Sam Holden’s 100-gig journey to Glastonbury to kicks off in Nambour

After leaving music behind, a Sunshine Coast engineer is making a bold return and setting out on a three-year journey to play 100 gigs with hopes to perform at a musical mecca in 2027. See what he’s promising some loyal fans.

Sam Holden. Photo: Contributed

At 42, Sunshine Coast engineer and father of three, Sam Holden, is embarking on an ambitious musical journey, one he hopes will take him from local stages to the world-famous Glastonbury Pyramid Stage in just three years.

Mr Holden, who moved to Australia from the UK nine years ago, has always had a passion for music.

As a teenager in North Manchester, he was inspired by Britpop legends like Oasis, Blur, and Pulp, even writing his first album at 16.

“Writing songs, for me, was probably the biggest part of my life,” Mr Holden said.

At the age of 21, he left music behind to focus on his family, including his wife, children, travel and career.

“I walked away from music for 21 years and barely picked up my guitar in that time,” he said.

Then, in June last year, everything changed when he noticed pain in his index finger which he later found out to be arthritis.

“I thought, if I don’t do something with music now, it will never happen.”

Sam Holden. Photo: Contributed

During a trip to New Zealand, he visited a pub in Taupo, picked up a guitar, and played some of his old songs.

“It was like opening up the Matrix. It took me back to when I was writing, how I felt … all of these emotions came flooding back,” he said.

On the drive back to Auckland Airport, he noticed a bumper sticker on a car that read, “One day or day one”.

“I thought to myself, I think today is day one,” he said.

For Mr Holden, this is not just about chasing a dream, it is about proving that dreams don’t have to fade with age.

“Dreams shouldn’t die just because you’ve married, had kids, or built a career,” he said.

“You can still dream like you did in your 20s. It’s never too late to go after what you love.”

After weeks of brainstorming, he devised a three-year plan to play 100 gigs, with the final performance set for the Glastonbury Festival in 2027.

To maximise his chances, Mr Holden has surrounded himself with talented band members, is documenting the journey on film and has even hired a mindset coach.

“It’s about making big steps in the shortest amount of time possible.”

Sam Holden with two of his bandmates. Photo: Contributed

The band’s first gig is on the February 21 at The Presynct in Nambour, where their music will explore themes of love, loss and resilience in a set titled ‘the soundtrack of our lives’.

Beyond personal ambition, the project carries a deeper purpose.

Mr Holden planned to partner with someone like Headspace to raise funds and awareness for mental health, a cause close to his heart.

His sibling struggled with mental health challenges from a young age, and Mr Holden wanted to ensure other families received the support his did not.

“If there was anything that we could do with this project it is to raise awareness for mental health, especially for children,” Mr Holden said.

He said that if the project helped even one person, it would have been “well worthwhile”.

With his first gig less than a month away, Mr Holden said he was “really nervous”.

“I don’t know how many people will turn up,” he said.

“But I believe in myself, this project, and what we can achieve, if we have the right support.”

If the project succeeds, Mr Holden said everyone who attended the first gig in Nambour would get a free ticket to Glastonbury in 2027.

Follow along at 3yearproject.com or on social media to track his progress.

Originally published as Sam Holden’s 100-gig journey to Glastonbury to kicks off in Nambour