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Britt’s bush pub visit
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Australian country music star and four-time Golden Guitar winner Catherine Britt is passionate about bringing country music to regional areas, and on Saturday, October 22 she brings it to the Tungamah Hotel.
“Tungamah has a bit of story for me,” Britt told me this week.
“I played there once before with Amber Lawrence as part of the Love & Lies headlining tour last year and it got a huge great crowd.
“I also became good friends with the publicans and have kept a relationship there ever since.”
For Britt, the Tungamah pub holds a special personal significance as well.
“It’s a little romantic story, as my partner and I kind of reconnected at that pub there too, as we dated when we were teenagers, so it’s kind of got some significance for my partner, Brad, and I now as well,” she said.
“And I’ve actually been there outside of work to stay whenever I am in need of a bit of a holiday, as it’s such a great little area.”
Britt is excited to be bringing her Bush Pubs Tour to the region.
“The bush pub show is a whole different show with a band and with a party atmosphere,” she said.
“The show is very much inspired by Slim Dusty travelling around Australia back in the day to these little communities that no-one really went to.
“No-one really makes the effort to go to these smaller towns, as they tend to stick to the coastal areas and the big cities.
“The whole idea of the Bush Pubs Tour is to go to these communities and bring music back to the bush.
“It’s a big passion of mine and a bit of mission I am on, so we’re looking forward to coming there.”
As mentioned previously in my column, Australia is the third largest country music market in the world after the US and Canada.
“I know from having toured America and having lived there for many years, it’s quite a different kettle of fish all together because the thing about it over there is that country music is how you grow up with it in America,” Britt said.
“It’s kind of their mainstream and most popular music.
“Whereas here in Australia, there’s a small minority that love and support country music fiercely, the fans are very loyal and they’re very proud to love country music.
“But compared to people who listen to our mainstream music in Australia, which is mainly pop music, it’s a minority.”
Blues and roots
With a sound that is heavily steeped in early blues, doo-wop, calypso and African beats, Australian bluesman C. W. Stoneking drops by the Northern Republic in Euroa on Friday, October 21 for a show.
The restored former Old Flour Mill has been renamed Northern Republic and recently launched as a new dining, drinking and live music destination. The evening will see the Northern Territory-born Stoneking, who took up guitar at the age of 11, perform a special dinner show showcasing his unique take on the blues, which blends elements of 1920s pre-war blues, New Orleans jazz, country and early rock and roll.
Stoneking’s stylistic musical cocktail has seen him earn numerous awards over the course of his career. These include ARIA, AIR and Music Victoria awards.
Fun fact
Speaking of Euroa, did you know Kylie Minogue performed a show at Seven Creeks Run in Euroa in February 1991? The show was part of her Rhythm of Love tour. Seven Creeks Run was once a live music concert destination attracting top Australian acts such as Jimmy Barnes, John Farnham, Little River Band and The Angels to the region.
Gigs!
Pardon the shameless plug, but with things finally starting to get back to some normality on the live music scene both locally and nationally, I’ve got a handful of shows coming up over the coming weeks as support act for several national and international acts.
So, if you’re interested in catching one of my live performances, and you’re planning to head to Melbourne, you can catch me first opening for Aussie songstress Renee Geyer at Bird’s Basement in the Melbourne CBD on Saturday, October 22. This will be followed by shows with legendary 60s hit makers The Animals, on Friday, October 28 at Sooki Lounge in Belgrave and on Saturday, October 29 at Northcote Social Club.
After this I’ll be hitting the stage opening for one of Australia's most accomplished and in-demand guitarists, Jack Jones, who found fame as lead vocalist for Southern Sons in the early 1990s. That show takes place on Thursday, November 17 at Bird’s Basement also.
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Until next time, let the music flow.
Joe Matera is a local singer/songwriter, recording artist, guitarist and music journalist, providing readers with all the latest music news
Musical Musings columnist