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Duke Wilde Band members Duke Wilde, Jason Bray, Linc Phelps and Nick Aitken won Tamworth’s prestigious Coca Cola Battle of the Bands and the West’s Diggers Northern Daily Leader National Country Band Challenge.
THE smell of success is getting sweeter for four hardworking Gympie musos.
The newly formed Duke Wilde Band, consisting of Duke Wilde, Nick Aitken, Linc Phelps and Jason Bray, won Australia's top country music battle of the bands at Tamworth last Saturday.
And to top it off, they followed their win with another the next day, something no band from Gympie has ever achieved at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
Taking out the prestigious Coca Cola Battle of the Bands on Saturday proved they've got the goods but backing it up with a win in the Northern Daily Leader National Country Band Challenge the next day was simply icing on the cake.
The band impressed judges by performing all originals and giving a show that blew the socks off the audience and their competition.
“We knew we had something,” Duke Wilde told The Gympie Times.
“Our strong belief that our originals are as good as any covers was confirmed (by the wins).”
“The other thing is, we put on a good show,” Nick added.
Not the types to stand around, the boys worked the large stage to their advantage and thrilled the audience with their energy.
“We did a show of five songs — from one to the other, there was not a dull moment,” drummer Jason said.
“To be up there for five songs felt like five seconds, then we had to wait to see if we got through...it was an emotional rollercoaster.”
Linc, who has only been playing bass for about one month and is the youngest of the group, put it in perspective.
“Four hours of energy in the space of five songs was pretty full-on,” he said.
With such solid success, it was hard to believe that the band did not even win their heat in the Coca Cola Battle of the Bands.
They were up against “the guy who won the Muster Talent Search” who won that heat but Duke Wilde Band was offered a wildcard entry in the finals – something that had never been done before in the history of the competition.
“To get offered the wildcard and to take it out was a good feeling. We knocked off bands that were already established artists,” Duke said.
The wins mean the country music industry should sit up and take notice of what these guys are doing now.
They have generated some great contacts through the Australian Institute of Country Music (AICM) and will use their latest success to push on and make a name for themselves.
“What they've done is pretty significant,” AICM director Geoff Walden said.
“It's very hard for bands from up here that are not well known to the industry to break into it. They'll have paid gig opportunities next year at Tamworth.”
The boys said many of the bands they beat had clips on the Country Music Channel so that was the next thing on their agenda, as well as writing more material and playing.
“This is a leg-up,” Linc said.
- Gympie Times: 29th January 2010
Duke Wilde Band members Duke Wilde, Jason Bray, Linc Phelps and Nick Aitken won Tamworth’s prestigious Coca Cola Battle of the Bands and the West’s Diggers Northern Daily Leader National Country Band Challenge.
THE smell of success is getting sweeter for four hardworking Gympie musos.
The newly formed Duke Wilde Band, consisting of Duke Wilde, Nick Aitken, Linc Phelps and Jason Bray, won Australia's top country music battle of the bands at Tamworth last Saturday.
And to top it off, they followed their win with another the next day, something no band from Gympie has ever achieved at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
Taking out the prestigious Coca Cola Battle of the Bands on Saturday proved they've got the goods but backing it up with a win in the Northern Daily Leader National Country Band Challenge the next day was simply icing on the cake.
The band impressed judges by performing all originals and giving a show that blew the socks off the audience and their competition.
“We knew we had something,” Duke Wilde told The Gympie Times.
“Our strong belief that our originals are as good as any covers was confirmed (by the wins).”
“The other thing is, we put on a good show,” Nick added.
Not the types to stand around, the boys worked the large stage to their advantage and thrilled the audience with their energy.
“We did a show of five songs — from one to the other, there was not a dull moment,” drummer Jason said.
“To be up there for five songs felt like five seconds, then we had to wait to see if we got through...it was an emotional rollercoaster.”
Linc, who has only been playing bass for about one month and is the youngest of the group, put it in perspective.
“Four hours of energy in the space of five songs was pretty full-on,” he said.
With such solid success, it was hard to believe that the band did not even win their heat in the Coca Cola Battle of the Bands.
They were up against “the guy who won the Muster Talent Search” who won that heat but Duke Wilde Band was offered a wildcard entry in the finals – something that had never been done before in the history of the competition.
“To get offered the wildcard and to take it out was a good feeling. We knocked off bands that were already established artists,” Duke said.
The wins mean the country music industry should sit up and take notice of what these guys are doing now.
They have generated some great contacts through the Australian Institute of Country Music (AICM) and will use their latest success to push on and make a name for themselves.
“What they've done is pretty significant,” AICM director Geoff Walden said.
“It's very hard for bands from up here that are not well known to the industry to break into it. They'll have paid gig opportunities next year at Tamworth.”
The boys said many of the bands they beat had clips on the Country Music Channel so that was the next thing on their agenda, as well as writing more material and playing.
“This is a leg-up,” Linc said.
- Gympie Times: 29th January 2010
Duke Wilde wins Coca-Cola Battle of the Bands 2010 (25-Jan-10)
The Duke Wilde Band from Gympie, Queensland, has taken out the 2010 Coca-Cola Battle of the Bands title in Tamworth.
The Battle is celebrating its fifth year this year while the Coca-Cola company celebrates 32 years direct sponsorship involvement with the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
The Duke Wilde Band was named as the judges’ number one choice from six bands performing in the competition grand final on Saturday afternoon (January 23)
“Development of the Coca-Cola Battle of the Bands has been a great addition to the many successful activities staged this year at
Hands of Fame Park during the Tamworth Country Music Festival,” said a spokesman for organisers Rural Press Events, “including the famous Coca-Cola Concerts in the Park which provided walk-up opportunities for new artists throughout the Festival.
“Coca-Cola Battle of the Bands would like to congratulate all winners and finalists...
“As the years go by, it has been fascinating to watch the ongoing high standard of band entrants that continues to take the full sound of country music to new heights.
“Coca-Cola Battle of the Bands is the number one benchmark in showcasing Australian country music’s best new band talent.” - Tamworth Country Music
Duke Wilde wins Coca-Cola Battle of the Bands 2010 (25-Jan-10)
The Duke Wilde Band from Gympie, Queensland, has taken out the 2010 Coca-Cola Battle of the Bands title in Tamworth.
The Battle is celebrating its fifth year this year while the Coca-Cola company celebrates 32 years direct sponsorship involvement with the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
The Duke Wilde Band was named as the judges’ number one choice from six bands performing in the competition grand final on Saturday afternoon (January 23)
“Development of the Coca-Cola Battle of the Bands has been a great addition to the many successful activities staged this year at
Hands of Fame Park during the Tamworth Country Music Festival,” said a spokesman for organisers Rural Press Events, “including the famous Coca-Cola Concerts in the Park which provided walk-up opportunities for new artists throughout the Festival.
“Coca-Cola Battle of the Bands would like to congratulate all winners and finalists...
“As the years go by, it has been fascinating to watch the ongoing high standard of band entrants that continues to take the full sound of country music to new heights.
“Coca-Cola Battle of the Bands is the number one benchmark in showcasing Australian country music’s best new band talent.” - Tamworth Country Music
Discography
2013 - New Album Coming Soon.
2012/13 - Guitar and Vox on "Mick Hudson and the Benders" debut album.
2010 - Radio Promotional E.P.
Q-Song Awarded "Country Town" reaching no. 2 on Hot Country Top Fifty Chart.
2011 - Debut Album: The Duke Wilde Band. Ten track album produced by Louie Shelton (Nashville Musicians Hall of Fame) and Mastered in Nashville by Hank Williams (Brooks and Dunn, Shooter Jennings, George Jones).
2011 - One For The Road - Tamworth Festival Capital News Compilation CD. Original Track "Why Don't We Hear Old Waylon Anymore" featured as track one, distributed to over 15,000 music fans.
Photos
Bio
Duke Wilde Band. (Duke Wilde - Solo also Available)
"the most exciting new band in Australian Country Music" - Country Update Magazine.
2011 Queensland Country Music Wards - New Talent and Band of the year.
Q-Song Award, Country Song of the Year 2010, "Country Town".
#1 National Country Band Challenge AND Coca Cola Battle of the Bands, Tamworth 2010.
Currently writing and demoing for future release and panning to hit the USA in October and November of 2013 at the invitation of NYC based Folk/Rock band Streets of Laredo for performances at the CMJ Music Marathon Conference.
International touring/recording artist "Duke Wilde" is busy writing for a new album planned for release in 2013 and will be heading back to the USA for a third time, including songwriting in Nashville with Grammy Nominated producer/Writer Mark Moffatt (INXS, The Saints, Yothu Yindi) and in New York City with Si Moore (Guitarist with Alt-Folk/Rock act Streets of Laredo).
Having previously had success in the Australian country, blues and rockabilly music scene and recording the first Duke Wilde Band album in 2010 with Nashville Hall of Fame producer/guitarist Louie Shelton (John Lennon, Joe Cocker, Jackson Five), singer/songwriter/guitarist Duke Wilde is writing from a broader palette and mixing roots with a modern edge.
2011 saw the Duke Wilde Band invited to showcase at Americana Conference for the Sounds Australia delegation which had the band grace the stages of the Bluebird Cafe and the Basement under Grimeys Record store. The band were also invited to perform two weeks running on the Billy Block Show, 3rd and Lindsley, the legendary Tootsies Orchid Lounge and a recording session at Sun Studios in Memphis.
Duke Wilde band have performed at major events on the calender such as Gympie Muster Main-stage, Tamworth Country Fest, Great Southern Blues and Rockabilly Narooma, Port Fairy Folk Festival, The Billy Block Show in Nashville.
2004 - 2007 saw Duke touring the USA playing Heavy Rebel Fest in Nth Carolina, the legendary Doll Hut, the Cat Club in Hollywood. International releases on several US labels, regular Airplay on US, European and Australian radio and two tours to New Zealand including back to back appearances at the Beach Hop Festival.
Whether you witness the Duke Wilde Band or a solo show, you can expect a great high energy set of original music that'll take you from the swamp, to the open road and from classic FM radio to a contemporary urban rock club.
Confused yet? I guess you'll just have to book the act and find out for yourself.
"They have some cool songs, play well and put on a great live show." - Laurie Cokell, fmr Managing Director of London Records. (UK)
"A cross between Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Band and Brooks and Dunn" - Louie Shelton, Legendary Nashville hall of fame Guitarist/Producer.
Duke Wilde Band:
it's like a rootsy Pink Floyd with a different name... and different band members... oh, and different songs too. Actually It's not really like Pink Floyd at all, unless they play a Pink Floyd song... then it is definitely not like Pink Floyd.
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