Keith Urban Recalls His First Tamworth Visit, Reflects on Enduring 'Scrappy' Mentality
Tamworth, Australia – 2023
Keith Urban vividly remembers his first trip to Tamworth, arriving at age nine in the mid-1970s. He describes a formative experience of searching for a power source for his amplifier and seizing any available space to play.
"It was all about finding a plug and playing wherever you could."
Urban reflects on how this scrappy, play-anywhere mentality has persisted throughout his career, from those early days to the global stage.
In 2023, Urban achieved a major milestone, being inducted into the Roll of Renown at the Country Music Awards of Australia. During the festivities, he also shared the stage with Tall Shaun at the Tamworth Hotel.
Country Roots and a New Album
Urban states that country music remains foundational to his work, citing his father's record collection as a primary influence.
"My dad's record collection was everything. Don Williams, Merle Haggard, Charlie Pride, Glen Campbell—that's the bedrock.”
His 13th album, 'Flow State,' marks a stylistic departure, comprising covers of soft rock songs from the 1970s and 1980s. Urban describes the project as a tribute to yacht rock bands, but acknowledges the challenge of honoring the original songs while making them his own.
Staying Grounded
Despite his international success, Urban comments on his Australian identity as a grounding influence. He quotes sage advice from fellow country artist Kasey Chambers:
“Just don’t be a dickhead.”