It’s a long way from the rolling plains of central Queensland to the surf of Barwon Heads, but Aussie country music giant Brad Cox is on his way.
Born and raised in the NSW Snowy Mountains town of Jindabyne Cox now calls his Yeppoon property home and is in the middle of a short regional tour that takes in NSW and Victoria.
The 30-year-old Golden Guitar winner and three-time ARIA Award nominee is playing at festivals such as Meatstock and Byron Bay Bluesfest, so why detour to Barwon Heads?
“We’re playing at Meatstock up in Bendigo and just wanted to hit a few regional spots while we were on the road,” he says.
“I don’t think I’ve been to Barwon Heads before so I’m looking forward to getting down there.”
The Bellarine might not be every artist’s choice to bring country music to the people, and while Cox is known for his love of the land, he has learned to love the ocean.
“It’s funny you say that, because I feel far more connected to the, I mean not more connected, but I’ve fallen in love with the ocean,” he says.
“My next album – or a lot of it – is going to be about falling in love with Queensland and the ocean,” he says.
That new album will come after the success of Acres in 2023. Cox recently previewed his next single I’m a Boxer in Newcastle and his current single Everything I’m Not is unlike anything he has done before. While the melody is Cox’s signature easygoing self, the lyrics spit pure venom.
“Mate, someone did me wrong and I wasn’t happy with it,” he says.
“There’s a few of them on this next record. It’s either current events, (being) in love with the ocean or f*** you songs basically.”
Cox’s Barwon Heads gig will be a mixture of old and new, but he says all his big hits will get a run.
“More of the older stuff – we’ll definitely throw a few new ones in there,” he says.
“I’ve just come out of the studio for a few weeks working on my next record and feeling very excited and very inspired so I might even see how the boys are feeling and about playing some more new stuff too.”
Brad Cox is playing at Barwon Heads Hotel on Thursday March 13 and is being supported by emerging youngster Piper Butcher. Tickets at iambradcox.com
