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Here is a brief look at what the Editor had to say back in November 1995, plus a little more!

A MASSIVE issue ahead as Country Goss' gears up for the 1996 Tamworth Country Music Festival and the #1 highlight - the Australian Country Line Dance Championships held at Calrossy. Entry forms can now be obtained by phoning Kath and Joe McManamon on (067) 664 107. Kath and Joe are also offering accommodation at Calrossy (an Anglican Boarding School) at just $25 per night with a cooked breakfast included. Just 600 places are available on a "first in, best dressed basis" so you'd better be quick! You will also find a full list of the competition dance sections in this issue of Country Goss'.

Also a Festival favourite is the "Longest Line" down the centre of Peel Street. We've re-published this video from the ABC back in 1995 to get you in the "Bootscootin' Boogie" mood.

Save the following dates in your January 1996 Tamworth Diary:

19th January: Official Opening at Bicentennial Park,

20th January: New Talent Golden Guitar Showcase at the Town Hall,

21st January: Star Maker Quest (Final and Grand Final at the Town Hall),

23rd - 25th January: Pro Rodeo Chute Out at the Tamworth Showground

24th - 26th January: Line Dance Championships at Calrossy,

26th January: Australia Day Concert at Bicentennial Park,

27th January: Country Music Cavalcade,

27th January: Longest Line in Peel St. Can we beat our 1995 record of 1,202 dancers?

27th January: Country Music Awards at the Showground,

19th - 28th January 1996: The Oxley Line Dancers invite everyone to the home of the original Tamworth Line Dance Championships - the Oxley Bowls Club, for 10 days of "Bootscootin in the Barn". Dance sessions will commence each day 6pm 'til midnight except for 2 days on the 21st & 28th January where it will be 11am - 4pm. Sponsored by the Oxley Bowls Club and Buttercup, further details contact Kaye on 067 665 704 or Myra on 067 659 954.

As we move into the festive season the Editor wishes each and every one a very merry Christmas, reminding us that this can also be a very lonely time for some. Make a friend!

In the last issue, the Editor detailed the licences required for dance teachers using CDs in their classes and at social functions. This issue looks further at the copyright laws with the Australasian Mechanical Copyright Society (AMCOS) and in particular the area of CD or album reproduction (copying) for use in dance situations. A must read.

The Australian Professional Bootscootin' & Line Dancing Association in conjunction with the Australian Rock 'n' Roll Council Inc. invites dancers to be a part of the very first World Country & Western Bootscootin' & Line Dancing Championship in NSW. The event will be held on the 15th November 1995 at the Newtown RSL in Sydney. There will be 9 dance categories to choose from, and further information can be obtained from Dennis Blackburn on 02 744 1188.

Pandarra Trading Company - Country Western World. Pandarra offer everything imaginable for the urban cowboy and cowgirl. Grab a taste of Texas at 96 Oxford St Darlinghurst, NSW or try their mail order service to anywhere in Australia. Ph: 02 361 5785 or Fax: 02 361 6812

As the rest of Australia gears up for Tamworth, Yvonne Hammond's Peninsula Bootscooters are getting ready for the 1995 Warringah Food and Wine Festival on Sydney's Northern Beaches this summer. With entertainment by The Swing Thing Big Band, Yvonne says they will be performing a number of energetic dances and also calling for audience participation for some of the simpler routines. Contact Country Goss' for details.

From the beaches of Sydney to the stunning NSW South Coast where the Bay Liners line dance group will attempt to break Australia's longest line dance record in Batemans Bay. The event takes place on the 5th November 1995 and all dancers are invited to attend. The event will be held in conjunction with the Neptune's Festival. Further details Tom Tester on (044) 781-055.

Aeromic Wireless Mic Systems. Take your show on the road. Headworn Wireless Microphone System plus 150 watt powered mixer and Denon CD player with pitch control plus two powerful 125 watt 12" 2-way speaker bins and heavy duty tripods. Our price $3498 includes rack, rack mount hardware, all plugs, leads and delivery. JP's Hifi Vision. Sydney 041 223 0787, Melbourne 015 547 550, Cairns 018 042 021.

The Canberra Times reports that thousands of line dancer "folk" filled both sides of the main street of Queenbeyan late 1995 to promote the town's upcoming Music Festival and to raise money for the Queenbeyan Cancer Support Group. Very reminiscent of Tamworth!

Also from The Canberra Times: Armadale City Council in Perth, WA, is up in arms over bootscooters scratching their hall floor. Armadale City Council Manager Jeff Flatlow is now in discussions with the Texan Rebel Bootscooters to get their dancers to give their boots - "the boot" and switch to sandshoes! With bootscooting taking off everywhere, we've possibly only just "scratched the surface" with this story!

Pied Piper Music for all your latest line dance CD's tapes & videos at the cheapest prices. Stacks of CD's or tapes with seven line dances on each one. Compare our prices! Mail orders especially welcome. Phone Frank Drewes on 02 869 8740 or 018 234 486.

Still in Perth. With several Americans in Australia last month for the Sandgroper Stomp in Perth (not Pearth). Hillbilly Rick (USA) has shared this piece of 1995 West Australian history (above).

Now who doesn't like line dancing, a glass of wine and a handful of prawns? The Hawks Nest & Tea Gardens - In Step Line Dancers were special guests at this year's 1995 Myall Prawn Festival in NSW. The event also included boat races, sand modelling, line dancing, music, a parade and the World Prawn Eating Contest! The In Step Line Dancers held 2 dance exhibitions. What a great news story from the local paper.

Sydney Line Dance Promotions. The very best in line dancing in Sydney's west including West Ryde, Baulkham Hills, Wentworthville, Northmead, St Mary's, Pitt Town, Dharruk, Richmond and Penrith. Phone Lance Pritchard on 02 896 8662.

If you weren't at this year's 1995 Myall Prawn Festival, you may well have been "Just Bootstompin' at Timbertown" in NSW for the park's end of year re-opening. Photo courtesy of the Line Dance Reunion Facebook Page.

The Hawkesbury Wine, Food & Music Affair managed to wrangle a posse of around 750 dancers for their recent 1995 "longest line" attempt. Event organisers send a big thank you to all who attended. The Royal NSW Institute for Deaf and Blind Children also send a big thank you to the Illawarra Country Line Dancers Association and the many dancers that turned up at the Corrimal Leagues Club last month raising $700.00 for their charity.

As part of the buildup to launching their new Twisters Line Dancing Boots coming in from Nashville, USA, Durango Boot staged a major line dance event on the last Sunday of this year's 1995 Royal Melbourne Show with more than 600 Victorian bootscooters dancing together in the main arena to "Bootscootin' Boogie" and "Honky Tonk Stomp". A major spectacle indeed!

Karen Heath with student Barb Bear.

As we move closer to Christmas, the Line Dancers of South Australia recently held their end of year break up and student Barb Bear was on hand with Instructor Karen Heath for this photo by the Port Lincoln Times. Classes resume on the 9th January at the Port Lincoln Anglican Parish Hall each Tuesday and Thursday night from 8pm and Karen invites everyone to come along.

If you are in Melbourne on the 9th December 1995 and in the Christmas mood, why not head over to the Theodor Herzl Social Club for some fun Texas Line Dancing. Just $18 and includes Supper! Contact Judy on 019 425 244.

Australian Country Music Presenters Association - Instructors Insurance $100pa. 30% off retail for CD's, cassettes and videos plus many other benefits. Ph Greg North 015 216 339.

In NSW, Stan & Crystal Thurgood of Kempsey were recently snapped getting ready for their Club's 1995 Christmas Hoedown. Photo courtesy of the Line Dance Reunion Facebook Page.

Joan Smart and the Kiama Bootscooters were well ahead of the curve celebrating Christmas with a dance party at the Showground Pavilion in Kiama, NSW. Were you there?

Line Dancing every Friday night at Darkes Forest Woolshed. $8 includes supper. Country Line Dancing, all new country music releases, fully licensed. Phone 042 943 424.

There is still time to get your tickets for the Boots 'n All stage spectacular on the 17th December 1995 at the Rooty Hill RSL in NSW. Produced by Joe McManamon and the Spirit of Tamworth, the event is a 3-hour extravaganza of music and dancing with all proceeds to the Make a Wish Foundation. The cast of 89 dancers have been drawn from all corners of NSW, the youngest of which will be 5-year-old Maddison Glover of Wollongong. World line dance champion Simon Ward will lead the troupe. Bookings through 02 9625 5500.

From Christmas to New Years Eve and there is no shortage of family entertainment to welcome us into 1996. Lisa Firth and Janet Halls (below) are having a dance party at the Bodiship Fitness Centre in Campbelltown from 7pm - 1am, tickets and further details 046 288 347 or 046 253 800.

In Sydney's eastern suburbs, The Phoenix Bootscooters are celebrating New Year's Eve at the Maroubra Seals Club on Marine Parade from 7.30pm 'til late. There is a bistro and plenty of parking. Details 02 818 4972. However, if you are looking for something completely different, Sydney Harbour will be awash with a fireworks spectacular from 9pm.

Did you know that there is now an On-Line Bootscootin' Gig Guide! Yes, 24 hours a day - 7 days a week across Australia in NSW, Victoria, WA and QLD. You can listen to updated Class and Socials information as well as advertise your own line dance event information. Full details in Country Goss'.

Ken's Country Western Clothing. Shirts and vests designed exclusively for you. Call Ken now to design your Team Shirts for Tamworth 02 398 3106.

FAN FAIR USA 1996? The Editor announces, in conjunction with Harvey World Travel, Country Goss' has organised a fully escorted holiday for June 1996 to Nashville, Tennessee and the 25th International Country Music Fan Fair. And you are invited!

Fourteen fantastic days, departing 9th June 1996, the trip includes Memphis, Graceland, Beale St, Grand Ole Opry, Los Angeles, Disneyland, the Wildhorse Saloon, Opryland Resort, Lynchburg and Jack Daniels Distillery! Group numbers are limited. Cost is $4,699pp twin share, brochures and more detailed information can be obtained from any Harvey World Travel office throughout Australia and New Zealand on 132 757 or contact Country Goss’ directly.

New Sydney radio station KICK AM1269 is about to give the airwaves a kick with some cool new country, rock and blues plus a Saturday Night Dance Ranch with DJ Grizzly Adams and line dance personality Julie Talbot. Australia's newest and most unique radio station is set to launch on in November to the sounds of Tim McGraw, Eric Clapton, Alan Jackson, Troy Cassar Daley, The Mavericks, Brooks & Dunn and more. Former 2SM alumnus Trevor Smith will be directing the programming.

As the drums throb to a boom, diddy boom, diddy boom boom, in the subterranean basement the Phantom calls home, deep within the bowels of an abandoned record pressing plant, the Ghost Who Squawks is predicting Tim "Indian Outlaw" McGraw may hit Tamworth in '96 along with Trisha Yearwood who will fly in to present an Award. Could Stacey Dean Campbell be back as well? Well, we may not find out because......

.....deeply depressed about being led up a chemical laden creek without a paddle over the bogus Optus CMT rumour last issue (CMT will be a Foxtel presentation), the Phantom is now believed to be a rambling mess. Spotted hunched and feeble in the corner of a sleazy inner city Melbourne ale house in the wee small hours of a cold frosty morning recently, the Phantom could be heard muttering and spluttering, cursing all and sundry. Could this possibly be Phantom's last Country Goss' column? Find out on Page 5!

Country Goss' is now offering dance clubs and venues the chance to personalise their editions of Country Goss' with their own Logo and Club information on the front and inside covers whist still taking advantage of all the regular features. It's a great way to advertise your Club. Contact Country Goss' if you are interested. Here are several editions (above) already out and about in NSW and Queensland.

BMG announce the release of 2 new specially priced CD's for the Brooks and Dunn fans. "Neon Moon" featuring all your favourite ballads and "Bootscootin" featuring all those great dance tracks. Also newly released is the Alan Jackson The Greatest Hits Collection containing 20 of Jackson's all-time classics.

There are CD reviews and giveaways galore! The Editor reviews Shanley Del's latest release Somewhere Out There produced by Shanley's "pop diva" sister Jenny Morris, along with two exceptional releases from panel beater turned country music star Craig Giles - The acclaimed Ambush and Captured albums contain the hits Hill Billy Rock, Kawliga, the George Jones classic The Race Is On and Cochran fav' Summertime Blues.

For the line dancers there is the 2 CD set of Australia's Favourite Line Dances Volume 2 which not only features a compilation of great country dance tracks, but also a second CD of line dance instruction. But if it is something more visual you were after, there's the dance instructional video Hottest Linedances. All yours to win. Full details in Country Goss'.

There's plenty more in the original issue of Country Goss' (at the top). Contributor Sandra Valentine takes a look at line dancing from a beginner’s perspective, there's news and views in What's Been Happening, 7 HUGE pages of reader's letters in the ever-popular Bushwire followed by 15 pages of venues to get your fix in "Dancing Around Australia", now including classes in New Zealand, Hawaii, Vanuatu and Ireland.

Now, Golden Oldie time! It may be 2025 now, but do you remember what song you were singing and dancing to 30 years ago in November/December 1995? It may have been the smash hit "Fly Like a Bird" by Boz Scaggs and the dance of the same name choreographed by Hedy McAdams of the USA or it could have been the raunchy "Every Little Thing" by Carlene Carter with Jo Thompson's Dance Ranch Romp. We've included both!

Both tracks (below) were American Billboard Chartbusters storming Australia's country music radio and line dance playlists in Australia in the mid 90's on the back of these great choreographies. Courtesy of Div's Line Dancing Directory, we have provided the Step Sheets for you below.

Lucky you kept scrolling!

Now, before you go and before we sign off for 1995, a reader asked us if we could nominate the most popular dance track overall for 1995. We agreed. However, it was no easy task. Had we been asked the question back in 1992 the answer would have been undeniable - The Achy Breaky. So, we hit the ground running and ran and ran and ran. We scoured Top 10's, Top 20's, magazines, radio archives, country music sites and even put word out to The Phantom (no response). Coming up empty handed, we turned to Billboard's Hot 100's and BINGO, there in May 1995 was that one instantly recognised dance track.......Cotton Eye Joe by Rednex! Riding high at an incredible #25 on the Chart.

Now some may disagree and that's OK because we were just as surprised. But doing some follow-up, it soon became apparent that Rednex' Cotton Eye Joe is one of those ubiquitous crowd pleasers across all genres. A catchy tune, with a simple - stomp, kick & shuffle dance step, in a circle, with your arms around your best mates. And just like the YMCA in 1978, the Time Warp in 1974 or The Twist way back in 1960, it's a guaranteed floor filler. A DJ favourite at dance parties, saloons, nightclubs, bars, weddings, 21st birthdays, taverns, line dance socials, discos and schools. Agree or disagree - Enjoy!

We hope you liked this bumper packed issue of Country Goss'. Be sure to send us your letters, photos and contributions. See you next year!

Bye!