Monday’s KIX Live Celebrates Andrew Swift & Friends

On Monday, May 1 at 7pm, Monday’s KIX Live will feature Andrew Swift, who will be performing songs from his forthcoming album, while his friends – Nick Wolfe, Amber Lawrence, Cass Hopetoun and Blake Dantier, Gretta Ziller and Sons of Atticus – will be covering some of his past hits.

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Andrew Swift 

Andrew Swift has gone from strength to strength since finding his feet in the Australian country music scene as a Toyota Starmaker grand finalist in 2017. With his debut country album, Call Out For The Cavalry debuting at #1 on the ARIA Australian Country Charts, the record saw five singles lifted for release, including Fire & Ice featuring Catherine Britt.

His follow-up album, The Art Of Letting Go, debuted at #1 on the ARIA Australian Country Album Charts and was the 5th highest-selling Australian Country album of 2021. Andrew was awarded ‘Male Artist of The Year’ at the 2023 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards in Tamworth, having picked up two awards at the 2019 event – ‘Qantas New Talent of the Year’ and ‘Alt Country Album of the Year’.

His fourth studio album, Lightning Strikes and Neon Nights, is set for release on 28 April 2023.

Nick Wolfe

Nick Wolfe is the lead singer of The Wolfe Brothers. The duo burst onto the music scene when they competed on Australia’s Got Talent in 2012. They were invited to open and back Lee Kernaghan on his Beautiful Noise Tour, releasing their debut studio album It’s On that same year.

Albums Nothin’ But Trouble (2014), Live At CMC Rocks QLD (2015), This Crazy Life (2016), Country Heart (2018) and Kids On Cassette (2021) followed. The latter three were all ARIA Award nominated for ‘Best Country Album’. They have earned themselves a solid reputation for their catchy singles and dynamic live shows, while constantly pushing the envelope with their songwriting and delighting fans with their honest approach.

Their latest album, Livin' The Dream was released on April 14.

Amber Lawrence

Amber Lawrence is a six-time Golden Guitar winner, scoring her most recent statue for ‘Female Vocalist of the Year’ in 2023. She has released 7 studio albums, 3 acclaimed children’s albums (including an ARIA-nominated The Kid’s Gone Country II), an award-winning collaboration album with Travis Collins, a live album and a live DVD to date.

She has performed for the troops both aboard and in Australia and toured with the likes of Adam Harvey, Lee Kernaghan, The McClymonts, Melinda Schneider, The Sunny Cowgirls and more. Her highly anticipated seventh album, Living for the Highlights, was released on July 22. It peaked at #5 on the ARIA Charts, and was nominated for ‘Best Country Album’ at the 2022 ARIA Awards.

Cass Hopetoun

Cass Hopetoun has been delighting fans with her varied and refreshing songbook since 2020, with the release of her debut single, Shots. An impressive entry which was only eclipsed by her follow up, Typical Bride, which took out the #1 spot on the Countrytown Hot 50 Country Airplay Chart and earned her a Golden Guitar nomination for ‘New Talent of the Year’ in 2021.

Since the release of her long-awaited debut album, she’s performed at the Goulburn Valley Country Music Festival, Meatstock and the Tamworth Country Music Festival, where she wowed audiences with her performance at the Golden Guitar Awards and the sold out 50th Anniversary Concert.

Blake Dantier

Growing up in the suburbs, sandwiched between Sydney’s west and the Blue Mountains, Blake started playing drums at 12 years old, and formed his first band with his older brother a year later. He later picked up new instruments and started songwriting. Blake played with the high school band for 5 or 6 years, playing more pub gigs than can count, while competing in local talent competitions.

Since releasing his first single back in early 2020 Blake has built a solid following without being able to get out and do what he does best – playing live shows. He released his debut album – Dry Season – in March 2022, an unapologetically country collection of bittersweet ballads, raucous barroom anthems and everything in between.

Gretta Ziller

While Gretta Ziller’s sound may bear the hallmarks of classic Americana music, at its essence, its far more diverse – with influences in jazz, blues, rock, pop and classical, that eclectic mix is reflected in the varied tracks on her 2014 EP Hell’s Half Acre and 2017 debut album, Queen of Boomtown.

The album was long listed for the 2018 Australian Music Prize and was nominated for The Age Music Victoria Awards. Gretta has also been an APRA PD finalist, performed at Australian Music Week, and netted two Golden Guitar nominations.

Sons of Atticus 

Amongst the chaos of a rowdy bar in their hometown of Cronulla, Sons Of Atticus, Matt and Dylan crossed paths for the first time and hit it off with a few too many beers, tacos and their love for country music. It wasn’t long before the two started to write, record and perform the kind of music that inspired them both growing up. Fast forward a couple of years and with plenty of songs ready for release under their belt, the duo are Tasman Guitar ambassadors, have matching Elvis Presley tattoos and have released their debut EP, Jack’s Motel.

Sons Of Atticus will transport you into a darkened bar and put a whiskey in your hand as their alt country style hits your ears and soul. They’ll charm the boots off of you and will have you stomping, clapping, and hollering along to their catchy tunes. The duo’s short and sharp existence has already seen them support the likes of CW Stoneking as well as Andrew Farris.