Australia's premier country music duo, McAlister Kemp (Drew McAlister & Troy Kemp) last week continued a remarkable year, receiving their very first ARIA Awards nomination in the category of Best Country Album.
In just under three years, McAlister Kemp have become one of Australian Country Music's biggest acts, winning major awards, touring and recording with international stars, featuring on the main stages at all of Country Music's Major Festivals, headlining their own shows and topping the Album Sales and Country Music Singles charts.
McAlister Kemp won their first Golden Guitar for 'Best New Talent' in 2011. They were voted 'Best New Oz Artist' by Australian Country Music fans at the 2011 CMC Music Awards and have now been nominated for an ARIA Award alongside The McClymonts, Catherine Britt, Troy Cassar-Daley and Beccy Cole.“To be nominated in such great company is an absolute honour,” said McAlister Kemp following the announcement.
“We've been working hard with a lot more work to do yet, but it's fantastic to get a nod from the industry and we are stoked!”
McAlister Kemp were also nominated for an APRA Award in 2011 for 'Hell Yeah'.
McAlister Kemp’s success has been built on the combination an action packed live show, two critically acclaimed albums (All Kinds of Tough and Country Proud) filled with great music focusing on blue collar themes, core values and good fun, and a dedicated fan base who have actively championed the duo via social media and other mediums from day one. These fans have effectively become McAlister Kemp’s most important promotional asset.
McAlister Kemp opened for US country superstar Alan Jackson in 2011 and have recorded tracks with Adam Brand and multi-award winning Canadian group Doc Walker.
Most significantly, the ARIA nominated Country Proud, not only topped the ARIA Country Sales Chart, but debuted in the ARIA Top 20 Mainstream album charts at #18.
The album's title track, the #1 Country Single 'Country Proud', is the theme song for the 2013 Tamworth Country Music Festival and McAlister Kemp’s latest single 'Home,' written by Cold Chisel's Don Walker, has just entered the top #5 on the CMC Top 30 Countdown. ‘Home’ is also getting strong radio airplay across Australia, including being #1 on this week's Cool Country 2KA Top 10.
'All Kinds Of Tough', 'Hell Yeah' & 'Hard Work' from McAlister Kemp's first album All Kinds Of Tough have also topped the Australian Country Music singles and/or Music Video charts.
McAlister Kemp are currently featured on Rollin’ With The Gympie Muster 2012 – airing now on CMC.
The 26th ARIA Awards take place at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on November 29, 2012.
