mmg.com.au

It’s been a long time since Tamara Stewart has played for a Goulburn Valley audience — about 10 years by her estimate.

But the Mooroopna-born singer-songwriter thinks 2013 might just be the year to return to her old stomping ground.

‘‘I grew up playing in those pubs, all those fabulous venues,’’ Ms Stewart said.

‘‘I’ve played in places around the area (during the past few years), but I need to come right back, smack bang into my home town.’’

The country music star released her fourth album, Appleseed, in August and although there are no concrete plans to play in the Goulburn Valley just yet, she’s on the circuit, promoting her latest tracks.

Ms Stewart said the album was full of ‘‘true stories’’ from a childhood spent in central Victoria and her dreams of becoming a musician.

‘‘A lot of the stories are just from where I come from ... inspired by a young kid, sitting around my bedroom in Mooroopna and listening to all the country music on 3SR,’’ she said.

‘‘That was it for me, I was sold.’’

Appleseed has already received critical acclaim, earning three Golden Guitar nominations for the 2013 County Music Awards.

This included two nominations for Australasian Performing Right Association Song of the Year and Vocal Collaboration of the Year for her newly-released single Women in Song.

A joint project with fellow singer-songwriters and friends Sara Storer and Felicity Urquhart, the track is a tribute to the strong female performers who paved the way for women in country music.

‘‘Women in Song is basically inspired by Joy McKean, Thel Carey and Shirley Thoms, who are three trailblazers in Australian country music,’’ Ms Stewart said.

‘‘It’s really nice to pay homage to them, particularly Joy, who’s been a big supporter of me.’’

Ms Stewart said the song could only have been done as a collaboration to properly recognise women’s contribution to the country music scene.

‘‘Fliss (Felicity) and Sara and I have been mates for about 15 years but haven’t found a project to work together on until this,’’ she said.

‘‘It’s great to work with such good singers, who are also songwriters in their own right.’’

Appleseed is available from most major music outlets. For more information, visit www.tamarastewart.com.au