Pete Murray calls for Gold Coast music venue overhaul as Taylor Swift strategy continues on his biggest-ever solo tour

The ‘So Beautiful’ singer reveals what the Gold Coast needs to transform its music scene, how his Taylor Swift strategy is playing out during his biggest-ever solo tour, and his future Hollywood ambitions. FIND OUT MORE

Aussie music staple Pete Murray says the Gold Coast needs better music venues to support its thriving fanbase – including a revamped convention centre.

Speaking to this Masthead ahead of a Gold Coast stop on his 56-date national acoustic solo tour, the ‘So Beautiful’ singer highlighted the region’s untapped potential and the opportunity for more performance spaces to nurture local and touring talent.

“The Gold Coast definitely needs something. We talk about it all the time – where do you play on the Gold Coast?

“You need venues there, you need to get the original music scene and get it thriving,” Murray said.

Pete Murray is bringing his new tour to Twin Towns, Coolangatta on Thursday, July 10. Picture: Ian Laidlaw

Murray typically performs at Twin Towns, which he says serves the southern end of the coast well, but suggests more options are needed further north.

“It’s a great area – you’ve got some great people there that love music. I’ve got a great crowd there that follow me at the Gold Coast.

“There doesn’t seem to be much down the other end so it definitely needs something.

“Maybe the council could get involved and support that – that would be really great.”

It comes as three quarters of residents support the construction of the proposed Gold Coast Arena – an indoor stadium proposed for a site at Carey Park in Southport – according to a recent council survey.

Mayor Tom Tate has also been championing the expansion and rejuvenation of the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre as a potential solution to the venue shortage.

Neither Premier David Crisafullior Opposition Leader Steven Miles have committed to the expansion of the complex despite political and business figures saying significant upgrades are needed urgently to prevent the city losing out on events to other cities.

A concept render of how an expanded Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre might look.

“I personally feel like where the Convention Centre is in a good spot, you’ve got lots of hotels around that area in Broadbeach. I would say working on that one and turning into something that’s a lot bigger,” Murray said.

“What’s the easiest place for people to get to – that’s what it comes down to,” he said.

The ARIA award winning singer-songwriter is about a third of his way through this run of shows of his biggest ever solo tour and is set to perform at Coolangatta’s Twin Towns venue this Thursday.

Murray says the intimate acoustic format marks a dramatic departure from his usual band performances.

“It’s very different. This is a lot more storytelling,” he said.

“The response has been incredible. People who have been seeing me for the last 20 years have said this is their favourite show they’ve seen of mine.”

The tour coincides with Murray’s exploration of new musical territory, with his latest single ‘Home to Me’ showing country influences after a writing trip to Nashville.

Pete Murray Home to me single art.

“I do folky stuff – I’ve always done acoustic stuff but adding that element of the lap steel just kind of pushed it to country flavour a little bit.”

Murray has also been busy “pulling a Swiftie,” re-recording his catalogue to give fans “Pete’s versions” of his hits while ensuring he profits from the music he created.

“My goal is to hopefully get ‘Better Days’ ‘my version’ to knock this other one out of number one,” he said.

“People just love to support the artist.

“I don’t make much out of those old songs and I don’t own the masters.

“People don’t understand, they’re still asking me – ‘so if I play your version do you get paid’, and I’m going ‘yeah absolutely’.

“But awareness of that is getting better.”

1989 and 1989 (Taylor's Version)

Taylor Swift performs on stage during the “The Eras Tour" at Wembley Stadium on August 15, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images)

He said Swift has led the way for artists, but unlike the pop superstar, Murray isn’t attempting to make the new versions exact replicas out of “respect for the label”.

“They’ve (the label) done a lot of work for me and those old versions will be those old versions but my new versions will be a little different.

“But what she’s (Swift) done now is bought her old catalogue back so she owns everything so it doesn’t really matter anymore on her level.

“But I don’t have the same amount of cash as Taylor so I don’t think I’ll be buying my catalogue back.

“I’ve already paid for those songs – I’ve already paid the debt for that but I still don’t own them and that’s just the deal I did.”

Pete Murray performs during the ‘The Falls Festival’ in 2006.

Between the demanding tour schedule, new music and re-recording, Murray also revealed he’d be up for more acting roles following recent film ‘Blue Horizon’ earning Gold Coast Film Festival recognition.

“I’d love to do more,” he said.

“I just enjoy it, I think it’s fun to do.”

However the marathon 60-date tour (including New Zealand dates) has left him needing a breather first.

“I was actually just talking to my wife and I said please don’t book anything in for a while,” he joked. “60 dates is a long time.”

Originally published as Pete Murray calls for Gold Coast music venue overhaul as Taylor Swift strategy continues on his biggest-ever solo tour