LATEST NEWS

Carmel is planning to launch her new CD and music book for Primary School children on Tues November 3rd.

Musician, composer and entertainer Carmel Charlton will launch her new music resource for Primary Schools at Perth Modern School in August (date to be confirmed).  The resource entitled ‘Out of This World’ is an exciting collection of catchy original songs that were composed to entertain and educate children of our history and heritage, health, precious resources, unique fauna, environment and citizenship/values.  

The pack contains a double disc - Vocal CD and an instrumental (backing) CD.  There is also a book of musical accompaniment for piano and guitar plus harmonies included on a number of compositions.  All songs encourage active participation and included in the book are suggested actions.  Many of the songs are already being used in schools.

Carmel has produced 5 CD’s including ‘Precious Water’ for the Western Australian Water Corporation to educate children on the value of water in their ‘Waterwise’ schools program.  She is regularly commissioned to compose songs for schools and special events.   

Songs include:     Water More Precious than Gold, C. Y. O’Connor I Wish You Were Here, Little Words (Respect), Numbat,
                          We Don’t Smoke, Out of This World (Looking back at and appreciating our beautiful planet from outer space) 
                                   Christmas in Australia, Goodbye Beethoven  (In a light hearted way you will learn about some of the terms that are 
                                                                                                                                  used for the parts of a  symphony. 
                                   Up Down South (In the Noongar language ‘up’ on the end of a word means ‘place of’
                                   Horses Coming Home (160,000 horses were taken to the 1^st World War.  Due to quarantine regulations they were unable
                                                                                      to return.    
                                  Coolamun Baby   (A dreamtime Lullabye)                                                                          

Your song about CY O’Connor is fabulous, and it was a real honour and pleasure to work with you.
Julie Doyle – Music Specialist - Holy Spirit School, City Beach, WA 

For more information please email carmel@carmelcharlton.com

Carmel had an amazing time at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. There were over 3000 performers.  In Peel Street (main street of Tamworth) the buskers were wall to wall.  Every hall, hotel, reserve, shopping centre, theatre had music practically non stop.  It is one of the ten biggest festivals in the world. 

As well as being an audience member at lots of shows Carmel also performed her music to very appreciative audiences.  Her gigs included the Tamworth Songwriter Showcases at West Leagues Club, Bush Balladeers, Gospel Concerts, and Bush Poets and Balladeers Breakfast at the Tamworth City Bowling Club.  She also shared her music at St Nicholas Catholic Church.  As it was just before Australia Day she sang 'The Great Southland of the Holy Spirit' - which seemed to be an inspiration for many people.

She attended a songwriters workshop with Allan Caswell - one of Australia's     Carmel & Margaret Finucane - Margaret runs   
premier songwriters  (he wrote 'On the Inside', the theme from the television       Finucane's Homestay Service with her husband
series 'Prisoner'.)                                                                                                                                            Jim.  She is so friendly and obliging and can't do
                                                                                                                                                                                    enough for visitors to Tamworth.

Carmel said; 'everyone was so friendly - I guess it's because they are all there for the same reason - to enjoy the music'.

                                     ______________________________________________ 

Whispers on the Wind CD available from Carmel and also from Zenith Music in Claremont and Trad and Now online shop

 www.tradandnow.com/shopping

The beautiful video clip of Horses Coming Home

 'Horses Coming Home' on youtube

is a moving tribute to the soldiers and horses of WW1.  In 1914 a small boy at Bakers Hill saw soldiers and horses going by train to Albany, Western Australia.  The convoys took 160,000 horses to the first World War.  Only one returned.  Due to quarantine regulations they were either put down or left behind.  That boy was Frank Smith.  He later gave me his poem that I set to music.  The footage is courtesy of the Australian War Museum in Canberra.

sonicbids.com/carmelcharlton7

 

Carmel songs are often heard on the ABC's 'Australia All Over' program. Songs that have been featured are  'Up, Down South', (that mentions many Noongar Aboriginal place names ending with 'up' from the southwest of Western Australia)

 'Back to the Goldfields' and 'My Nullarbor Home' (that is also a track on 'Macca's Sunday Best CD.)     

 

Carmel takes her shows to country areas of Western Australia.  She performed at the opening of the Australian

Mallee Fowl Centre in Ongerup.  Her 'Up Down South' song was a hit with the audience. John Williamson who is 

Patron of the endangered Mallee Fowl performed 'Mallee Boy' to a very appreciative crowd.

 

Reviews:

'Her voice, her versatility and banter with the audience and stories relating to the songs had me completely engaged – it flowed so effortlessly.  I'll definitely be at her next show". Toni Italiano (Recording engineer Pet Rock Studios Kiara, WA)

 

Carmel Charlton, our feature artist, came all the way from Jackadder's Music Club in Perth to play especially for

us at the Bunbury Performer's Club.  What a performer she is.  Fabulous singing, sort of like a West Aussie Eva Cassidy, delicate fingerstyle acoustic guitar, piano and some beautifully crafted original compositions.  Carmel loved getting the audience nvolved with songs like "Pokarekare Ana" and "I Guess It Doesn't Matter Anymore".  Her original material

included "Up Down South" - Co-written with Pat O'Leary, "Back to Brookton" - a poem from a friend set to music by Carmel and "Goodbye Beethoven" a light-hearted look at the rigid structure and endless analysis of classical

composition.  Carmel left everybody uplifted and extended an invitation to anybody interested in performing at

Jackadder's.  Peter Blankendaal