Michael Waugh is one of Australia’s finest songwriters, lauded for his vivid stories of uniquely Australian places and characters, told in an accent that is idiosyncratically ours.

Among Waugh’s admirers are the legendary Eric Bogle and alt. country luminary Shane Nicholson.
His 2019 album ‘The Weir’ received two Golden Guitar nominations in 2020 – Male Artist of the Year and Alt Country Album of the Year – as well as a nomination at the 2020 Victorian Music Awards.

On Waugh’s fourth studio album, The Cast, the roll-call of characters has broadened.  “There is new territory covered on this record – musically and lyrically. There may not be a red and black checked shirt on the cover, but there are still stories and characters that you’ve met before.”  Stories about country kids on BMX bikes in ‘Flying’, harrowing drought in ‘Irrigation Channel’, a story about a farmer acting as an amateur butcher in ‘Butchering Day’

Michael’s special guest on the show is North Queenslander Camille Trail who enjoyed significant chart success in 2021 with her songs Devil’s Drink, Little History & Holding Pattern.

There was one word off the table when Camille Trail went into the studio with producer Shane Nicholson to record her debut album: pretty. She didn’t want it anywhere near her rootsy country folk. Didn’t want it said, or even thought. “I don’t like pretty things. He’d play a guitar and say is that too pretty and I’d say yep, too pretty,” says Camille. “I don’t like shiny things, I like it to be raw and vulnerable and I wanted to make my debut album a bit more of a statement.” And that statement was in line with songs that might haunt you, that will certainly leave a mark on you from what she calls “a sit down with a whiskey kind of album”, full of hurt and sins.

Michael’s new album ‘The Cast’, released August 27 on Compass Bros / Universal Music Australia.

Camille’s debut album River of Sins, featuring Holding Pattern, the hit duet with Brad Butcher, released August 6 on Compass Bros / Universal Music Australia.

“When Michael Waugh opens his mouth, you should listen”.  Andrew McMillen – The Australian

“Michael takes all the elements of the human condition and lyrically moulds them into something that is very special indeed, the mark of a compassionate and insightful human being and a gifted songwriter.   Eric Bogle

“Michael Waugh is perched on a songwriting mountain not many of us could hope to climb.” Shane Nicholson

CAMILLE TRAIL

There was one word off the table when Camille Trail went into the studio with producer Shane Nicholson to record her debut album: pretty. She didn’t want it anywhere near her rootsy country folk. Didn’t want it said, or even thought. “I don’t like pretty things. He’d play a guitar and say is that too pretty and I’d say yep, too pretty,” says Camille. “I don’t like shiny things, I like it to be raw and vulnerable and I wanted to make my debut album a bit more of a statement.” And that statement was in line with songs that might haunt you, that will certainly leave a mark on you from what she calls “a sit down with a whiskey kind of album”, full of hurt and sins.

The blues comes through in the way Camille is comfortable playing slow – not just ballads, not just teary, but smouldering and slow burning songs, like the eerie a cappella Mary, that bring a listener along rather than smacking them in the face. The gospel you can hear in the organ and sad elegance of Oh Darling or the lyrics of songs like Devil’s Drink and Deal With The Devil. “I think I’ve always loved vulnerable music. There’s something really beautiful about just a piano and lyrics and space,” Camille says. “I’ve always loved those darker themes and I’m a big believer in what goes around comes around.”

Camille’s debut album River of Sins, featuring Holding Pattern, the hit duet with Brad Butcher, released August 6 on Compass Bros / Universal Music Australia.