Country Star Is Urban Legend In The Making

With the worldwide success of Keith Urban as inspiration, it’s somewhat surprising that so few male, mainstream country artists in Australia have emerged in recent years. That could be all about to change, thanks to the arrival of Newcastle’s Morgan Evans.

Morgan has the talent and the look to assume the Urban mantle, and if the crowds that flocked to his recent main stage performance at the CMC Rocks The Hunter Festival in the Hunter Valley are an indication, Evans is already well on the way.

The festival was something of a launch for Evans’ new, self-titled album, which quickly shot into the official ARIA albums charts in the week that followed. The album, produced in Nashville by friend and fellow-Aussie Jed Hughes, is an upbeat and immediately-accessible collection of country rock songs, most of which the singer had a strong hand in writing.

The response to the record has been humbling for Evans, but not nearly so much as his coveted invitation to perform at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry late last month.

“Playing the Opry is something everyone who plays country music dreams of being able to do,” said Morgan. “Standing in that circle on the stage, playing where everyone from Hank Williams and Elvis Presley to Keith Urban has played, gives me chills just thinking about it!”.

The performance was a highlight of the singer’s most recent Nashville trip for the CMA Festival – known as the largest country music festival in the world. Nashville has become something of a second home for the young star

“The first time I played there I was just starting out and just in awe of the whole scale of the festival”, Morgan recalls. “I’ve grown so much as a musician and performer since then and I just couldn’t wait to get out on the Riverfront Stage and play to that crowd again”.

Back in Australia, Evans will visit Melbourne for special shows at The Hallam Hotel on June 19th and Revolver Bandroom on June 20th. These could well be some of the last chances to see this CMC Award-Winning artist in a small intimate environment and, unsurprisingly, tickets are selling fast. Visit www.morganevans.com.au for more details.

LACHLAN BRYAN

 

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