The Loaded Dog Hotel in Tarago will play host to rising country music star Benn Gunn this Saturday, February 16 at 9pm.
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Growing up in the Central West, music was a massive part of the Aussie rock singer’s life, but he is unsure if he is the first musician in his family.
“I grew up in Dubbo and would listen to music out at my relative’s farm,” Mr Gunn said.
“We’d be in the tractor and listening to everything from AC/DC to Slim Dusty.
“My grandmother said she sang in a band, but I don’t know if she’s telling the truth or not.”
Mr Gunn knew he had a talent for music when he won a music competition at school.
“When I was about 15, I won a music competition at school singing Cat Stevens’ Father and Son.
Mr Gunn has been writing music with Andrew Cavanagh, a fellow musician who contacted him about forming a partnership. Together, they created their latest album called Only in Australia.
“The album has been in the making for about two years,” Mr Gunn said.
“I’ve been co writing with Andrew who actually lives in Cairns, but we’ve never met each other in person.
“We get on Skype every week and write a song and wrote the album this way.”
The album peaked at number on the the National Airplay top 400 radio chart in December last year.
Mr Gunn likes to call his style of music Aussie Heartland Rock, which is a straightforward rock style.
“It's an upbeat positive musical style like Cold Chisel, Bruce Springsteen and John Mellancamp,” he said.
He has written a few cracking singles including funny rocker I Got The Boat the song Cut the Rug, which featured in the television show All Aussie Adventures.
Mr Gunn currently resides in Kiama and in his down time, loves to go for a surf.
“There’s a very strong surf culture down there,” he said.
“You can see me surfing in a few of my music videos.”
Catch Benn Gunn singing songs from his new album among other stuff at the Loaded Dog Hotel in Tarago on Saturday, February 16 from 9pm.