Songwriter Greg Champion might be known for his parody songs with the Coodabeen Champions but most of the songs he writes are unheard.
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Between playing his comedy work at sports clubs and corporate conventions, Champion said festivals are plum gigs.
“They’re not lucrative but they have quality audiences and you get to play the music you want,” he said.
“My bread and butter is the sports and corporate clubs where I’m obliged to do a comedy act. Festivals chance to play more soulful music. That's the attraction.”
Champion is the ambassador for the Newstead Live festival which returns from January 26 to 29.
“It is three years running for me at this festival, which is great because it can be hard to get booked. I feel privileged to play at it,” he said.
“They’ve also made me artist of the year, which is a nice corresponding honour, but I’m always happy to talk about (Newstead). It’s never a chore.
“At my first Newstead festival, I made them an offer they couldn’t understand. I gave them a bargain basement fee and said I’d pay my own accommodation.”
Champion will play four sets over Thursday and Friday alongside artists including Enda Kenny, Danny Spooner, Stephen Taberner, Martin Pearson and The Mae Trio.
After starting out as folk musician in his teens, Champion graduated to duos, trios and quartets and eventually played Eagles covers in a pub band.
“That lasted seven years and by that time I was on radio with the Coodabeens doing football parodies and I’m still doing it 35 years later,” he said.
“So the comedy work had overtaken band and solo work. But still about 90 per cent of what I write are serious songs, that don’t get heard because of the novelty songs.
“Folk festivals give me the opportunity to do arty stuff but you still have got to find the balance of the humour and the straight stuff.
Newstead Live is on from January 26-29. Visit www.newsteadlive.com to see the full program.