Country music in Queensland

25 Jul 2017

This weekend sees the return of the iconic Broadbeach Country Music Festival to its stunning location on the Gold Coast.

The free event will showcase more than 110 live performances across 12 stages, including two brand new beachside stages. This year’s impressive line-up includes international superstars America and Aussie icons Kasey Chambers, Troy Cassar-Daley, Shane Nicholson and Col Finlay.

We sat down with Col to hear about his first rock band, what he finds inspiring about Australia, and why he thinks Broadbeach Country Music Festival is onto “a winning formula”.

When did you start playing music? 

“I started playing music back in high school. I started my first band when I was 16. We were called the Blondies. It was a bunch of guys that just loved music. That was over 30 years ago, and I’ve been playing professionally for 25 years now.”

What would you say sets you apart from other country musicians?

“It’s hard to say. I still hold the tradition of the original country rock band. Nowadays there’s a lot of pop rock, pop country… Back when I started I was one of the first few artists that actually started with having a saxophone in the band and doing the whole 80s pop rock tune but with country lyrics, wearing a cowboy hat.

“I’m very, very much country rock and I’m still that same style. I’ve never left, I haven’t regressed into the pop scene.”

What’s kept you going all this time?

“I’m a very proud Australian and love telling my story about the Australian way of life. I grew up in New South Wales and I’ve toured the US, New Zealand and Australia extensively. Right now I’m working on my sixth album. And Australians have just never ever stopped giving me stories.

“We’re a country that is very young, but everywhere you go you meet people who have such great stories and those people inspire me every day. It’s the people, the landscape, that inspires me. It’s always going to inspire me.”

What can people expect from the Broadbeach Country Music Festival?

“Broadbeach is only a young festival in Australia, and I’ve been part of it from the start. The beautiful thing about this festival and what makes it a winning festival is that it’s free to the public. I’m a true believer that we are not what we are without the support of fans and by giving them something back for their support I think Broadbeach is onto a winning formula.

“The public can just turn up and enjoy free music in one of the most spectacular parts of Australia.

“Broadbeach is one of the first of its kind. I think it’s the location that really sets it apart. It’s a country music festival on the coast, you know? It’s cowboy boots and surfboards.”

Who do you think will get the most out of the festival?

“The thing about country music now is that it’s so diverse. There’s pop country, there’s rock, there’s blues… There are so many different styles. So whether you’re a diehard country music fan or a first timer, I think everyone’s going to get something out of the festival. And that’s the beautiful thing about it.

“From the young to the old, the new to the diehards, I think everyone will have a place at Broadbeach.”

What acts are you most excited about?

“I’m definitely keen on seeing America. It’s always good to have international artists come to Australia and share their music and their history. I’m a big fan of Troy Cassar-Daley, a big fan of The Viper Creek Band… I’m looking forward to watching some great music and just enjoying the location.”

Broadbeach will take place on the Gold Coast on 28-30 July. For more info, visit: broadbeachcountry.com