Songbird Aleyce Simmonds was born and bred in Port Macquarie but now calls Australia’s country music capital Tamworth home.
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Where better to launch her third studio album More than Meets the Eye than at a concert in The Barn, which happens to be on her parent’s property in Tamworth.
The January 27, private event is sold out with 150 tickets snapped up plus media and industry attendees.
Simmonds isn’t fazed the concert is on the busiest weekend of the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
“It’s when the biggest crowds are in town. We only gave out the address of the show to people once they had bought a ticket so it made it kind of exclusive,” she says. “And my parent’s place is only 10 minutes from town.”
The former Telstra Road to Tamworth winner has earned a number of accolades in her career. She was named 2014 Australian Independent Female Artist of the year; the the Southern Stars Australian Independent Female Vocalist of the Year twice; Country Single of the Year and Australian Independent Artist of the Year in October 2015; and a finalist in the APRA/AMCOS Song of the Year for 2015.
She has performed in the United Kingdom, Norway, and at many of Australia’s festivals, including the Gympie Muster. In 2015 she toured with Amber Lawrence and Christie Lamb.
Unfortunately, the new album is not eligible for nominations at this year’s CMAAs (Country Music Awards of Australia), also known as the Toyota Golden Guitars. “It’s fine, because I have a whole year to spruik the album before next year’s awards,” Simmonds says.
After Tamworth, the blonde beauty has gigs lined up in Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne and Brisbane, and would love to perform at the Glasshouse.
The 13 songs on the album were culled from the more than 40 she had written in the three years since her last release. “The songs are a journey documenting a period of darkness in my life and emerging into the light.”
Simmonds broke up with her long-time partner in Melbourne, and eventually moved back to Tamworth. She is now managing a motel in the heart of the town plus her busy singing career. “I have about 30 appearances and interviews to do in the next couple of weeks.”
The first single Defeated, is a mix of her own experiences and those derived from her role as a hands-on ambassador for the Tamworth Family Support Services, which helps victims of domestic violence. “They asked me if I would be their ambassador and I was honoured.”
You can preorder your album now to receive before the release date on January 27, and $5 from every album sale will be donated to the Tamworth Family Support Service for the duration of the preorder period. The details are on Simmonds’ website www.aleyce.com
