Songbird CLELIA ADAMS, launched her then new album “HEARTBEAT HIGHWAY” at the 2005 Tamworth Country Music Festival, with the Feral Swing Katz members and friends on stage.
“HEARTBEAT HIGHWAY” was recorded with the crème de la crème musicians, two Feral Swing Katz legends, Stuart French (producer), on guitars and backing vocals and Michel Rose on pedal steel and dobro. James Gillard (Flood) on bass; Garry Steele on piano and accordion; with drum details to Rudy Miranda (Becky Cole/Adam Harvey) and Joel Davis. Lifelong friends Kate McCarthy (Dogwater) and Doug Rowe (founder of the Flying Circus) joined in on backing vocals with the very talented Camille Te Nahu also added her special magic.
The selection of songs for “HEARTBEAT HIGHWAY”, came directly from the “live performance” arena, songs pre-loved and new, but firm favourites with country music fans everywhere she performs. A strong roots country, rockabilly retro theme runs throughout the album, spanning the decades and bringing together Clelia’s vast musical influences. A self confessed “60’s kid”, Clelia’s retro mix of songs is evocative and enticing, impeccably played and true to the spirit of their genre, which covers music from the 30’s (including yodeling songs), through the 60’s to the more contemporary 80’s. “HEARTBEAT HIGHWAY”, a Clelia original, is the story of her performing life, wrapped up in one big catchy country shuffle.
Since its release, “HEARTBEAT HIGHWAY” has received major CM industry acclaim and recognition, both in Europe and Australia. The album yielded two Top 10 hits in Europe on the ECMA Charts (European Country Music Association), with “BACK IN BABY’S ARMS” which reached # 9 in August 2005, and with “HEARTBEAT HIGHWAY” reaching # 4 in March 2006. This is CLELIA’S highest ranking yet on the European charts.
Australia has also embraced CLELIA’s music, giving her two Top 15’s hits on the Countrytracks Top 30. “TALK OF THE TOWN” made it to # 15 in August, 2005, while “HEARTBEAT HIGHWAY” went one better to # 14, in June, 2006.
Tamworth festival 2006 saw CLELIA take out the “Gentleman Geoff Brown Memorial Award” TIARA at the Tamworth Independent Artists Recognition Awards for “HEARTBEAT HIGHWAY”. This award is extremely precious to CLELIA as the Browns have been her “other family” throughout her Tamworth years.
The 2005/2006 year has seen CLELIA appear at the major CM festivals around Australia, including the Toyota Gympie Muster, Mildura Independents Festival, Tamworth Festival and Bunyip, Victoria. CLELIA also featured in two new country music books, launched in Tamworth 06: Shot By Jake’s colourful festival character and pictorial, “HAT’S LIFE” and John Elliot’s “WHERE COUNTRY IS”, a pictorial history of the past 20 years in Australian Country Music.
The accolades kept coming in mid 2006 from the International CM industry, when CLELIA was nominated in the first round of artists in two categories of the European ECMA 2006 Country Music Awards, ARTIST OF THE YEAR and FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR. Voted for by the European CM industry, this put Clelia in the company of Dolly Parton, Faith Hill & our own Keith Urban.
In November 2006 CLELIA was nominated in the 2006 NSW GOLD MEDALLION AWARDS, in the Female Vocalist of the Year, alongside Becky Cole, Anne Kirkpatrick, Melinda Schneider & Karen Lynne.
The third single, a remake of the classic Hank Williams’ “HALF AS MUCH” was released on Hillcrest 35 and remained on the European charts for over 20 weeks.
Clelia has always delivered a top class, professional, entertaining show, with audiences everywhere, knocked out by her versatility, personality and dynamic vocals.
