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Musician James Blundell is on the Gold Coast for the Broadbeach Country Music festival

HASHTAGS, pop-up concerts and live streaming – country musician and farmer James Blundell is doing everything he can to keep up with the times

Broadbeach Counrty Music festival ios on this weekend and one of the headline acts is James Blundell pictured at Jupiters Casino ahead of Tuesday nights launch event Pic by David Clark
Broadbeach Counrty Music festival ios on this weekend and one of the headline acts is James Blundell pictured at Jupiters Casino ahead of Tuesday nights launch event Pic by David Clark

HASHTAGS, pop-up concerts and live streaming – welcome to the brave new world of Australian country musician and sheep farmer James Blundell.

The father of four is on the Gold Coast to sing the praises of this weekend’s third annual Broadbeach Country Music Festival, which serves up three days of free shows by artists including The McClymonts, Beccy Cole, Catherine Britt, Harry Hookey and Travis Collins from Friday to Sunday.

BRAVE BRITT VOWS TO PLAY ON

A former jackaroo who shot to fame in 1987 when he took out Tamworth’s Golden Guitar Award for best new talent, Blundell has been doing his best to keep up with modern media so he can continue to enjoy the best of both worlds – working the land and making music.

“I don’t want to spend 12 months on the road,” he said.

James Blundell enjoys the best of both worlds – working the land and making music. Picture: David Clark
James Blundell enjoys the best of both worlds – working the land and making music. Picture: David Clark

“The goal is to work the farm six months, spend two months on the road touring and two months overseas in Canada and Northern America or Ireland.

“There’s interest in my music there, which you only realise thanks to social media.

“The dexterity of planning that social media has brought forward is invaluable because you can see where the demand is before you go.”

Blundell even played his first-ever “pop-up” gig on Sunday – a sing-for-his-supper solo show at Cucina Vivo restaurant at Jupiters Hotel & Casino.

And if he was forced to choose between music and farming?

“I’d choose the farm because I can still write, play and live stream music from the farm,” he said.

Best-known for the hits Fool Such As I and Way Out West, Blundell, 50, will play the country festival’s official VIP launch poolside at Jupiters tonight before he returns for two shows at the event – on Saturday at 6.05pm with his six-piece band and Sunday at 1pm in trio mode.

In-between, he’ll sign autographs and pose for photos with fans at Pacific Fair on Saturday.

A former boarder at The Southport School, Blundell counts the Coast as his home away from home.

After playing the inaugural country shindig in 2013, Blundell threw his hat (“the last hat made by the now-defunct Australian Hat Company”) into the political ring, standing for the Senate on Katter’s Australian Party Queensland ticket.

In hindsight, he said he was glad he wasn’t successful.

“What motivated me to stand was alleviated by the change of government anyway,” he said.

“It didn’t matter what happened – but something had to happen.

“Would I run again? No – because I’ve gone back to doing what I do to make a living so I can afford to keep my farm.

“Am I interested (in politics)? Always – and even more so now,” he said.

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Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/entertainment/musician-james-blundell-is-on-the-gold-coast-for-the-broadbeach-country-music-festival/news-story/1cc587fa0d1530276ae028626d89b268