Hamilton country musician plays Norfolk Island festival

Hamilton country musician Dan Cosgrove is set to represent New Zealand in the Trans-Tasman Entertainer of the Year contest during the Norfolk Island Country Music Festival in May.

While at the music festival in May, Dan will be performing tracks including Nervous Breakdown by Brad Paisley, Brand New Girlfriend by Steve Holy and XXLby Keith Anderson.

“It is going to be a blast…It’s even more of an honour as I am going as a NZ representative.”

Last year Dan won best instrumentalist at the internationally renowned NZ Gold Guitar Awards following on his nomination for the Horizon Award (Best New Talent) at the NZ Country Music Awards in 2010.

The competition is the latest step forward for the musician who has come up with a novel way of raising money to record an EP in Australia in 2013.

Country music lovers who donate $50 or more can order a song which Dan will dedicate and sing for the donor on YouTube.

“A professionally recorded CD would be a huge step in my career and I think it’s time I got one made,” Dan said. “It is sad country music doesn’t have much of a following in New Zealand…I’m hoping to change that.”

And in April, Dan will be in Auckland recording a single track which will be available for free download.

“Someone I’d like to work with is Jody Direen…she features in a few of my videos on my YouTube channel.”

For the rest of 2012, Dan is focusing on writing songs and saving money to help with the production of his EP.

The award winning country musician has covered quite a few songs including Brad Paisley’s Nervous Breakdown and Keith Urban’s But for the Grace of God.

You can visit Dan’s music page on Facebook and even share it on your own wall: http://www.facebook.com/dancosgrovemusic.