Telstra on the hunt for new talent

20 June 2011

by Nathan Jolly

The Telstra Road to Discovery talent development program opens nationally today, giving independent musicians a head-start in the music industry.

After eight successful years as the Telstra Road to Tamworth, the name change reflects the shift in the competition towards a wider range of music genres.

Coupled with the name change is the involvement of big name artists such as Tim Rogers, Ella Hooper, Charles Jenkins (Icecream Hands), Karl Broadie and Mick Thomas, who will be launching the program at the Basement in Sydney tonight. They will be performing alongside past winners.

Tim Rogers said of the program: "I was lucky enough to be surrounded by vagabond artists and musicians who would often part with sage advice perhaps without their knowledge of doing so. I learnt to listen to whoever you were stuck in a draughty band room with at 3am, through the brio and balderdash there's always something to hang on to. How to do it, and how not to – in the end you have to write your own story.”

In addition, The McClymonts will continue their role as Telstra Road to Discovery Ambassadors, and will share their experience with entrants.

Telstra Country Wide Executive Director Andy Ellis is proud of the program's evolution and continued involvement in the discovery of talented artists.

“This program has evolved from a country music talent quest into a bona fide talent development program which embraces artists across a number of music genres. Connecting up and coming artists with the right people is the first step towards a successful career in the Australian music industry and we’re committed to giving a helping hand to the many talented musicians we have around the country.”

There are twelve national performance heats, with a digital heat available online for those who live more than 300km from their nearest heat event, making distance no barrier to stardom. Winners of each of the heats, together with the four best songwriters, will take part in a three day music mentoring Boot Camp in December. Artists will then compete in the semi-final... at the Sydney Telstra 500 V8 Supercars event!

The Top 10 artists will then perform at the final during the Tamworth Country Music Festival in January 2012. The winning songwriter and performer will each receive a return trip to Nashville and attendance at the world-renowned Americana Festival, all part of a 12-month mentorship package, tailored to suit the individual winner.

Telstra Road to Discovery launches tonight at 6:30pm at The Basement, Sydney.

Entries close 16 October for the digital heat and the songwriters heat. For more details on how to enter visit www.telstra.com/trtd

Telstra Road to Discovery Heats

16 August Melbourne University, Parkville VIC
20 August Kinross Woolshed, Albury NSW
24 August Dowerin Field Days, WA
25 August Karratha International Hotel, WA
4 September Royal Adelaide Show, SA
11 September Bundy in Bloom, Bundaberg QLD
17 September Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, QLD
18 September Mindil Markets, Darwin NT
30 September Pura Milk Burnie Show, TAS
8 October Birregurra Weekend Festival, VIC
9 October Floriade, Canberra ACT
27 October Sydney Blues and Roots Festival, NSW