Australian Festival Welcomes John Lomax III
Story posted April 1, 2005
The Australian Festival is delighted to announce that John Lomax III has been appointed the Director of Music Down Under for 2005. John brings to the Australian Festival an extensive music background with a unique understanding of the Australian music industry. John will be working specifically on building and developing Music Down Under as a direct gateway for Australian & New Zealand artists to enter Nashville and expose and launch themselves to United States music markets.  

John is the grandson of pioneering folklorist, John Avery Lomax, and nephew of the legendary Alan Lomax, John Lomax III labels himself "an artist manager in recovery". Based in Nashville since 1973, he writes a regular column for Australian magazine COUNTRY UPDATE. He managed Kasey Chambers from 1996-2001, securing her North American record deal with Warner Bros.

Prior to his association with Chambers, Lomax managed Townes Van Zandt in the '70s, Steve Earle in the '80s and The Cactus Brothers in the '90s. He created FOR THE SAKE OF THE SONG, the Townes Van Zandt songbook (1978), authored NASHVILLE: MUSIC CITY U.S.A. (1986) and penned the authorized biography of Chambers' family, RED DESERT SKY, published in October, 2001 in Australia and New Zealand.

In addition to his column for Country Update Lomax pens occasional features for MOJO, Word and Country Music People in England and no depression in the U.S.

He founded Roots Music Exporters, devoted to selling independent artists' music to importers in Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Begun in 2001, the company has enjoyed 3 years of double-digit growth.

Lomax is a member of N.A.R.A.S. (Board of Governors, 1998-2002), Americana Music Association (Board, 2000-2002), Leadership Music, the International Bluegrass Music Association and the Australian Country Music Association. He has been to Australia seven times and attended four Tamworth Festivals.

The 2005 Australian Festival would like to welcome John - and we look forward to building Music Down Under in the upcoming years.

Cheers,

Peter Beare, Director
2005 Australian Festival