Boulia’s own Ali S will gain the ultimate accolade as a country singer when he performs at the 2017 Tamworth Country Music Festival at the end of this month.
Ali S has spent the majority of his life in Far West Queensland, where he has worked as a plumber, underground miner and road contractor and now proudly adds singer/songwriter to the list.
Ali S secured a place at Tamworth through a merit process to attend the Country Music Association of Australia in 2017, along with three performances during the Country Music Festival.
Ali will be performing at the CMAA Country Music Academy Senior Graduation Concert, on January 19 at the West Tigers Leagues Club, The Opening Ceremony of the Tamworth Country Music Festival, on January 20 and The Longyard Pub- Tamworth, from 11am on January 21.
Ali S has been selected to attend the Australian Academy of Country Music, which has been the building block for many Australian country music artists. Ali will be attending the Academy of Country Music from January 9-20. With over 40 applications for the 2017 Senior Academy, it was tough competition to secure a place at this prestigious academy.
Golden Guitar Finalists Lyn Bowtell, Alan Caswell, Catherine Britt, Amber Lawrence and Fanny Lumsden are among some of the award-winning country music artists who will be lending their skills and expertise to this new wave of country music performers, during their two-week course at the Australian Academy of Country Music.
In 2016 Ali S performed at a number of major events throughout Queensland including, Warwick Rodeo, Doomben Country Music Race Day, the Boulia Camel Races, Teebar Rodeo and Campdraft, Westmar Campdraft, Mount Isa Irish Club and Burrumbuttocks Hay Runners Drought Relief Concert- Brisbane.
Ali S opened 2017 at the New Year’s Eve Diamonds and Dust Ball in Boulia, before he heads to Tamworth. This is followed by performances at Caboolture River Country Music Festival, Julia Creek Dirt and Dust, Hughenden Country Music Festival, Boulia Camel Races and the Cloncurry NAIDOC Week celebrations.
Ali S will also be releasing his Debut album in 2017, “Couldn’t Do This On My Own”, to radio stations across Australia and various music platforms. This debut album features 11 original tracks based around love, life on the land and the legends that entertain us on the rodeo circuit. Two of the tracks featured on this album will be tributes to local cowboys, Ray Hermann and David Mawhinney and the artwork features photography from local photographer Leonie Winks.
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
