Cameron Cusack could be revealed as Australia’s next country music sensation at this month’s Tamworth Country Music Festival.
Merimbula’s own Cameron Cusack could be revealed as Australia’s next country music sensation at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, being held from January 18 to 27.
Cameron has been announced as one of 15 Toyota Star Maker finalists for 2013.
He will now have the chance to compete against a talented pool of Australia’s finest emerging country music artists.
If successful he will join the ranks of country music icons such as Keith Urban, Samantha McClymont and Lee Kernaghan, all of whom have won the highly-coveted title that helped launch their careers.
The singer/songwriter has used songwriters like David Allen Coe and his track, Take This Job And Shove It, as inspiration to record Immaculate To Me on a five track EP.
Also on the EP are other originals and a version of Troy Cassar-Daley’s Hot Rod Town which he says is reminiscent of his own love of guitars and cars.
From busker to stage performer, Cameron did not wait to be discovered. With the support of his musical family, he entered a vast number of talent quests throughout NSW in Tamworth including Toyota Star Maker in 2011.
This is Cameron’s second shot at Star Maker and with a couple more years to honing his craft he is more than ready for the ride.
In fact Cameron’s career has already taken off after a busy past 12 months.
Country music heavyweight Troy Cassar-Daley has invited Cameron on his "Home" tour to start in March 2013.
The 20-year-old will be a support act and the tour will only further enhance his career.
To be asked to tour with Cassar-Daley is an achievement in itself.
Cassar-Daley has won many awards, including the 1995 ARIA for Best Country Record, 1996 Best Male Vocal award at the Country Music Awards in Tamworth, Best Male Vocal at the 2000 CMAA Awards, Song of the Year for They Don't Make 'Em Like That Anymore and almost a decade's worth of Deadly Awards.
He won the ARIA Music Award for Best Country Album in 2006, and once again won the ARIA for Best Country Album in 2009 for his album I Love This Place.
The tour will see Cassar-Daley and Cusack play at Club Sapphire Merimbula on March 22, which promises to be a show stopper.
“I received a text late last year from Troy, and he asked me whether I wanted to tour with him," Cameron said.
"It came as a real surprise and I didn’t have to think about it, I said yes straight away.
“Troy has been a mentor for the past couple of years and he actually gave me a song, Hot Rod Town, to record.
"I released it on my Cars and Guitars album.”
Cameron enjoyed a busy 2012, which included a seven-month Queensland tour, which saw him do four gigs a week.
For tickets to the 2013 Toyota Star Maker Finals, please visit www.tcmf.com.auor phone 02 6767 5300.