27.1.08 - MARK WINS SONGWRITERS AWARD AT TELSTRA ROAD TO TAMWORTH 2008...AND A TRIP TO NASHVILLE TENNESSEE

LAST week Mark Wells arrived at the Country Music Festival in Tamworth a stranger in a sea of cowboy hats and twanging guitars. But last night he was a star in the making, gracing the red carpet and rubbing shoulders with country music’s finest at the Golden Guitar awards.

Since winning the Telstra Road to Tamworth songwriting award on Tuesday the Merewether singer songwriter can hardly walk more than ten steps in Tamworth without being stopped for autographs, photos and big congratulatory handshakes.

“It’s very overwhelming the response I’ve been getting here, every one’s being so friendly and supportive,” said Wells.

Country starlet Catherine Britt and last year’s winner Morgan Evans were among the first to congratulate him with affectionate hugs backstage at the grand final.

“They’ve being giving me some great advice and even offered me a place to stay. They've been awesome.” Wells explained.

While Wells is packing his bags to leave Tamworth, his already preparing himself for his prize — an all expenses-paid trip to Nashville to meet and write with some of country music’s leading songwriters at the CMA festival in May.

The trip will be a life changing experience for him, according judge, Rob Potts, of Entertainment Edge.

He couldn’t be more right as it will be Wells’ first time out of Australia.

“I’ve never been overseas before and it’s a pretty awesome way to be spending my first trip.”

Writing his first song at age five, the years of practice have paid off. Potts said Wells was “far and away the best songwriter in the competition”.

Although Wells believes his strength lies in his songwriting there’s no denying his performance skills.

At a performance at Tamworth Regional Centre last week the capacity crowd at responded by clapping in time and cheering for his two original songs "Playing with Fire", co-written with Golden Guitar nominee Morgan Evans and "When it all Boils Down", also co-written with Brian Daly.

(featured in Sun Herald)