Drew McAlister




Winning his first major award

DREW McALISTER HITS HIS STRAPS 2007 Golden Guitar winner, Drew McAlister, has kept the momentum going picking up a finalist spot in the Telstra Southern Stars Australian Independent Country Music Awards to be held in Mildura on 6th October. McAlister has been given a nod in the Australian Independent Male Vocalist of The Year alongside Travis Sinclair, Nik Phillips and Paul Costa for his song "Along For The Ride". Co-written with Allan Caswell, "Along For The Ride", was released to aid Tour De Cure - the charity bike ride from Brisbane to Sydney to raise money for Cancer Charities within Australia. Last week, McAlister was invited to be part of a secret live concert to be filmed for the season final of the top rating television program, "Discover Downunder", along with Tania Kernaghan and Lee Forster. Shot on location at Port Stephens the trio wowed the lucky crowd and had a fun filled day. The episode will air this Saturday at 4pm on Channel 9, WIN & NBN and affiliates. Drew McAlister has spent the past 7 months touring as part of the Aussies Walk The Line Shows (with Mike Carr, Jake Nikolai & Nick Kingswell) and recording his debut album which will be released in November through Red Rebel Music/MGM Distribution. www.myspace.com/drewmcalister For further information, please contact: Karen Waters, Red Rebel Music Phone: 0418 614 359
Hi there everybody. Below is a link to you-tube. Myself and Alan Caswell have written a song for the Charity 'Tourdecure' which is raising money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, the National Breast Cancer Foundation and Camp Quality. We are trying to get 88,000 views on You-tube, that being the number of people diagnosed with cancer each year in Australia. All proceeds from the song and $1 from every album goes straight to Tourdecure charity. If you can forward this on and visit you-tube it would be greatly appreciated. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WV1i2SwIXak Cheers Drew
DREW McALISTER May 25 - with Aussies Walk The Line The Highwaymen, Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL, Hurlstone Park, NSW 31 - with Aussies Walk The Line The Highwaymen, York On Lilydale, Mt Evelyn, VIC June 1 - with Aussies Walk The Line The Highwaymen, Hotel Shoppingtown, Doncaster, VIC 2 - with Aussies Walk The Line The Highwaymen, Chelsea Heights Hotel, Chelsea Heights, VIC 3 - with Mike Carr, Ringwood RSL Club, Ringwood VIC 16 - with Aussies Walk The Line The Highwaymen, Castle Hill RSL, Castle Hill, NSW
July
6 with Aussies Walk The Line The Highwaymen - Club Marconi, Bossley Park NSW **
28 -with Aussies Walk The Line The Highwaymen - Hexham Bowling Club, Hexham NSW **
HARD WORK & DETERMINATION PAYS OFF FOR DREW!
Australian Country Music’s most exciting new talent, Drew McAlister’s consistent hard work has certainly paid off - winning his first major award during the Tamworth Country Music Festival. Drew received his first Golden Guitar Award in the prestigious Country Music Awards of Australia in the Vocal Collaboration of The Year category along with his songwriting partner, Allan Caswell, for their duet “A Little Bit of Country In Us All”. “To win my first Golden Guitar from my first nomination is something that I could never have believed would happen to me. It is 100 percent the highlight of my career, no doubt about it. It’s a dream come true”, Drew said following his Golden Guitar win on Saturday night. Drew is no stranger to the country music scene – he’s been working hard for the past couple of years honing his craft and preparing for his debut album which will be released this year. In 2003, Drew took out the Gympie Muster “New Talent” competition which spear-headed interest and support from the country music scene. Graham Thompson from Compass Brothers Records saw Drew’s potential and invited him to record “The Shearer’s Dream” on “The Australian Storytellers” compilation album released through the label. Since then, he has continued to write songs and perform live with fellow country artists including Tania Kernaghan, Melinda Schneider, Mike Carr and Beccy Cole. Drew returns to the studio in February to complete his debut album, “These Days”, which is scheduled for release in April. Drew McAlister’s latest single, “Broken Angels”, is at radio now. www.myspace.com/drewmcalister
BIG YEAR FOR QUIET ACHIEVER - 2006 Australian Country Music’s most exciting new talent, Drew McAlister, has been working quietly and consistently throughout 2006 – and all his hard work has been rewarded with nominations in all the major country music awards presentations during the Tamworth Country Music Festival next month.
Drew has scored his very first Golden Guitar nomination for the 2007 Awards alongside mentor and songwriting partner, Allan Caswell. The pair has scored a finalist spot in Vocal Collaboration of the Year for their song “A Little Bit of Country In Us All”. The TIARA Awards’ 10 Anniversary Awards has given Drew two nods – the first in the Michael Cowdroy Songwriting Award for “Keep on Keeping On”, and also in Male Vocal for his latest hit, “Broken Angels”. Again with songwriting partner, Allan Caswell, Drew - along with Al Craig - have scored a berth in the TSA Songwriters Salute Awards for Gospel Song of The Year for their beautiful composition, “The Candle”. To cap off his big year, Drew, supported ALT Country star Anne McCue, was also named as a finalist in the Golden Saddle Awards and has had two chart hits – “Change” and “Broken Angels”. “Broken Angels” is currently making it’s way up the KIXFM chart debuting at Number 18 and the Mildura Hot 100 at Number 80 this week. Catch Drew McAlister Live during Tamworth Festival!! 22 Jan – The Longyard, Tamworth 12.30pm 23 Jan – West Leagues Club – TSA Showcase, Tamworth 10.30am 23 Jan – City Plaza Instore, Tamworth 1pm 23 Jan – TREC Outdoor Stage, Tamworth 5pm 24 Jan – Services Club – Songwriters Showcase, Tamworth 9am 24 Jan – The Longyard, Tamworth 12.30pm 25 Jan – Tudor Hotel, Tamworth 4pm 26 Jan – City Plaza Instore, Tamworth 3pm 27 Jan – Tudor Hotel, Tamworth 12.30pm For further information or interviews, please contact: Karen Waters, Manager Red Rebel Music 0418 614 359 management@redrebelmusic.com www.drewmcalister.com | www.myspace.com/drewmcalister

DREW McALISTER TO OPEN FOR ANNE McCUE

Contemporary country artist, Drew McAlister, has been announced as opening act for acclaimed Australian alt country artist, Anne McCue's Melbourne show. McCue will be back in Australia promoting her brand new album, "Koala Motel", with shows at the Queenscliffe Music Festival, The Vanguard in Sydney and East Brunswick Club in Melbourne. McAlister will join McCue at the East Brunswick Club on Tuesday 28th November and will road test a number of new songs from his forthcoming debut album. Drew McAlister's latest single, "Broken Angels", is at radio now. For further information and interviews, please contact Karen Waters 0418 614 359 or email management@redrebelmusic.com Red Rebel Music management@redrebelmusic.com www.redrebelmusic.com
DREW TO ATTEND OFFICERS' BALL Country artist, Drew McAlister, has been officially invited to attend the prestigious Officers' Ball this weekend.
The invitation was extended by the Forces Advisory Council on Entertainment (FACE) - the organisation responsible for identifying and securing suitable artists to entertain Australian forces all around the world.
Drew has traveled overseas on two occasions for FACE to entertain our troops - the first in 2004 followed by his second visit in 2005. "It’s an honour to be invited to attend the Officers Ball. I am looking forward to catching up with some of the great people I met on my travels to the middle east", says Drew. Joining Drew McAlister at the Officers' Ball being held in Canberra this Saturday (23rd September) will be Little Pattie, Angry Anderson and Bessie Bardot. Drew McAlister's latest single, "Broken Angels", is at radio now.
RED REBEL ADDS 3! Red Rebel Music is proud to announce three new artists to it's management roster - Stephen Rowe, Drew McAlister and Lee Forster. Originally from Broken Hill in NSW, Stephen Rowe, is an exciting new name in Australian Country Music. He was has been a boxer, motocross champion, a successful ballet dancer and now country singer/songwriter. You may recognise Stephen as the male singer in Tania Kernaghan's hit, "Yee Ha!". He has recently finished recording his debut album which is co-produced by Anne McCue and the first single from the album will be released shortly. Drew McAlister is one of the freshest and best new singer/songwriters in Australia. He has had a number of chart hits including "Going Home" and "Change" and has recently released a scorching new single "Broken Angels". He is currently writing with Alan Caswell for his debut album which is slated for early 2007. Lee Forster is gathering momentum with his latest single, "A Fire In The Bar". The song is receiving major radio airplay and is a popular video on CMC. He was named the Capital News TSA New Songwriter of the Year winnerfor 2006 and recently wrote and recorded the theme tune to the fantastic new television program, "Cruisin' The Country". Karen Waters from Red Rebel Music says, "I'm very excited to be working with these talented guys. All three are unique and passionate about what they do musically. It's great to work with people who are so driven by what they do". For further information visit www.redrebelmusic.com
Independent Artists need your help to get seen & heard!! Drew McAlister has recently released a MUSIC VIDEO CLIP
Click here http://www.countrymusicchannel.com.au/requests.asp
PLEASE HELP BY REQUESTING HIS SONG
"Going Home"

The first single from the debut 5 track EP has been released to radio. Listen to a sample if you haven't heard it yet. http://www.drewmcalister.com/disco.html The video of the song "Going Home" has just been added to the play list of CMC. If you'd like to help a new artist along it would be greatly appreciated. The clip can be requested by clicking on the link to CMC http://www.countrymusicchannel.com.au/requests.asp and typing Drew McAlister in the artist search or "Going Home" in the song title search The website has a new look www.drewmcalister.com and if you'd like all the latest news you can add your name to the mailing list.
FROM TAMWORTH
TO THE MIDDLE EAST DREW MCALISTER RELEASES DEBUT EP 11th October 2004. Our troops in the Middle East get the first taste of up and coming contemporary country artist Drew McAlister’s debut EP released on the 1st November 2004. Drew recently returned from a 2 week, 40 degrees Tour De Force of the Middle East performing for the Australian and Coalition Troops where he and his acoustic guitar blew away over 4,000 defence force personnel. With 2 weeks notice to pack his bags and a few nerves thrown in, Drew took the flight over with The Choirboys, Bessie Bardot and George Smilovic performing 10 shows over the period. Australian audiences will get to hear Drew’s self-funded and independently released 5 track EP on 1st November. Co-Produced by Drew himself and CMAA Ahievers Award Engineer of the Year, Ted Howard the EP was recorded at Garth Porter’s studio Rancom in Sydney and features some of the cream of country music sessions players, Mitch Farmer, Ian Lees, Ian Gillard, Glenn Hannah, Michele Rose, Mick Albeck and Duncan Toombs. The lead radio track “GOING HOME” will be featured on NFS distributed to over 850 media outlets across the country. When asked why he accepted the invitation to perform for the troops in the Middle East at such a dicey time, Drew responded, “I figured if they (meaning the coalition troops) had to be over there the least I could do is sing them a couple of songs, I met some fantastic people, British, Americans, Canadians, New Zealanders, Australians and they were just so glad that we came over to perform for them”. “I also felt very proud of our guys, they have a way of working with a great sense of humour under some very difficult conditions, the Australians here are renown for doing it once and getting it right, there’s nothing left to chance, says Drew”. “When we were not performing, we were going around and meeting the troops which was a highlight for all of us, so many different characters, it was truly one of the most amazing experiences of my life and I’d gladly do again”, says Drew with a big smile on his face. A far cry for a boy who grew up in the country town of Moree and moved to Sydney in his late teens. At the time he was more of a pop/RNB artist and was signed to EMI Records. Things didn’t work out with some management change overs and creative direction and Drew decided to leave the label and take stock. He then ventured to the US no less than 4 times collaborating with elite writers in search of himself and his sound. Upon returning in 2002, Drew realized where his music path lay, contemporary country music and immediately set out to write his own songs also co-writing with the likes of Alan Caswell and Alan Craig for a few tracks. Drew will be performing along the East Coast over the coming months promoting his EP including appearances at the forthcoming Tamworth Country Music Festival in January 2005. Other key EP tracks include “Empty Pockets”, “Change”, Keep on Keeping On” and “Broken Angels”. The EP is distributed by One Stop Entertainment for all sales enquiries please call: 07 3279 2754 www.drewmcalister.com For further information please contact Encompass Management: Tel: 02 9947 9600 email: infowcm@encompass.com.au


Drew McAlister Success Keeps On Keeping On

Drew McAlister who won the 2003 Maton Talent Search
Winner ,one of the nation’s most prestigious competitions
just keeps on keeping on. Drew's latest achievements include
Songwriting sessions with Michael
Carr, Melinda Schneider and Allan Caswell. Also having
a track on the new Compass Bros. release "Australian
Storytellers" with a remake of "The Shearer's Dream"
and now this week has been selected in the top 10 in the Country
Category of Musicoz 2003 the national songwriting
Contest that has more than $100,000 worth of cash,
prizes and industry opportunities available. The song
"Keep On Keeping On" sees him in the competition with some
of the stars of country music including Carter &
Carter, Michael King, Fisk And Christian to name a few.
Winners will be announced on 15th November in
Wollongong at a gala spectacular. To see the complete
list of winners go to www.musicoz.org

For those of you wondering who new artist on the scene, and winner of the Gympie Muster Maton Talent Search is, this is the Drew McAlister story so far.

Raised in Moree in country NSW he grew up singing whenever and wherever he could. Drew’s potential was recognised early when he was chosen to take part in the Talent Development Program. Drew left home after finishing school to head to Sydney to try his luck in the music business. He immediately picked up session work for major brand television commercials and went on to land a recording deal with EMI. Several years later Drew parted ways with the label in order to pursue a different musical direction in the Contemporary Country style.

In 1998 Drew signed a worldwide publishing deal with EMI and now has over 200 songs in his catalogue. He has visited the US four times and has worked with noted writers and producers of such artists as Wynonna, Clint Black, Reba McEntire and Patty Loveless. It was during a trip to Nashville collaborating with fellow Australian writer Heather Field ( 1996 APRA Songwriter of the Year and Rick Price “Heaven Knows”) that finally made sense to Drew. Coming home he started to write the songs that had been inside him just waiting to get out.

Drew’s style is that of a storyteller and when listening you learn about his family and his life. “Katie’s Song” was written for his sister for her 21^st birthday and after hearing it anyone would wish they had a brother like him! “The Change”is about his mother and the “empty nest” after Drew and his 3 siblings had moved on. He also has a bar room story about how his grandpa lost “Half an Ear”. In “The Fabric of My Life” Drew tells the story of his musical journey. If you want to know about Drew McAlister all you have to do is listen to his music.

Drew has made several appearance at Blacktown RSL and each time wins more fans with his distinctive vocals and heartfelt songs.
He will be appearing with Beccy Cole at Blacktown RSL on Friday 24^th October 2003

: Drew McAlister and Therese Bawden (Blacktown RSL Club)

www.drewmcalister.com

Print out and have the memories