James Blundell up close and personal at Queenscliff Harbour
Country music singer James Blundell rose to prominence after being named ‘best new talent’ at the 1987 Country Music Awards of Australia. His first works reflected his background as a jackaroo and his love for that lifestyle. His most successful ‘This Road’ released in 1992 included the hit ‘Way out West’ a collaboration with James Reyne that went to #2 on the ARIA Singles Chart.
Blundell was born in Stanthorpe, Queensland and brought up on a sheep and cattle station. As an adult he worked as a station hand across various locations in northern Australia. After a serious back injury working on a farm in Papua New Guinea he turned to music performing in pubs for $50 a night ‘the ultimate apprenticeship’. After a long career of performing at festivals and releasing successful albums he’s just received his tenth Golden Guitar Award in Tamworth.
So what’s a boy from the bush doing in Queenscliff with just a wooden stool to sit on, a guitar, a microphone and his nephew Peter Blundell on guitar beside him? The audience of locals and harbour berth holders at 360Q would tell you it was about his life and love of this country told in song, his big personality and even bigger talent for making people smile.
He shared his career highlights and some lowlights, meeting Joni Mitchell on Hollywood Blvd, performing and partying till late with the ADF when the Fort closed and what inspired him to write songs like ‘Postcards from Saigon’ the ‘Semaphore Stallion’ while in Tassie and ‘Tin Roof’ about listening to the rain.
This is the third event organised by Queenscliff Harbour at 360Q and hopefully not the last. Charlie Noble catered for the event and the fantastic food was only eclipsed by the stunning harbour views. Blundell joked it was a tough gig and was looking forward to fishing with his tour manager, Point Lonsdale’s Andrew Malouf of Westside Talent.
