When Tania Kernaghan slips down over the border to the Northern Rivers next month, she'll bring a lot of outback Queensland with her.
The acoustic-only concert, which will show in Grafton, Sawtell and Casino from July 5, will showcase new songs like Better Worn In released earlier this month.
Tania was born into country music, growing up in the Riverina in a family of drovers who also called the high country home. She took to the entertainment stage with her musician father Ray, and brother Lee while siblings Greg and Fiona wrote music. To produce gold and platinum selling albums is a family trait with the close bond stronger than ever. Next year, in fact, Ray, Lee and Tania will host a country music cruise.
"My father gets better with age," Tania says. "We used to tour with dad as kids and cut our teeth in seeing how he performed. His stage presence is still phenomenal. He has an X-factor."
Tania and Fiona have spent the last 28 years collaborating on music, inspired in part by brother Lee's urgent advice, following his hit album Outback Club. "You've got to start writing your own songs, he said.
"Well," said Tania. "We've been pretty much doing that ever since."
The Kernaghans today call the Gold Coast home and Tania says the convenience of the location is terrific.
She has found joy in swimming laps of the pool, following the black line and becoming re-vitalised.
"My energy on stage has tripled and my lung capacity has increased out of sight," she says.
"Part of me wishes I was on a farm but I travel so much that I hardly unpack my suitcase.
"And with the airport I am only an hour or two from the heart of the country. There is not too much of Australia I haven't seen."
As a tourism ambassador for regional Queensland, Tania feels very much a part of that country scene.
"I do feel at home in outback Queensland," she says, mentioning a recent trip to Julia Creek for the Dust and Dirt Festival and it was wonderful to see that part of the country get back on its feet again.
"I haven't seen it so green at Cloncurry and Mt Isa for a long time. There are incredible people out there who are very resilient.
"If you're feeling crook get a good dose of outback. It makes for a good elixir."
This year the four-time Golden Guitar award winner turns 50 and looks back with joy at what her life has been, yet anticipates with enthusiasm the next adventure by embracing "every lifeline, every grey hair".
"I believe in positive aging," she says. "When you are older you feel more confident to accept who you are and embrace that. As Banjo Paterson said, "No use to try for fancy riding now"."
The production of her latest single and video clip has been a great collaboration with her sister Fiona and co-writer Nick Wolfe who also played in the band and brought his own style to the proceedings.
I find men more sexy as they get older
- Tania Kernaghan
"Nick is a musical genius and he has taken me into a new sound," says Tania. "He has brought a male perspective to the song which cuts across everyone who listens, men and women."
Tania is serious when she says she is embracing every body line and wrinkle.
"I find men more sexy as they get older," she admits. "Where there's breath there's life, I say!"
Tania admits the country music scene still finds it tough to be heard on mainstream media, like The Voice however younger kids are pursuing the genre and even old hands like Bruce Springsteen are embracing the lyrical lines that connect with people.
"Of course we all give thanks to community radio," she says.
But don't forget who played back-up vocals on her first radio single, "I'll Be Gone" - the incredibly successful Keith Urban.
"Country music has lyrics that people can relate to," she says. "It tells a story."
The Country Music Channel's concerts in the Hunter and near Ipswich, Qld, are a testament to the strength of its fan base.
"County music crowds just come out of the woodwork," she says.
"They love hearing the music live."
At this year's Deniliquin ute muster the main drawcard will be US vocalist Tim McGrath. You can ask him if Country music singers have a future.
"As long as people connect with a song it doesn't matter who wrote it," she says.
The Northern Rivers' concert will include Grafton, home to the McClymont sisters, who used to come to Tania's shows and sit in the front row as 10 and 12 year old fans.
"These women are now the next generation of country music," says Tania. "And I'm glad I had a little bit of input into their sound."
The acoustic tours will be up close and personal, close enough to see those life lines and grey hairs. But Tania likes it that way, stripped back and personal.
