The name Kernaghan means victorious and that it suits Lee to a tee, if you consider the glut of golden guitar awards, best-selling albums and sell out concerts that Lee has amassed, but Lee is victorious in another sense , in standing up as a representative of rural and regional Australia and bringing the people of these communities to life in song.
I talked to Lee last week about his new album, upcoming tour and reception he gets from Tasmanian audiences. Lee has always had a fantastic time in Tasmania, Lee tells me it has been that way from the start, and perhaps something to do with his song ‘Country’s very big these days’ which gives a nod to Tassie in it’s line ‘from Cairns down to Burnie’. This tour will take in Burnie, Hobart and Launceston.
Nowadays Lee gets down to Tassie at least once a year; he loves the drive through the Midlands and stopping off at the bakeries along the way. Lee also has high praise for Tassie’s clean water and air, the latter so pure Lee says you can feel the difference right when you embark from the plane, and of course as well as the water and the air Lee adds, the beers not too bad either! Lee says the stand out place in Tassie for him is Cradle Mountain Chalet.
Lee has always worked tirelessly for those in regional and rural areas and for this commitment he was awarded what he describes as a great honour, the Australian of the year in 2008. It was during a time of drought and Lee was on the forefront of drought relief, visiting all the states of Australia for drought relief shows.
During visiting these communities and hearing their stories particularly one in Horsham where 25 000 people turned up for the event. Lee remembers meeting one man who had lost his home and was battling depression. The gentleman introduced Lee to his wife and daughters and told Lee he would never give up, the handshake Lee shared with that man reminded Lee of the firmness, strength and resilience of communities such as Horsham and considers this story one of the real life experiences that gives life to his songs.
This tour is going to be very special for Tassie as Lee will have as his support, Tassie’s own The Wolfe Brothers and with his trademark modesty, instead of calling the guys his support act he says the concert is a double bill. Lee has nothing but praise for the brothers who he believes will take on the world. An added treat for this tour will see Lee duet with the The Wolfe Brothers on Slims Dusty’s ‘Lights on the hill’,
Lee will be showcasing his new album ‘Beautiful Noise’ on this tour but will not disappoint fans and include fan favourites from his back catalogue.
On ‘Beautiful Noise’ Lee says, ‘what we did’ was break some of the rules of country music. Lee wanted it to be fresh and the album is just that, with elements of dance music and hip hop although keeping within the parameters of traditional country music. Lee wanted to push the envelope a little keeping in mind what fans listening in their car or at a concert would expect.
Like many Aussie music artists Lee has worked as a staff writer in Nashville, however Lee hasn’t done so for a while because his music is concentrated on the Australian experience, something that is not feasible working in the US where Lee says they don’t know what the channel country (south Australian outback), the Nullarbor, or even a ute is!
I think most of Lee’s fans will be pretty happy he is concentrating on Aussie songs and stories.
You can see Lee Kernaghan and The Wolfe Brothers:
April 19 Launceston, Princess Theatre 8pm
April 18 Burnie, Burnie Town Hall 8pm
April 20 Hobart, Wrest Point Entertainment Centre at 8pm
Lee’s album ‘Beautiful Noise’ is out now.
Paula Xiberras
