A REGIONAL music festival feels like home for Seth Sentry.
“I love regional shows because unless you make the effort to travel (to capital cities), you don’t get that many acts coming through,” he said.
“I grew up in a small town and we never got anything.”
The hip-hop artist is based out of Melbourne but grew up in Sorrento.
“Sorrento is nice to grow up in and retire to but there is no outlet,” he said.
“Unless you’re a cover band, you don’t get booked for gigs. There were no other rappers apart from me and a few mates.”
Sentry said music listeners and fans are more savvy about Australian hip hop than they used to be.
“(I hadn’t heard Australian hip hop) until I moved to Melbourne,” Sentry said.
“I remember the first time I heard Hilltop Hoods. It was ridiculous how much diversity and sounds and genres within genres there was.
“You can’t coast by with an Aussie accent now. Fans know what’s good and what’s not.”
Sentry has been part of the festival crowd at a Bendigo show before and is excited to return.
His friends 360 and Pez have both played the GTM tour before.
“Since the bill got released (friends 360 and Pez) have both hit me up. It’s a lovely festival to be at, we’re going to have a f***ing ball,” he said.
“The last time I was there was with Pez about three, four years ago.”
“I’m pumped to see Regurgitator and Tame Impala. It’s a sick line up and I’m keen to see Pez, and be there with Tuka and Ellesquire and Urthboy.”
Sentry has risen to the top of the Australian music charts after his album This Was Tomorrow was released last September.
“It’s been crazy. I didn’t expect the response it got. The crowds we have been drawing have far exceeded my expectations,” he said.
“I never really set my sights on this level of success. I just wrote songs that I wanted to hear and it felt like more of a hobby for me.
“I think I felt successful when I released my EP four year ago and more than 10 people came to my gigs.”