James Blundell

James Blundell will be performing two very different shows at the Tamworth Country Music Festival in 2007. On Wednesday January 24th Peter & James Blundell present ‘The Silver Tongued Devil & I: A Night of Music and Verse’ at the Cattleman’s Restaurant in the Alandale Motor Inn. Together they will explore the mystery of life on the land with a romantic yet sometimes cynical view that can only be obtained by farming families. Peter Blundell, who still presides over the family’s farm in Stanthorpe, is the father of Golden Guitar Winner James Blundell and will be presenting his eloquent bush prose for the very first time. “I love the English language, and putting words together gives me great pleasure,” he says. “These poems are a record of my life in the bush, written for my family, and their generations to come … they are also a reflection of my philosophy on that life.” “I've watched the old mans writing develop over the last decade to where I believe he is writing some of the best bush prose around,” says James. “He's apt to hide his light under a bushel, so it's taken a lot of talking to get him to this point ... however, now that he's agreed to perform, I think he'll take to it like a duck to water.” Both father and son are excited about the prospect of performing together for the first time in Tamworth. “What can one say about the opportunity to share the stage with my son,” says Peter. “I find the prospect exciting, if somewhat daunting!” “To have the opportunity to appear with one's father is a delight on so many fronts,” says James. “I've always loved exposing an unknown artist’s work to the public and I think anyone who attends will agree with me at the end of the evening, that Peter Warren Blundell has an affinity with the bush and its romance second to none. I'm personally looking forward to this performance more than anything I can remember in recent years so come along, have a drink and a chuckle … he and I both apologise in advance for any hangovers we had a hand in!” James’ acoustic set for this special one off show will be completely unique and will feature material such as ‘Handshake Deal’, ‘Cloncurry Cattle Song’, ‘I Don’t Fight Anymore’, ‘Kimberly Moon’ and many others seldom heard in his regular live performances. Of course there’ll be a few classics from the pair’s favourite writers thrown in for good measure! Opening the show is popular Tamworth performer Royden Donohue who has been the recipient of a number of awards including 2005 TIARA Male vocalist of the year and 2005 Independent Country Music Awards Rising Star Male. Tickets available from the Alandale on (02) 6765 7922 or www.laingtix.oztix.com.au The very next night on Thursday 24th January James Blundell will be in full band mode in the West Diggers Showroom from 7pm. This show will give fans the opportunity to hear songs from his forthcoming album ‘Ring Around The Moon’, including the brand new single ‘Higher Than Heaven’, along with all the songs that have made him one of country music’s most successful and popular performers. On the night James will be backed by the musical and vocal talents of Jetty Road who will also be playing a few songs from their new album ‘Dirt Road City Lights’. Support acts are 2007 CMAA Awards New Talent finalist Nik Phillips who will be performing music from his critically acclaimed album ‘Songs From The Fourth Floor’ (including the CMC Favourites ‘Not In This Life’ and ‘No One Is To Blame’) and Central Coast singer-songwriter Lianne Rose who is attracting plenty of attention with the video ‘Be Careful’ taken from the forthcoming album ‘Soak Up the World’. Tickets available from Wests Diggers on (02) 6765 7588 or www.wtlc.com.au