Amy Shark set on keeping it rural

WHEN Groovin the Moo gets underway at Prince of Wales Showground next weekend one of the main drawcards will be Gold Coast-born artist Amy Shark.

The That Girl and Everybody Rise hit singer-songwriter said it was important to tour regional areas when you can, having just finished performing in some more rural locations across Australia.

“Well, I mean, I’m probably the best person to talk to about regional shows,” she said.

“Because I came off the back of like 60 shows around the country and some of these places I never thought even existed.”

Shark said she was excited to be joining GTM this year and continuing her regional run but added she’s in a privileged space as an artist to be able to head outside of the cities to tour.

“It’s super important, to give back when you can,” she said. “I know for some artists it’s really hard to even know if you have a large enough fan base in regional areas.

“So, it’s a risk. It’s always a risk for artists to do the regional run.

“But I feel like if you can get yourself to a position where you can do that, it’s very important to give back to the people and just make it a little easier for them.

“Artists are always doing the mission to the major cities but think it’s worth it to get out to the rural areas. The energy in the room is just on another level compared to the major cities.”

Groovin the Moo held its first-ever event in 2005 at the Gloucester Showgrounds in south-east New South Wales with acts including the Screaming Jets and Killing Heidi.

Since then the festival series has gone on to build a reputation for launching careers, which is something Shark loves and can attest to.

“Groove is like one of the OG festivals that there was,” she said. “You know, there was GTM and Splendour.

“It was one of the OG handful when I was trying to become an artist and trying to break through, it has always featured up-and-coming exciting acts.”

With fond memories of her first GTM in 2017, Shark said she has always loved the line-ups the festival presents.

“The first time I played it was so exciting because it was like Tash Sultana and Against Me,” she said.

“There were so many cool acts and it was a really cool festival. It always seems to pick the music that I’m really into.

“I don’t want to say it’s because I have got great taste! It’s just a really, really rad festival.”

As for this year’s line-up, Shark said there were a range of acts she’d like to see if she gets the chance.

“There are so many artists I like,” she said. “I really want to see this girl called Barkaa, I think she’s on a bit earlier, so it depends on how my day is running.

“If I can get in and watch some people that I’m interested in seeing that’s awesome.

“If it’s not a major act I always try and catch them because it’s good to watch someone else’s show and see someone on the rise. But it just depends on how my day is travelling really.”

Amy Shark will be hitting the Cattleyard Stage during the Bendigo Leg of Groovin the Moo at 6.40pm on Saturday, 29 April and will share the stage with other headliners including Fatboy Slim and Denzel Curry.

Tickets are still available at moshtix.com.au and you can head to gtm.net.au for more information.