”.
“To me, there is nothing more gratifying than being able to create an impact on people through song, and to have people singing the words to songs I’ve written is really special,” she said.
Ms Jayne will perform at Scone Toyota at April 1 at 4pm. Ms Pye will perform at Orange Toyota on March 4 at 4pm.