Tag: James Johnston

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

James Johnston and Zac & George Team Up For “Some Things Never Change”

James Johnston has just dropped his latest country charmer, and he’s got some friends along for the ride. “Some Things Never Change” features Zac & George, a country duo from Eora/Sydney who now split their time between Australia and Nashville. James teamed up with Zac & George in the final hours of a songwriting pilgrimage to America’s country capital, and the rest is history.

“Listening back to the demo on the plane ride home, I knew we had captured something special,” James said. “I wanted to record and release it in a way I had never seen anyone do before.”

So he produced the song in secret with just one thing missing: Zac & George’s vocals, which they recorded during their next visit home. The day after laying down the tracks, they were heading to James’ hometown of Dharawal Country/Wingham to shoot the music video.

“The video was truly special, to be back in my hometown with the boys at the local pub I used to go to every Friday night, it just felt right that the video for ‘Some Things Never Change’ was captured there,” James said. The people you see in the video are also James’ fans, who descended on the pub to create the right party atmosphere after he put the call out on social media.

Riding high on the release of “Some Things Never Change,” James will start touring with another friend, Morgan Evans. He’ll also appear at some choice festivals in the coming months. Catch him anywhere you can!

31 August 2023 – Fortitude Music Hall, Meeanjin/Brisbane (with Morgan Evans)
2 September 2023 – Canberra Theatre, Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country/Canberra (with Morgan Evans) (SOLD OUT)
4 September 2023 – Civic Theatre, Mulubinba/Newcastle (with Morgan Evans)
5 September 2023 – Civic Theatre, Mulubinba/Newcastle (with Morgan Evans)
7 September 2023 – The Powerstation, Auckland (with Morgan Evans)
9 September 2023 – Civic Theatre, Mulubinba/Newcastle (with Morgan Evans) (SOLD OUT)
11 September 2023 – Fortitude Music Hall, Meeanjin/Brisbane (with Morgan Evans) (SOLD OUT)
14 September 2023 – Palais Theatre, Naarm/Melbourne (with Morgan Evans)
15 September 2023 – Palais Theatre, Naarm/Melbourne (with Morgan Evans) (SOLD OUT)
17 September 2023 – Hindley Street Music Hall, Tartanya/Adelaide (with Morgan Evans)
19 September 2023 – Astor Theatre, Boorloo/Perth (with Morgan Evans) (SOLD OUT)
20 September 2023 – Astor Theatre, Boorloo/Perth (with Morgan Evans)
30 September 2023 – Deni Ute Muster, Barababaraba Country/Deniliquin
6 October 2023 – Savannah in the Round, Muluridji Country/Mareeba
1–8 December 2023 – Cruisin’ Country

Image used with permission from Wildheart Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

James Johnston Recalls the Good Old Days With “We Grew Up On”

James Johnston is serving up a heavy dose of nostalgia with his latest single “We Grew Up On.” The track celebrates the freedom so many of us experience getting our first set of wheels. The song’s lyrics are married with a classic country-rock sound that sounds ready for radio.

“You know one of your best days growing up was the day you got your first car. It was more than just a car; it was your first taste of real freedom,” James reminisced.

James will be hitting the road later this year and playing the following shows:

30 September 2023 – Deni Ute Muster, Wamba Wamba and Perrepa Perrepa Country/Deniliquin
6 October 2023 – Savannah in the Round, Muluridji Country/Mareeba
1–8 December 2023 – Cruisin’ Country

Image used with permission from Wildheart Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

James Johnston Drops Feelgood New Single “GOT IT GOOD”

James Johnston is spreading positive vibes with his latest country-rock single, “GOT IT GOOD.” It’s all about celebrating the simple things in life, which comes pretty naturally for this husband and father of two boys.

“’GOT IT GOOD’ is about appreciating the simple things in life and being grateful for what you have as you realise, these are the big things worth celebrating,” James revealed. “The perfect lives of others is just a perception and when you stop to acknowledge the little things you have in your life – a roof over your head, a job that pays the bills and a love waiting for you at home, you realise you’ve GOT IT GOOD.”

Fresh from playing a capacity crowd at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, James will play Meatstock in Toowoomba on April 14 and 15 alongside country icons like Kasey Chambers and Brad Cox.

Image used with permission from Wildheart Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

James Johnston Gets Nostalgic With “Country Boys”

There’s a perception that artists who came to our attention through reality TV shows never go on to have long-standing careers in the music industry. However, in reality, plenty of singer-songwriters have used these platforms to do amazing things. Take James Johnston, who first caught my attention on The X Factor way back in 2014. He’s just returned from performing alongside Lee Kernaghan at the 50th Tamworth Country Music Festival and Golden Guitar Awards. He’s clocked up more than 14 million streams. His last single “Small Town” spent 10 weeks at the top of the CountryTown Hot 50 airplay charts. And he’s just released a new track, “Country Boys”, which deserves to be every bit as successful. The song sees James reminiscing about his childhood in Wingham, in regional New South Wales.

“’Country Boys’ is my childhood captured in a song,” he said. “From riding dirt bikes to losing summers swimming in the creek.”

As the weather cools, the country music scene is heating up. James is on board for a whole string of festivals in the coming months. Check him out at one of the following events:

20 May 2022 – Nebo Hotel Pre-Rodeo Street Party, Nebo
21 May 2022 – PBR Australia @ Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
27 May 2022 – Boots & Beach Festival, Port Macquarie
11 June 2022 – Buck Wild Country Barn Sessions, Townsville
30 July 2022 – Tara Festival of Culture & Camel Races, Tara
20 August 2022 – NQ’s Rock’n Country Music Festival, Mackay
26 August 2022 – Gympie Music Muster, Gympie
23-25 September 2022 – CMC Rocks, Willowbank
2 October 2022 – Savannah in the Round, Mareeba

Image used with permission from Wildheart Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

James Johnston Back in the Spotlight With “Small Town”

I remember James Johnston as a contestant on Australian Idol and The X Factor. Since that time away from the reality TV spotlight, he’s carved out an impressive career as a country music artist. He’s amassed more than 5 million streams, topped country radio and the Spotify Fresh Country playlist, and had his song “Raised Like That” used on more than 8,000 TikTok videos. If, like me, you’re not across his latest tunes his current single “Small Town” is the perfect reintroduction.

“I wrote ‘Small Town’ on the drive back home to my hometown of Wingham. I had been spending quite some time in the city and I was just so excited to get back to my family farm. I wanted to capture that feeling of excitement and anticipation in the song – that build-up as I was on that drive to get back home,” James explained.

The video captures the simple pleasure of gathering with friends around a country bonfire. It was produced by Elijah Cavanagh (Cavanagh Films) and shot on the outskirts of Gatton, in Queensland.

“The storyline follows the journey of a young country guy who was working in the city returning to his roots,” James added. “We threw a big party with a bunch of friends and just captured the magic.”

James is earning a reputation for his live shows after sets at Bush to Bay Festival, Savannah in the Round, and Pro Bull Riding events. You can see him doing his thing at the following upcoming shows:

26 March 2022 – PBR Australia @ Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Newcastle
9 April 2022 – Supagas Canowindra International Balloon Festival @ Canowindra Showgrounds, Canowindra
30 April 2022 – Road to Rodeo @ Longreach Showgrounds, Longreach
27 May 2022 – Beach & Boots Festival @ Breakwall Holiday Park, Port Macquarie
2 October 2022 – Savannah In The Round Festival @ Kerribee Park, Mareeba

Image used with permission from Wildheart Publicity