Cairns duo Barbary Coasters celebrates 30th anniversary

CAIRNS musicians the Barbary Coasters are celebrating their 30th anniversary this week.

The Barbary Coasters, Nikki Lowmass and Vance Fahey, are celebrating 30 years as a Cairns music duo.

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THIRTY years of music is being celebrated this week as the Barbary Coasters tick off their third decade performing together.

The Cairns duo, Nikki Lowmass and Vance Fahey, are best known for their annual Parrothead parties which draw crowds dressed as pirates to their shows.

Nikki Lowmass, Brian Pitcher, Kimberley Cooper and Vance Fahey from The Barbary Coasters throw their famous Parrothead Party every year. PICTURE: Toni Caldwell

They are also this year celebrating being married for 10 years.

“The most valuable lesson I’ve learned about making music has been to be confident and positive and not let any criticism stop me, which is hard, and to learn from criticism, which is even harder to swallow, and also importantly to act in a professional manner,” Lowmass says.

“Musicians find it hard to give up music … it’s more a case that music gives the person up.

“Vance is a player of instruments and enjoys playing with other musicians, too, but I’m more of a vocalist and am happy to play solo or with other musicians.

“But we still click with each other and get excited about doing gigs together, trusting each other, relying on each other, understanding pressures and a desire always to entertain our audience and do a good job.”

Fahey says he has one important piece of advice to pass on after 30 years in the music industry.

“Always give your best performance regardless of your audience size – three or 30. Treat it like an audition, you never know who is sitting there, quietly watching you deciding whether or not to hand you that next big opportunity,” he says.

But he says the duo wouldn’t have gotten this far without the people living in Cairns and supporting them over the years.

The Barbary Coasters are celebrating 30 years as a Cairns music duo.

“I think we have been amazingly grateful to Cairns, and all the people who have supported, encouraged and accepted us,” he says.

“As long as we are capable and happy and feel we have a place. we will always make music.

Lowmass says some of the Barbary Coasters’ highlights have been creating the state’s longest-running Parrothead show and recording the first CD to be fully recorded in Cairns.

The Barbary Coasters will be performing two shows this weekend for people to join in on their 30th anniversary celebrations.

The first, on Sunday,
will be held at Strait on the Beach at Holloways Beach from 2pm, and then at the Portsmith Club on Aumuller St from 6pm.

Originally published as Cairns duo Barbary Coasters celebrates 30th anniversary