The afternoon will kick off to the familiar country sounds of the Salvo Country Band and then host the talent of one of the Macleay’s own, 2008 Golden Guitar award winner Steve Passfield. Dianne Lindsay, female vocalist in Gidgee Coal Bush Ballad and Gold medallion awards is another addition to the lineup that guests will not want to miss, as will be Tom Maxwell, 2004 Golden Guitar finalist in the Bush Ballad of the Year.

The Slim Dusty Family will as always headline the evening with Slim’s life long partner and fellow performer Joy McKean OAM and her family on stage with the Slim Dusty troupe in this much anticipated annual event. Slim’s daughter Anne Kirkpatrick will be joined by her son (Slim’s grandson) James, to entertain the crowds and will be joined by 2008 Golden Guitar Bush Ballard of the year winner Amos Morris, another Kempsey boy as well as the renowned Travelling Country Band.

Proceeds from the Slim Dusty Country Music Memories night will, as in previous years go towards the funding of the construction of the Slim Dusty Centre in Kempsey and is a much appreciated boost for the Slim Dusty Foundation each year.

This calendar event for country music fans will be presented by the Rotary Club of Kempsey West who will as always, have the event running smoothly with auctions and raffles of exquisite red cedar items handcrafted from the timber originated from Slim’s Nulla Nulla property.
The Rotary Club of Kempsey West are a community minded organization and the effort and professionalism in which they present this Country Music evening is indicative of the spirit they exhibit in all the community programs that they participate in. The Slim Dusty Country Music Memories night has grown from a quiet get together at the property of Rotarian Bruce Woods, to a now, consistently entertaining annual event.

Event Co-ordinator Bruce Woods anticipates another huge crowd at the Kempsey Racecourse this year and with such a star-studded line-up to celebrate the memory of Australia’s father of Country Music, he is extremely excited about this years concert “we have people coming from as far away as Tasmania, Sydney, Brisbane and various country towns. Mr Steve Pandel from the Central Coast will be in attendance once again and has been a great supporter of the Slim Dusty Foundation. We will have four members of the Traveling Country Band that performed at the Slim Dusty Family Reunion Tour recently. We will also have Anne Kirkpatrick and Dianne Lindsay performing together. Our final performer this year will be our own Amos Morris, who participated at our very first concert in 2004 as a 16 year old and has now become a renowned performer on the country music scene. Amos was also a special guest on the Slim Dusty Family Reunion Tour this year.”

Bookings are booming with tickets just $27 and school-age children admitted free. Tickets are available from In Harmony Music ( Centrepoint Arcade, Kempsey) and Travelscene ( Belgrave Street, Kempsey). Guests may also purchase tickets and obtain further information by contacting Event Co-ordinator, Bruce Woods on (02) 65624795 or on his mobile 0418491499.

Adding to the ambience of the day will be free entertainment outside the main gate by Tamworth Busking Champions,  the “Nobodies” from 1pm to 2.15pm. This will be followed by the afternoon program compared by Kathryn Yarnold, the General Manager of the Slim Dusty Foundation, leading up to the main concert with the Slim Dusty Family at 6pm for a marathon of exciting country music. Seating will be supplied with BBQ facilities, soft drinks, tea, coffee and cakes available on the night. BYO drinks.
 
For any further information regarding the Slim Dusty Foundation and its aims and progress, please contact Kathryn Yarnold, general Manager on (02) 65626533 or 1800 18 SLIM or visit our website at www.slimdustycentre.com.au