Australian country music has a long and storied history of expressing the ideals of mateship and fun we all like to attirbute to ourselves as ocker Australians.
And Adam Harvey – long-respected as one of the heroes of Australian country music, as well as for his deep, resonant voice – has lived that more personally, and more passionately in terms of his love for the music and his fans, than most.
He’s also one of the friendliest, most genuine cowboys in the country, so his current Harvey’s Bar tour – which sees the man literally transpose his own backyard onto stages around the country – should come as no surprise.
“Basically, my backyard at home has pretty much become a pub all in it’s own over the years,” Harvey began in his calling-card drawl.
“It’s what you’d expect; just a bunch of mates coming around, sinking a few beers and jamming, usually. But it’s become this really friendly community thing – I don't really mind who comes or goes, as long as you’re friendly and you bring some beers – and someone said to me, ‘Hey, this would be great for a film clip’.”
So, in true DIY country fashion, Harvey gathered some mates at his place in Bateau Bay on New South Wales’ Central Coast, chucked some beers in the esky, and filmed the result, a snapshot of Harvey’s life called Hervey’s Backyard Bar.
“Because I’ve written a few drinking songs in the past, and I talk about how this happened in the bar, or we wrote this in the bar, I have a lot of people that come up to me and say, ‘God, I’d love to spend a night in that bar’.”
“Why not?” was Harvey’s timely answer.
“I’ve never really had a problem with getting all of my personal ideas out in song and sharing that with an audience, I think that’s the beauty of country music,” Harvey said.
“The reason I write music is to share my own experiences, and I guess to try and see if other people share my experiences. And when you get into a bar or pub, and you immediately strike up a yarn with a complete stranger – that’s that idea, that thing I think is pretty unique to Australia. That’s what I wanted to capture.”
For Harvey – winner of multiple ARIA nominations and a staggering eight Golden Guitars – any shored-up tour probably would’ve paid the bills. But, somewhat refreshingly, he still holds that immediate audience connection as his top priority.
“I think a lot of artists are frightened to allow their audience or listeners into their own personal life,” he said.
“That’s never been something that’s worried me. Country music fans are all one big family, and on this tour I want to try and let them inside my home, with my family and friends.”
