Shaun Kirk is about to embark on another tour, including performing at Bluesfest Byron.
The travelling blues rocker from Melbourne has definitely become familiar with life on the road. “I love it; I’ve grown accustomed to it now. I’m only home for two or three months of the year. It’s just the way I am, even going back to school I was always friends with all the different groups. Like 15 minutes with the smokers and 15 minutes with the footy jocks,” Shaun says.
“I’ve always been that dude who moves around, which is why the whole musician lifestyle suits me. It can be hard at times but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
His latest album, ‘Steer The Wheel’, was crowdfunded and obtained the support of over 120 avid fans and reached his funding goal well before deadline. “It was very overwhelming; there were nerve-wracking moments because it started off slowly.
“For any artist when they endeavour for something like that, you're asking people for money basically and why should they? It picked up at the end and got over the line about two weeks before the end date. Which was overwhelming, I was fucking stoked I guess. That's the only way to put it. I’m just grateful everyone was so keen to get onboard and help out and be part of this vision of mine to make an album that donates a profit to a charity.”
A percentage of the album’s sales will be donated to OrphFund, which reaches out to vulnerable children around the world. “It was something I’d always wanted to do, was to donate or use my music to help charity and help people. I don’t want the music just to be about me, I want it to have a much bigger meaning than that. And I felt this album was a good step in that direction.
“One Sunday morning in Melbourne I was at the markets, and in the corner with a little stall where all these amazing photos from Africa and street art and positive message and some negative stuff as well. And on the wall was a sign that said '100% of sales go to OrphFund'. So I bought a couple of photos and looked them up at home and they just ticked all the boxes. One hundred percent of money goes to children, [and it’s] 100 percent volunteer based.”
When he first started out, Shaun decided to jump in the deep end to kickstart his career. “The way I went about it was all the open mic nights. I ended up failing school. As soon as I turned 18 and got a car I found open mic nights every night of the week and went to them till the early hours of the morning and turn up to school late every day.
“I found that a good way to ease into the industry; you're not playing for huge audiences and there’s no pressure. And you learn a lot because you’re surrounded by other musicians, so you’re feeding off them. Some are shit, some are good and you see what’s good and what’s shit, and that was a really cool way to start things out. The more I played the quicker and more often those mic nights turned into gigs at the venue on the weekend.”
Excited to make a return to Bluesfest, Shaun is also keen to meet more musicians at the festival. “Whoever I can man, I’m pretty shy. I can’t really approach anyone in that way. So I find it hard sometimes to do networking. And I feel like these musicians are way too fucking good to say g'day to, and I need to work for years and years before I can go up and say hello to them. I feel like they’re so far ahead of me.
“All these people you admire and look up to, you're surrounded by them. I met Tony Joe White and had dinner with him, it was absolutely surreal. And I’ve slotted on one of the main stages, which is pretty cool.”
Shaun Kirk Tour Dates
Fri April 11 - The Loft (Gold Coast)Sat April 12 - Joe’s Waterhole (Eumundi)
Thu April 17 - Bluesfest Byron
Sun April 20 - Deni Blues & Roots Festival (Deniliquin)
Mon April 21 - Bluesfest Byron
Wed April 23 - The Joynt (Brisbane)
Fri April 25 - Roxbury Hotel (Sydney)
Sat April 26 - Commercial Hotel (Milton, NSW)
Sun April 27 - Flow Bar (Old Bar, NSW)
Thu May 1 - Republic Bar (Hobart)
Fri May 2 - Tapas Lounge Bar (Devonport)
Sat May 3 - Royal Oak Hotel (Launceston)
Thu May 6 - Kazbah Lounge (Sale, Victoria)
Fri May 7 - Euphoria Lounge (Warragul, Victoria)
Sat May 8 - Northcote Social Club (Melbourne)
Sun May 9 - Diamond House (Stawell, Victoria)
Mon May 10 - Wheatsheaf Hotel (Thebarton, SA)
Thu May 15 - Lizottes (Kincumber, NSW)
Fri May 16 - Lizottes (Newcastle)
Sat May 17 - Diggers Tavern (Bellingen, NSW)
Sun May 18 - Bangalow Bowls Club (Bangalow, NSW)
Thu May 22 - Mojos Bar (Fremantle)
Fri May 23 - Prince Of Wales (Bunbury, WA)
Sat May 24 - White Star Hotel (Albany, WA)
Sun May 25 - Indi Bar (Scarborough, WA)
