MOVING to Nashville, USA has been a smart decision for Bega Valley musician Daniel Champagne. 

“I think it makes me keep my game in,” he said. 

“Playing in Nashville, there’s a lot of great performers and if you want to survive you’ve really got to play every night.”

When this reporter commented that competing in this scene must be stressful, Champagne said he gets more stressed when he’s not playing. 

“I think I just get in the groove, and I guess I just need to play like other people need to sleep,” he said. 

“It is really exciting to be in a new place, with new people and being able to play in new towns.

“It’s just what I need.” 

He was hoping to take his time to settle into living in a new country when he first moved there about 12 months ago, but due to his busy schedule that didn’t happen. 

Since arriving in Australia two months ago, Champagne has performed 40 solo shows.

He is returning for a show in Bega on May 9, his last in Australia before he heads back to the US. 

The musician kicked off this tour at the recent Cobargo Folk Festival, since then has done some other music festivals as well as playing support for such performers as Rodrigo y Gabriela and Jake Shimabukuro. 

Connecting with Rodrigo y Gabriela was a memorable moment, as Champagne recalled learning their songs to perform when he was in Guitarama.

While they didn’t speak very good English, Champagne said meeting them was still as “pretty special experience”.  

Outside of music, he gets to do a lot of travelling, and recently having spent a few days at home in the Bega Valley he has been doing a lot of sleeping – a consequence of constantly being on the road.

The next album for the guitar virtuoso could potentially be released at the end of the year, but Champagne is in no hurry as his last two albums – The Gypsy Moon Volumes I and II – were released 12 months apart.

Otherwise the rest of the year will involve touring all over the world – Europe, the UK, the US and for the first time Champagne will visit Japan and Ireland. 

Daniel Champagne will perform at the Mumbulla School Hall, Bega on May 9 from 7pm supported by Guitarama.

Tickets can be purchased for $15 from Magpie Music, Bega on 6492 3533 or online. 

Refreshments will be available and Champagne will be donating all the money from CD sales to Pebbles in Nepal.