Top-rating country music duo McAlister Kemp – Drew McAlister and Troy Kemp – announced their break-up on Wednesday.
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The announcement through their record label, ABC, said ‘‘Now it’s time for a change and a new chapter in both of our careers. We both want to explore some solo projects, so from March next year we will be taking an indefinite break from MK.’’
McAlister Kemp has been nominated for Golden Guitars at the Australian Country Music Awards in Tamworth next month for best video clip for Fight Me and best group or duo.
Their thundering American-style country rock sound has entertained a signficant fan base since they kicked off their partnership nearly five years ago. They have toured extensively in Australia and played on the bills of big festivals such as Gympie Muster and CMC Rocks the Hunter.
Just last month the duo released a single, 100 Years The Anzac, to commemorate Remembrance Day.
The song describes the landing at Gallipoli and the carnage that followed.
The chorus sings out: ‘‘It’s been 100 years since the Anzac went to war, for the life we take for granted, the freedom of our shores.
‘‘It’s been 100 years since the Anzac went to war. May the legend keep on living on for a thousand more.’’
McAlister, from the Blue Mountains, signed a contract with ABC Music Publishing this year to produce original songs for the label and its artists. He was co-writer with Luke O’Shea of the APRA Song of the Year, Lady of the Land, this year.
Kemp, from Newcastle, plays a constant touring schedule as a solo artist in the Hunter Region.
The duo released their third album, Harder to Tame, in January. The cover song was the band’s fifth song to top the Country Music Channel (CMC) Countdown charts.
The title track off their second album, Country Proud, was nominated for both ARIA and Golden Guitar awards.
They won a Golden Guitar for best new talent in 2011.
The duo have five shows scheduled in 2015, including Tamworth (January 24), Chinchilla Watermelon Festival (February 14), Lights on the Hill Festival (truckers) at Gatton, Queensland (February 28), Geelong Motor City Festival (March 8) and Penrith Truck Show (March 29).
Success came to the duo relatively late in their careers, both having cut their teeth doing rock’n’roll and blues.
