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press room
The press room is where you will find Press Releases, Official Photographs and Biography. High Resolution Images High resolution Promotional images of James Blundell are available in jpg format. Right click on a thumbnail image below and select "Save Link As ..." to download the image.
What the Press Say! Published newspaper and magazine articles are listed below. Click the link to read the pdf file. Download Acrobat Reader, to read pdf files - it's free Capital News - April 2007Country Update - May 2007 High Life - Autumn 2007 The West Magazine - April 2007 |
James Blundell biography [ november 2011 ]
James Blundell is acknowledged by many as the act single-handedly responsible for turning a younger demographic of Australians onto country music. He was the first young Australian country artist to create an impact on the mainstream pop charts and for many years was the highest selling country artist in the nation. James was also the first Australian country act to sign a major label recording deal in Nashville paving the way for the likes of Keith Urban, Kasey Chambers and others. In addition to his own success James has penned hits for Lee Kernaghan, Slim Dusty and Jimmy Little. James has been the recipient of 9 CMAA Golden Guitar Awards, double platinum, platinum and gold sales awards and is a 5-time ARIA (Australian Record Industry Association) Award nominee with one win to his name. While in his native Australia James Blundell’s name is synonymous with the country genre a closer inspection reveals he has more in common with the likes of Steve Earle or Kris Kristofferson than any other Antipodean singer-songwriter. ‘Woolshed Creek’, his latest offering is proof that the somewhat controversial, 40-something, twice divorced, father of two has more in common with these type of countryoutlaws than the Australian country artists that have followed in his footsteps. While his personal experiences have provided him with a direct link, it’s his lyrical insight, sharp wit and empathy for the average working man that highlights their influence on his work. James’ early career was nothing short of phenomenal: a string of platinum albums and top 10 pop successes turned the former cattle hand into a household name. But like so many talented artists Blundell refused to be put in a box musically and after numerous heated meetings with then record label EMI he walked away from the music business, although his star turn in a high profile ad for Australian airline QANTAS kept his face firmly in the public eye. Since re-emerging form a self-imposed 6 year hiatus that saw him busking around Europe in a well-loved Kombi van Blundell’s recent offerings have featured some of his finest musical moments. They may not have achieved the crossover success of their predecessors but these albums have been lauded by the critics with statements such as "If there's a contemporary singer/songwriter in this country today writing about and commenting on the nature of being an Australian with a quiet honesty, real integrity - and a cheeky humour when things get a bit too serious - it's James Blundell,” a regular occurrence. His “comeback” single ‘Postcards From Saigon’, a song documenting the troubled life of a Vietnam Veteran, proved he still had plenty to offer (even the great Kris Kristofferson, a man who knows or thing or two about writing songs, gave it the thumbs up). James was recognised by the Australian Independent Country Music Awards winning the awards for Male Vocalist, Heritage Track and APRA/AMCOS Independent Country Music Single of the Year. James also received four nominations from the Country Music Association of Australia – APRA Song of The Year, Single of The Year, Male Vocalist of The Year and Video Clip Of The Year – for the 34th CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia. Over the past few years albums such as ‘Deluge’, ‘Ring Around The Moon’ and ‘Portrait of A Man’ have been recognised with a string of nominations at the CMAA Awards. Singles such as ‘Greylands’, ‘Higher Than Heaven’, ‘Ring Around The Moon’, ‘Four Feet Tall’ and ‘Good Wood’ are all fine examples of why he is recognised as one of Australia’s finest singer-songwriters. In October 2007 ‘Ring Around The Moon’ was a finalist in the country album category at the ARIA Awards and in January 2008 a finalist in Album of the Year at the Country Music Awards of Australia. Later that year ‘Higher than Heaven’ was nominated in the Country Work of the Year category by the Australasian Performing Right Association for the 2008 APRA Music Awards, the annual celebration of Australian songwriters. James was inducted into the prestigious Galaxy of Stars by Tamworth Regional Council in January 2009. A long time supporter of young talent James was approached by Mushroom Music to be involved with the talent search ‘Telstra Road To Discovery’ during 2009. His role as spokesman and mentor continues throughout the 2011 competition. Never one to rest on his laurels James was keen to try his hand at theatre and in August 2010 started work on a play titled ‘The Ultimate Rock N Roll Jam Session’ alongside rocker Dave Larkin (Dallas Crane), Melbourne indy fave Nick Barker & newcomer Ezra Lee. The show which tells the story of one electrifying day in 1956 when four of America’s top recording artists of the time - Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins - met and forever changed the face of popular music was a resounding success, playing to packed houses nationally including a memorable 16 night stint at Sydney’s iconic Opera House. From October 2010 James was heard on Channel Ten as the narrator for the hit television show, ‘Keeping Up With The Joneses’, which follows the extraordinary life and times of the Jones family on Coolibah Station in the Northern Territory. The hit TV series returns shortly in 2011. What the critics are saying about ‘Woolshed Creek ...
"Arguably the finest album of James Blundell's recording career. Woolshed Creek lifts
the singer well above the stencilled Golden Guitar-toting Aussie country rock pack, and
closer in style and quality to the likes of respected American troubadours Guy Clark,
John Prine and Townes Van Zandt." "Blundell’s new gem is really what music (not just the country genre) needs right
now." "A further step into the more honest, gritty side of country that the great country outlaws
and more contemporary alt country heroes have specialised in." "... Finely honed sketches of rural life that show Blundell's knack for both sweet hooks
and heartfelt, humorous storytelling." "... a disc worthy of nomination for a tenth Golden Guitar." "This album is a real treasure." From ‘The Definitive Collection’ DVD … "James Blundell is one of the greatest singer-songwriters this country has ever
produced. He kicked down the doors and busted through with a new kind of country... it
was a revolution." "As a young Country Music singer James Blundell was the guy I looked up to. He forged
a path that I and many others have followed." "James Blundell brought the modern sound of country music to Australia, and paved the
way for all of the contemporary country music artists that followed. James played a
critical part in broadening the appeal of country music to mainstream Australia. He was
the bridge between the traditional and the modern. Country Music in Australia wouldn't
be where it is today without the contribution of James Blundell." “James changed the landscape of Australian country music when he emerged in the late
80's, he absorbed the tradition of the great story tellers of Australian country music and
served it up fresh in a way that really connected with a broad audience. His music
resonated with young and old, male and female, in the country and the city and paved
the way for many of our contemporary country artists." For further information: |
