Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Jo Kelly Stephenson was presented with a Maton guitar when she received the Rudy Brandsma Award recently at the National Awards Night held in Sydney. This major award for songwriting excellence reflects what Performing Songwriter Magazine identified as her “songwriting dexterity …that heralds the arrival of someone with potential to blaze a trail far beyond her home territory” (July/Aug Edition) Jo Kelly Stephenson has been enjoying international acclaim for her debut album, I See Flowers, You See Cars that won Album of the Year - Alt Country - Vox Populi in the USA Independent Music Awards.

A panel of respected judges including Suzanne Vega, Norah Jones, Wynonna Judd, Ray Davis and more voted the album one of four finalists. Following a string of positive press reviews, I See Flowers, You See Cars has had airplay on over 75 stations in the US and stations Australia wide including Mix, Triple J and ABC Radio National. Jo Kelly says her music "has a strong desert blues flavour fused with country, New Orleans style raggedy jazz and R&B".

Check out more about Jo Kelly and her band at www.jokellystephenson.com

Sydney singer songwriter Josh Pyke made waves recently with the release of the video for his new single Make You Happy.  It features Josh in his unique seagoing vessel which is an exact replica of his Maton CW80E acoustic guitar in every way including shape, scale, headstock and logo.   Make You Happy is the second single off Pyke's sophomore album, Chimney's Afire.  "Ever since I was a kid reading adventure books, especially Huckleberry Finn, I've always had the desire to jump on a raft and disappear down a river," says Pyke.

With Chimney's Afire, Pyke is set to anchor himself as one Australia's most talented artists. While he co-produced his ARIA Award winning debut album Memories & Dust with Wayne Connolly, this time around he recorded and produced the majority of the record himself.  "The main challenge was switching roles a million times a day and not losing that sense of fun when I was doing the performance side, and not losing the sense of objectivity when I had my producer's hat on."

To view Josh's latest news and tour dates visit his website at www.joshpyke.com or view the Make You Happy video...

18 yr old Singer/Songwriter Tori Darke of Mt. Annan took another step forward in achieving her dream when she was announced the Overall Winner of the Toyota Muster “Maton Talent Search” held last weekend in the Amamoor State Forest near Gympie.

Australian singer songwriter Marisa Yeaman is set to release her second LP Roadmap Heart after the resounding success of her debut album Pure Motive. Drawing on her country born roots and childhood spent travelling Australia, Marisa weaves a rich tapestry in Roadmap Heart, one that leaps from the wall and springs to life in the imagination of the listener. During the recording, Marisa was joined by friends and fellow artists, amongst them some of Australia’s richest Roots Music talent including Dave Steel, Lloyd Spiegel, Marcus Goodwin, Garrett Costigan and many more...

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