Country artist gets record road ready

FOLLOWING a five-date metropolitan tour earlier this year, indie country troubadour Henry Wagons is taking his latest album on the road once again.

Having brought his latest solo effort South of Everywhere to big city stages in February and March, he’ll be expanding his focus to regional spots throughout Australia.

Wagons is set to kick his 12-date tour off with a show at Volta this Saturday and said he’s keen to bring the record to regional audiences.

“When we toured the album in February, I felt there was more left to do,” he said. “We did the capital cities but as a city boy myself I wanted to get a little more far-flung.

“This album was born from those streets and those highways so there was a bit of a disconnect when I just visited the major cities last time.

“It’s been so long since I played Ballarat or Geelong.”

Wagons will perform his set solo, with Leroy Macqueen of The Gooch Palms serving as special guest.

The majority of the instruments on South of Everywhere was recorded by Wagons himself at his home studio in Melbourne.

With the record’s 11 songs created following lockdowns, he said the themes behind the latest release were inspired by his regional travels.

“A lot of this album was me reflecting on being homebound so much,” he said.

“Instead of mythologising ranches in Texas I realised there was plenty of untapped craziness that’s gone on on the road with me and my friends over the years.

“I’d sort of been neglecting my own backyard so this is a very introspective album. It’s going to be fun to take it to the places that inspired them.”

Tickets are $23.75 and can be booked at bit.ly/3ODVy9U.