THE Conargo Pub holds more than a few memories for many people, and the iconic Australian country pub is now immortalised in a song thanks to Junee’s Nathan Charlton.
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For the past 15 years, Mr Charlton has been performing and writing country music.
Last Friday, he won the Australian Pub Song competition held during the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
While the pub was destroyed by fire last year, Mr Charlton tracked down some local characters to spin a yarn about the pub.
Mr Charlton said winning the competition was pretty amazing.
“It’s the first time I’ve ever entered one of my own songs in an award ... I was up against some pretty tough competition,” he said.
Entrants have to send off a demo and the 10 finalists are then required to perform on the day in Tamworth.
The second placed entry was from Golden Guitar winner Graham Rodger, while a song written by Wagga’s Grant Luhrs placed third.
“The competition is sponsored by the Lyceum Hotel in Longreach, Queensland,” Mr Charlton said.
“It’s where Slim Dusty met Stan Coster for the first time.
“They’re two of the biggest names in Australian country music and the song had to be written in either Slim or Stan’s style,” Mr Charlton said.
Mr Charlton who used to tour with a group called the Balladeers is now a solo artist and is planning to record his fifth album this year.
“It’s a big confidence booster going in to record the next album,” he said.