The Bee Gees, AC/DC, Olivia Newton-John, Men at Work, INXS, Midnight Oil, Peter Allen, Crowded House, Air Supply, Keith Urban, Kasey Chambers… some extraordinary acts have come from the Land Down Under!

Music Down Under features and promotes some of Australia’s finest up-and-coming talent, while recognizing the incredible contributions that have put Australia’s music on the international map:

• Australian Music - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow...
• Online Profiles: Profiles of Aussie Musicians and their bands... 
• Australiana, Indigenous, Australian Rock/Folk/Pop/Blues & Country...

The music of Australia ranges across a broad spectrum of styles and genres. Whilst most modern trends in Australian music are based on similar trends from the United States or United Kingdom, traditional indigenous music dates back more than 60,000 years to the prehistory of Australia, and continues the ancient songlines through contemporary artists as diverse as Jimmy Little, Warumpi Band, Yothu Yindi, Tiddas, Wild Water, Christine Anu, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, Saltwater Band, Nabarlek, Nokturnl, the Pigram Brothers, Coloured Stone, Blek Bala Mujik, Kev Carmody, Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter.

Johnny O'Keefe - Circa 1956 - Melbourne Radio Station 3UZ

Pub rock was immensely popular in the 1980s, and the era was typified by Mental As Anything, Midnight Oil, The Angels, Cold Chisel and Icehouse. INXS and Men at Work also achieved fame worldwide, and the song "Down Under" became an unofficial anthem for Australia. Australian hip hop began in the early 1980s, primarily influenced by overseas works, but by the 1990s a distinctive local style had emerged, with groups such as the Hilltop Hoods achieving international acclaim for their work.

The 90s saw an increase in the popularity of indie rock in Australia. AC/DC and INXS continued to achieve commercial success in the United States, whilst a multitude of local bands, including Regurgitator, You Am I, Powderfinger, Silverchair and Something for Kate, were popular throughout the country. A small electronic music scene emerged around Sydney and Melbourne, with Severed Heads, Ollie Olsen's No, and Foil all peaking in the 90s.

Australian music experienced somewhat of a rock renaissance in the 2000s with groups such as The Vines, Jet, Airbourne and Wolfmother charting internationally. Hilltop Hoods were the first Australian hip-hop group to reach the top of the ARIA chart. While in County Music Keith Urban become a superstar in his adopted home town of Nashville, Tennessee.

Australian Featured Artists - June 2009:

KASEY CHAMBER & SHANE NICHOLSON: 2009 USA Tour

Kasey Chambers, one of Australia’s most loved female artists, has collaborated with Shane Nicholson to record their first album, Rattlin’ Bones.

Drawing on both their songwriting talents and unique voices, Rattlin’ Bones heralds a return to the alternative country roots that first launched Kasey’s stellar career, whilst establishing their own unique sound.

This is Chambers and Nicholson at the top of their form to make an extraordinary “roots country” record - writing and performing heartfelt songs that speak with an undeniable honesty. Whilst giving a sizeable nod to Chambers country music upbringings, Rattlin’ Bones equally secures Nicholson’s natural fit on the rootsy highway.

Produced by Nash Chambers and Shane, Rattlin’ Bones is their first album collaboration, although fans of the pair will already be familiar with the powerful rapport between the two artists from live performances and various previous recordings.

Having sold over one million albums, been awarded seven ARIA’s, five CMAA Golden Guitars and a swag of APRA Awards, Kasey Chambers is undoubtedly one of Australia’s most loved and respected female performers.   Kasey’s balance of commercial success with her credible country roots has accorded her the admiration of her fellow musicians - her supporters including notables such as Emmylou Harris, Elton John  and Ben Harper to name a few.

Shane Nicholson started his music career as the front man for Brisbane-based rock outfit Pretty Violet Stain and his subsequent solo work includes the albums It’s A Movie and Faith and Science., which have received critical success in both Australia and the US. Frequently praised for the quality of his writing and production in his past work, these same talents indisputably resonate throughout Rattlin’ Bones

Rattlin’ Bones sees two of Australia’s finest singer songwriters unite for 14 tracks that straddle the gamut of emotions and are sure to delight.

Rattlin’ Bones will be Kasey and Shane’s first release with Sugar Hill Records and is now available throughout the US.

To listen to Ratlin' Bones and keep up with all the latest news about Kasey and Shane's USA tour - CLICK HERE.