Bendigo's John Lingard played the first gig in his hometown since leaving Channel Nine's hit talent show The Voice.
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Fans gathered at St Luke's Anglican Church on Friday night to enjoy Lingard's own songs, backed by fellow musicians Josh DeAraugo, Ash French and Jacob McGuffie.
"It went really well. It was really cool to see everyone there," Lingard said.
He said it was difficult to know what songs to play because of the mix of people who attended - some audience members only knew him from The Voice, others knew his music before the show and others were close family and friends.
Lingard enjoyed performing original songs.
"It seemed received really well," he said.
Lingard said the quiet atmosphere of the church with a group of people who had come specifically to listen to his music was special.
"It was really nice just playing to a crowd that was listening.
"There was no noise in the background, it was cool to have everybody's attention."
Lingard said his fellow musicians were good friends he had been playing with for a long time.
"Music brought us closer together, they just really believed in what I've been doing for a long time," he said.
"It's actually really hard to have that these days in a band.
"They seem to be on the same wave length as me.
"They enjoy it as much as I do and believe in it as much as I do.
Although Lingard has played for national prime time TV audiences, he said Friday's gig was still a big deal.
"To put it into a live setting, it’s a lot of hard work and I don't think people realise how much effort goes into it.
"It was only one show. On the scale of things it's not really a big deal, but for us it was."
Lingard will play more gigs in coming months but his primary focus is to leave himself creative space to write songs and record.
"I’ve just got to be patient with it.
"I can’t force a song on myself."
He will play on October 30 in Melbourne at Revolver with fellow The Voice contestant Robbie Balmer.
The next Bendigo gig will be on November 2 at the Gold Mines Hotel.