THE musical comeback for The Rough Diamonds continues to gather momentum, with studio time, gigs and mentoring on the agenda for the Morisset sister act.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
When Cec van der Kamp and Em Palmer were chosen by a public vote to perform as one of 10 emerging acts at the three-day Campfire Festival, at Hope Estate, Pokolbin, in March, they hoped it might open some doors.
They weren't disappointed.
"It really was a nice stepping stone for us in our comeback year," Cec said.
"Since then we've been in the recording studio with our producer, Simon Johnson, at the Hillbilly Hut, in Bateau Bay, recording some of our songs."
The first single, Followin' the Dream, will be released for radio next month.
"It's a song that Em wrote which basically sums up our decision to come back and give it [a musical career] another crack," Cec said.
"It's about not letting obstacles get in the way."
It's the first of four original tracks they recorded for a contemporary country album due for release at the end of the year.
This Sunday, the pair will be joined by The Footloose Country Band for a gig at Morisset Country Club from 1pm. The band backed the girls during their performance at the Campfire Festival.
Sunday's gig will feature three sets.
"Em and I will start with an acoustic set in which we'll tell the story of our journey," Cec said.
"The Footloose Country Band will play the second set and then we'll join the band for the third set where we'll continue with our story, but we'll really change things up with some country rock."
That set will feature covers of songs including Give Me One Reason (Tracy Chapman), House of the Rising Sun (Eric Burdon and The Animals) and When Will I Be Loved? (Everly Brothers).
After the gig, Cec and Em will head to Nundle, near Tamworth to take part in a five-day retreat and songwriting workshop.
Among the mentors at the workshop will be Allan Caswell (writer of more than 900 songs), Karl Brodie, Kevin Bennett, Tamara Stewart and Aleyce Simmonds.
"We're really excited and looking forward to that. We'll be staying on a former sheep station," Cec said.
Sunday's gig is a fund-raiser for the St John Vianney Parish of Morisset. Tickets cost $10; children younger than 16 will be admitted free with a paying adult. Doors open at 12.30pm.