LATEST NEWS!

ABOVE: Alison at Buttercup Open House '09!

Alison and partner Mark Tempany have just returned from their sixteenth consecutive year of successful performances at the annual Tamworth Country Music Festival in NSW.

Australia's leading country music event (and one of the world's biggest music festivals) Tamworth again provided a diverse and wonderful showcase for Mark & Alison's music. Highlights included appearances at Buttercup Open House at Tamworth Town Hall, three mini-concerts at City Plaza, and several performances at the iconic Coca-Cola Park Stage including the South Australian Country Music Showcase.

Following Tamworth, Alison & Mark performed to a packed house at Brisbane's (QLD) Kedron Wavell Services Club as Special Guests of legendary CM entertainer John McSweeney before heading back to SA where a busy 2009 awaits!

BELOW: Alison at Coca Cola Park 2009!

"CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT"
Elder Park, Adelaide, SA (21/12/08)

ABOVE: Alison watches the Elder Park crowd grow to 35,000!

ABOVE: The Elder Park stage glows with excitement!

The biggest and most prestigious annual live music production in South Australia - "Carols By Candlelight" this year attracted a record crowd of over 35,000 people - in fact police and event security were forced to close the entry gates shortly before the show commenced such was the overwhelming demand for a view!

ABOVE: Alison & Mark backstage at rehearsal.

Alison and Mark performed a 3-song set consisting of Mark's original song "Summer Dreams", Steve Earle's "Nothing But A Child" and a rousing calypso version (with full orchestra & choir!) of "The Virgin Mary Had A Baby Boy".

Our talented duo shared the stage with Rachael Beck, George Kapiniaris, The BordererS & The Rough Diamonds, Flaming Sambuca's, The Funkees, Annika Hooper, Benji Riggs, Raymond Sisters, James Pratt and hosts Rosanna Mangiarelli, Rod Savage from "The Advertiser" and Jason "Snowy" Carter from Mix 102.3.

ABOVE: Alison with host Rosanna Mangiarelli.

ABOVE: Alison with George Kapiniaris & "Trev".

ABOVE: Alison with Musical Director Bruce Raymond.

"CAROLS IN THE PARK"
Civic Park, Whyalla, SA (14/12/08)

ABOVE: Alison with full cast onstage for the finale!

This year's event - for which Alison was again Concert Coordinator - ran like clockwork from start to finish with Santa again paying a visit to Whyalla shortly before the finale, much to the excitement of youngsters lining the stagefront!

Alison featured and led her Community Choir throughout the show which also starred wonderful kids entertainers The Kazoos and an all-star Whyalla cast including dancers from Whydale Calisthenics and Whyalla Ballet School. Local band Auden, Westland's Got Talent Junior Winner Gabrielle Ballard and Mark Tempany performed along with a number of choir soloists, and Whyalla musical maestro Peter Brown on keyboard.

This year's "Carols In The Park" marked the handover of the event's administration from the APEX Club of Whyalla to The Combined LIONS Clubs Of Whyalla - as noted by Whyalla Mayor the Hon. Jim Pollock in his opening address.

"JAMM 4 GENES"
Whyalla Showground, SA (17/8/08)

ABOVE: The 2008 Jamm 4 Genes cast at Whyalla Show.

L to R: Alison Hams, Holly Clappis, Lana Clappis, Alicia Waugh,
Meg Sheasby, Breeze Millard, Justine Chalmers, Bree Peat, Meg Bindi,
Hayley Marshall, Imogen Hulsman-Benson, Sam Dowling, Michaela Sandy,
Stephanie Milovski, Mikayla Smith, Kat Korossy, Hayley Grinter, Emma Taylor & Danielle Turner

"Jamm For Genes" is an initiative of "Jeans For Genes" which encourages musicians and singers to stage performances which draw attention to, and raise money for research into children's genetic diseases.

Last year Alison and her music students staged a very successful "Jamm For Genes" concert at Westland Shopping Centre - and this year the Whyalla Show kindly donated their venue for Ali and her students to again sing their hearts out for a great cause.

Alison says the concert provided a wonderful opportunity for her students - especially those aged under 12 - to gain stage performance experience and to show off their progress to family, friends & the general public.

Alison and (her husband & musical partner) Mark Tempany also performed at the Show Stage on Saturday 16th August - continuing Ali's long and happy association with Whyalla Show's annual musical programme. Mark and Alison's albums proved a popular seller at both shows - and sales of "Jeans For Genes" merchandise raised nearly $400 for the charity on the day.

Alison and Mark suggest everyone plans their visit to this years Whyalla Show around supporting this fantastic initiative in 2008, and thank Michelle Head and the Whyalla Show Society Inc. for their support.

SA Country Music Awards 2008!

ABOVE: Alison with Troy Cassar-Daley at
Riverland CM Festival Barmera, SA on 8/6/08

Her weekend was full of judging the statewide talent quest, and playing as part of the talent quest, and Awards bands. Musical partner and husband Mark Tempany hosted the major shows during the weekend - including the Awards themselves on the Saturday night, 7th June.

Special guests to Barmera in 2008 included Troy Cassar-Daley and Sydney-based swing stars The Feral Swing Katz - with Roy Orbison tribute artist Rick Diamond also proving very popular with the large crowds at this years event.

ABOVE: Alison on-stage with Rick "Roy Orbison" Diamond
at the 2008 Riverland CM Festival.

Band L to R: Megan Laurie (vocals & rhythm guitar),
Alison Hams (vocals & bass guitar), Paul Orchard (drums),
Brad Bergen (lead guitar).

The statewide Talent Quest was also heavily supported with over 130 separate artists and bands competing this year.

The Awards, and Talent Quest band in the Bonney Theatre this year included Megan Laurie on vocals and rhythm guitar, Brad Bergen on lead guitar - and Paul Orchard on drums to accompany Alison (vocals and bass guitar).

ABOVE: Alison with drummer Paul Orchard and
lead guitarist Brad Bergen at Barmera 2008.

ALISON IN W.A.
Western Australian Tour (23/4 - 10/5/08)

ABOVE: Alison with Mark Tempany at Rocky CM Club
Rockingham Hotel, WA on 3/5/08

The tour included several feature radio interviews for the duo with Brendon T. Moylan on Curtin FM 100.1, with Derek Cusick on Radio Fremantle 107.9FM - and with several other country music radio programmes in the south-west.

Alison and Mark's tour opened with a special "Fan Club Members Only" concert in Perth on Sunday 26th April, and the entire trip was blessed with superb weather and extremely well received performances.

ALISON & MARK
Support McHappy Day!

Alison joined her husband and musical partner, Mark Tempany, on Saturday 17th November in support of McHappy Day at their local Whyalla (SA) McDonalds Family Restaurant.

McHappy Day raises money for the extremely worthwhile Ronald McDonald House Charities through donations, wrist band sales - and a dollar for every Big Mac sold on the day!

Alison and Mark were asked to lend a hand to raise the profile of McHappy Day in Whyalla - and were only too willing to oblige.

THANK YOU to all the helpful and forgiving staff at Whyalla McDonalds - and good luck with this fantastic fundraising initiative this, and every other year!

ALISON INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME!

SA Country Music Hall of Fame Park,
at Barmera in South Australia's Riverland.

Alison has been honoured with induction into the South Australian Country Music Hall Of Fame at the South Australian Country Music Festival and Awards held in Barmera over the June long weekend.

Organisers said her induction is a result of her "dedication to her country music career for over 15 years, and her fine reputation as a performer, singer, presenter, songwriter and top class musician."

Festival co-ordinator, Dot McDonnell, said "Alison has progressed steadily from being a multiple talent quest winner to become a major force in the Australian independent country music industry - and she's played a proud role in promoting South Australia in her travels to perform around Australia and overseas. She has maintained a strong connection with assisting young musical talent through her school student tutoring, talent quest band provisions, and her conducting of music workshops for youth far and wide - so we consider her an extremely worthy inductee!".

In November 2006 Alison won a prestigious SA Great Award for the Arts in her home Flinders/Outback Region - but she says her inclusion on the SA Hall of Fame is simply "the most memorable and meaningful surprise" in her career. Alison's stellar previous 18 months included providing the national support (along with husband Mark Tempany) for UK superstar Charlie Landsborough on his 2006 Australian tour - and supporting Kate Ceberano in Adelaide.

Alison's husband - singer and songwriter Mark Tempany - was also inducted into the SA Country Music Hall of Fame.

Both Mark and Alison have been Star Maker Grand Finalists - and winners in major international songwriting contests like the Unisong International Song Contest and the UK Songwriting Competition. Between them, they have self-produced 13 albums, and sold close to 20,000 copies of these nationally and internationally.

Mark first came to the Riverland Country Music Festival in 2004 - Alison has maintained a much longer connection and been integral in recent years as part of the official Talent Quest and SA Country Music Awards Bands. Alison also had early success as an amateur in this very talent quest which laid a strong foundation for all she has achieved since.

NFF & "CANTERBURY COUNTRY"

Easter 2007 saw Alison and Mark Tempany perform a series of shows at Canberra's National Folk Festival - one of Australia's largest and most diverse musical events.

Alison & Mark received a fantastic response from the NFF audiences and conducted several radio interviews from NFF with stations in Canberra, Sydney and via the national community radio network.

From Canberra the duo moved on to Sydney's brilliant Canterbury Country staged by Bob Howe at Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL.

PHOTO courtesy Terry Phillpot EYEBALL PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICES 2007.

ABOVE: Alison plays Sydney at
"Canterbury Country" on 12th April.

While Bob himself was away performing in Sri Lanka, the show was hosted by Nicki Gillis and also featured Alby Poole, Peter Pratt, Roger Corbett and Barbara Baillie.

A packed house meant the all-star band and everyone who crossed the stage had a memorable night - thanks again to everyone who makes this Sydney performance a highlight each time!

BAY OF ISLANDS, HARTWOOD,
KATE CEBERANO and
CHARLIE LANDSBOROUGH Tour
January-May 2006

Alison and Mark Tempany have just returned from their second visit to New Zealand's fantastic annual Bay of Islands Country Rock Festival.

This festival is an absolute must for anyone who wants to combine great country music with New Zealand's beautiful scenery. Mark and Ali wowed audiences at every venue once again in 2006 over the weekend of May 12th-14th!

BELOW:
Alison & Mark Tempany in New Zealand.

Easter took Alison and Mark Tempany eastwards to perform at Paul McCloud's Hartwood Campfires & Country Music festival near Tambar Springs, NSW.

Always a popular event, this year's Hartwood saw a record 1200 people camping at the festival - held "in the bush" on Paul's beautiful family property!

A star-studded lineup included Paul McCloud, Peter Horan, Rodney Vincent, Dean Perret, the Costa Brothers, Angela Hayden, Lynette Guest, Hank & Donna Koopman, Tom Maxwell and Darren Horley.

Perfect weather (complete with full moon!) meant the event was a real winner and is highly recommended for anyone who loves their country music in a uniquely relaxed setting.

(And a tip for anyone visiting Whittlesea in Victoria - don't miss festival caterer's Brian and Michelle's Flamin' Tongs Cafe & Restaurant for the best feed in Australia!)

ABOVE:
Mark Tempany, Alison, Shaun, Joseph & Ayden at Hartwood 2006.

Alison has also just returned from her national support act with UK star, Charlie Landsborough (see photo's above right) - and a concert at the Adelaide Hilton Hotel with one of Australia's most respected and popular performers, Kate Ceberano!

Along with fellow Aussie performer Mark Tempany, Alison wowed audiences over 5 states with her opening act for Charlie - playing to packed venues which included Crown Casino in Melbourne, Wrest Point Casino in Hobart, Twin Towns Services Club on Queensland's Gold Coast and several major clubs across Sydney.

19 concerts were performed in 23 days on the tour, which Alison and Mark joined direct from Tamworth where their concerts in the Conservatorium Chapel with multiple Golden Guitar-winner Michael Fix were once again a huge success.

LEFT: Alison in action at Tamworth 2006!

Just as exciting was Alison and Mark's opening act for Kate Ceberano at the Adelaide Hilton Hotel on April 6th. In front of a packed and elite Ballroom audience, Mark and Alison wowed the crowd with their music and performance - a precursor to their appearance with Kate on her "Moonlight and Magic" concert at Clare Racetrack, SA. "Moonlight and Magic" - which will also feature iconic Australian band "Mental As Anything" - was postponed due to bad weather on April 8th until (tentatively) October 2006.

RIGHT:
Alison, Kate Ceberano & Mark Tempany on April 6th at Adelaide's Hilton Hotel.