HATS off to Newcastle band Trophy Eyes who have announced a special homecoming show to lend a helping hand to a friend impacted by the bush fires that have ravaged NSW in recent weeks.
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On November 8 former Same Old Story and The Cavalcade bassist Sam Fenning lost his house as bush fire tore through his family's property at Nymboida, near Grafton.
Fenning, who grew up at Clarence Town, is an old school friend of Trophy Eyes' bassist Jeremy Winchester and lead guitarist Andrew Hallett.
Trophy Eyes have sold out their past three shows at the Cambridge Hotel and are expected to repeat that effort on December 15 at their benefit show. All money raised from the gig will be split between Fenning's family and the NSW Rural Fire Service.
Read Saturday's Weekender for a full interview with Trophy Eyes' Jeremy Winchester.
SECOND DROP
THE Drop music festival will shift to Bar Beach's Empire Park next year following the outrage sparked by some Newcastle residents over the damage done to King Edward Park.
The Drop, which is associated with Surfest, debuted last March and drew 6000 music fans to King Edward Park to see the likes of Angus and Julia Stone, Ball Park Music and Client Liaison.
Due to rain before and during the festival, the iconic park was left a muddy mess and some residents claimed the public space was "scarred."
The flat Empire Park is located directly across the road from Bar Beach and a short walk from Surfest, held at Merewether Beach.
The Drop is scheduled for Saturday, March 7. The line-up will be announced next Tuesday.
GOLDEN BOY
NEWCASTLE star Morgan Evans could be one of the big winners in January at the 48th Country Music Awards of Australia after he was nominated for four Golden Guitars.
The Mount Hutton-bred pop-country artist was nominated on Tuesday for the Album Of The Year for his debut Things That We Drink To, Single Of The Year for Young Again, Contemporary Album Of The Year and Male Artist Of The Year.
It followed nominations at the ARIA Awards on November 27 for Best Country Album and Song Of The Year for Day Drunk.
Only Felicity Urquhart (eight), Lee Kernaghan (eight) and Sara Storer (seven) received more nominations.
Greta's Lyn Bowtell received three nominations for her partnership with Luke O'Shea, including Vocal Collaboration Of The Year and Heritage Song Of The Year and APRA Song Of The Year for Sing Me A Story.
Newcastle's Viper Creek Band were nominated for Best Group or Duo for their album Beautiful Destruction.
The Golden Guitar winners will be revealed in Tamworth on January 25.
DASHVILLE NYE
ANYONE that's been to The Gum Ball or Dashville Skyline knows the Dashville Progress Society are arguably the most epic cover band in the Hunter.
Rarely do DPS wander beyond Lower Belford, but on New Year's Eve the local supergroup will headline the Stag and Hunter Hotel. The line-up also includes Magpie Diaries, Johnston City, James Thomson and Lyle Dennis Express.
STARRY NIGHT
IT took '70s country-rock band Stars 38 years to release a fourth album, Boundary Rider, in 2018. But fans will only have to wait until 2020 for album No.5 with the five-piece currently in the studio.
Stars return to Lizotte's on December 1 to play all their hits like Mighty Rock.
