At long last Melinda Schneider will make her Blue Water Country Music Festival debut on the June long weekend.
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Her show at Soldiers Point Bowling Club will showcase the talent that has made her a six-time Golden Guitar recipient with a set that’s found widespread appeal.
“I've heard a lot of good things about Blue Water and I’m looking forward to having a wonderful crowd singing along,” she said.
With 10 albums under her belt, Schneider has earned two Gold records and won numerous awards, including aforementioned six CMAA Golden Guitars.
They are: 2008 Top Selling Album for Stronger; 2005 Album Of The Year with Family Tree, APRA Song Of The Year for the song Real People and Female Vocalist Of The Year in 2003 for The Story Of My Life.
Despite this strong repertoire Schneider has something a little special planned for the Saturday evening show.
The set will feature the 23 songs from the album Great Women of Country, which she recorded with Beccy Cole.
While Cole is busy working on a solo project Schneider continues to perform it in concert with some of the industry’s best session muscians.
The set list includes the hits Stand By Your Man, D.I.V.O.R.C.E., Love Hurts, I Will Always Love You and 9 to 5.
“They’re all classic country songs from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s,” Schneider said.
“People love these songs, even people who haven’t been to a country show before.
“These were hits in their day, played on pop radio, before radio began to differentiate between the genres.
“People are surprised how many songs they remember.”
In a career which began with a stage debut at the age of three, appearing with her mother, Mary, Schneider has mastered her stage craft and kept a family tradition alive.
No stranger to the big stage, being a darling of the Gympie and Tamworth festivals, Schneider said her shows responded to the venue.
“At those shows on the big stage they tend to have a rock emphasis but with these indoor shows, like this, I can perform these ballads,” she said.
“I really enjoy these more intimate shows."
The Central Coast based songstress also admits to looking forward to something else.
“Our family used to holiday at Nelson Bay,” she said.
“I was about 15 the last time, so I’m looking forward to coming back.”
The show starts 7pm on June 10 at Soldiers Point Bowling Club. Tickets cost $39 and are available from the venue.
