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< Back 29 SEPTEMBER 2023 JAMES JOHNSTON TO MAKE AUSTRALIAN MUSIC HISTORY THIS FRIDAY … BECAUSE HE WAS RAISED LIKE THAT ARTICLE BY: KEALI RUSSELL, SCENESTR When James Johnston released his debut single, ‘RAISED LIKE THAT’ two years ago, he never could have anticipated the whirlwind that followed. Six #1 airplay hits, 54.5 million global streams and two Golden Guitars later, James is easily Australia’s most exciting Country Music artist. This week the song that started it all has just been certified ARIA platinum. But there’s more. The bloke who grew up near the small town of Wingham in New South Wales, and sings of country life with an authenticity that makes a drover cry, a farmer sigh, a young jackaroo spin, a country girl smile and city folk wistful, will this Friday make Australian music history. His album RAISED LIKE THAT (The Album) releases on Friday and will be Australia’s largest debut Country album ever, a body of work featuring 20 extraordinary tracks and a heartfelt celebration of country living. His sound is modern and unique with driving guitars, pounding drums and his gravelly vocal centre stage. He works his boots off. The stunning debut contains moments that revel in joy and nostalgia, yet dares to dwell on the real hardship and adversity that faces so many people living in the country and on the land. There’s anthems that will fill dancefloors and raise hands in the air, and quiet stories of empowerment, hardship and love that will bring tears to knowing eyes. His words are lived-in and he sings with incredible heart because he was raised like that and he did grow up there. What’s more, James is a helluva live performer, having spent the past two years touring and performing on stages from Mount Isa to Melbourne, and all stops in between; he’s as at home in a studio as he is on the back of a semi-trailer in Deniliquin (where he happens to be this weekend). “I wanted to share songs about the good but also the often less talked about side of country life. When it’s all said and done, I hope this album makes you feel proud of where you call home,” said James. “ Music has forever been the way I can express myself in the most honest way possible,” admits the singer-songwriter. “I’ve always loved albums that allow the listener to truly get to know an artist. RAISED LIKE THAT, is that for me.” James called on his mates and longtime collaborators to realise his epic vision for RAISED LIKE THAT . Nashville-based hit-maker, Justin Wantz , racks up production credits on a mammoth 17 tracks, alongside Australia’s Gavin Carfoot and Liam Quinn , while Ilya Toshinskiy steps in to produce the rousing, ‘WE GREW UP ON’. While nine of the debut’s tracks were penned by Johnston alone, he shares songwriting duties with the other 11with long-time collaborator, Nolan Wynn , producers Michael DeLorenzis and Michael Paynter and fellow artists Kaylee Bell, Jared Porter, Melanie Dyer , and Zac and George , among others. The empowering, ‘A COUNTRY GIRL CAN’, even credits Johnston’s wife, Taliarose Johnston . Songs like ‘I STILL CALL IT HOME’ and ‘GOOD TO BE BACK’ celebrate small town values, while the more intimate, ‘THIS LAND IS KILLING ME’ highlights the trials and tribulations of life on the land. Songs like ‘GOT IT GOOD’ and ‘SEEING YOU SOON’ (featuring James’ eldest son, Koda) allow listeners to have a more personal look into James’ life, in which he shares the love and admiration he has for his wife and two boys but also the struggles of being away on the road. Life on the road has been rigorous for Johnston, having just completed a national tour with Australian heavyweight, Morgan Evans . The star has appeared at countless festivals – CMC Rocks, Berry’s Big Country, Gympie Music Muster, Meatstock, Tamworth Country Music Festival – you name it! He’s soon slated to light up stages at the rowdy, Deni Ute Muster and Far North QLDs, Savannah in The Round. Since releasing his debut single, Johnston has amassed a jaw-dropping 54.5 million global streams. Not only that, but his six #1 airplay hits have earned him a run of 110 consecutive weeks in the Top 20 of the Country Hot 50 National airplay chart. He’s been nominated for a QMA Award, an APRA Music Award and was a 2023 Rolling Stone Australia Award nominee for Best New Talent. But all his hard work was rewarded in January when he received two Golden Guitar Awards – New Talent of The Year and Vocal Collaboration of the Year. RAISED LIKE THAT (The Album) releases on Friday 29th September 2023. About the songs in James’ words…. RAISED LIKE THAT – a song that captures my story and those of the people and places that shaped me to be the person I am today. RAISED LIKE THAT tells the story of community, integrity, and a celebration to a way of life of people who grew up in a small community. The anthemic production and lyrics are reminiscent of Eric Church and Kip Moore and the track is undeniably infectious. KEEPIN IT COUNTRY – tips its hat to the rockin’ live country bands of the 90’s! With chicken pickin’ guitar solos to wailing fiddles, KEEPIN IT COUNTRY is sure to be a dance floor filler at the local honky tonk. COUNTRY BOYS – the story of the way I would spend weekends growing up in the country! From riding dirt bikes to loosing summers swimming in the creek, COUNTRY BOYS is my childhood wrapped up into one song! SMALL TOWN GIRL – is about finding yourself back in your hometown and finding the one! From buying up dirt, to cranking up Garth, she reminds you of all that you love about that life in a small town. THIS LAND IS KILLING ME – after a phone call late one night from an old friend of mine, I sat down and penned this one. The song tells the story of a farmer calling his friend to confide in his emotional desperation and tell that not all is okay. THIS LAND IS KILLING ME holds a message that life on the land is hard and the importance of reaching out to friends when times are tough to help you get through. WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD – I was born and raised on my family farm in regional NSW. This is the story of a real-estate investor coming to buy the family property without respect to the history that the land holds. Its powerful cinematic style production paints a vivid picture evoking a deep seeded pain that echoes throughout the song. WE GREW UP ON – anyone that grew up in the country knows that one of the best days was when you got your first car. It was more than just a car; it was your first taste of real freedom. Turn it up! GOOD TO BE BACK – paints the picture of driving back through your little hometown and pulling up in the drive to a life that holds the memories of your childhood. It’s a feeling I know all too well, growing up on a small rural property. GROWING UP – follows the story from young love to settling down, to passing on the lessons learnt through that journey to the next generation. It’s a lifetime in one song. SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE (+ Zac & George) – Zac & George and I wanted to make a song about old mates reconnecting, and this is a celebration of those friendships that last forever. I wrote SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE in Nashville just before I flew home to Australia, listening back to the demo on the plane ride home, I knew we had captured something special. GOT IT GOOD – a celebration of the simple things in life. The roof over your head, the job that pays the bills and the love that’s waiting for you at home. OLD COUNTRY BARN – I wrote this on a long drive from Brisbane to Tamworth with nothing but the steering wheel to make the beat. This track can be blasted just as loud at home in a country hoedown as it can at a rocking festival. ANYTHING LIKE ME – inspired by the birth of my first-born son, as a lot of parents ask themselves, what will their child’s future look like and will they follow in their own footsteps. It’s my own life, a universal story of growing up with its ups and downs. The song comes full circle with the final statement “I can’t tell the future so I’ll have to wait and see, if this boy will be ANYTHING LIKE ME” SEEING YOU SOON (Ft Koda) – after spending so long on the road travelling between shows, I yearned to get back home to see my family. This is the story of the long drive to see my young boy KODA who features on the track. WORLD UNDER MY TYRES – 16, and a full tank of gas! WORLD UNDER MY TYRES is the story of taking off with your best mate to hit the open road for the first time. COUNTRY GIRL CAN – a song for the country girls and inspired from comments on my TikTok from country girls around the world after I put the question out there, what makes a country girl a country girl. I then went through 1000’s of comments to shape A COUNTRY GIRL CAN. SMALL TOWN – I wrote this one on the drive back home to Wingham. I had been spending quite some time in the city and I was just so excited to get back to my family farm. I think so often when you grow up in a small town you think there is something so much bigger and better out there. Only until you step away you realise the magic of a small town and a close community. My family farm is still on the outskirts of my small town of Wingham and it’s still one of my favourite things to go back to. SAME SONGS (+ Kaylee Bell) – a celebration of the music that defined a generation. Grown from a single TikTok video, SAME SONGS is my first collaboration. When I reached out to fans on who they’d like to see me collaborate with I was inundated with requests to partner up with Kaylee on this song and she rose to the challenge writing a verse that is tribute to the female artists that she grew up on. MY PEOPLE – a song about the spirit of a country music festival! Rolling up in your ute with your best mates to see your favourite bands! I grew up with great artists like Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson and Brooks and Dunn and I have always wanted a song reminiscent of these artists. MY PEOPLE was recorded using a live band in Nashville and includes the iconic elements of fiddle and harmonica found in so many of the great country songs of the 90s. I STILL CALL IT HOME – When I was 17, I left my little hometown to chase the dream of music, but wherever I go that little, small town will always be home. I STILL CALL IT HOME is that story. The line ‘Proud to say where I come from’ emphasises the strong connection I still have to the place that shaped me into the artist I am today. Website: www.jamesjohnston.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/jamesjohnstonmusic Instagram: www.instagram.com/jamesjohnstonmusic TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@jamesjohnstonmusic YouTube: www.youtube.com/jamesjohnstonmusic FOR bookings and or management enquiries, please contact Beau Thomas (TOBE ARTISTS) on 0437 148 782 or email beau@tobeartists.com FOR interviews or more, please contact Kath Rose on 0416 291 493 or email kath@kathrose.com

< Back 4 NOVEMBER 2022 Hot 50 Chart: James Johnston and Kaylee Bell Reach #1 'Same Songs' by James Johnston and Kaylee Bell hits #1! ARTICLE BY: KEALI RUSSELL, SCENESTR Same Songs by James Johnston and Kaylee Bell hits #1 for the first time on the Countrytown Hot 50 Country Airplay Chart . One Of Them Nights by Travis Collins is up at #2 , ahead of Brown Eyes Baby by Keith Urban (#3) and The Kind of Love We Make by Luke Combs (#4). At #5 is Party Mode by Dustin Lynch , followed by Both by Taylor Moss (#6), Rock And A Hard Place by Bailey Zimmerman (#7), She Had Me At Heads Carolina by Cole Swindell (#8) and Small Town by Casey Barnes – which jumps an impressive ten spaces to hit the top 10! Rounding out the top 10 is Thank God by Kane Brown with Katelyn Brown . Songs gaining momentum include Hangman by Darlinghurst (#21), Son Of A Sinner by Jelly Roll (#23) and That’s What Tequila Does by Jason Aldean (#27). Meanwhile, the week’s highest new entry is Out Of Our Hands by Brad Butcher and Helen Shanahan (#33). Over For You by Morgan Evans (#37) and Something In The Orange by Zach Bryan (#48) also debut. Bar High by Southbound xo (#31), Nothing But Wild by Amy Sheppard (#35), Saved by Ella & Sienna (#36), Country Boys by James Johnston (#38), You Proof by Morgan Wallen (#39), What Brought You Back by Brad Cox (#42) and Living For The Highlights by Amber Lawrence featuring Darlinghurst (#47) return to the charts. Follow our COUNTRYTOWN playlists on Spotify including the entire Hot 50 list now. Check out the whole Country Hot 50 here .

< Back 08 APRIL 2022 James Johnston's 'SMALL TOWN' continues to dominate James Johnston’ Small Town is at #1 for the tenth consecutive week on the Countrytown Hot 50 Country Airplay Chart. Get To Know Ya by Casey Barnes moves into second, ahead of Good Beer by Seaforth and Jordan Davis (#3) and Bryce Sainty with This Summer’s The One (#4) – we premiered the music video here. ARTICLE BY: KEALI RUSSELL, SCENESTR James Johnston ’ Small Town is at #1 for the tenth consecutive week on the Countrytown Hot 50 Country Airplay Chart . Get To Know Ya by Casey Barnes moves into second, ahead of Good Beer by Seaforth and Jordan Davis (#3) and Bryce Sainty with This Summer’s The One (#4) – we premiered the music video here . Read more here by COUNTRYTOWN CLICK SINGLE ARTWORK TO LISTEN ON YOUR PREFERRED MUSIC SERVICE

< Back 19 NOVEMBER 2021 James Johnston drives home his new ‘SMALL TOWN’ Over 5 million streams (and counting), a #1 airplay hit with a debut single release, top of Spotify’s Fresh Country playlist for a record 18 weeks, and over 8,000 fans utilising ‘RAISED LIKE THAT’ on their Tik Tok’s. Heck, if this is any indication, James Johnston has well and truly arrived and is set to blow the doors off the country music worlds hinges with the release of his second single ‘SMALL TOWN’. ARTICLE BY: KEALI RUSSELL, SCENESTR A country boy born and bred in Wingham; James Johnston has built a sound that is capturing the hearts of listeners everywhere. His latest single ‘SMALL TOWN’ is a song of yearning: to return to his roots, away from the bright lights of the city skyline to the endless starlight of the bush. A sentiment his loyal fanbase are sure to resonate with. Produced by Elijah Cavanagh of Cavanagh Films, the video for ‘SMALL TOWN’ was shot on the outskirts of Gatton in Queensland, to capture the simple pleasure of a country bonfire party. “The story line follows the journey of a young country guy who was working in the city returning to his roots”, explains Johnston . “We threw a big party with a bunch of friends and just captured the magic.” Johnston’s writing is unique and familiar all at once, with a modern unique sound. On the writing of the song, Johnston says: “I wrote ‘Small Town’ on the drive back home to my hometown of Wingham. I had been spending quite some time in the city and I was just so excited to get back to my family farm. I wanted to capture that feeling of excitement and anticipation in the song - that build up as I was on that drive to get back home.” Produced by Justin Wantz in Nashville, ‘SMALL TOWN’ follows on from ‘RAISED LIKE THAT’ , a debut single that has seen Johnston garner extensive national airplay leading to a #1 hit single on TMN CountryTown Hot 50 airplay charts. With over 5 million streams, ‘RAISED LIKE THAT’ is now regarded as the fastest streamed single by an Australian Country artist ever. Johnston’s recent activity on the live circuit has seen him play to huge crowds garnering stand out reviews. From performances at Pro Bull Riding events, to festival’s including Bush to Bay Festival and Savannah In The Round , the praise has been encouraging with Mareeba Express stating “Performing at his first ever festival, Johnston – the voice behind the massive breakout hit ‘RAISED LIKE THAT’ was exceptional during his main stage performance on Friday afternoon. This man is going places. Make no mistake – this man is headed for a career in Nashville.” Despite the accolades, Johnston is still the level-headed, unassuming and approachable country guy he has always been. “I think so often when you grow up in a small town you think there is something so much bigger and better out there. Only until you step away you realise the magic of a small town and a close community. My family farm is still on the outskirts of my small town of Wingham and it's still one of my favourite things to go back to” , Johnston says. ‘SMALL TOWN’ is a road-trip anthem, perfect for singing out loud with the windows down, by an artist who is going places – and fast. With Apple Music announcing Johnston as the first Australian country artist to feature in the ‘Up Next’ local program, geared towards identifying and showcasing rising talent across Australia and New Zealand, Johnston is making an indelible mark on the music scene. He’s an artist that is set to be the soundtrack of this summer, and many more to come. CLICK SINGLE ARTWORK TO LISTEN ON YOUR PREFERRED MUSIC SERVICE

< Back 22 NOVEMBER 2022 NSW Mid North Coast musician James Johnston leads 2023 Golden Guitar Awards nominations James Johnston is leading the pack for country music gongs with six nominations for the 51st Golden Guitar Awards. ARTICLE BY: KEALI RUSSELL, SCENESTR James Johnston is leading the pack for country music gongs with six nominations for the 51st Golden Guitar Awards. It is the first time the musician, who hails from Wingham, on the NSW Mid North Coast has been nominated for the prestigious country music awards. "I am still buzzing," he said. He is up for the Male Artist of the Year, New Talent of the Year and Song of the Year, among other categories. He said he found out this morning in a very unglamorous way. "I was watching the live stream while making breakfast with my kids," he said. He told ABC Radio he had been singing since he was four years old, and had been busking since he was six. "For me, country music was such a big part of up my upbringing," he said. He shared his first song 18 months ago, and his career has taken off. "Only when COVID hit, I really kind of decided that I wanted to bunker down and start telling my story," he said. Country music star Fanny Lumsden described the singer as a "sensation" while announcing the nominations on Tuesday. Johnston said his single Small Town, which is up for Song of the Year, Single of the Year and Video of the Year, was written on the side of the road. "I was leaving Brisbane and I was travelling back to the family farm and I just was so excited. It had been a little while, this was during COVID. "I wanted this to be a celebration of small communities and kind of what they represent and what they mean and just kind of getting back to your roots," he said. Country music legend Troy Cassar-Daley received eight nominations last year, but has not released any new music in the last year. But the list of nominees was not without big names. Adam Brand, Amber Lawrence and Casey Barnes picked up five nominations each.

< Back 22 JANUARY 2023 JAMES JOHNSTON CONTINUES METEORIC RISE WITH TWO GOLDEN GUITAR AWARDS Last night in Tamworth NSW, Australia’s spiritual home of country music, a boyhood dream was realised. ARTICLE BY: KEALI RUSSELL, SCENESTR Last night in Tamworth NSW, Australia’s spiritual home of country music, a boyhood dream was realised. The Wingham born, now Queensland based James Johnston took home two Golden Guitar Awards for New Talent of the Year and Vocal Collaboration of the Year for ‘SAME SONGS’ , a duet with Kaylee Bell. “I’m just so blown away to have won a golden guitar, let alone two”, Johnston said after the win. “So many of my heroes have stood on that stage to receive this award and to now have two of my own is pretty special!” It’s an incredible result for Johnston who released his ARIA Gold selling debut single ‘RAISED LIKE THAT’ in 2021 and has now amassed 32 million streams across his single releases making him one of the most popular and exciting new artists on the Australian music landscape right now. But what seems like an overnight success for James Johnston is only telling part of his journey. James spent his early years hopping from farm-to-farm with his dad, selling and servicing tractors. With hours spent on the road travelling, James was introduced to great artists like Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Garth Brooks and at just four years of age, James hit the stage for the very first time, performing ‘Friends in Low Places’ in front of his kindergarten class. From that moment on James’s future was set, he was a born performer. Throughout his teens, James and his family would spend most weekends travelling and performing on any stage that would take him. In 2008, James graduated from high school, bought a van and set out on the great Australian road trip, playing every little town and every pub he could find. Opportunities with Australian Idol and The X Factor came his way, giving Johnston valuable experience and further shaping him as an artist and performer. After a few years of living show-to-show, James needed inspiration and what better place to find it than where the soundtrack of his youth came from, Nashville Tennessee. It was this experience which changed him forever. James didn’t realise it at the time but for all the gigs he’d played, all the roads he’d travelled and all the people he’d met, the experiences were stored inside him. In Nashville, they poured out as songs. 300 songs in fact. James finally found his voice as a songwriter. Since his debut release of ‘RAISED LIKE THAT’ Johnston has had another three #1 country radio songs with ‘SMALL TOWN’ , ‘COUNTRY BOYS’ and 'SAME SONGS' . The fruits of James’ labour have well and truly paid off. His ever growing legion of fans have been connecting to his authenticity as a songwriter as well as his road-hardened electric performances such as his show stealing sets at CMC Rocks Queensland and Savannah in The Round in 2022. It was a very proud James Johnston who took to the stage last Wednesday at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre for his first ever a sold out headline performance, the largest ticketed show at the festival. But of course, Johnston is only just getting started! 2023 will be a big year for the artist starting with his new single ‘GOT IT GOOD’ released this Thursday 26th January. The anticipation has reach fever pitch ever since Johnston started previewing the song on New Year’s Day. With thousands of pre-saves for ths single already, ‘GOT IT GOOD’ is set to be James’ biggest release yet. When asked what’s install for 2023, Johnston said: “This year I’m excited to release a lot more music and get out and bring my show to the people. That has always been my passion, getting out across the country to play shows and meeting the people that have been on this ride with me. 2023 has certainly kicked off in a big way!”

< Back 7 FEBRUARY 2023 Country music star James Johnston talks success of 2023 so far It's already been a big start to 2023 for Wingham born country music singer James Johnston. ARTICLE BY: KEALI RUSSELL, SCENESTR LISTEN HERE It's already been a big start to 2023 for Wingham born country music singer James Johnston. Two Golden Guitar wins, a sold out headlining show and there's lots in store for him the rest of the year including the release of his newest song Got It Good. Anna Moulder caught up with James to hear about his successful start to the year.

< Back 01 FEBRUARY 2023 James Johnston nominated for Rolling Stone - Best New Artist Amy Shark, The Wiggles & Kylie Minogue Among 2023 Shure Rolling Stone Australia Awards Nominees The Rolling Stone Australia Awards will return to Sydney on April 4th for a night to celebrate Australian music ARTICLE BY: KEALI RUSSELL, SCENESTR Rolling Stone Australia has today unveiled the likes of Amy Shark and The Wiggles as nominees for this year’s Rolling Stone Australia Awards, which return to Sydney on April 4th for a party in honour of Australian music. Among the nominees vying for top honours are global hitmakers and breakthrough stars. Multi-Platinum singer-songwriter Vance Joy leads the stellar list with three nominations for Best Record, Best Single, and the coveted Rolling Stone Global Award. Meanwhile, rising star Budjerah, global phenomenon The Wiggles, triple j darlings Spacey Jane, international touring juggernauts Gang of Youths, and king of country Keith Urban also have multiple nominations this year. The past 12 months have seen the rise and rise of many incredible new Australian artists, all capturing the attention of music lovers and tastemakers. Up for Best New Artist this year are Blake Rose, Budjerah, Eliza & The Delusionals, Forest Claudette, James Johnston, Lara D, Merci, Mercy, and Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers. Each year Rolling Stone Australia invites international editorial teams, including editors from Rolling Stone US and Rolling Stone UK, to vote in the Rolling Stone Global Award category. Nominated this year are Alison Wonderland, Gang of Youths, Iggy Azalea, Keith Urban, Kylie Minogue, Rüfüs Du Sol, Tash Sultana, The Wiggles, Tones And I, Troye Sivan and Vance Joy. The annual awards introduce multiple new sponsors this year, including headline partner Shure alongside Australis, Canna, Panhead, JMC Academy and Jim Beam. Poppy Reid, Editor-in-Chief at Rolling Stone Australia publisher The Brag Media, said: “We take great pride in the fact that, by hosting our third annual Rolling Stone Australia Awards, we get to play a part in recognising Australian music’s growth. Our partnership with Shure was organic. We both share a love for local music and we’re so excited to showcase the energising spirit of Australia with a night to remember on April 4. I am immensely proud to be part of the team pushing local acts worldwide through our awards judging process, and our editorial partnership with Rolling Stone parent company PMC.” Will Repanellis, Head of Marketing at Jands, said of Shure’s sponsorship: “It’s fantastic that we can bring together two iconic music industry brands, with a combined 153 years of championing Australian music, at this year’s Shure Rolling Stone Australia Awards.” In the weeks ahead, Rolling Stone Australia will reveal this year’s hosts, performers and the nominees in the hotly-contested Rolling Stone Readers’ Award. First announcing the arrival of the awards in 2020, the highly anticipated first edition of the event saw artists recognised across the five categories, including Best Record, Best Single, Best New Artist, the Rolling Stone Global Award, and the Rolling Stone Readers’ Award. At last year’s ceremony, Genesis Owusu, The Kid LAROI and King Stingray were named the big winners, with live performances from Amy Shark and Ruby Fields. Rolling Stone Australia’s print readership was up 20% to 220,000 readers from the previous survey, according to new Roy Morgan research, ahead of many staple titles. 2023 Shure Rolling Stone Australia Awards Nominees: Best Single Amy Shark – “Only Wanna Be With You” Budjerah – “Ready for the Sky” Courtney Barnett – “Rae Street” Keith Urban – “Brown Eyes Baby” Ruel – “Growing up is ___” Spacey Jane – “Hardlight” The Kid LAROI – “Thousand Miles” Vance Joy – “Clarity” Best New Artist Blake Rose Budjerah Eliza & The Delusionals Forest Claudette James Johnston Lara D Merci, Mercy Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers Best Record 5 Seconds of Summer – 5SOS5 Gang of Youths – angel in realtime Julia Jacklin – Pre Pleasure Parkway Drive – Darker Still Spacey Jane – Here Comes Everybody The Wiggles – ReWiggled Thelma Plum – Meanjin Vance Joy – In Our Own Sweet Time Rolling Stone Global Award Alison Wonderland Gang Of Youths Iggy Azalea Keith Urban Kylie Minogue Rüfüs Du Sol Tash Sultana The Wiggles Tones And I Troye Sivan Vance Joy

< Back 22 NOVEMBER 2022 Road to success: Tamworth nod the ticket to singer’s future Country singer-songwriter James Johnston has sold out the biggest venue in Tamworth for his festival debut | GOLDEN GUITAR NOMINEES ARTICLE BY: KEALI RUSSELL, SCENESTR Heading into the annual summer festival held in Tamworth, James Johnston was hoping to sell a few tickets to his debut headline show at the capital of Australian country music. Trying to drum up interest in the live arena is a rite of passage for all performers, but it’s a desire that often goes unfulfilled, especially when artists have only released a handful of songs. The singer-songwriter was thrilled, then, to achieve his goal two months out from his January 18 concert – but this will be no small pub gig. “I’ve been lucky that I’ve played around the country, playing events and festivals,” Johnston, 31, told The Australian. “But for my very first ticketed show, I decided that I wanted to go big: what’s the biggest venue in Tamworth? Let’s try to sell that out.” Go big he did: Johnston’s sold-out gig is at the 1600-capacity entertainment centre known as TRECC, where only the biggest names in country music tend to play, such as veterans Troy Cassar-Daley and Lee Kernaghan. That same venue space will host the annual Golden Guitar Awards on January 21, and Johnson learned on Tuesday that he is the lead nominee, as a finalist in six categories including best new talent and song of the year. Speaking with The Australian last week, before the nominations were announced, Johnston was keeping a lid on his ambitions for the sector’s annual gathering. “I would say ‘hopes and dreams’, not expectations,” he said with a laugh. “I used to go to the Golden Guitars, and most of my country music heroes have stood up on that stage, so I’d be honoured if one day I get to do the same thing.” With six nominations, Johnston leads some highly esteemed colleagues: both Amber Lawrence and Adam Brand are up for five awards, as is Gold Coast country rocker Casey Barnes, while Tamworth local Ashleigh Dallas has four nominations. Since releasing his debut single, Raised Like That , in September last year, Johnston has amassed millions of Spotify streams and skilfully built an audience on video platform TikTok, where he has 195,000 followers . Having appeared on Australian Idol in 2009, when he placed third, then on The X-Factor in 2014, the artist from the NSW mid-north-coast town of Wingham knows how fickle the music business can be. “From being on reality TV shows to playing a thousand dirty pub gigs with a mate around Australia, I pull every one of those experiences into my live show and into my songwriting today,” he said. There’s another facet of his life that he doesn’t shy away from showing on social media , either: as a happily married father. “Trust me, there’s been plenty of people in the music industry that told me I should hide that part of my story,” he said. “I’ve gone, ‘Stuff that: I’m going to tell my story’,” said Johnston. “I am a proud family man, I’m a dad of two, and I love my wife. I’m proud of that part of my story, and I want to share all of it.” Toyota 51st Golden Guitar Awards 2023 Nominees APPLE MUSIC SINGLE OF THE YEAR All Or Nothing – Adam Brand Memory Lane – Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley Get To Know Ya – Casey Barnes Small Town – James Johnston Sing Along Drink Along – Morgan Evans CMT VIDEO OF THE YEAR Star Of The Show – Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley – Directed by Brad Murnane Small Town – James Johnston – Directed by Elijah Cavanagh South East Queensland – Luke O’Shea – Directed by Luke O’Shea and Jay Seeney Something Good’s Gonna Happen – The Wolfe Brothers featuring Amy Sheppard – Directed by Jay Seeney One Of Them Nights – Travis Collins – Directed by Jay Seeney VOCAL COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR James Johnston & Kaylee Bell – Same Songs Kirsty Lee Akers, Amber Lawrence and Ashleigh Dallas – Let The Girls Sing Lee Kernaghan, Mitch Tambo and Isaiah Firebrace – Come Together Lyn Bowtell & Shane Nicholson – Wiser Melanie Dyer & Caitlyn Shadbolt – Dumb Decisions INSTRUMENTAL OF THE YEAR Dust – Angus Gill & Pixie Jenkins Burning Mountain – Michael Carpenter and The Banks Brothers featuring Hamish Davidson Fidget Spinner – Mickey Pye Clippety Clop – Pete Denahy Soda Cap Boogie – The French Family Band BLUEGRASS RECORDING OF THE YEAR Sweet Sister Jasmine – Angus Gill Good Morning Moon – Kristy Cox Until This Song Ends – Lynchburg & The Weeping Willows Road Man – Michael Carpenter and The Banks Brothers House Of Sin – The Weeping Willows HERITAGE SONG OF THE YEAR I’m Coming Home – Written by Amber Lawrence and Katrina Burgoyne – Recorded by Amber Lawrence Listen to the Country – Written and Recorded by Angus Gill & Kevin Bennett Bogswamp – Written by Josh Cunningham – Recorded by Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham Come Together – Written by Lee Kernaghan, Mitch Tambo, Isaiah Firebrace, Nicholas Wolfe, Colin Buchanan and Garth Porter – Recorded by Lee Kernaghan, Mitch Tambo and Isaiah Firebrace South East Queensland – Written by Luke O’Shea, Fred Smith and Mitchell Lynham – Recorded by Luke O’Shea BUSH BALLAD OF THE YEAR Sometimes It’s Your Job – Written by Allan Caswell, Manfred Vijars and Lindsay Waddington – Recorded by Allan Caswell Ghostly Gums – Written by Kath Stewart, David Carter, Angela Bristow-Baohm and Andy Penkow – Recorded by Andy Penkow Waiting for the Boss – Written by Angus Gill, Alan Mackey & Mary O’Brien – Recorded by Angus Gill featuring Anne Kirkpatrick Out on Killarney – Written and recorded by Dean Perrett Family Tree – Written by Rod McCormack, Dianne Lindsay and Peter Simpson – Recorded by Dianne Lindsay NEW TALENT OF THE YEAR Blake Dantier Cass Hopetoun James Johnston Max Jackson Taylor Moss COUNTRY MUSIC CAPITAL NEWS GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley Lachlan Bryan and The Wildes McAlister Kemp The Buckleys The Weeping Willows MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR Adam Brand Andrew Swift Casey Barnes James Johnston Morgan Evans FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR Amber Lawrence Ashleigh Dallas Hayley Jensen Lyn Bowtell Melanie Dyer SONG OF THE YEAR All Or Nothing – Written by Adam Brand, Nicholas Wolfe and Tom Wolfe – Recorded by Adam Brand Star Of The Show – Written by Brooke McClymont, Adam Eckersley and Robby De Sa – Recorded by Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley Small Town – Written by Casey Barnes, Michael DeLorenzis and Michael Paynter – Recorded by Casey Barnes Small Town – Written by James Johnston and Nolan Wynne – Recorded by James Johnston South East Queensland – Written by Luke O’Shea, Fred Smith and Mitchell Lynham – Recorded by Luke O’Shea ALT COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR Dead Men Tell No Tales – Allison Forbes – Produced by Matt Fell Strength Of A Queen – Andy Golledge – Produced by John Vella & Ryan Miller Tug of War – Jenny Mitchell – Produced by Matt Fell Looks Like Heaven – Kim Cheshire – Produced by Rod McCormack You Reap What You Sow – The Weeping Willows – Produced by Andrew Wrigglesworth & Laura Coates CONTEMPORARY COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR All Or Nothing – Adam Brand – Produced by Adam Brand, Vesa Matara, Benjy Pocock and Luke Wooten Living For The Highlights – Amber Lawrence – Produced by Stuart Stuart Light It Up – Casey Barnes – Produced by Michael DeLorenzis and Michael Paynter Silver Linings – Kaylee Bell – Produced by Simon Oscroft, Andy Mak and Joseph Faris Wiser – Lyn Bowtell – Produced by Shane Nicholson TRADITIONAL COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR In The Moment – Ashleigh Dallas – Produced by Brett Dallas Dry Season – Blake Dantier – Produced by Simon Johnson Shades of Blue – Kristy Cox – Produced by Jerry Salley Mr Goodtime – Michael Carpenter and The Banks Brothers – Produced by Michael Carpenter Travelling Heart – TC Cassidy – Produced by Angus Gill TOYOTA ALBUM OF THE YEAR All Or Nothing – Adam Brand – Produced by Adam Brand, Vesa Matara, Benjy Pocock and Luke Wooten Living For The Highlights – Amber Lawrence – Produced by Stuart Stuart In The Moment – Ashleigh Dallas – Produced by Brett Dallas Light It Up – Casey Barnes – Produced by Michael DeLorenzis and Michael Paynter Silver Linings – Kaylee Bell – Produced by Simon Oscroft, Andy Mak and Joseph Faris

< Back 27 SEPTEMBER 2022 Clayton Anderson and James Johnston Take Home Top Honours At Unsigned Only Music Competition Unsigned Only is now accepting entries for the 2023 competition. ARTICLE BY: KEALI RUSSELL, SCENESTR The winners of the US-based Unsigned Only Music Competition have been announced – including those in country music. A total of 12 country artists garnered wins in the 2022 competition. Established in 2012, Unsigned Only has become an important source for discovering new talent and acts as a benchmark for excellence in the arena of contemporary music. Winners were selected from almost 7,000 entries from all over the world by a judging panel of high-profile music artists and industry experts. More than $150,000 in cash and prizes is awarded to a total of 38 winners, including $20K (US) in cash to the Grand Prize winner. The winning songs can be heard at www.unsignedonly.com/winners . Taking home First Place in the country category is Clayton Anderson for Let Me Go . A Bedford, IN native but currently living in Nashville, Anderson is a product of his upbringing: a hard-working, salt of the earth, country singer/songwriter from the heartland – and loaded with talent. His story is one that started in the Midwest but moved to Music City, USA and beyond. From winning Kenny Chesney ’s ‘Next Big Star’ battle of the bands to opening for many of country music’s luminaries to headlining tours, Anderson has also landed high-profile placements for a string of singles. He recently released a new album, Made In The USA , his most introspective album yet. The album includes his winning song Let Me Go , which recounts the stunning shock of heartbreak; the accompanying video was recently released as a CMT World premiere. Second Place is awarded to James Johnston (Wingham, NSW, Australia) for Raised Like That . A fast-rising star in his home country of Australia, Johnston first became known to his fans through his appearance on Australian Idol . A subsequent trip to Nashville fuelled his musical passion, and in 2021 he released his debut single Raised Like That which tells the story of community, integrity, and a celebration to a way of life of people who grow up in a small close-knit community. It became a multi-platform hit and is the fastest ever debut single by an Australian-based country artist to reach one million streams. The song peaked at #1 on the Countrytown Hot 50 Country Airplay Chart and #4 on the Australian Independent chart. It was certified gold in Australia last year, and in doing so, Johnston became the first independent country artist to achieve this milestone in more than 20 years. Johnston is also the winner in Unsigned Only’s special promotion, Get Published. Over the years, Unsigned Only has honoured many other great country artists, including Grammy nominee Ingrid Andress , the competition’s Grand Prize winner in 2016. Since then, she has gone on to become one of country music’s most respected and venerated new country artists. About winning Unsigned Only, Andress said, “You always hear about this happening to other people, but I never thought it would happen to me. It’s such an amazing and rare opportunity to have people care about you and your music. It’s very inspiring to feel supported by an organization (Unsigned Only) who just want you to do well because of your music ability and your love for your art.” “Hopefully these winners will achieve the same kind of success as Ingrid Andress. They are already making their mark on the country music landscape,” said Unsigned Only founders Candace Avery and Jim Morgan . “Their authenticity and talent exemplify exactly what country music fans are looking for, and we are so pleased to honour them and their remarkable artistry.” The overall 2022 Grand Prize is awarded to the multi-talented, up-and-coming rapper Tia P. Hailing from Inglewood, CA, she is also a skilled singer, songwriter, producer, actress, and drummer. Influenced by artists such Missy Elliott , Lauren Hill , and Pharrell Williams , she is the voice of a new generation embodied in the soul of the old.

Let's Connect Contact This is your Contact section paragraph. Encourage your reader to reach out with any questions, comments or to take a different action specific to your site. BEAU THOMAS CHIEF ARTIST OFFICER JAMES JOHNSTON MANAGEMENT Address Shop 1, 195 Bolsover St, Rockhampton City QLD 4700, Australia Email beau@tobeartists.com Phone +61 (0) 437 148 782 Social Media JONO BLEAKLEY ARTIST MANAGER ZAC & GEORGE MANAGEMENT Phone +61 (0) 437 148 782 Email jono@tobeartists.com Social Media

LATEST NEWS 27 November 2023 Review: James Johnston @ Venue 114 (Sunshine Coast) Country, Live Music, COUNTRY, LIVE 7 February 2023 Country music star James Johnston talks success of 2023 so far ABC, LIVE, TCMF, COUNTRY 22 January 2023 JAMES JOHNSTON CONTINUES METEORIC RISE WITH TWO GOLDEN GUITAR AWARDS Country, Pop 15 January 2023 James Johnston performs LIVE from the Tamworth Country Music Festival ABC, Live, TCMF, Country 4 November 2022 Hot 50 Chart: James Johnston and Kaylee Bell Reach #1 CountryTown, ChartTopper, Country, Pop 1 July 2022 James Johnston and Kaylee Bell announce a new single 'SAME SONGS' Country, Pop, HouseConcert 19 November 2021 James Johnston drives home his new ‘SMALL TOWN’ Country, Pop 29 September 2023 JAMES JOHNSTON TO MAKE AUSTRALIAN MUSIC HISTORY THIS FRIDAY … BECAUSE HE WAS RAISED LIKE THAT ​ 1 February 2023 James Johnston nominated for Rolling Stone - Best New Artist Nominee, bestnewartist, countrymusic, rollingstone 21 January 2023 A polished, golden new talent emerges in Tamworth Country 22 November 2022 NSW Mid North Coast musician James Johnston leads 2023 Golden Guitar Awards nominations Country, Pop 27 September 2022 Clayton Anderson and James Johnston Take Home Top Honours At Unsigned Only Music Competition CountryTown, Country, MusicAwards 6 May 2022 James Johnston reveals new single 'COUNTRY BOYS' Country, Pop ​ ​ ​ 28 September 2023 JAMES JOHNSTON’S ‘RAISED LIKE THAT’ IS A CELEBRATION OF BEING RAISED COUNTRY ​ 26 January 2023 GOLDEN GUITAR WINNER JAMES JOHNSTON RELEASES NEW SINGLE ‘GOT IT GOOD’ GOTITGOOD, Country, Pop 18 January 2023 Tamworth Country Music Festival: James Johnston nabs long list of Golden Guitar 2023 nominations GoldenGuitar, MusicAwards, Country 22 November 2022 Road to success: Tamworth nod the ticket to singer’s future Theaustralian, countrymusic, GoldenGuitar, MusicAwards, Country 1 July 2022 'COUNTRY BOYS' goes #1 at Country Radio in Australia Country, Pop, ChartTopper 8 April 2022 James Johnston's 'SMALL TOWN' continues to dominate Country, CountryTown