The young musician moved to Bendigo a year ago for more musical opportunities.

“I moved to Bendigo because of how good the blues music scene was,” he said.

“There wasn’t a lot of opportunity where I was in the Yarra Valley. Some great venues but not enough.

“We moved here because opf the opportunities and thankfully they have been there.”

This year was involved in his first Bendigo Blues and Roots Music Festival.

“Involved” means the 17-year-old organised, and ran the two youth stages as well as playing a few sets on the side.

“The festival was brilliant, one of the best things I’ve been involved in,” he said.

“I’ve never ran a stage before. It was a lot more work than I thought it would be but there were so many people who put up their hand to help out.

Colin Thompson, Skip at RPM and Andrew Watts were all brilliant and everyone at the festival was so supportive.”

Barber began messing around with a guitar at age 4 but it wasn’t until he was in his teens that he began to take music seriuosly.

“Dad had a massive record collection and would always play stuff for me but like a normal teenager I ignored him and discovered it for myself a few years later,” he said.

“When I was about 13 I bought the Nirvana Unplugged album and heard the Lead Belly cover. I found the original and went from there.”

At the BBRMF, Barber organised the Acousitc Youth Stage at RPM last Fridayand the Electric Youth Stage on Saturday. Together the stages featured 16 impressive young acts.

“I always thought that the kids who are playing blues and roots were increbile but a lot of them were nervous t try opportunities with older musicians,” Barber said.

“It is intimidating so by putting them on their own stage with people their own age it gives them the confidence boost to go further.

“One of the most important things for any type of music is to teach it and keep it going. If there’s no (younger) people at shows to help generate (the future), it’s not going to happen.”

 As for Barber’s future?

“I just want to be involved in the (Bendigo) music scene and see how it pans out,” he said. “I’m already looking forward to next year. I want to make it bigger and better.”