Countrytown & KIX Country Announce Inaugural Centre Stage Artist – Amber Lawrence

Countrytown in partnership with KIX Country is proud to announce Amber Lawrence as our first ‘Centre Stage’ artist. Every week we'll be shining a light on a single artist every week across all platforms including online features, airplay, and social support.

Amber grew up in the Sydney suburb of Mascot listening to Dire Straits and The Beatles, later discovering country music at 17 years old. After graduating from university with a commerce degree, she worked for six years as a chartered accountant for QANTAS. 

She took up guitar lessons at the age of 22 and busked at her first Tamworth Country Music Festival three years later. Amber began song writing after splitting with her ex-boyfriend and then plotting her musical journey.

While still working as an accountant, she entered the Telstra’s Road To Tamworth competition, where she placed second, and attended the CMAA Academy of Country Music. The following year, Amber entered Toyota Star Maker and released her debut four-track EP, I’ve Got The Blues.

In 2007, she released her debut studio album The Mile. Produced by Rod McCormack, the album reached #13 on the ARIA Country Albums chart. It was nominated for ‘Independent Country Album of the Year’ by the Australian Independent Record Labels Association. Amber was also nominated for ‘Female Artist of the Year’ and ‘New Talent’ at the Golden Guitar Awards in 2008.

Her second studio album, When It All Comes Down, was released in 2009. It reached #17 on the ARIA Country Albums chart and earned her numerous award nominations the following year. She released her third album, 3, in 2012, which peaked at #4 on the ARIA Country Albums chart. Albums Superheroes (2014), Hometown Girl (2015) and Happy Ever After (2016) followed.

In 2017, she teamed up with Travis Collins on the seven-track EP, Our Backyard. It peaked at #2 on the ARIA Country Albums chart and earned the duo three Golden Guitar Awards including ‘Vocal Collaboration of the Year’, ‘Song of the Year’ and ‘Single of the Year’ for the title track.

Her highest charting album, Spark, released in 2019, peaked at #1 on the Country Albums chart. Amber has also released three children’s albums – The Kid’s Gone Country (2016), Aussie Aussie Christmas (2017) and the ARIA-nominated The Kid’s Gone Country II (2020).

Amber 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. She also performed for former Presidents of the United States of America, Barack Obama and Donald Trump in New York at an event commemorating the 75th Anniversary Battle of the Coral Sea with the American Association.

As well as her Golden Guitar wins with Collins, Amber won ‘Female Artist of the Year’ in 2015 and ‘Vocal Collaboration of the Year’ for the rendition of the John Williamson classic True Blue alongside Dianna Corcoran, Aleyce Simmonds and Kirsty Lee Akers in 2021.

In addition, Amber has also co-hosted both the CMC Music Awards and Golden Guitar Awards and been a guest presenter of Channel 9’s Getaway. She is also a mentor to young artists in the Australian Music industry and has provided free entertainment and mentoring in over 300 schools Australia wide, as part of her ‘Be Your Own Superhero’ program.

Amber’s highly anticipated seventh album, Living for the Highlights, is set for release on July 22. The album includes her single Making Up For Lost Wine, the feel good, uber-country tune, written with Nashville hit makers Kylie Sackley and Phil Barton. Raw and gritty at times, hopeful and happy at others, the new album is a realistic take on life after three years of highs and lows.

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Keep up to date with Amber Lawrence, follow her on Facebook here.