JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
DESPITE the high level of recording technology available these days, country music fans love nothing more than turning up to a concert to hear their favourite tunes live.
“People want to see you,” agreed Sam McClymont, a third of the famed sister trio now on a second national tour supporting award-winning album Here’s To You and I.
“You feel more connected to the artist; you get to hear the stories, you know their personality a bit better.” The McClymonts have little trouble attracting hordes of fans to their shows – their Forever Begins Tonight tour recently began with a sell-out show in Dubbo.
“We’re getting to places we missed on the first tour,” McClymont explained.
The new album has so far garnered an ARIA Award nomination for Country Album of the Year and earned two Golden Guitar Awards for most sales and best group or duo.
The sisters wrote the latest single from the album, Forever Begins Tonight, with acclaimed writer/producer Lindsay Rimes to celebrate Sam McClymonts’ wedding.
The tune was now well on its way to becoming the go-to wedding song for 2015, McClymont said.
“We’ve been contacted by fans telling us they’re using it for their first wedding dance.
“It feels great to have a song so personal to us connecting with other people.”
McClymont believed that country music was still growing in Australia as the boundaries between genres blurred.
“People aren’t generalising or stereotyping music anymore – they just want to hear good music,” McClymont pointed out.
“When we’re touring and ask how many people are in the audience for the first time we get a big show of hands.
“More people are listening in addition to our loyal and dedicated country music fans.”
McClymont said the sisters were happy doing their part in growing country music’s fan base by introducing new acts like support Mickey Pye, a 2015 Toyota Star Maker winner.
“We had him support us in Sydney and it’s great to see new talent emerging.
“Mickey is a singer/guitarist and country music is in good hands with support acts like him developing their own fan base.”
The McClymonts play Corio’s Gateway Hotel Saturday night.
