INTERVIEW
SHAUN KIRK
BY ROBERT DUNSTAN
Y
oung Australian blues troubadour Shaun Kirk is pretty confident of getting a full house when he launches his new album, ‘Steer The Wheel’, in Adelaide. His run of shows across the country have been selling out, and Shaun says he gets more and more punters along to his shows each time he takes to the stage.
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“And I love playing The Wheatsheaf because it’s such a great spot,” he says. “And the Adelaide crew have been very supportive and are a really good audience. It’s a perfect venue for a small, intimate show.” It’s been a busy time for Kirk as he kicked off his national tour some weeks ago and has since played several festivals including the Crossroads stage at Byron Bay’s Bluesfest over Easter. “I also did a show in Melbourne with Beth Hart,” he says of the American singer who recorded the album with guitarist Joe Bonamassa. “She’s an amazing person – so kind and her crew were really nice – and I caught up with her again at Bluesfest. “And I also did some gigs with Allen Stone, an American guy who is currently tearing the industry to pieces,” Kirk adds. “He’s a really great young soul singer so we’re going to keep in touch. “But I guess I’m just plodding away at this career of mine, although the new CD is definitely something I’m very proud of,” he laughs. “And it’s a little bit of a new direction for me.” Kirk is following the wake of rootsy blues artists such as Ash Grunwald and Jeff Lang and, in fact, used Lang’s rhythm section of bass player Grant ‘Squire’ Cummerford and drummer Danny McKenna to record ‘Steer The Wheel’. “I’ve known Squire for a while and had met Danny a few times, but they both have a close association with The Wick, the studio I used, as well as knowing my producer Glenn [Scott]” Kirk says. “So Glenn and I thought they would be a good fit and it turned out they were because they are both such cruisey dudes. Such amazing and very capable players too. And the sound I was after suited them perfectly.” Adelaide’s Halfway To Forth (brothers Kyle and Dan Lizotte) also guest on the album and will be playing with Kirk when he hits town. “I’d originally met them at a festival somewhere,” Kirk explains. “And we kept in contact and I even did a tour with them in Tassie where they are from originally.
We’ve now become good friends and so whenever I come over to Adelaide, I crash at their place. “And they will likely get up and play Two Hands On The Wheel with me in Adelaide which will be the first time we’ve actually done the song together. They added their bits to the CD by sending me the files via email. So I’m really looking forward to playing that song.” Adelaide’s Jeb Cardwell, now based in Melbourne where he plays with several bands as well as running a guitar repair business and also offering guitar lessons, adds his sound to two songs on Kirk’s latest offering. “Once again, Jeb is a really easy-going bloke and a great guitarist,” Kirk declares. “In fact, after this tour is over I’m going to book in and get a few tips and hints from him because I love his style. Jeb plays exactly like how I wish I could. And he’s no stress. You just ask him to do something in the studio and, without any arguing, he just lays it down like a motherfucker.” The video clip for Kirk’s new single, Stitches, in which he appears in various guises including that of Superman and also a cowboy, was a crowd-funded affair. “That was really cool because everyone who pledged money got to be an extra in the clip,” Kirk laughs. “So all the musicians in the clip are the extras with my mum on the drums even though she can’t really play drums. And I got to dress up in all kinds of crazy outfits and act like a bit of an idiot,” he concludes.
Shaun Kirk and Halfway To Forth play The Wheatsheaf Hotel on Sat 10 May.
dB Magazine 30 April 2014