Less than a year since his sophomore album was released to wide acclaim, the 24-year-old Australian singer, songwriter and guitar virtuoso Daniel Champagne will return from abroad with the second half of The Gypsy Moon recordings and his most extensive national tour to date.
The story goes that Daniel first picked up the guitar as a five year old and has never really put it down. Following in the footsteps of a musical father, he began writing songs at 12, training classically throughout his teens and performing wherever he could, honing his craft and developing what would become the dynamite live show that he is renowned for today. At 18 he left school, turned professional and hit the road. He hasn’t stopped since.
The next five years saw him traversing North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, New Zealand and of course, his homeland Australia playing such festivals as Canada’s Vancouver Folk and Mariposa Festival, Belgium’s Labadoux and Australia’s Woodford, Falls Festival, Port Fairy Folk Festival and the legendary Byron Bay Bluesfest. As well as touring and sharing stages with the likes of Lucinda Williams, Judy Collins, INXS, John Butler and Ani DiFranco – all of this while writing, recording and independently releasing two Eps, My Own Design (2009) and Wide Eyed and Open (2010), his first long player Pint of Mystery (2011) and the Real Live offering in 2012. As one reviewer recently wrote, “still in his early twenties, the distances he has been would be more frequently associated with veterans of the Folk scene” (The Dwarf) and this globetrotting lifestyle would soon become the centerpiece of Daniel’s next recordings…
The Gypsy Moon – Volume I was released in April 2013 as the first part to a double album ‘sonic tour diary’ concept and received rapturous applause from all corners – something that Champagne admits helped him as a writing this time around “the whole response to the first volume was really liberating for me” he says “just the fact that people were really paying attention to the songs themselves this time, rather than just the guitar playing gave me a lot of confidence to really rip into it and give everything I could when it came to putting this second volume together.”
Recorded from September 2013 to February this year, between studios in Melbourne and the far south coast of NSW, Champagne says that the process was similar to the making of Volume I, but something completely different came out at the other end. “This one turned out a little more diverse. Both the music and the songs are more elaborate, with sharper details, more people and places so it’s quite vivid to the listener I would hope. I’m really proud of what we’ve got down this time and I can’t wait to share it with everyone and get around the country playing these songs.”
The Gypsy Moon – Volume II was released on Friday March7, and Daniel will celebrate with an extensive national tour taking in all states and territories to play his last and only Australian shows for 2014. In July he will relocate to base himself in America.
April 5 – Baby Black Café, BACCHUS MARSH, VIC
April 11 – Babushka Bar, BALARAT, VIC
April 12 – Martians Café, DEANS MARSH, VIC
April 13 – Bay Hotel, MORNINGTON, VIC
April 18 & 19 – Byron Bluesfest, TYAGARAH, NSW
April 20 – Ocean Street Festival, MAROOCHYDORE, QLD
April 23 – Beach Hotel, BYRON BAY, NSW
April 24 – The Loft, GOLD COAST, QLD
May 4 – Brisbane Jazz Club, BRISBANE, QLD
May 8 – Fresh Café, LAUNCESTON, TAS
May 9 – Northcote Social Club, MELBOURNE, VIC
May 10 – Tattersalls Hotel, HOBART, TAS
May 15 – Lizottes, CENTRAL COAST, NSW
May 16 – Lizottes, NEWCASTLE, NSW
May 17 – Diggers Tavern, BELLINGEN, NSW
May 18 – Bangalow Bowling Club, BANGALOW, NSW
May 21 – Mojos, FREMANTLE, WA
May 22 – Four5Nine Bar, PERTH, WA
May 24 – Singing Gallery, MCLAREN VALE, SA
May 25 – Jade Monkey, ADELAIDE, SA
May 28 – Brass Monkey, CRONULLA, NSW
May 30 – Mumbulla School Hall, BEGA, NSW
May 31 – The Front, Lyneham, CANBERRA, ACT
June 1 – Beyond Q, Curtin, CANBERRA, ACT
June 4 – Newtown Social Club, SYDNEY, NSW
June 10 – Burps, MACKAY, QLD
June 11 – Bellevue Hotel, TOWNSVILLE, QLD
June 12 – Tanks Arts Centre, CAIRNS, QLD
June 18 – Howling Wolf Bar, WOLLONGONG, NSW
June 19 – Bluebird Sessions, MILTON, NSW
June 26 – Beavs Bar, GEELONG, VIC
June 27 – The Red Room, ARARAT, VIC