Gig Preview: 70s in the spotlight at BREC

Daniel Thompson is no stranger to impersonating legendary country music star Johnny Cash but his latest trip to Bunbury will see him take a number of guises.

The Greats of 70s Country Music show will see Thompson perform songs from Cash, Glen Campbell, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson, John Denver, Dolly Parton and many others during a performance at the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre on July 1.

Thompson’s performance in Bunbury is part of a national tour, which began earlier this month and features two hours of country music hits and a special tribute to Johnny Cash.

The Cash impersonator has been playing to adoring crowds since 2009 as the popular American singer and he performed in Bunbury last November.

Thompson said the show would be a tribute to the style of musicians during the 1970s and the songs that were a significant part of people’s lives from that generation.

“The tour is going really well so far and we’ve got the first few weeks under my belt. It’s been received well,” he said.

Thompson said the shows were a chance to perform a variety of songs and break away from his usual act.

“It’s a chance to do something that I’ve really wanted to do for a while, it’s nice to not just sing Johnny Cash songs and have a break from that,” he said.

“His songs are a challenge to sing but I love his way of storytelling, which is similar to the other 70s country singers.

“I’ve got the band touring with me but I’ll be the one singing all the songs and I’m looking forward to doing that.”

Thompson said what made Cash an interesting singer to impersonate was his uniqueness and his impact on music.

“He had a sound all of his own and I don’t think anyone has come close to doing what he did in his career,” he said.

“The show will be a tribute to the style of music of the 70s and a tribute to Johnny as well.

“Without a doubt Johnny had an influence on a lot of performers, including those of the 1970s.”

The songs he was performing on the tour were memorable from his childhood and would be well known to the audience.

“They are songs that crossed over to the mainstream but the singers are all vocally different and they are all from different ends of the spectrum,” he said.

“Singers like Glen Campbell and John Denver are heroes of mine and I think they are just fantastic. I grew up with their music and I still enjoy it now.”

Thompson said he was looking forward to performing in Bunbury for the fourth time because he was always received well.

“It’s a great part of the world, I always look forward to playing here because there is a great crowd and it’s a nice theatre,” he said. “I remember when I came last year the theatre had changed a bit but there was still a great response from the Bunbury people.”