BUSBY MAROU
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Waves Nightclub
Sunday, August 24
Busby Marou have been playing big concert halls in recent times as support to James Blunt and Pete Murray, but they are looking forward to getting back on the smaller stages and having some fun of their own.
"As much as playing in front of bigger crowds is good, there's nothing like playing for your own audience," said Jeremy Marou, one half of the band alongside partner Thomas Busby.
The Rockhampton-based country and blues band have quietly been collecting plaudits and praise from coast to coast of late.
"We've been fortunate enough to collect some new fans lately. But there is nothing like having no restrictions around your gig. It's our night and we have a lot more fun. It is harder work but the rewards are a lot bigger."
The band, which have also played alongside the likes of Dolly Parton, k.d. lang and Birds of Tokyo, are hitting the road in support of new single My Second Mistake.
An upbeat acoustic-based number, it is the latest single from their new album Farewell Fitzroy. Their tour around the country was preceded by news their debut self-titled album had reached gold sales status.
"It was pretty great timing. It's not easy these days to get a gold record anywhere these days, and it seems like such a long time since we put it out," Marou said.
"We just heard the new album is on track for gold, too. If you'd asked us 10 years ago if we would have a gold record, we'd have laughed."
The James Blunt tour took them around the country, playing support to the English singer-songwriter each night. Marou laughs as he recounts some of the public criticism levelled at Blunt but said the experience was all too valuable for the band.
"He cops a bit of flak for being a bit cheesy, that his music is targeted to middle-aged women, but he's very good - not just a good musician but a great guy as well," Marou said.
"He's a great musician but he doesn't take it seriously. People make fun of him on Twitter and he gives it back to them. He has a lot of fun, which makes touring fun."
While not exactly household names in Australia, Busby Marou have played with some of the world's most-loved acts including Parton and Lang. Each experience on the road is different and the band aim to soak up as much experience and wisdom from these veteran musicians as possible.
"We look at it seriously, like a long-term job. These guys have all been very successful, so we try to learn as much from them as possible but the advice is always to just work hard," he said.
"Birds of Tokyo and k.d. lang might be total opposites in music but they're all still playing music in front of people and we learn a lot from them. It's about being confident in your music."
The band are taking former Powderfinger guitarist Darren Middleton on tour with them as a support act and teased a possible onstage collaboration.
"We'd be crazy not to learn as much from him as we can too," Marou said.