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Raintown named UK Country Artist Of The Year
Wayne Jacobs wins a third Listeners' Club Song Award
Awards presented at our Seventh Birthday Party
What a month it's been! Firstly, huge congratulations to Raintown - the winners of our first ever UK Country Artist Of The Year Award. The Award was presented at our Seventh Birthday Party And Awards - less than two weeks before the wedding of the Glasgow band's singers Paul Bain and Claire McArthur.
Receiving the Award, Claire said "We're so happy to have won. To have just been nominated in the category with all those great artists was great. To have won, we're just delighted. And we're shocked as well".
 Congratulations too to Wayne Jacobs - who was the winner of our Listeners' Club Song Award for his song "In Cold Blood". The song, one of dozens of original songs written by the East London-based writer, tells the story of a homeless man, shot dead on the streets of Nashville.
Receiving the Award for the third year running, Wayne said, "I'm really touched. I can't believe it. I wrote the song 'In Cold Blood' about a homeless man. It's a sad song. I just sang it from the heart and had it produced in Nashville and I'm just over the moon".
This all happened at our Seventh Birthday Party And Awards on Saturday 13th September at the Best Western Premier Yew Lodge Hotel at Kegworth near Derby and it really was a fantastic night.
Guests were treated to a three-course dinner, celebrating our first seven years of broadcasting, and entertainment from an array of artists.
The newly-formed Elbow Jake Acoustic Band welcomed guests before the main show was opened in style by six-piece band Grand Prairie, fresh from their show supporting John Fogerty in the US.
UK Country Artist Of The Year finalists Gary Quinn and Raintown performed live sets before fellow finalist Thorne Hill filled the dancefloor to end the show supported by his band Arizona Storm.
And each of the five Listeners' Club Award Finalists - Geraldine Pointing of Interactive Murcia, Kelly Michelle, Lucy Zirins, Suzanna Shore and Wayne Jacobs each performed their song.
If you were there, I hope you enjoyed it. If you were listening to our live broadcast, I hope you enjoyed it equally. If you missed it, or want to enjoy it again, then tune in at 7pm on Tuesday 21st October or 4pm on Wednesday 22nd when you can hear the highlights of the show.
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Introducing Cameron Troy
Cameron Troy are US duo Ann Cameron and Steven Troy. They met in Nashville and are now married with two daughters. During her childhood, Ann lost her voice for four years and was told by doctors that she would never sing again.
How wrong they were - and Cameron Troy have just released their six-track self-titled debut EP. Listen out this month for "Just Kiss Me", an autobiographical song about the early days of Ann and Steven's dating relationship, with each of them thinking what they wanted to say, but holding back because of the newness of their budding relationship.
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Mavericks Winning Weekend
The Mavericks are heading back to the UK with shows in February and March in Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, Bristol and London.
Click the button below for details and tickets, and tune in on 18th and 19th October when we'll be giving you a chance to win tickets in our Mavericks Winning Weekend.
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Introducing J.J.Barrie
To some, J.J.Barrie will need no introduction because you may remember him for his 1976 number one hit "No Charge". He started out as manager to the comedian Norman Wisdom and Blue Mink, took up songwriting and released six albums. He's also worked in the film business, writing screenplays and running a development company.
Well J.J.'s enjoying a new lease of life thanks to the release of an album of the same name. It includes 17 fabulous tracks.
I had a chat with J.J. via phone from his home in Canada - and you can hear it on my evening show on Tuesday next week, 7th October.
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Apptastic
One thing that's changed significantly over our first seven years is the way you listen.
Originally, the vast majority of our audience tuned in through their computer. Now, it seems the method of choice is to listen through your smartphone.
So - bring on our new iOS and Android Apps. They've just launched this week. Simply search "ukcountryradio.com" in your App store and download. From then on, a simple tap of your screen switches on the country music and you can take us with you wherever you go.
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Introducing Elbow Jake Acoustic Band
If you came along to our Seventh Birthday Party And Awards last month, you'll already be familiar with Elbow Jake Acoustic Band. They played a great acoustic set in the bar area as guests arrived for the event on September 13th.
The Nottingham-based band, made up of John Merry (guitar, vocals, harmonica), Kevin Davenport (bass, vocals), Barrie Storm (guitar, mandolin) and Andy Berwick (percussion) play country rock, blues and folk and feature four-part harmonies.
The band have just released their debut album "There Are No Miracles Around Here". It contains 15 self-penned tracks. Listen out for some of them throughout this month.
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Spare a thought this month for Alan Potter - the presenter of our Sunday Country Music Goldmine and Gospel Hour.
Alan's beloved wife Betty passed away on September 25th after suffering complications following a heart attack. They had been married for 60 years.
Deepest sympathies to Alan and his family at this difficult time.
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Mike Ward EP Launch
The Voice finalist launches his new EP in a special show at The Ritz in Manchester on Sunday 26th October with guests including UK Country Artist of The Year Winner Raintown and Finalist Gary Quinn.
It should be a great night and the whole show will be recorded for future broadcast on UKCountryRadio.com. Click the button below to get your tickets.
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Greatest Stars
With the end of the year fast approaching, you'll hear us talking even more about our search for UKCountryRadio.com's Greatest Stars - the top 30 country artists of all time as chosen by you.
To compile our end-of-year countdown, we need as many people as possible to send in their all time favourite three country music artists.
Dave Hester's favourite three artists are Dolly Parton, Justin Moore and Tim Dugger, while Carol Williams goes for Elvis Presley, Jim Reeves and Lady Antebellum (pictured).
So, who are YOUR all time favourite three country music artists? Email them to us at greateststars@ukcountryradio.com, or simply reply to this Newsletter email.
And listen out this month as we play songs by some of the artists who are leading the way so far.
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What's on The Wall
Here comes some more country music news, obtained by clicking The Bricks on the UKCountryRadio.com Wall...
* Mountain Rain are getting ready for Christmas with the release of a new festive tune penned by Northumberland's Frank Robinson. It's called Let The Lights Shine and you can hear it on Soundcloud.
* Americana International have confirmed their dates for next year. The big show's back at Prestwold Park in Leicestershire between July 9th and 12th. They've also uploaded some more great photos of the vehicles on display at this summer's event.
* The Ian Highland Band have another busy month ahead with shows in West Wickham, Mulbarton, Stroud, Kings Lynn, London and Suffolk to come.
Click the bricks for yourself to find out more. And, if you have a country music related website, you can get your own Brick by clicking here
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Gig Guide Highlights
Here are this month's highlights from the UK's live country music scene....
* Sheryl Crow (pictured) tours the UK with shows in Glasgow (Oct 27th), Gateshead (28th), Nottingham (29th) and Manchester (30th).
* Mary Chapin Carpenter performs with the Manchester Camerata on October 1st and with the Scottish Festival Orchestra in Edinburgh on October 2nd.
* Lady Antebellum have a special UK launch show of their new album "747" at the Brooklyn Bowl inside London's O2 Arena on Tuesday 14th October.
* And don't forget our Live Music Night with Dave McGraw and Mandy Ferr at Kenny's Fish & Chip Restaurant, Conisbrough, Doncaster on Sunday 19th October.
Listen out for details of these events and more in our on-air Gig Guides with Denis Hodge and Laura Cress on the half hour throughout each day.
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Final Word
Thank you for reading everyone. Have a great month.
Allan Watkiss,
UKCountryRadio.com
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8th Birthday Party
We're already working on plans to make our Eighth Birthday Party And Awards our biggest and best ever.
The date is penciled in for Saturday 5th September 2015 and we are once again planning a big celebration of the best in UK country music artists.
We realise that we've done just about all we can on our next-to-nothing budget and, if we are to improve the event further we need to raise some investment.
So, if you or your company is interested in investing in or sponsoring the event, then please contact our events team to discuss further. They can be contacted at events@ukcountryradio.com
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Introducing Beau + Luci
Beau + Luci are sisters from Waycross, a small town in south-east Georgia. They have caught the attention of producer Trace Thomas and Masterlab studios in Florida and expect to release their debut album later this year.
We are now featuring their first single, the self-penned "Fire". It discusses the brevity of life as well as a burning desire to create something that will last longer than yourself, the desire to set the world on fire with your passion and to see other people shine brighter because of it.
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CMA Awards 2014
They're the biggest awards in country music, and this year's CMA Awards take place in Nashville on Wednesday 5th November.
Miranda Lambert leads this year's list of nominees. She is in the running for nine awards. They include the top prize of CMA Entertainer of the Year where Miranda's fellow nominees are her husband Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban and last year's winner George Strait who gets his 83rd CMA Award nomination.
There'll be coverage of the CMA Awards on UKCountryRadio.com, beginning with our previewing programme hosted by Alan Perkins at 8pm on Friday 31st October and 5pm on Saturday 1st November.
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Introducing Keith Shaw
Keith has been playing guitar and singing in bands since the mid 60s, including folk groups, dance bands, blues, rock bands and country music duo Country Network.
He has just released an 8-track album of self-penned songs "Dreams Sometimes Come True". Listen out for the title track and enjoy more from the album when Liz Hill features it on Sunday 5th October from 10am.
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Same Roots Different Boots
There's another twist in the title of Bryan Chalker's weekly show this month for a special which focuses on all things western and conjures up the evocative spirit of the old West with its pioneers, gunfighters, cowboys and horse traders.
Artists of the calibre of Joni Harms, Becky Hobbs, Asleep At the Wheel, Don Edwards, Riders In The Sky, Montana Rose, Gary & Sue Ball, Suzy Bogguss and Tom Russell prove that times might have moved on but the Wild and Woolly West is still a force to be reckoned with.
Never let it be said that we've forgotten the old cowboy singers, because we've also rounded up an impressive cast of veterans to bring back haunting memories and those stars from the past include Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Tex Ritter, Rex Allen, Foy Willing & The Riders Of The Purple Sage, Jimmie Driftwood, Sons Of The Pioneers, Sara & Maybelle Carter, Jack Guthrie, Hank Snow and Wilf Carter.
Join Bryan Chalker for Same Roots Different Boots on Thursday 16th October at 8pm and Friday 17th October at 4pm.
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Introducing The Rising
The Rising are from Belfast and are a pop/country/rock band with Americana influences. Formed from the ashes of alternative rock band EXIT, they are Tristan Harris (vocals), Chris Logan (guitars, banjo, mandolin) and Andy Morgan (bass). They are joined by Shane Watters (drums) and Peter Flanagan (keys) when they play live. They take their name from a Bruce Springsteen album that all three of them claim to have in their top five albums of all time.
Their debut album "Coming Home" was recorded in Northern Ireland and Nashville with help from Grammy-winning producer Hank Williams. Tracks have already been featured on BBC Radio 2 and it looks like this progressive outfit have a great future ahead.
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Live Music Night: Dave McGraw & Mandy Ferr
Join us for our next Live Music Night at Kenny's Fish & Chip Restaurant, Conisborough, Doncaster on Sunday 19th October with Americana songwriter duo Dave McGraw & Mandy Ferr.
Tickets cost £11 in advance, or £13 on the door on the night and include a main course of Kenny's fabulous fish & chips. See you there !!
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Exclusive Listener's Club Competition
In our competition this month, we are giving away five recently-released albums by UK artists. Our prize includes....
* Here, There And Everywhere - Charlie Landsborough
* Classics - Clear Cut
* The Red Reel Sessions - Sam Hollyman
* Gravity - Dean Barton
* Country Soul - Derek Ryan (pictured)
To win, simply tell us who wrote the song Here, There And Everywhere. Email your answer to club@ukcountryradio.com. The closing date is October 10th, and the winner will be notified by email shortly afterwards.
Congratulations to last month's winner Hayley Marie Harvey from Wolverhampton who correctly told us that the surnames of Dan & Shay are Smyers and Mooney.
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Welcome to the following who are receiving our Newsletter for the first time this month.....
Carol Northage, Nicholas Barsby, Angelo Tristan, Philip Hankey, Beau + Luci, Kev Williams, Alex Douglas, Tony Jones, Ian Britt, Peggy & Charlie Watson, John Sinclair, Ben Smith, Ann Cameron, Phil Taylor, Victoria Boulton, Jeff Griffith, Nicki Kris, Michael Lynne, Nathan Carter, Wayne Denham, Eran Elliott, Bill Lord, Bill McKechnie, J.J.Barrie, Shirley Muxlow, Steven Troy, Richard moore, Maryanne McDowell, Howard Crean, Susan Dale, Mike South, Alan Daws, Hollie May, Liv Connor, Paul Collum, Joanna McGowan, Andy Wilson, Mavis Jackson, Dave Hester and Bruno Vallelunga.
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This month's Spotlight UK Artists
These are the artists we will be featuring each weekend during October....
Oct 3-5: Skerryvore (pictured)
Oct 10-12: Tony Wall
Oct 17-19: Curtis Magee
Oct 24-26: Kacey Wild
Oct 31-Nov 2: Gary Roberts
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Now is the time to become one of our subscribers if you would like to take part in the final round of voting for next year's UKCountryRadio.com Awards.
Subscriptions start from just £2 per month and, as well as voting rights, you will also get priority seating at our events.
Most importantly, you'll be helping us stay on the air by meeting our ever-increasing music licensing costs. If you would like to join our band of loyal supporters, then simply click the subscribe button below.
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