Donna Boyd: News

Hi there!
Announcing a great show at the Tamworth Town Hall with Nicki Gillis, Mike Carr, Johanna Hemara, Bob Howe & Hillbilly Heaven and Frank Ifield!
Check out my Gig Guide for all the info and book your tickets now!

Australian country music singer, Donna Boyd, having recently been appointed as the ambassador for Outback NSW, will be meeting fans at the Outback NSW stand during the upcoming Queensland Caravan and Camping Show from Saturday 6th - Monday 8th June.

Outback NSW recently adopted one of Donna's stunning songs from her current album for their existing tourism campaign. The track, Take Time, is a reminder that our modern life can be very hectic and we should "take time" out to experience the world and people around us.

Donna's current album, Luckiest Girl Alive, saw her team up with producers David Carter and Adrian Hannan, who has worked with other Aussie songbirds Gabriella Cilmi, Vanessa Amorossi, Delta Goodrem.

The album, launched at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre to an audience of 1600 plus country music fans, has so far had 3 Top 5 singles and saw Donna announced as a finalist at the Australian Songwriting Contest.

In addition to using Donna's single, Outback NSW Tourism and The Darling River Run project have created a music video clip for Donna's haunting version of Amazing Grace. The clip is to create awareness of the Royal
Flying Doctors Service and features vision of the work they do on a daily basis.

So Take Time to visit Outback NSW and Donna Boyd at their stand during the Queensland Caravan and Camping Show. RNA Showgrounds June 3rd - 9th.

To see the video clip for Amazing Grace supporting the Royal Flying Doctors Service and to also see Donna's latest clip for Take Time, please visit www.darlingriverrun.com.au

It’s been a busy week for the tourism industry in the Outback with a series of events over the past few days. The Outback NSW Tourism Board met in Wentworth on Sunday. Dominica Nelson, A/Director of Strategy and Alliances at Tourism NSW attended together with Peter Hale, the Chairman of the Forum of Regional Tourism Organisations.

The 2009 Outback Tourism Symposium was held on Monday and Tuesday in Wentworth. Dominica Nelson opened the Symposium and Carmel Beattie, Group Manager International Markets, spoke about international marketing including Tourism NSW’s International Industry Incentive Fund. Highlights of the Symposium dinner were: the launch of new visitor maps for the region; the announcement of country singer Donna Boyd as ambassador for the NSW Outback and Carmel Chapman from Wentworth Visitor Information Centre receiving an award for individual contribution to tourism in the Outback.

The Australian Government and Outback NSW Tourism launched the Darling River Run, a 2,740 touring route through the Outback, in Menindee today. The 'Run' starts at Walgett and follows the Darling River through Brewarrina, Bourke, Louth, Tilpa, Wilcannia, Menindee, Pooncarie to the Murray River at Wentworth. For more information go to www.darlingriverrun.com.au

Last night was the dinner for the campaign launch in Wentworth NSW, and tomorrow is the actual launch in Menindee, NSW.
We had a fantastic night at the Coomealla Club, complete with a beautiful 3 course dinner and speeches and awards for tour operators.
My new music video for Take Time was previewed and was a big hit with the audience!
So it's another long day in Wentworth for the Tourism Symposium today, and then a very early morning tomorrow to make sure we arrive in Menindee on time.
Keep you posted...

We had a fantastic day at Heat 1 of THE SADDLES 2009, held in Wentworth, NSW.
The Wentworth Club hosted the event, and lots of people turned up to see 14 year old Holly Taylor-Ann Smith from Balcatherine Station, NSW become our first winner.
You can check out Holly's music and read more about her at: www.myspace.com/hollysmithsmusic

THE SADDLES 2009 is finally up and running, and the 1st Heat is at Wentworth in less than 2 weeks' time.

I'm so excited about my new venture - I'll keep you posted on how it goes, or you can visit www.goldensaddles.com.au and keep yourself up to date with everythng that's happening.

Duncan Toombs has produced a TV Commercial for me and Brad Bergen has produced the radio ads and the voice-over for the TV Commercial. We've been very busy!

Fingers crossed, we get LOADS of kids entering... it should be a great day, with a free concert for everyone who comes along to support their budding stars!

For those of you who are worried about Merelyn & David Carter in the fires in VIC, I have just spoken with them and they are OK - they stayed and fought the fires on their property, and thankfully have managed to save their house. Unfortunately they have lost the farm.

To all those who are trying to call them - Merelyn & David have asked that you please don't call for a few days - as you can imagine, they have their hands full. They are exhausted & OK, and they will contact everyone as soon as they're able.

Please feel free to contact me if you are concerned.

Hi everyone! Just a quick one to let you know that the year is ending on another high, with my current single MISSING YOU debuting in the Country Tracks Top 30 Chart this week at # 29.

What a fantastic way to end the year!

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Holiday Season - remember if you have a drink while you're out, please be careful on the roads, and don't drive if you're over the limit.

Looking forward to seeing everyone in Tamworth,
Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for 2009!
Donna.x

Hi everyone!
It’s been so long since I’ve written a Newsletter, and I thought – since I’m historically dreadful with Christmas cards – I should send out a Newsletter/Christmas greeting and fill you all in on what’s been going on in my life!
It's been a big year, so you might want to grab a cuppa…

Outback Tourism & RFDS
Earlier this year, the Regional Outback Tourism Organisation (ORTO) appointed me as their Ambassador for 2009! ORTO has chosen a song off my Luckiest Girl Alive CD – TAKE TIME – for their advertising campaign next year, which is absolutely fantastic! I’ve been in the Outback, filming footage for the new music video, which will be released in March next year.

As well as ORTO licensing TAKE TIME, the Royal Flying Doctor Service has also taken my acoustic version of AMAZING GRACE for their advertising in 2009, which means we have been filming for the music video for AMAZING GRACE also. It’s been a busy year!
Duncan Toombs is now working on editing all the footage and putting together 2 amazing music videos, which are scheduled for release in March 2009, to coincide with the launch of the ORTO advertising campaign. There is also talk of me co-hosting an episode of Escape with ET on Channel 7, which will see us touring the Darling River Run! I’ll keep you posted on that one…

Golden Saddle Awards
I’m very excited to announce that I have now taken over the Golden Saddle Awards completely, and I have a whole host of changes that will be happening in 2009. As well as the main Golden Saddle Awards for recorded and marketing material, which will be open for entry in March 2009 with the Final in September, I am also planning a Junior level, which will be open for entry throughout Regional New South Wales. I’ll have to keep you posted on that one, too!

Missing You – Current Single
My current single released to radio in October is MISSING YOU, which has been received really well, and supported widely throughout Australia on both commercial and Community stations.

Thanks so much to all the presenters who have played MISSING YOU. After having had my own program once a week on 2CCR FM 90.5 in Sydney for over a year now, I really appreciate how hard it is to fit everyone’s music into your time on air – there’s so much good stuff out there!

A Good Day with Donna Boyd on 2CCR FM 90.5
Which brings me to my last topic – my radio program on 2CCR FM 90.5 in Baulkham Hills, Sydney. I have really enjoyed producing and hosting my own weekly program for just over a year now, and my hat goes off to all the radio presenters who continue to present their programs and play our music weekly. It’s a HUGE commitment; one which I find I’m unable to continue. Thanks so much to all my guests over the last year or so – it’s been a lot of fun :o)

I will be finishing up at 2CCR this Friday 5th December, and in a special event, I have a few friends coming in to help me say goodbye. Tracy Killeen, Jayne Denham, and The Harmonators (Rae & Liz) will all be my guests in the studio this Friday from 4pm – 6pm. To be honest, I’m not sure how much music will get played – can you imagine it? Me + 4 girls in the studio – by the time we all get a word in, there won’t be much time to play anything!

Tori Darke
On a side note – I have been working with Tori Darke, providing her with vocal coaching over the last few months, and I’m SO EXCITED that she has been announced as one of the Top 10 Finalists in Toyota Starmaker 2009. If you’re in Tamworth, come along to the TREC on Sunday 18th January and cheer her on - I’ll be there! :o)

Gigs
Friday, December 12th – Berkley Vale Public School – Carols in the Cool Zone - with Felicity Urquhart & Matt Frost.
Sunday, January 11th – Petersham RSL
Saturday, January 17th – Tamworth Town Hall – Roll of Renown Concert
Sunday, January 18th – Capitol Theatre, Tamworth – Gospel Concert with Carter & Carter and Brendan Walmsley
If you can make it to a gig, please come and say G’Day.

I hope you all have a great Chrissy with lots of family, friends and food (and pressies!!)
Cya!
Donna.x
:o)

Missing You is the Latest single to be released from the CD - LUCKIEST GIRL ALIVE.
Call your local station and request it now!

Entries are now closed for the Golden Saddle Awards.

It's been a fantastic first year for entries, and I'm really excited and looking forward to the announcement of the Finalists in July.

My latest single 'NEVER GONNA BE THAT GIRL AGAIN' has been released to radio this week, and it's already been added to Nick Erby's CMR Playlist:

CMR - COUNTRY MUSIC RADIO
Saturday Morning 12mn-7am
Saturday Night 6pm-6am
Sunday Night 6pm-12mn
Live from 2TM Tamworth
to the Super Radio Network
2SM Sydney, 2HD Newcastle, Radio 97 Gold Coast & Tweed,
4WK Toowoomba / Darling Downs, 4GY Gympie / Sunshine Coast,
2LM Lismore, 2GF Grafton, 2RE Taree, 2MG Mudgee, 2PK Parkes,
2DU Dubbo, 2MO Gunnedah, 2VM Moree, 2NZ Inverell, 2AD Armidale,
2PM Port Macquarie, 2HC Coffs Harbour, 2EL Orange, 2BH Broken Hill
And more than 20 additional transmitters across
Western and Northern NSW into Southern Queensland.
AND ON-LINE AT 2sm.com.au

And I'll be having a chat with Barbara Morison on 'All Kinds of Country' on Saturday 10th at 6:45am about the new single, gigs and what's going on.

The 'new' Golden Saddle Awards are now open for entry, and judging by the number of emails I've been receiving, we should be in for a large number of entries... :o)

If you'd like to enter, visit www.galstonfestival.com and click on the Golden Saddles link in the top menu bar to read all about the changes I've made to the awards.

Entries close on May 31st, 2008.

This week my guest in the studio is Wayne Horsburgh - Let's find out what Wayne gets up to during our Winter, while he's traveling & gigging around the world...

So join me from 4pm - 5pm on 2CCR FM 90.5 every Tuesday afternoon.

This week my guest in the studio is Tracy Killeen - I'm sure that'll be a LOT of fun!
Next week (8th April) it's Wayne Horsburgh.

So join me from 4pm - 5pm on 2CCR FM 90.5 every Tuesday afternoon.

Tuesday 12th February 2008.

Todays' guest is Bob Howe, award-winning journalist, musician, producer, photographer and all round good guy!!

Tune in from 4pm - 5pm to listen to our on air chat.

Tuesday 5th February 2008.
Today's guests in the studio - Simply Bushed.

Tune in from 4pm - 5pm to listen to our on air chat!

Simply Bushed have just returned from Tamworth where they won a SWAG of awards!!

Check out their video on CMC for Cangai Bridge.

Hi! Just back from a flying visit to Tamworth this year...

Yesterday we drove to Tamworth and did the show at the Town Hall with John Stephan last night.

Once again we had a ball! The audience was fantastic, and the band (Sean Rudd on bass, Mal Lancaster on drums, Doug played keyboards and accordian & Bob Howe played guitar) were wonderful.

The show opened with Stuie & Camille who were their usual brilliant selves, and John did the 2nd half, featuring new material from his album that's being released this festival.

Fantastic stuff.

Unfortunately we couldn't stay longer this year, so we headed back towards Sydney straight after the show. Phew!!

The only thing that went wrong was Michel Rose's fall in the street resulting in (maybe) a broken arm. As at the time of the show last night they still weren't sure if it was broken - poor thing!

Hope everyone has a ball in Tamworth this year - if we caught up with you, I hope you enjoyed the show as much as we did, and if not - hopefully we'll see you around the traps during the year, and if not we'll catch up again this time next year.

Take Care,
Donna.x
PS I'm pretty bummed we couldn't stay longer this year - I'm really missing the festival. if you have any great stories or photos, please send them my way - I'd appreciate it.

2008 AWARDS FINALISTS


THE FINALISTS ARE …

CONTEMPORARY COUNTRY SONG OF THE YEAR

LUCKIEST GIRL ALIVE – DONNA BOYD & DAVID CARTER
PICTURE ON THE MANTLE – REG MEFFERT, CRAIG & ROSALYNNE GILES
THINGS THAT BRING ME DOWN – AMBER LAWRENCE
THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE – DAVID & MERELYN CARTER
STRONG ENOUGH – ALLAN CASWELL & AL CRAIG

I'm really excited to announce I'm a Finalist in the Musicoz Awards! YAY!

The Awards are announced on Thursday November 22nd at the Enmore Theatre, Sydney.

Hi everyone!
I was incredibly disappointed when I was unable to co-host the Southern Stars 11th Annual Awards in Mildura on Saturday 6th October due to the flu.
Thanks so much to everyone who sent messages and asked after me - I really appreciate your kindness.
Amber Lawrence stepped in for me at the last minute and did a fantastic job of co-hosting with Marco Gliori, and my husband Doug sent me some GORGEOUS flowers to make me feel better - check out the photo in the Gallery.
I'm finally getting better, and I look forward to seeing you at the Arcadia Rural Fire Brigade's brand new Station Opening on November 4th.
Take Care,
Donna.x

Angels Fly Close To The Ground has risen to # 7 this week in the Country Tracks Top 30:
http://www.nfspublicity.com.au/charts/ct30.html
and climbs 3 places to # 24 in the Mildura HOT-FM Top 100 Country Hits:
http://www.hotfm.org.au/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=74&Itemid=3

This week Angels Fly Close To The Ground hits the Top 10, entering at # 8:

www.nfspublicity.com.au/charts/ct30.html
And climbs 2 places to # 27 in the Mildura HOT-FM Top 100 Country Hits:

http://www.hotfm.org.au/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=5&Itemid=3

I have just been announced as the new Director of the Golden Saddle Awards. I am taking over the position from Helen Kay, who has run the Awards for the past 11 years.

Angels Fly Close To The Ground has risen to just outside the Top 10 on the Australian Country Tracks Top 30 chart:
http://www.nfspublicity.com.au/charts/ct30.html
And climbs into the Top 30 in the Mildura HOT-FM Top 100 Country Hits, at # 29 this week:
http://www.hotfm.org.au/index.php?option=com_docman&Itemid=3