Meet the small-town country musician taking on Tamworth

Katelann Grealy has just returned from the Academy of Country Music and says she’s ready to turn her songs into Golden Guitars.

COUNTRY IN HER VEINS: Miles musician Katelann Grealy has taken the next step in her music career by making it into the prestigious Academy of Country Music, giving her the opportunity to be part of the opening act at this year's Tamworth Country Music Festival.

KATELANN Grealy can still recall listening to all the country greats on her pop’s cassette tapes, singing along in the family lounge room, and dreaming about when she would be old enough to take to the stage.

Now the Miles born and raised woman is taking her love of country to new heights after returning home from an intensive two weeks in Tamworth with the Academy of Country Music, a prestigious training camp for up-and-coming musicians.

Katelann said she spent most weekends throughout high school performing with her aunt and uncle’s band at country music festivals around the country, but her time with the Academy had been her biggest career boost yet.

Katelann (front row, fourth from the left) with the other 27 talented musicians who were selected to take part in The Academy of Country Music this year.

“The last two weeks in the Academy has been incredible,” she said.

“I’ve learnt a lifetime of information about the music industry and been able to work with some of country music’s biggest names including Lyn Bowtell, Lachlan Bryan, Roger Corbett, Kevin Bennett and my mentor Catherine Britt.”

Katelann said her mentor had invited her to open for her at a couple of concerts next month which was “a massive dream come true”.

“Another highlight was getting to co-write a song with Melody Moko who is another very inspirational woman in country music,” she said.

The Academy experience also allowed Katelann to join the 27 other hand-picked musicians from as far as India in a group performance opening the Tamworth Country Music Festival at Toyota Park.

Katelann Grealy will be opening for Australian country music icon Catherine Britt next month as part of Britt’s Bush Pubs tour for 2020.

A big step up from some of her earlier gigs at the Dulacca Pub and Chinchilla RSL and an experience she won’t be forgetting in a hurry, Katelann said the Academy had reignited her love of music and performing and she was determined to make 2020 her biggest year to date.

“The entire two weeks at the Academy has been a huge benefit to me, I have gained so much insight into the industry and now have a better direction for my professional career,” she said.

“I feel really inspired to further my songwriting and release my first single this year and enter some more talent searches and competitions to help get my name out there.”

Katelann was able to learn from some of Australia’s most influential country musicians, including Kasey Chambers, during her time at The Academy of Country Music.

The business owner, personal trainer and mother of two has also found the time to teach guitar and singing lessons in Miles for the past four years and has a line-up of students waiting to get into her weekly sessions.

“Miles have been so great from the very beginning … It’s been really wonderful to have the community’s support through this entire journey, knowing so many parents and young musicians look up to what I’m doing is really encouraging,” she said.

Katelann said she was grateful to the Miles community for supporting her country music dream.

Katelann encouraged other budding musicians in the Western Downs to learn from her experience.

“If music is something you want to pursue, do it,” she said.

“Get up earlier if you have to, go to bed late. Make the time.

“Don’t let people tell you you’re not good enough, and follow you gut instinct.”

To stay up to date with all of Katelann’s upcoming gigs as well as her highly anticipated first single, follow her Facebook page here.

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