“I want to get to know ya,” Casey Barnes sings on the opening track of his new album, Light It Up.
That line says everything you need to know about the Gold Coast-based artist. His music is all about building a genuine relationship with his audience, making an emotional connection and taking his fans along for the ride.
And it’s been a remarkable journey so far.
The story starts in Tasmania, where a six-year-old Casey saw his first gig – Johnny Cash in his hometown of Launceston, supported by Aussie legend John Williamson. Casey will never forget standing on his toes, desperately trying to get a peek at The Man in Black.
A few years later, while still at high school, Casey found himself on stage, at the Forth Pub on Tasmania’s northern coast, playing Eric Clapton’s ‘Tears in Heaven’. And where did Casey launch his Light It Up Tour, his biggest tour to date? The Forth Pub.
A lot has happened between those two gigs at the Forth. Five number one singles on the country charts; eight Golden Guitar nominations, including New Talent, Album of the Year and Male Artist of the Year; and a swag of other awards action – nominations for Best Country Album at the ARIA Awards, Best Independent Country Album at the AIR Awards, and Most Performed Country Work (‘A Little More’) at the APRA Awards.
Casey was awarded Artist of the Year at the Gold Coast Music Awards in 2020 and 2021 and received the People’s Choice Award for best live act at the Groundwater Country Music Festival, a nod to his powerful live show and ability to connect with his audiences. Casey’s songs have collectively been streamed more than 25 million times, making him one of the most streamed Australian country artists of all time.
Casey’s 2020 album, Town of A Million Dreams, cemented his place in the Australian music scene, topping the country charts and spending over 70 weeks on the ARIA Australian Country Album chart to date.