Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham Drop Fantastic New Duet, “Tone Deaf”

If you’ve ever felt like you were losing yourself in a relationship, “Tone Deaf,” the latest single from Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham, is for you. It’s an empowering anthem which celebrates breaking free from that type of partnership and reclaiming your own identity. It’s such heavy subject matter, but by focusing on independence rather than oppression, Felicity and Josh have kept their single upbeat.

“We’ve all had experiences in life where we feel like we are dancing to someone or something else’s tune and losing a sense of who we are. The expectations of others and society at large can easily funnel you into a space where you wake up one day and ask, where am I and who have I become?” Felicity said. “Being held back and held down is bad enough, but when your oppressor is tone deaf to your needs, it’s time to make yourself tone deaf to their song of control. Tuning out is the first step in healing, but the ultimate growth comes from writing your own song to sing.”

Josh and Felicity’s musical journey is going from strength to strength after they signed with ArtBridge Entertainment in March and joined Craft Music’s roster in April. They’ve also got a stack of gigs lined up in New South Wales, the ACT, and Tasmania, so catch them anywhere you can:

13 July 2025 – Mullum Roots Festival, Bundjalung Country/Mullumbimby
4 September 2025 – Avalon Restaurant & Bar, Kedumba/Katoomba
5 September 2025 – The Beer Shed Brewing Co, Tharawal Country/Leumeah
6 September 2025 – Avalon Beach RSL Club, Guringai Country/Avalon Beach
7 September 2025 – Dangar Island Bowling Club, Guringai Country/Dangar Island
11 September 2025 – Qirkz in the Hunter, Wonnarua Country/Abermain
12 September 2025 – Royal Hotel Dungog, Wonnarua Country/Dungog
13 September 2025 – Flow Bar, Biripi Country/Old Bar
18 September 2025 – Brass Monkey, Kurranulla/Cronulla
19 September 2025 – Robertson Public House & Kitchen, Gandangara Country/Robertson
20 September 2025 – Belconnen Arts Centre, Ginninderra Country/Belconnen
21 September 2025 – Smokey Dan’s, Yuin Country/Tomakin
25 September 2025 – The Royal Oak Hotel, Tyerenotepanner, Panninher, and Lettermairrener Country/Launceston
26 September 2025 – Mt. Gnomon Farm, Plairhekehillerplue Country/Penguin
27 September 2025 – The Bush Inn, Leenowwenne Country/New Norfolk
28 September 2025 – Private Gig, Nipaluna/Neika
24–25 October 2025 – Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival @ Dorrigo Showgrounds, Gumbainggir Country/Dorrigo
7–8 November 2025 – Majors Creek Festival, Walbanga Country/Majors Creek
21 January 2026 – Capitol Theatre, Calala/Tamworth

Image used with permission from Wildheart Publicity

Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham Release Title Track From Duets Album “Birdsong”

Country is one of those genres that elicits pretty strong reactions in me. I either love it or hate it: there is no in between. That’s the reason I didn’t review Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham’s collaborative album Birdsong last year. While there were songs I loved, there were plenty that also weren’t my cup of tea. It’s also why I’m excited that they’ve released the title track, one of my favourite cuts from this release. The song was inspired by an ancient Chinese proverb, “Always keep a green branch in your heart so a singing bird may come.”

“It’s easy to die inside and become unwilling to keep your branch outstretched,” Felicity added. “When you’ve suffered it can make you untrusting and protective.”

Speaking of his musical partner, Josh said “I was inspired by her resilience and openness in the wake of recent personal tragedy. When I encountered that proverb, I felt that she was its living embodiment. Not only was her branch green and outstretched – she was the singing bird too! I wrote the song by a river in the golden glow of a late summer evening with a chorus of cicadas swelling and pulsing in harmony.”

Felicity and Josh are bringing the music from Birdsong to the following cities in the coming months.

24 January 2024 – Capitol Theatre, Kamilaroi Country/Tamworth
22 March 2024 – St. Brigids Church Crossley, Gunditjmara Country/Warrnambool
23 March 2024 – Palais-Hepburn, Dja Dja Wurrung Country/Hepburn Springs
24 March 2024 – Watchem Church, Watchupga/Watchem
31 March – 1 April 2024 – National Folk Festival, Ngambri/Canberra

Image used with permission from Wildheart Publicity

Felicity Urquhart and Troy Cassar-Daley to Host Country Music Awards

Felicity Urquhart and Troy Cassar-Daley will share hosting duties at the 37th CMAA Country Music Awards.

Troy, a 14 times CMAA winner, said it was “a great honour” to host the show.

“I’m really looking forward to being on stage as a co-host with Felicity, especially as it’s an opportunity to say more than a few lines as I usually do as a presenter,” he said in a statement.

“Tamworth and I have a lot of history and I look forward to continuing to be a part of that history moving forward into 2009 at the 37th ‘Golden Guitar’ Awards.”

Felicity is similarly chuffed.

“It will be great to join Troy in hosting the 2009 CMAA Country Music Awards. The Awards represent the highest achievements in the Australian country music industry and to join my peers on our ‘night of nights’ is an honour.”

Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson, John Williamson, Adam Brand, The McClymonts, The Slim Dusty Family, Catherine Britt, and Melinda Schneider will all perform on the night. The 37th CMAA Country Music Awards will hit Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Convention Centre on January 24.

Image source: Adam.J.W.C. @ Wikimedia Commons