Radio Single ‘The Dust of Kalkadoon’ 

After many deep thinking songwriting sessions and gathering songs from some very talented writers, Dean’s new album “A Thousand Campfires” is due for release in October 2008. 

Once again Dean has gathered a strong collection of story songs and ballads from our land.  Dean has also included two special duets on the album which I am sure his country music fans will enjoy immensely.  This is definitely something to look forward to.

The first single from the album ‘The Dust of Kalkadoon’ has now been released to radio and is gaining a lot of interest already.  This song from the pen of Ian Quinn is about Kalkadoon Park at Mount Isa, where the famous Mount Isa Rodeo was once held.

Mount Isa Rodeo celebrates 50 years of top rodeo action this year.  For 48 of those years ‘Kalkadoon Park’ was the patch of ground where many famous and hard fought battles between many great men and famous bucking stock took place. 

The Rodeo ground was named after the Kalkadoon aboriginal people of the area who were fearless warriors.  The song is written as the old rodeo ground recalling great memories and hard fought battles.

Go to www.myspace.com/deanperrettmusic1 if you would like to have a listen to a copy of the radio single ‘The Dust of Kalkadoon’.

“A Thousand Campfires” is Dean’s ninth album and could well be his best to date, so look out for a copy coming soon to your local Record Store. 

Old Mates Dean Perrett, Jeff Brown and Charley Boyter have just completed a successful short tour of towns from Home Hill in Queensland through to Wauchope in New South Wales.  The show of story songs and Bushballads was enjoyed by all fans who attended.  Dean, Jeff and Charley were also joined by Jeff’s wife Lyn Brown on Bass and harmonies.

Dean Perrett will also commence recording in May with Stuart French’s Swinging Door Studio once again being Dean’s choice for the project.

OLD MATES ON TOUR  - DEAN PERRETT, JEFF BROWN & CHARLEY BOYTER

Three Bush Ballad and Traditional Country favourites will be combining their talents for what promises to be one of the best traditional country shows this year.  Golden Guitar winner Jeff Brown and multi-award winning Singer/Songwriter Dean Perrett join forces with Country Guitar great Charley Boyter for a short tour of Costal Queensland and Northern NSW.

The tour commences in Toowoomba Qld on the 30^th March and heads North to Home Hill, Mackay, Rockhampton and Bundaberg.  Then the touring party turns South to Wauchope, Yamba and Kyogle.  After a successful show during the Tamworth festival Dean, Jeff and Charley are looking forward to working these shows together.

Jeff will be performing songs from his new truck album ‘The Open Road’ as well as the many great bush ballad songs for which he is loved.

Charley’s great traditional country Guitar picking style will be a feature for the shows and Dean’s Bush Ballads and songs of Australia will have you wanting to absorb more.

We hope to see you there when the ol’e mates hit the road.  Check out the Tour Dates page for details.

During the last few months Dean has been mixing work in the bush with songwriting and various Country Music Festivals around Australia. 

Mildura Country Music Festival

Once again Dean was very well received at the Mildura Country Music Festival where he performed over the 10 days of the event culminating in his performance at the Southern Stars Awards Concert.

Nanango Country Muster

The Nanango Country Muster was also a fabulous event and one of the fastest growing traditional Country Music Festivals in Australia.  Congratulations must go to the committee of this event on a job well done.  Dean was pleased to catch up with so many fellow artists and friends. 

Gympie Muster

Late August saw the Gympie Muster in full swing, even though the heavens opened up and dumped a lot of rain on the event site, this did not dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd or the artists involved.   Dean and the Southern Cross Pickers had a great time playing to very enthusiastic audiences which filled to capacity the events to which they played.  

Awards

Once again Dean was honoured with the 2007 Queensland Gold Medallion Award for Bush Balladeer of the Year.  A big thank you to all those radio presenters who have supported Dean’s current album ‘Return of the Stockman’.  Dean is also a dual finalist in the Gidgee Coal Bush Ballad Awards to be announced on the 17^th November.

Plans for 2008

Songwriting is currently in progress for an album project to be recorded some time in 2008.  Also plans are underway for Dean's performances at the Tamworth Festival in January as well as an April Tour of coastal Queensland and Northern New South Wales with Jeff Brown and Ricky Shipp. 

Dean catches up with popular Bush Balladeer Nathan Charlton at Mildura Festival.

The Stockman Returns

After a spiral of success with his ‘New Traditions’ album, multi award winning artist Dean Perrett has released a new album ‘Return of the Stockman’. 

This album had been in Dean’s mind for many years, and something his fans have been requesting of him for a long time.  This has spurred Dean to record an album of Bush Ballad songs that have inspired him as an artist.  Once again Stuie French and his Swingin’ Door Studio were Dean’s choice for the project.  Dean says “It was a privilege to co-produce the new album with a musician and producer of the caliber of Stuie French”.  “‘Return of the Stockman’ was recorded as a ‘live’ studio album”, which has given the album a character all of its own.

The songs on this CD run with a theme of stockman, horses, cattle or in other words songs that are the essence of a real Bush Ballad song.  Songs like ‘Blackened Quarts are Boiling’, ‘Return of the Stockman’, ‘Arcadia Valley’ and ‘Banjo’s Man’, are some of the great songs that grace the record among some well known classics like ‘By a Fire of Gidgee Coals’, ‘Camooweal’ and ‘Plains of Peppimenarti’.  There is also an original song titled ‘Songs Like These’ a co-write between Ian Quinn and Dean.  The song nicely sets the mood for the album and explains Dean’s heritage and love for this style of music.           

This special album has hit the mark and has been selling well at Dean’s shows since its release.  Dean has been out and about promoting the album and just recently completed a very successful tour with Peter Pratt and Charley Boyter. 

The People have Spoken

Dean is very proud to have been awarded the Australian Country Music People’s Choice Award for Best Bush Ballad for the song ‘Would Clancy Be Welcome’.  A big thank you to all those people who gave Dean their votes in these awards.  “I feel very proud and honored that the listening public really love my music” Dean said.  This award capped off a great 2007 Tamworth Festival for Dean who also was a finalist in the CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia (Golden Guitar Awards) as well as the TIARA’s and the TSA awards. 

Dean was also once again honored to receive the Bush Ballad Album of the Year at the Stan Coster Memorial Bush Ballad Awards (Australia’s premier specialist Bush Ballad awards) for his album ‘New Traditions’. 

                   Bugendore Festival 2007 

New Album

Dean’s focus for 2007 is the release and promotion of ‘Return of the Stockman’.  This brand new album offering from Dean is a collection of some of Dean’s all time favorite Bush Ballad classics that Dean grew up listening too.  For people who love fair dinkum Bush Ballad sounds this will be an album not to miss.  Once again recorded at Stuie French’s Swing’n Door Studio, the album has been produced by both Stuie and Dean and is a fresh new take in Dean’s own style on these classic songs.  Expected release date:  22 March 2007. 

Touring

Once again Dean and Peter Pratt are hitting the track to travel up the Queensland Coast and into northern New South Wales.  

This year they are joined by guitar legend Charley Boyter who’s acoustic guitar picking style has won him countless fans across the nation. 

Also Dan Manning will be joining the team playing bass guitar and singing harmonies. 

Please check tour dates for details of shows.

DEAN SET TO HAVE A BIG TAMWORTH FESTIVAL IN 2007

Dean is very excited to have been named as a Finalist in the CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia for "Bush Ballad of the Year" with his award winning song “Would Clancy Be Welcome?”.

The winners of the CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia will be announced on 27 January 2007 during the Tamworth Festival.

This Finalist placing tops off a great year for Dean which included the release of his groundbreaking and multi-award winning album “New Traditions”.

Dean has a total of 5 spots in various awards during the Tamworth Festival and a further 2 nominations in the Bungendore Festival in February, which include:-

• CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia – Bush Ballad of the Year with “Would Clancy Be Welcome?";
• TSA Songwriter Salute Awards – Bush Ballad of the Year with “Channel Country Ringer” and Gospel Song of the Year with “The Bright Tomorrow”;
• TIARA Awards – Bush Ballad Award with “Would Clancy Be Welcome?” ;
• People’s Choice Awards – Best Bush Ballad with “Would Clancy Be Welcome?”;
• Stan Coster Memorial Australian Bush Ballad Awards – Album of the Year with “New Traditions”; and
• Stan Coster Memorial Australian Bush Ballad Awards - Instrumental or Vocal Group or Duo with “Over the Hill” (duet with Tracy Coster).

Dean also has two feature shows at the Tamworth Festival.  You can see him at the Frog and Toad Conference Centre at the Comfort Inn on Monday 22nd January at 1.30pm with Peter Pratt.  Dean and Peter will be putting on a 3 hour show entitled “The Story Tellers” which will feature Dean’s Bush Ballads and Peter Pratt with his western style ballads.  This show has proved very popular in previous years.  Tickets will be available at the door.  Adults $15.00.

Dean will also be appearing with Jeff Brown on Wednesday 24 January at 9am at the Frog and Toad Conference Centre in a show entitled “Old Mates”.  Dean and Jeff are two of the leading Bush Balladeers in the Country Music scene and this is sure to be a show not to be missed.  Tickets will be available at the door.  Adults $15.00.

For Dean’s other Tamworth Festival appearances, please check out the Gig Guide.

 Dean shines amongst the Southern Stars

Dean is very proud to have been honored as the winner of the Telestra Country Wide Southern Stars Australian Independent Country Music Awards for “Heritage Track of the Year”.  The award was presented at the gala concert and awards presentation at the recent Mildura Country Music Festival.  Dean’s winning song “Would Clancy Be Welcome?” has proved to be a very popular radio track and has now earned Dean a multitude of awards so far this year.  It was also great to catch up with fans and fellow artists alike all enjoying a relaxed and inviting country music environment at this year’s Mildura Festival.  Also congratulations to fellow winners, Camille Te Nahu and Stuie French, Lee Forster, Felicity, Victoria Baillie, Travis Sinclair and Paul Costa.     

Dean also feels very humbled to have also been awarded the Australian Country Recording Awards “Bush Ballad Album of the Year”, awarded recently at the ACRA awards held in Manilla, New South Wales.  Dean would like to thank all the radio personalities who have given him such great support and continue to play his music.  This award makes it three out of three for Bush Ballad Album of the Year at these awards which are voted on by radio presenters from around the nation.  This holds as a true testament to Dean’s ability and popularity as a true Bush Ballad performer.  A big part of Dean’s success with the “New Traditions” album must also be credited to the production abilities of Stuie French who has shown a real flair and knowledge of the modern Bush Ballad sound.       

Keep your ears open for Dean’s new radio single “Jewel of the Newell” a feel good trucking song from the “New Traditions” album.

  All the Mildura Winners

Clancy Riding Tall in the Saddle for Dean

with Awards Nomination and Country Tracks Chart Success

Dean’s current radio single “Would Clancy Be Welcome?” continues its successful run with a finalist spot for the Heritage Track of the Year in the Telestra Country Wide Southern Stars Australian Independent Country Music Awards.  Dean is very proud to be nominated in this section along side the other contenders Tanya Kernaghan, Tracy Coster and Michael O’Rourke.

This finalist nomination follows on from the Queensland Gold Medallion Award Dean recently received for Queensland Bush Balladeer of the Year.  The song which was written by talented wordsmith Ian Quinn has gained excellent airplay, and has now entered the Country Tracks Top 30 Chart as a bullet performer. This song is the first single to be released from Dean’s New Traditions album and has brought Dean to the attention of many new country listeners.   This is Dean’s first charting hit.  For a sample of "Would Clancy Be Welcome?" go to Dean's Album Page of this website.  

No matter which way you look at it Dean reckons that Clancy is more than welcome.

New Traditions earns its first award. 

August the 4^th saw Dean as a finalist in the Queensland Gold Medallion Awards and once again Dean’s popularity and consistency for good solid bush balladry has shone through with Dean being awarded the Queensland Bush Balladeer of the Year for his current radio single “Would Clancy Be Welcome”.  The Awards show and presentation was held at the Newtown Leagues Club in Toowoomba.  Finalists for the awards were nominated by radio presenters and industry personalities from around Australia.

Dean would like to thank all those radio presenters who gave him a vote for these awards and continually support his music.  While there Dean was able to catch up with many country music friends including Arthur and Berice Blanch who over the years have been great artists and Australian Country Music Ambassadors both here in Australia and in the USA. 

Coming up during August 18^th, 19^th and 20^th Dean will be performing with his friends Charley Boyter and Jeff Brown.  For details of these shows, please visit Tour Dates Page of this website.          

                                                                Dean & Arthur Blanch

The success of Dean’s “New Traditions” album continues as the first single “Would Clancy Be Welcome?” has been gaining wide spread airplay and support.

During June it is a thrill for Dean to be working some concerts with friends Stuie French and Camille Te Nahu in a laid back country show of smooth country classics, bush balladry and hot guitar picking.  This is the first time the three artists have worked together in a concert environment.  The show promises some great music and a few laughs along the way.

During June Dean performed at the Jandowae Timbertown Festival in South East Queensland.   This was a great weekend with a popular event being the Bull and Bronc Rodeo to round off the weekend.

New Traditions for Dean Perrett
There are “New Traditions” in Australian Country Music, that is to say Dean Perrett’s new album “New Traditions” which sees Dean with a bright new fresh Bush Ballad sound which has been impressing Country Radio and fans alike.

Produced by Guitar wiz Stuie French at his Swingin’ Door Studio situated at Karella, Sydney, the album is still very true to the traditional Bush Ballad sound with a twist of modern attitude which freshens and livens Dean’s music to new heights.

The album was launched at Toowoomba’s Newtown Leagues Club on 8th April during the Toowoomba performance of the Dean Perrett and Peter Pratt Tour of Queensland and Northern New South Wales.

This album once again contains 7 songs that Dean has either written or co-written as well as song contributions from Peter Denahy, Ian Quinn and Keith Jamieson.

Ian Quinn has penned the song “Would Clancy Be Welcome?” which will be the first released radio single.  Peter Denahy contributes “He’ll Never Win the Open” a camp drafting song with a difference and Keith Jamieson supplies the duet that Dean recorded with his good mate Jeff Brown “Two Old Mates”.  Dean also proudly co-wrote songs for this project with Stuie French and great bush ballad songwriter Kelly Dixon.  “The Peel Street Blues”, a feel good song about a hot young guitar picker who learns the hard way was the result of the song writing effort with Stuie French.   While Kelly Dixon once again contributes a beautifully written horse ballad in classic Dixon style “Minstrels Daughters”

Dean’s own songs on this CD are once again of his usual high standard.  Bush songs with titles like “Channel Country Ringer”, “Packhorse and Waterhole” and “Between Two Worlds” are regarded by some as among Dean’s best writing to date.  There is an upbeat truck song “The Jewel of the Newell” and once again a bluegrass flavoured gospel song “The Bright Tomorrow”.  And to round off the album Dean has recorded two of his favourite classic bush ballad songs.  A duet with Tracy Coster on her dad’s song “Over the Hill” which was among the very first songs that Stan Coster gave to the great Slim Dusty.  There is also a swinging version of the old Slim song “The Man from Never Never”.

Musically the sounds that colour this album are provided by some of the finest A list players Australian Country Music can provide.  With names like Michel Rose, Ian Lees, Mal Lancaster, Mick Albeck, Camille Te Nahu and Stuie French picking and providing vocal harmonies, the quality of musicianship is second to none.
 
“New Traditions” is widely regarded as Dean’s best album to date which should prove to be a firm favourite with country music fans.

Dean Perrett & Peter Pratt Hit the Road

Coastal Queensland & Northern New South Wales country music fans were once again treated to some great Bush and Western Balladry when Dean Perrett and Peter Pratt took their unique brand of country music to a very appreciative audience  of country music lovers.                        

The shows were once again very well patronized and I would like to thank all my friends who put in work to make these shows a success and to all the country music fans that attended these shows.  Also a big thank you to Marc Lea and Ricky Shipp who picked some great guitar for us on this tour.