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If anyone can claim a lifelong connection to Australia’s country music capital, it’s Sally-Anne Whitten. Born and raised in Tamworth, she is the daughter of country music guitarist, pianist and bassist Barry Whitten. Whitten senior was involved in the early days of the Australian Country Music Association and the Tamworth Country Music Festival, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. He also claims to own the first electric guitar at Tamworth. “Through dad, I was exposed to all types of country music. But I think these days my style is more blues-oriented, kinda funky country, as we call it.” Whitten cut his teeth in the music industry at age 15, working as a session guitarist alongside his father. In 2004, she won the TIARA Awards (Tamworth Independent Artists Recognition Awards) with The Love He Wants Most, co-written with her husband/guitarist/producer Alwyn Aurisch. The track also won a UK singing competition judged by Moody Blues founder Mike Pinder. Whitten collaborated with fellow Tamworth resident and singer-songwriter Allison Forbes for her second single, My Place in the World, then, after a four-year hiatus from the industry, she came back strong with her single, The Life You Left Behind. His music is known all over the world, especially in Belgium, France, Germany and the United States. Her most recent album, Burgundy Street, was inspired by a trip to New Orleans in 2015. The album won the Whitten Awards for Most Popular Female Artist and Most Popular Independent Album at the awards. Indie Country Music Australia 2019, co-hosted with Tamworth Country. Fête de la musique.. “It was a wonderful surprise,” she said. “I made this album completely in my own way by my own rules, so it was amazing to be recognized for going my own way.” On the album, Whitten does a moody rendition of Take My Love, written by blues legend Little Willy John. These days Tamworth locals also know Whitten as the host of 2TM’s Our Country podcast series, where she interviews leading country music stars and artists about music and what it means to them. She had planned to return to the stage for this year’s Tamworth Country Music Festival, until it was postponed due to rising coronavirus cases. The festival has been postponed to April 18-24. To mark the 50th anniversary of the iconic Tamworth Country Music Festival, ACM (publisher of this website) has created a new podcast, Celebrating Aussie Country. The podcast was recorded and released before the recent spike in coronavirus cases which forced the festival to be postponed. We are sure you will always enjoy the interviews and the music. Just keep in mind that all references to performance dates are outdated. In the 10-part series, available only on Spotify, you’ll hear from established and emerging artists and their music. To listen you will need to download the Spotify app on your mobile phone and search for Celebrating Aussie Country. If you already have Spotify – and you’re reading this story on your mobile – click the banner below and your phone will take you straight to the podcast. Each podcast episode includes an interview with the artist and some of their music. People with a free Spotify subscription will hear a 30-second sample of the song, while those with a premium Spotify subscription will be able to enjoy the full version.
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If anyone can claim a lifelong connection to Australia’s country music capital, it’s Sally-Anne Whitten.
Born and raised in Tamworth, she is the daughter of country music guitarist, pianist and bassist Barry Whitten.
Whitten senior took part in the debut of the Australian Country Music Association and the Tamworth Country Music Festival, which celebrates its 50and birthday this year.
He also claims to own the first electric guitar at Tamworth.
“Through dad, I was exposed to all types of country music. But I think these days my style is more blues-oriented, kinda funky country, as we call it.”
- Listen to Sally-Anne Whitten and her music in our new podcast. If you already have Spotify on your phone and are reading this on your mobile, click the banner below. Alternatively, download the Spotify app on your phone and search for Celebrating Aussie Country. For more instructions, click here.
Whitten cut his teeth in the music industry at age 15, working as a session guitarist alongside his father.
In 2004, she won the TIARA Awards (Tamworth Independent Artists Recognition Awards) with The love he wants the most, co-written with husband/guitarist/producer Alwyn Aurisch. The track also won a UK singing competition judged by Moody Blues founder Mike Pinder.
Whitten collaborated with fellow Tamworth resident and singer-songwriter Allison Forbes for her second single, My place in the world then, after a four-year hiatus in the industry, she came back strong with her single, The life you left behind.
His music is known all over the world, especially in Belgium, France, Germany and the United States.
His last album, Burgundy Streett, was inspired by a trip to New Orleans in 2015. The album won the Whitten Awards for Most Popular Female Artist and Most Popular Independent Album at the 2019 Indie Country Music Australia awards, organized in conjunction with the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
“It was a wonderful surprise,” she says. “I made this album completely in my own way by my own rules, so it was amazing to be recognized for going my own way.”
On the album, Whitten does a brooding rendition of Take my lovewritten by blues legend Little Willy John.
These days Tamworth locals also know Whitten as the host of 2TM’s Our Country podcast series, where she interviews leading country music stars and artists about music and what it means to them.
She had planned to return to the stage for this year’s Tamworth Country Music Festival, until it was postponed due to rising coronavirus cases. The festival has been postponed to April 18-24.
Listen: New Country Music Podcast
To mark the 50th anniversary of the iconic Tamworth Country Music Festival, ACM (publisher of this website) has created a new podcast, Celebrating Aussie Country.
The podcast was recorded and released before the recent spike in coronavirus cases which forced the festival to be postponed. We are sure you will always enjoy the interviews and the music. Just keep in mind that all references to performance dates are outdated.
In the 10-part series, available only on Spotify, you’ll hear from established and emerging artists and their music.
To listen you will need to download the Spotify app on your mobile phone and search for Celebrating Aussie Country. If you already have Spotify – and you’re reading this story on your mobile – click the banner below and your phone will take you straight to the podcast.
Each podcast episode includes an interview with the artist and some of their music. People with a free Spotify subscription will hear a 30-second sample of the song, while those with a premium Spotify subscription will be able to enjoy the full version.
