It is highly appropriate James Blundell is one of the leading acts at Winton’s Way Out West festival in April.
His early 1990s album This Road, which sold more than 145,000 copies in Australia, included the hit "Way Out West", a collaboration with James Reyne which went to number two on the ARIA singles chart.
“It’s a bit synchronistic,” Blundell told the North West Star.
“That song was written in the 70s, James Reyne and I recorded it in 1992 and it’s just been re-recorded on a 30 years commemorative album by an ensemble of the leading lights of Australian music.”
No surprise to find Blundell in that ensemble but it is a surprise that although Blundell has been a regular in these parts at events like Dirt N Dust and the Birdsville Big Red Bash the visit to Winton has been a long time coming.
“You know, I don’t think I’ve been to Winton for over 22 years, so I’m overdue a visit,” he said.
“I’m looking forward it, I’ll have my older son with me and he’s grown up on stories of Winton and beyond and I love the fact the festival is celebrating it.”
As well as the old hits Blundell will be performing songs from his latest album Campfire.
“I usually play three or four but if I wasn’t careful I’d make it half the set because there is bunch of songs there I absolutely love,” he said.
Blundell has now started work on a new album though it will be at his own pace.
“I literally started work on it last week, though I don’t sit in the studio for eight weeks on end anymore,” he said.
“Nowadays I work on the property between Stanthorpe and Texas and when I’m in a really good mood I’ll sit down with a guitar or xylophone or piano or whatever I feel like playing and add a bit of colour to it.”
The Winton Way Out West festival is on April 19-22.