Tex Perkins to unveil new musical project at Under the Southern Stars festival on Gold Coast

ROCK great Tex Perkins will unveil his latest musical incarnation — an as-yet-unnamed duo with Matt Walker — on the Gold Coast next weekend when he joins Jimmy Barnes on the all-star bill of new outdoor music festival Under the Southern Stars, at Broadwater Parklands, Southport.

Tex Perkins plays new music festival Under the Southern Stars with Jimmy Barnes at Southport on February 10. Picture: Sarah Matray

AUSTRALIAN singer and songwriter Tex Perkins could fill a festival bill with the musical incarnations he’s toured and recorded in during his rocking three-decade-plus career.

From solo projects to The Cruel Sea, Tex, Don & Charlie (with Charlie Owen and Don Walker), The Dark Horses, Beasts of Bourbon, Thug, James Baker Experience, The Butcher Shop and Salamander Jim, Cookin on 3 Burners, T’n’T (with Tim Rogers), The Apes, Ladyboyz, all-star Easybeats tribute outfit Easyfever and performing as Johnny Cash, Perkins, 53, has become one of the country’s most versatile artists since he started his career in 1982 fronting Brisbane cowpunk band Tex Deadly and the Dum-Dums.

The Darwin-born, Brisbane-raised former Byron Shire local, now based in Melbourne, will unveil his latest musical incarnation — an as-yet-unnamed duo with Matt Walker — on the Gold Coast next weekend when he joins Jimmy Barnes on the all-star bill of new outdoor music festival Under the Southern Stars at Broadwater Parklands.

Is this your first gig back after a good Christmas break? What did you get up to? Are you reliving your childhood being a big kid again, having fun hanging out with your young son?

Hell yeah! The last few years I’ve taken the school holidays off, so yeah, hanging with the kids for six weeks has been great! Insane, but great. Lots of mangoes and pool time. And yes this is my first gig of the year so I’ve completely forgotten everything but I’m ready to rip.

Tex Perkins and the Dark Horses in Melbourne in 2011. Picture: Martin Philbey.

When did you last play the Coast? Where and in which of your musical incarnations?

Last time I played the Goldie? Woh. I’ve no idea. Let me check the history books ... anyway, the Southport gig with Jimmy should be huge, but the gig at the Kingscliff hotel the night before is the one where my new as yet unnamed band will be blowing a hole in the ozone layer.

JIMMY BARNES: ANYTIME WE PLAY THE GOLD COAST WE HAVE FUN

Is there a particular Coast gig from your musical past that stands out from the others?

The Playroom! We all miss the old Playroom. As a kid in the ‘70s I used to go to the Tallebudgera fitness camp. It was right next door to The Playroom. I remember we’d be laying in our bunks listening to the rock bands, people cheering, screaming, laughing. Imagining ourselves in there among it. I never went there as a punter but played there many times with The Cruel Sea. Lots of shit went down at The Playroom. Great days.

Sorry, I’m getting a little teary

Tex Perkins on the Coast in 2014 to perform his Johnny Cash show The Man in Black. Picture: David Clark

What incarnation of Tex Perkins will we get for this show? Will you be performing in a band/solo/duo/trio and with which musos?

As I said I have a new as yet unnamed band that I’ve formed with Matt Walker it’s a kind of swamp rock blues thing I guess — tin pan voodoo grooves and fuzz and slide guitars kinda thing. We’ve got a bunch of new songs but it also allows me to play some old Cruel Sea tunes. It’s that kinda thing. There will be exciting new material but don’t worry, there’ll be plenty of familiar stuff too.

Tex, Don and Charlie band members (from left): Don Walker, Tex Perkins and Charlie Owen. Picture: James Croucher

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You’ve played here plenty over the years in venues of all sizes with numerous musical projects. How do you find us as far as music-loving audiences go?

Geez you’re really pushing this’ how much do you love the Gold Coast’ thing aren’t you? Ummmmm ... The Goldie audiences are ... umm ... world class. Yes that’s it. World class. Bloody great. How’s that? Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. The Games will be great, I’m sure.

Do you have a favourite Jimmy Barnes story? Maybe even one Don Walker might have told you about him!!

Have you seen the new Jimmy Barnes alarm clock? It’s incredible. Instead of an alarm or a ringing bell, it blasts four different Jimmy Barnes, excruciatingly high-pitched screams to wake you up. It’s frightening.

Rachael Tidd as June Carter and Tex Perkins as Johnny Cash in the Sydney Festival Show Far from Fulsom at Parramatta Gaol. Picture: Prudence Upton

What has the reaction been to your book? Was it a one off or do you think we might get a sequel (a la the Barnes series)? Did you catch the bug?

I’ll never write again. Actually, I’ll never read again either ... joking. Yeah. Narrr. Maybe.

What’s the (playing the long game) game plan for 2018? Any top secret projects you want to tell us about? Would you head into the jungle for I’m A Celebrity? No but I am in negotiations to be The Bachelor. I’ll just have to run it past my wife.

Jimmy Barnes, Ian Moss, Diesel, Richard Clapton, Tex Perkins, Ash Grunwald and The Rich and Famous play Under The Southern Stars at Broadwater Parklands, Southport, on Saturday, February 10. Tickets include free travel to and from the concert on all Queensland Rail City Network services; Surfside Buslines and G: Link scheduled services.