jake nickolai

Jake Nickolai – From Broadway (Nashville) To Blacktown (NSW)

Brilliant young guitarist, Jake Nickolai, has returned to Australia from a very successful and inspired first visit to Nashville. Sponsored by Commercial Radio Australia from last year's New Music 2 Radio initiative, Jake was invited to play at the CMA Global Artist showcase at The Stage on Broadway and proved to be one of the stand out artists on the night. Jake's performance created a buzz within the Industry and the general feeling on Music Row is that Jake has a real future in the Country Music business in Nashville, should he wish to follow that path.

Everyone who met him or saw Jake play, had something positive to say about him and it was virtually impossible for Jake to take up all the offers made by local and international acts for him to play guests spots on their shows! As a result of his outstanding performance at the Global Artist Showcase he was invited to perform on the Riverside Daytime Stage as part of the CMA Music Festival program which resulted in an interview with GAC (Great American Country – over 30 million subscribers). GAC is the alternate country music network on USA cable TV.

Much of Jake's day time in Nashville was spent writing with some of Nashville's major hit writers such as Neil Cody, Mike Mobley and Jon Vesner, whilst at night he performed at various clubs including a gig with Catherine Britt at 12th and Porter and at the Blue Grass Inn on Broadway.

"It was a great learning experience working in Nashville and also being able to see some of the best musicians in country music playing live. There is just so much musical energy in that city and it's definitely rubbed off on me. I can't wait to get back" says Jake.

One of the highlights of the trip was working on a charity recording session with Jedd Hughes, Lee Ann Womack and Joe Nicholls produced by none other than Dan Huff (Keith Urban / Tim McGraw). Jake also played on a session with up and coming artist, Kyle Wyley who was so impressed with Jake's guitar skills he instantly offered Jake the opportunity to go into the recording studios with him. And then there was the chance meeting with Steve Cropper (Dock of The Bay) who gave him one of his guitar picks.

Oh yes, and Jake performed at Blacktown RSL on Friday 30th June! He noted:

"It's great playing to country music fans, whether it's Nashville or Blacktown, it's the reason we all do it"

Jake's Nashville Diary is now available for reading. Click here

Jake will be recording his first album for the ABC in the very near future, but in the meantime he's back on the road performing at the following venues in addition to performing in the Johnny Cash tribute show "Walk The Line" opening at Star City Showroom on July 18th for six days through to 23rd:

September 27 2005: Jake Nickolai - Radio Industry’s "Next Big Thing"

At an exclusive media event held at Studio 301 in Sydney‚ the commercial radio industry today announced Jake Nickolai amongst the eight new and emerging Australian artists who it believes have the potential to be the next big things on the Australian music scene.

Judge and Nova 969 music director Dan Bessant‚ said "artists were chosen who we felt had real and immediate radio potential. It was important to not be too restrictive in terms of genre. Keeping the "blinkers" off allowed a very diverse number of acts to get through this year allowing some great male and female performers‚ and a mixture of solo artists and bands – all with commercial radio hit potential".

"New artists have a chance to showcase their talent to‚ and interact with‚ radio industry programmers and decision makers all in the one room! In turn‚ it’s an opportunity for the radio industry to embrace local talent and find that next breakthrough artist or song for their station" said Mr. Bessant.

The New Artists to Radio event has been successful in helping launch the careers of artists like Kid Courageous‚ Delta Goodrem‚ Thirsty Merc‚ Sarah Blasko‚ Tammin Sursok‚ Jade MacRae and Eran James – all of whom went on to secure widespread commercial radio airplay and commercial success.

The New Artists to Radio Showcase (NA2R)‚ organized by Commercial Radio Australia‚ was first held in 2002 and was known as the New Music to Radio (NM2R) showcase‚ with the aim of encouraging the development of Australian music.

The eight finalists will perform to commercial radio programmers and music directors at a closed session at the annual National Radio conference in Sydney on October 14. At this session‚ the programmers and music directors will select four artists to perform to around 300 senior members of the commercial radio industry at a special event that evening at the Sydney Convention Centre. Based on their Friday night NA2R performance‚ one artist will then be invited to perform to over 800 members of the commercial radio and music industries the following night at the 2005 Australian Commercial Radio Awards on October 15 – alongside some of the biggest names in Australian music.

All acts were chosen based on their commercial radio potential by a panel of radio network program and music directors.

"It’s an absolute honour to be selected to play at the NA2R Showcase and I’m very excited with the opportunity to represent country music at this event" said Nickolai "country music has a lot more in common with contemporary music than most people think".

Jake has spent most of this year on the road opening for Australia’s leading female country entertainer‚ Beccy Cole‚ as well as playing guitar in her band. The first two singles from Jake’s mini album have both reached #1 on the Country Music Channel and the album debuted in the ARIA country chart last week.

October 17 2005: Jake Nickolai – To Perform In Nashville With Commercial Radio Australia (CRA) Sponsorship

Young guitar slinger‚ Jake Nickolai‚ had no time to digest the news that he was off to Nashville when Nova’s Bianca Dye introduced his performance as one of the finalists in the "New Artists 2 Radio" Showcase at Sydney’s Convention Centre at Darling Harbour on Friday night before launching into a sizzling set.

Bianca introduced Jake and announced that he was the recipient of a CRA sponsored trip to Nashville in June next year where the Country Music Association of America have invited Jake to appear on their prestigious CMA Global Artist Showcase (one of only six international performers) during the annual CMA Music Festival.

This has been a momentous year for Jake who kicked of 2005 with a string of gigs in Tamworth at the Telstra Country Music Festival and then packed his bag to spend the year opening for Australia’s CMAA Entertainer of The Year‚ Beccy Cole‚ as well as playing in her band. During this time Jake has built up a legion of fans‚ both young and old‚ who are attracted by his music and his endearing charm.

Jake’s guitar skills have seen even the most experienced musicians do a double take on the "kid with the guitar" and whilst comparisons to Keith Urban are natural‚ Jake would be only too happy to follow in his footsteps and this sponsorship is the first step in that direction.

"This opportunity is something I’ve been dreaming of for years! I’m so excited with the chance to go to Nashville thanks to the CRA and becoming involved in the music scene there‚ especially during the CMA Music Festival when so many brilliant musicians are performing around town at the various venues. I’m honoured to be invited to perform on the CMA Global Artist Showcase and appreciate this recognition‚" said a very excited Jake after the CRA event.

Jake plans to extend his time in Nashville to work on his writing skills and catch up with "mates" Catherine Britt and Jedd Hughes.

November sees Jake back on the road opening for guitar hero Tommy Emmanuel during his Australian tour‚ another milestone in his short career.

During 2005 Jake released a mini album "Think About You" from which has emerged two very successful singles‚ both reaching #1 on the Country Music Channel where his clips are highly requested.

His next single will comprise one of the two tracks he performed at the New Artists 2 Radio showcase‚ the Mark O’Shea composed "Suddenly I". The track will be released in January to coincide with next year’s Tamworth country music festival.

Older News

March 7 2005: Jake Nickolai "Think About You" Single

"Think About You" is a perfect title for Jake Nickolai’s brand new single. After all‚ once they’ve heard it‚ country fans will be thinking about very little else.

An extremely appealing‚ catchy country ballad with a whole lot of attitude‚ "Think About Me" is Jake’s second single‚ and the first from his debut EP‚ also titled Think About Me.

Jake and young gun producer Matt Fell — together‚ one of the hottest teams in country music today — chose the song for its contemporary sound‚ intelligent lyrics and musical potential.

"It’s a very different song‚ which is why I found it so appealing. Lyrically it’s a very smart song‚ and musically it’s got some really interesting twists‚" Jake said.

"Matt took it and did some amazing things to it. It was always a very cool song‚ but the way it turned out is just sensational."

Jake‚ 22‚ is a product of his generation. Like close friend Jedd Hughes‚ he’s determined to hang on to his country roots‚ but to plant them firmly in the twenty-first century.

And with his brand new Think About You EP‚ Jake’s taken the next step towards establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with on the Australian country scene.

In the past few years he’s notched up a string of successes‚ including a Golden Guitar nomination in 2004 and reaching the Grand Finals of the Toyota Star Maker Quest in 2003.

He’s already released two successful recordings — a sizzling single‚ "Faster"‚ and his distinctive version of silverchair’s "Miss You Love" for the milestone ABC Country compilation CD Crossing the Tracks‚ produced by Garth Porter.

His performances at the Fender Jam at the Tamworth Festival over the past two years have been nothing short of breathtaking‚ and Tamworth 2005 saw him performing to packed houses‚ and wowing the crowds at the Fender SuperJam.

Jake’s about to head off on an Australia-wide tour with multi-Golden Guitar winner Beccy Cole.