Acclaimed singer-songwriter Jenny Mitchell dropped her heartfelt video for Wives Who Wait, just in time for the launch of her Forest House Album Tour. The tour will take the NZ Best Country Artist winner and two-time Golden Guitar nominee across Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, and more, before wrapping up at Gympie Music Muster. 

Forest House, her fourth and most personal album to date, was recorded with producer Matt Fell in a rural NZ home studio and features fan favourites like Where The Water’s Cold and Sister. Following recent support slots with Kasey Chambers and Adam Harvey, plus a standout appearance at AmericanaFest in Nashville, Mitchell is proving herself a rising force in modern folk-country. To celebrate the release of her new record Mitchell is giving us a glimpse into what she loves most about her hometown Gore.

Tussock Country Music Festival

Gore is New Zealand’s country music capital and home to a 10 day festival called Tussock Country. The festival includes the iconic NZ Gold Guitar Awards and over 60 other events. It’s got a bit of everything. Amazing singer-songwriter listening rooms, a chance to get a bit rowdy at ‘Late Night,’ lots of workshops to get involved in and also the Country Music Honours - which are NZ’s equivalent of Tamworth’s Golden Guitar Awards. It runs in late May every year and always feels like a second Christmas to me! It’s just the best.

This year, Tussock featured daily screenings of a documentary I co-produced called ‘Capital of Country Music.’ You can’t watch the full documentary online yet but you can check out the trailer for a little bit of insight into Gore’s long history of country music.

Dolamore Park

One thing I truly treasure about New Zealand is our incredible bush walks. Dolamore Park is a go-to Gore spot for a family day out, you can camp there and cook/BBQ - but I love it because of the serene walks through the native bush around/behind the park. There are a few trails to pick from and you can just pop in for 30 mins or walk for a few hours.

Old Hokonui Moonshine Museum & Distillery

I’m not much of a moonshine drinker but I do love Gore’s long history of illicit brewing. There were a bunch of secret stills in the Hokonui Hills that are just behind my Mum and Dad’s house and we have this amazing museum in the centre of town that walks you through the characters and key moments of the prohibition era that led to the secret moonshine brewing industry in Gore. I thought a lot about the scandal of that history when I wrote ‘Where the Water’s Cold’ and like to think that song would fit in well in an evening of secret moonshine brewing in Gore!

Coffee spots

For a small town, we actually have a few great cafes. One being Miss Cocoa Coffee; a cafe about 20 minutes drive out of Gore with an amazing clothing, homeware and gift store attached called Collaborate. Another one of my favourites it’s Cafe Ambience,right in the centre of town. It’s been my go-to since high school and I was so stoked when the team jumped at the chance to stock my new album when it came out a few weeks ago!

Mum & Dad’s house 

When I think about my hometown, I honestly just think about heading straight to my childhood home! A lot of my new album, Forest House, is inspired by experiences I had growing up there and ‘Daffodils’ (a duet with my Dad, Ron Mitchell) was written with Dad at the kitchen table. Myself and my sisters have all moved out now but I feel so lucky that music always keeps us connected, thanks to a childhood full of songs and music. Having a few days to head home, hang out with our dog ‘Bug’ and sit on the couch sharing stories with my family is just the best. I’m loving living here in Australia but moving away has made me treasure the chance to be at home more than ever.