Strange Loop lures Paul Dempsey back to his boyhood stomping ground — the Gold Coast

ONE of Australian music’s most revered artists, Something For Kate frontman Dempsey is a former Gold Coaster who returns to his former hometown tonight for a solo show at NightQuarter.

Something For Kate singer and solo artist Paul Dempsey.

WHO knew? Paul Demspey is one of us.

One of Australian music’s most revered artists, Something For Kate frontman Dempsey is a former Gold Coaster who returns to his old stomping ground tonight to play a solo show at NightQuarter, in Helensvale.

Renowned for mesmeric, spontaneous live performances, Dempsey in on the road to show off songs from his second solo album, Strange Loop, released last year, and his 2009 solo debut Everything is True.

The youngest of four children, Dempsey is no stranger to strange loops. His family moved nine times around Victoria and Queensland — including a three-year stint on the Coast — before he left home in his late teens.

“I was 12 when we moved to the Coast for a few years,” he said.

“We lived at Palm Beach and I went to Marymount College.

“I surfed at Burleigh. I had a body board.

“We moved a lot when I was a kid. I went to about 10 different schools. We were constantly moving. My mother was nomadic.”

Paul Dempsey bring his Strange Loop solo tour to NightQuarter, at Helensvale.

Dempsey and his three older sisters were raised by their mother and grandmother after their father was killed in a car accident when Dempsey was two.

“Mum’s siblings came out from Ireland and setlled in Queensland so Mum decided to move there too,” he said.

“I’ve never really felt like I had solid roots anywhere.”

Wherever they roamed, music was a constant, his mother and sisters constantly singing and harmonising around the house.

By the time the family arrived on the Coast, Dempsey could already play piano and guitar — and the song Eagle Rock.

“I started to play in bands, you know, high school bands and garage bands,” he said.

“It was where I first started to form bands with friends and try to play properly.

“I remember I used to go past the Playroom every day while I was on the school bus and just dream of playing there one day.”

Something For Kate (from left): Paul Dempsey, Clint Hyndman and Dempsey’s wife, Stephanie Ashworth.

His family’s nomadic lifestyle stood him in good stead for life as touring musician — one which has brought him back to the Coast many time in the past 20 years.

“It’s definitely had an impact. I’ve always felt a bit nomadic myself,” he said.

“I’ve never felt like I had roots anywhere — especially being the child of Irish immigrants.”

Until now.

Dempsey, 40, and his wife, Something For Kate bandmate Stephanie Ashworth, have a five-year-old son, an 18-month old daughter and a home in Melbourne.

“I’ve always felt transplanted. Has that changed now? Only in the sense that I have two kids and hope they don’t grow up living like that,” Dempsey said.

“I would like them to feel like home is home.”

Paul Dempsey, Tia Gostelow and Jess Locke play NightQuarter tonight. Doors open 6pm.