Cowgirl’s summer shines

By Tania Martin
DRAWING inspiration from their country roots has led sister-act, the Sunny Cowgirls, to the top of the Australian Country Music charts.
This dynamic duo, Sophie and Celeste Clabburn will take centre stage in Mount Evelyn on the weekend at the York on Lilydale Resort.
These true blue Aussie cowgirls have just released their fourth album, Summer, which is now on its way to number one on the Australian charts and is also sitting fourth in international rankings.
But the girls never expected their rise to the top to be so quick.
“It’s always been a dream of ours to do this but we just didn’t think it would happen the way it has,” Sophie said.
However, the sisters never took the easy road, working hard as jillaroos, fruit pickers and cattle ranch hands while devoting time to their first love, music.
They played at agricultural shows, rodeos and anywhere they could get a gig.
The Sunny Cowgirls hard work soon payed off, earning a spot at the CMAA College of Country Music and a chance meeting with star Adam Brand in early 2005.
They took a seminar conducted by the singer and took the opportunity to give Brand a copy of their independent album which featured both covers songs and some of their own work.
Sophie walked up to the country music icon and handed him the CD but was not confident it would get them anywhere.
“He said he was going to play it in his ute when he leaves and we were like ‘yeah right he’s not going to listen to it’,” she said.
But Brand and Graham Thompson of Compass Brothers Records listened to the CD and within weeks, the girls were becoming a household name in the country music industry.
The Sunny Cowgirls first album shot to number three on the country music charts, scoring a number of Golden Guitar nominations.
Sophie said at first they weren’t sure if their music would be taken seriously.
“We’re a bit different – it’s a mixture of the traditional, country rock and loud drinking songs,” she said.
The girls draw their inspiration from an eclectic group of artists they grew up listening to from Slim Dusty, Chad Morgan and Johnny Cash to rockers the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.
The Sunny Cowgirls are fast becoming known for their spirited and seductive performances.
“We just love playing to huge crowds of country people because we feel right at home and they really relate to our music,” Sophie said.
The Sunny Cowgirls music optimises what it’s like to live and work the land.
They will take centre stage on Saturday at the York on Lilydale resort on the corner of York and Swansea roads, Mount Evelyn.
Country fans can enjoy dinner and a show for just $60 or $27.50 for the show only.
Doors open at 8pm and tickets are now on sale by calling 9736 4000.