It wasn\u2019t an easy road for blues artist Kent Burnside, but the trials and tribulations he endured
\nas a young man growing up in Mississippi proved no barrier in his journey to success.<\/p>\n
The eldest grandson of blues legend R.L. Burnside, Kent was born into a household of talent.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been doing it (music) all my life.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s all I know. My family is musically inclined. My grandfather, he showed me a lot of stuff, but a lot I did on my own. He told me, \u2018just stay focussed, and drive it\u2019\u201d, he says.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe inspired me to just play music. I used to watch the people love what he was doing and how respected he was. I thought, if I get just half of what he had, I\u2019ll be alright.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kent can recall many nights going to bed hungry when he was a child.<\/p>\n
A family of farmers, the Burnsides ate what they grew.<\/p>\n
But despite the hardships, there was one saving grace \u2013 music.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the beginning R.L. was very poor. He always worked and played music but only came up near the end of his life,\u201d says Kent.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn the weekends, R.L. would have parties on the farm and play music. I made and sold the sandwiches to help out. It was $2 to get in, sometimes a dollar if it was a slow night, but it just got bigger and bigger slowly, and he started to get recognised for his music.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kent says when he was growing up, a lot of musicians advised him \u201cthe blues ain\u2019t nothin\u2019 but a good man feelin\u2019 bad\u201d.<\/p>\n
Years later, those words still ring true. \u201cI mean, some days when I\u2019m not feeling so good, and I pick up the guitar,
\nthe guitar helps me\u2026 it heals me,\u201d says Kent, who recently won the 2019 Blues Challenge in Iowa.<\/p>\n
This November, Kent will journey to Australia for the first time as part of the Queenscliff Music Festival.<\/p>\n
Playing about 100 shows across the U.S. and Europe annually, Kent says he\u2019s most excited to get up close and personal with Australia\u2019s wildlife, particularly the famous kangaroo.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just want to see the kangaroos. I look forward to seeing a totally different world,\u201d Kent says.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love playing at festivals because the people, they love what you\u2019re doing. It gives me that energy. I don\u2019t drink or smoke, so that\u2019s my high \u2013 the stage and the people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kent will also tour the east coast with Melbourne-based duo The New Savages who he met after a show in his hometown last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose guys (The New Savages) are wonderful. I like different styles of music, it\u2019s more ammunition for me,\u201d says Kent.<\/p>\n
The 23rd annual Queenscliff Music Festival will be held from November 22- 24. For more information, head to qmf.net.au.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
It wasn\u2019t an easy road for blues artist Kent Burnside, but the trials and tribulations he endured as a young man growing up in Mississippi proved no barrier in his journey to success. The eldest grandson of blues legend R.L. Burnside, Kent was born into a household of talent. \u201cI\u2019ve been doing it (music) all […]<\/p>\n