Next New Thing

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car show music 
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For La Porte, Texas native Jake Worthington, traditional country music has been ingrained in his DNA since childhood. Raised on his grandfather's porch performances of Ray Price, Merle Haggard, and George Jones, he soon picked up his own Gibson acoustic and realized the breadth of his soon-to-be-classic, wide, and wild voice. Now, Worthington breathes fresh life to dance halls, beer joints, and ballrooms from Texas to Tennessee with his just released 13-song, self-penned debut album, Jake Worthington. Captivating the masses with his honky-tonk stylings, the singer-songwriter has already started bringing two-step anthems to venues across the country, opening for Cody Johnson, Riley Green, Pat Green, Hank Williams Jr., and more. With headline dates on the horizon for 2023, Worthington will hit the road this fall as a part of ERNEST's This Fire Tour. Worthington is also a newly sought-after feature artist across the Nashville landscape, including guest spots on Hixtape: Vol. 2 with Ronnie Dunn and Jake Owen on the rowdy “Jonesin',” Ronnie Dunn's 2022 album 100 Proof Neon on “Honky Tonk Town” and ERNEST's 2023 extension FLOWER SHOPS (THE ALBUM): Two Dozen Roses on “Heartache In My 100 Proof.” “I believe in country music as much as I believe in my next breath,” Worthington declares, and “blame it on my raising, but I think there ought to be room for country in country music.”

"I DONT ALWAYS HAVE EVERYTHING FIGURED OUT, IM STILL LOST"
Here are my sounds...

Imagine one of Australian Country Music’s most unique and recognisable voices, joined by 
her lifelong music-obsessed husband, wrapped up by a showstopping lead guitarist. Kirsty 
Lee Akers, Dan Ebbels and Jesse Anderson are Rhinestoned.
Having performed on stages together for over a decade, Akers and Ebbels often toyed with 
creating their own band. Kirsty’s husband Jesse, a regular on tour together, often found 
himself jamming backstage with the band, quietly honing his skills as a musician. With all 
three growing up in musical families, they decided to write, record, and perform music 
influenced by their collective upbringing. A band all about the music that made them. That 
trio is now a reality.
The trio is influenced by some of the greatest acts in music history. Their sound takes the 
lead from artists like Dwight Yoakam and Brooks & Dunn, with lashings of modern influence 
that bands like Midland and The Brothers Osbourne have made a trademark of their 
generation.
Having spent the best part of the last decade living in the USA and Australia, multi-award 
winner Akers, and partner-in-crime Anderson, bring an authentic love of all things honky 
tonk to the fore. Layered atop Kirsty’s powerhouse vocal, Ebbels' dedication to his craft on 
guitar provides just the vehicle to explore even the most challenging, chicken-pickin riffs. 
The band will record original music in 2023, delivering a crowd-favourite blend of 
Rhinestoned covers and originals at every performance. The trio is sure to be a crowd 
favourite on the festival circuit from 2023.

About the Band

Kirsty Lee Akers

Kirsty Lee Akers is one of Australia’s most unique and authentic recording artists. A rare 
talent who is proud of her indigenous heritage as a woman of the Wonnarua nation, Akers 
describes herself as a fusion of modern Country and Americana with Pop stylings. Akers is 
the only artist in history to have won three of the major prizes in Australian Country Music; 
Toyota Star Maker, Telstra Road to Discovery and a Golden Guitar Award (2 in total). Kirsty’s 
family live and breathe Country Music, with her mum, nan and aunties all performing 
Country Music, way back before she was even born. 

Dan Ebbels

Born and raised in Melbourne, Dan Ebbels has been wowing audiences across Australia and 
the USA with his guitar skills for many years since the age of 13. Ebbels grew up playing in 
his father’s band ‘The John Lawrence Band’. Sighting influences such as John Mayer, Brad 
Paisley and Keith Urban, Dan has won 2 Tompkins Guitars and a Blade Guitar at the 
Tamworth Country Music Festival. Having played with some of the hottest names in 
Australian music, he has recently performed at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, 
Groundwater, Gympie Muster, and the Deni Ute Muster.

Jesse Anderson

Jesse also comes from a musical family, having grown up watching his dad perform in the 
successful band ‘Kikkatinnalong ‘which recorded and toured all over Australia. Up until now, 
he has always been in the background jamming backstage and at home with Kirsty but after 
many late nights and red wines, Kirsty and Dan convinced him to join the band and share the 
special musical bond they all have.

The message is simple, stay alive.  Don't die, don't lie to the people you love, use your creative outlets to feel better. Not hard drugs.