FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – MEDIA RELEASE
 As the youngest artist ever signed as a solo recording artist to mega company Sony Music Australia at age 12 years, now 13-year-old Straalen McCallum is about to begin his musical journey that critics say “the sky is the limit”. Straalen is about to head off around Australian on his first national tour. Of course, this wouldn’t be just any tour. Straalen is touring in support of Irish music sweetheart Mary Duff as she embarks on her new Australian tour. It shouldn’t come as any surprise to those who are familiar with Straalen’s music that these two artists will deliver a show to remember for many years.
The dream started for this youngster when he performed the national anthem in front of 53,000 rugby fans (and even more watching on TV) at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane for the 2010 State of Origin. Hand-picked, and personally offered a record deal by Sony Music Australia CEO Denis Handlin when he was only 12-years-old, mentored and supported by manager Steve White (Lee Kernaghan, The McClymonts, Leo Sayer) and taken under the wing former Sherbet member and now acclaimed music producer and songwriter Garth Porter, Straalen went from being an unknown talent to a young superstar. Fast forward to the end of last year, and Straalen released his debut album A Little Faith and is now preparing to take to the road on his first tour.
His album, which features 13 songs of inspiration and faith, showcases Straalen’s amazing vocals perfectly. With tracks like Angel, How Great Thou Art, Hallelujah and Over the Rainbow, the album is one of those stunning albums that only come along once in a while. It also features Wiyathu, a track written and originally recorded by Geoffrey ‘Gurrumul’ Yunupingu and sung in the original Aboriginal language. Straalen received the blessing from the famous Indigenous singer songwriter to record the song and has personally endorsed Straalen’s version.
Straalen started singing at the age of three and is now taught by one of Australia’s finest singers and vocal coaches, Venetta Fields. In an illustrious career that spans several decades, Venetta has worked with the biggest names in music including The Rolling Stones, Barbara Streisand, Aretha Franklin, Ike & Tina Turner, Boz Scaggs, Pink Floyd and John Farnham. She began working with Straalen at the age of nine and now, three years later is affectionately referred to as his ‘2nd mum’ by her young protégé.
Straalen is overwhelmed by the opportunities that have come this way and is looking forward to meeting people on the road as he embarks on his first national tour. “Oh my gosh, it is totally unbelievable!” he says. “I feel oh so privileged and incredibly lucky. It still feels surreal and I’m totally thankful for the opportunity.”
He hopes the songs from the album will resonate with people of all ages. “I chose songs that I really connect with, and I think that if someone really believes something - really connects with something - then others pick up on that and sort of feel it too,” he says. “So I’m honestly just really looking forward to people just enjoying it. The songs on the album are truly beautiful songs, and in one way or another all convey a message of faith – faith in yourself, faith in your family, or faith in whatever you hold dear. And because I’m ‘little’, I thought I should include that in the title, too! I reckon everyone should have a little faith.”
Straalen will open for Mary Duff on all her Australian tour dates. Mary, an award-winning Irish vocalist earned acclaim as the ‘special guest’ for Daniel O’Donnell’s first UK concert tour, and has been establishing herself a formidable presence in the international music scene ever since.
Thursday 28th July 2011 | 8pm
Caloundra RSL Club, Caloundra QLD
www.caloundrarsl.com.au
Friday 29th July 2011 | 8pm
Twin Towns Services Club, Twin Towns NSW
www.twintowns.com.au
Saturday 30th July 2011 | 8pm
Oakey Cultural Centre, Oakey QLD
(07) 4691 1388
Sunday 31st July 2011 | 2pm
Kedron Wavell Services Club, Chermside QLD
www.kedron-wavell.com.au
Tuesday 2nd August 2011 | 8pm
Coffs Harbour Ex Services Club, Coffs Harbour NSW
www.cex.com.au
Wednesday 3rd August 2011 | 8pm
Wests Leagues Club, Newcastle NSW
www.westsnewcastle.com.au
Thursday 4th August 2011 | 8pm
Tamworth Wests Leagues Club, Tamworth NSW
www.wtlc.com.au
Friday 5th August 2011 | 8pm
Club Forster, Forster NSW
www.clubforster.com.au
Saturday 6th August 2011 | 8pm
Smithfield RSL Club, Smithfield NSW
www.smithfieldrsl.com.au
Sunday 7th August 2011 | 2.30pm
Campbelltown Catholic Club, Campbelltown NSW
www.kingofclubs.com.au
Monday 8th August 2011 | 8pm
Goulburn Workers Club, Goulburn NSW
www.goulburnworkers.com.au
Tuesday 9th August 2011 | 8pm
Dubbo RSL Club, Dubbo NSW
www.dubborsl.com.au
Wednesday 10th August 2011 | 8pm
Griffith Arts Centre
(02) 6962 8100
Friday 12th August 2011 | 8pm
Geelong Playhouse Theatre, Geelong VIC
www.gpac.org.au
Saturday 13th August 2011 | 8pm
Albury Commercial Club, Albury NSW
www.commclubalbury.com.au
Sunday 14th August 2011 | 3pm
Bendigo Capital Theatre, Bendigo VIC
www.thecapital.com.au
Monday 15th August 2011 | 8pm
Shepparton Eastbank Centre, Shepparton VIC
(03) 5832 9511
Wednesday 17th August 2011 | 8pm
Burnie Arts Centre, Burnie TAS
www.burniearts.net
Thursday 18th August 2011 | 8pm
Wrest Point Entertainment Centre, Hobart TAS
www.wrestpoint.com.au
Friday 19th August 2011 | 8pm
Launceston Country Club, Launceston TAS
www.countryclubtasmania.com.au
Sunday 21st August 2011 | 3pm
West Gippsland Arts Centre, Warragul VIC
www.wgac.org.au
Monday 22nd August 2011 | 8pm
Ballarat Her Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat VIC
(03) 5333 5800
Tuesday 23rd August 2011 | 2pm
Frankston Arts Centre, Frankston VIC
www.artscentre.frankston.vic.gov.au
Wednesday 24th August 2011 | 8pm
Warrnambool Kings College, Warrnambool VIC
(03) 5562 0147
Friday 26th August 2011 | 8pm
Adelaide The Capri Theatre, Adelaide SA
www.capri.org.au
www.straalenmccallum.com | www.maryduff.net
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