McAlister Kemp To Release First Single In Seven Years

Troy Kemp briefly mentioned it in 2019. Drew McAlister teased it in our November interview last year (read here). And now, after all the waiting, we finally have a release date for the new McAlister Kemp single, After The Breakdown, set to drop on January 21.

After a seven-year hiatus, following their separation in 2015 to work on solo projects, After the Breakdown is the prelude to their fourth studio album, set for release in 2022 via ABC Music. True to the real-life themes that McAlister Kemp are renowned for, the first single is about moving on and finding hope after a tragedy or hard times. 

McAlister said, “Troy and I are absolutely stoked to be releasing After the Breakdown after such a long time away. It’s fitting that this was the very first song we wrote when we reconnected. We’re very excited to be releasing new music and can’t wait to play the new songs for our fans who have supported us over so many years!”

Kemp concurred, saying, “After a seven-year break concentrating on our solo projects, we are excited to be back together, rocking the duo again and to deliver our first new track, I can’t wait for everyone to hear it! We are pumped to be re-signing with the crew at ABC Music. We have missed our fans and really look forward to bringing them MK 2.0!”

After announcing the cancellation of their seventeen-date After the Breakdown – 2021 Tour, due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, the duo will return to Tamworth in 2022 for a one-off show on January 21 at West Tamworth League Club. You can also catch Kemp at The Kempy and Damo Show at Wallsend Diggers and Mezz Bar on January 23.

McAlister Kemp will reunite again in September/October for Savannah In The Round, alongside headliner Brad Paisley, Adam Brand, Vanessa Amorosi, The Waifs, Shannon Noll and more!

McAlister Kemp remains one of the most successful Australian country acts of the last decade. From the immediate, breakout success in 2010 (which saw them take home the award for ‘New Talent of the Year’ at the 2011 Golden Guitars) through to disbanding in 2015, the duo earned their stripes as one of the highest selling and most loved touring acts in Australian country music.

Their three highly acclaimed albums – All Kinds of Tough (2010), ARIA Award-nominated Country Proud (2012) and Harder to Tame (2014) – produced number one video and airplay hits including Country Proud, Hell Yeah, It Don’t Buy You Love, Harder to Tame, Fight Me and All Kinds of Tough. They have toured extensively, playing to big crowds on large festival stages, and opening for the likes of Adam Brand and international acts Alan Jackson and Big & Rich.

The duo reunited in 2020 to celebrate the ten-year anniversary of McAlister Kemp’s debut album, All Kinds Of Tough. Originally announced as a one-off special concert for the Tamworth Country Music Festival, they broke a new record at the iconic Longyard Hotel when their show sold-out within four days, leading to a second show announced for the following day.

Both members have also had lucrative solo careers. McAlister released two albums, 2015’s Black Sky and 2017’s Coming Your Way, and was one-fifth of Adam Brand and The Outlaws, the super group who took home the 2017 ARIA award for ‘Highest Selling Australian Artist’. His latest track, When This Is All Over is an upbeat song about the positives coming away from an event or tragedy, and is the first release since his 2019 singles, The Stranger and Live Young.

Kemp released his debut solo album Against The Grain in 2015, which features the #1 singles How We Roll Around Here and Small Town Girl. He picked up a Rob Potts ‘New Talent Of The Year’ Award at the 2018 CMC Awards for his duo project Tailgate Drive with Damien Baguley from The Viper Creek Band and his duet of Hung Up On You with songstress Jayne Denham was nominated for ‘Vocal Collaboration Of The Year’ at the 2019 Golden Guitar Awards.

Kemp, who now calls Nashville home, released a handful of singles too, including Needles On The Vinyl and features on the patriotic 2022 Golden Guitar-nominated track, I Still Call Australia Home with Kristy Cox, O’Shea, Travis List, Camille and Stuie, Jedd Hughes, Katrina Burgoyne and Sam Hawksley.

Keep up to date with McAlister Kemp on their Facebook page here.

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Image: Supplied