Hi Folks

WOW. Thank you to everyone that supported our Patsy Cline & Jim Reeves Tribute and Country show on Sunday. Close to 200 people were at the Kamo club to enjoy an afternoon of country music with us. The Mountain Mist Band kicked the show off with the Bob Wills tune San Antonio Rose a song covered by many artists including Patsy Cline and Jim Reeves. Annette and I continued on with our tribute show performing some of the most popular songs recorded by Patsy and Jim. From “Walking After Midnight” and “Mexican Joe” to “I Fall To Pieces” and “He’ll Have To Go” two of the most successful songs recorded by these two legends of country music. We hope it brought back lots of great memories for everyone in the audience. Patsy Cline has been a big influence on Annette’s singing career as has Jim Reeves for mine. We finished the tribute show with the duo “Have You Ever Been Lonely” a song engineered several years after the deaths of Patsy and Jim by their respective producers Owen Bradley and Chet Atkins.

The second half called for a costume change for us both as we would be performing a mixture of traditional, modern and original country music. The Mountain Mist Band once again got the 2^nd half going with a song called “Walkin’ The Dog” written and performed by our drummer, Richard Pinny, ably assisted by Derek on harp and Munta the dog on vocals as it were. You had to be there to believe it, great vocals, by Richard as well. We think Munta is on his way to stardom. Annette had to follow Munta and so beautifully with the classic Patsy Rigger song “Beautiful Lady”. As I said the 2^nd half was a mixture of traditional and modern country duos and solos which included “Sometimes I Don’t Remember Being Young At All” the song that won for me the 2011 NZCMA Songwriters Award, we also covered my original song “Now He’s a Drifter” a duo song Annette and I will be performing at the NZCMA Entertainer of the Year Awards in October, “Candy Kisses” the George Morgan number one country hit, two Everly Brothers songs “Silver Haired Daddy of Mine” and “Ebony Eyes”. The audience joined in on a medley of good old country songs and shortened versions of “Don’t Fence Me In” and “Cool Water” plus “I Heard The Bluebird Sing” and “My Elusive Dreams” two of the most popular songs from our duo album “Something Between Us”. We finished the show with another original “Before You Say Goodbye” awesomely played by the Mountain Mist Band. These guys did a fantastic  job and are so good to work with. Thank you so much Richard, Ian, Tiny and Andrew. They are probably the reason we received an encore and brought the curtain down on the show with a song which is dear to our hearts and one which we really enjoy performing “Try A Little Kindness”.

Speaking of kindness for their kindness we must thank Susan Pinny for helping out on door sales for the show, Debbie Paterson for looking after the raffle sales and also the drawing of the prizes, congratulations to all the winners, Loie Heathcote for making sure our cd sales table ran smoothly, Susan Marsh for flyer distribution, Dennis  Pabirowski for making it all sound professional and of course the Mountain Mist Band. Thank you all for your support. It made our job so much easier and we could concentrate on giving the audience a great show, which I think we did if some of the awesome comments we have been receiving are anything to go by. It certainly gives us the confidence to continue putting on shows like this. Watch this space for upcoming show in a town close to you.

All the best and keep it country.

Annette & Kim

Hi Folks

February began with the annual hoe down at Paparoa organized by Tiny and Loie Heathcote. This year everyone gathered at the Paparoa Hotel garden bar for an afternoon of country music. Thank you to Tiny and Loie for inviting us to perform on the day. We had an awesome time.

On Saturday the 9th we were at the Kamo club to entertain. It was great to have a 4 hour gig at Kamo with a good crowd in to enjoy the dance music. We were back at the Kamo club on the 6^th of March to celebrate the dance sections 13^th birthday. It is always enjoyable to perform for these guys as this has become a regular gig for us and one which we look forward to.

On the 9th> of March we made our first appearance at the Thames Country Music Festival. Our lead guitarist, Ian Anderson , made the trip down with us and we were ably supported by local muso’s Mack and Howie on bass and drums respectively. The weather was fantastic and the market day on Saturday morning was great and the whole weekend very enjoyable. We must thank Robert and Judy for looking after us. The accommodation was awesome at the Coastal Motel. It was great to catch up with old friends and the odd relative as well.

At present we are getting ready for our show at the Kamo club on the 7th April. The first half of the show will be a tribute to Patsy Cline and Jim Reeves followed by a second half of originals, modern and traditional country music. It kicks off at 1:00pm and runs until 3:30pm and will feature the Mountain Mist Band also. Tickets are available from the Kamo Club or Kim ph. 459 6657. There will also be door sales. We look forward to seeing you there.

We are also preparing for the Bay of Islands festival on the 10th, 11th and 12th> of May and seats are selling fast for our Norfolk Island tour. Remember this year is the 20th anniversary of the festival. If you would like to join us book your seat now. Contact either ourselves or Chrissy at The Travel Centre on Norfolk and let her know you would like to be part of the Annette and Kim tour group.>

Take care and keep it country

Annette and Kim

Hi Folks

Welcome to the New Year. We hope you all had a safe and happy festive season and are looking forward to the year ahead. January 18^th, 19^th, and 20th saw us on the road and heading down to Martin for their three day country music festival. The weather played its part during the day and we only encountered torrential rain on the trip down through the desert road on the Thursday and a hail storm on the Thursday night at the informal walk ups just when Annette and I were about to sing. Luckily that was not an omen for the rest of the weekend.

On arrival we found our accommodation and settled in. Anne George the festival convenor had the guest artists booked in at a Girl Guides Retreat named Anahira, check out the photos to get an idea, everyone had their own room with en suite and there was a communal lounge where everyone could gather to talk and sing or watch a movie or tv. We had two good sing-a -longs on the Friday and Saturday nights with some outstanding talent being shown by Roger Tibbs on guitar and Lance on steel.

The guest artists for the weekend were Noel Parlane, who now resides in Australia, Rosanna Ruddick also from Australia, Jenny Blackadder, New Zealand’s premier Banjo player, Roger Tibbs, internationally acclaimed country singer and yodeller, Joy Adams, also an internationally recognized country singer, Kylie Austin, Graeme McCardle, Ann Pascoe, local singer Terry Moratti, young Taranaki based up and comer Abby and yours truly Annette and Kim, the Whangarei based duo act.

Friday night and Saturday morning was the walk up concerts which everyone could participate in and on Saturday night was the guest artist’s concert where we each got to do a 15-20 min spot. As I said earlier the weather played its part and although it was a bit nippy the sun was out and all were having a great time. Around 300 caravans and mobile homers had turned up for the weekend and were getting their money’s worth.

Friday we wandered in to town to watch the buskers do their thing in the busking competition and to check out the P.A.s in use. This year we will be busking at the BOI festival for the very first time.

It was great to catch up with long lost friends and maybe we will see you all next year. We must thank Pheonix and Shotgun for backing all the singers and Sandy and Mandy for providing B.V.s over the weekend. Also thank you to Anne for inviting us to perform. We are looking forward to having Anne and her husband, Len, join us on our Norfolk Island tour in May. There are still seats available as Air New Zealand has laid on another flight. So let us know if you are interested in joining us also.

On the Sunday afternoon we followed Lloyd and Nancy Muller to their home just out of Hawera where they had invited us to stay for the night. They have an awesome home which sees the back garden looking out to Mt Taranaki. Next day we drove to New Plymouth for the TSB Festival of Lights show. WOW, what an awesome venue. The evening was beautifully clear and a great crowd came in the hear us perform. They brought their deck chairs and blankets and food and refreshments and settled in for a great night. Firstly with Kylie Austin performing her modern country set followed by Annette & Kim with a mixture of traditional and modern country music. We certainly look forward to appearing at the festival again in the future. After we had finished our show Lloyd and Nancy kindly showed us around the park to see the light displays. The photos don’t do it justice but will give you an idea of the extent that council goes to produce the light display.

Tuesday we were up at 6:00am to head home. We had a short stop in Te Kuiti for breakfast then over to Te Aroha to see Annette’s Uncle Jim and then headed home. All up we did over 1600kms and saw some beautiful New Zealand scenery.
That’s about all for now folks.

BUT we have a VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE for you all. On Sunday the 7^th of April from 1:00pm until 3:30pm we will be putting on a country music show at the Kamo club. It will be called “The Patsy Cline & Jim Reeves Tribute and Country Show”. The first half of the show will feature Patsy Cline and Jim Reeves songs. Some will from our recent album “ Annette & Kim sing Patsy & Jim” followed in the second half of the show by some traditional, modern and original country songs. The show will also feature the very popular and talented “ Mountain Mist Band”. Posters will soon be out advertising the show and tickets will be available from the Kamo Club ph 09 435 1765 or Kim Copedo ph 09 459 6657. Tickets are $20-00 per person with under 15 years of age free. We would love to see you all there.

Take care and keep it country

Annette and Kim