Rock-pop musician Rai Thistlethwayte will travel to Mount Isa in August, to make is outback debut at the Isa Street Festival.
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The first time traveling to western Queensland, the Thirsty Merc front man will provide solo entertainment at the Rodeo Week festivities.
Rai just finished a 72 date tour along the east coast but said he didn't have the opportunity to travel inland.
"I just finished the run to Mackay, Airley Beach, Mission Beach, Cairns, Townsville and Rockhampton but didn't get to travel that far inland," he said.
"I am looking forward to checking Mount Isa out. My dad's friend worked out there for a while so I have heard a few stories from him.
"I am looking forward to the experiencing the spiritual connection you get when you head out to those parts."
Rai hopes to connect with the audience through his music and perform some classic hits.
"(Mount Isa) cane expect a wide array of musical genres," Rai said.
"Through my position with the bank Thirsty Merc we perform pop-rock, however as a solo artist I move from soul, pop, jazz, blues, funk and throw back music from Prince to Stevie Wonder."
Rai hoped that the honesty of lyrics in his music would connect with locals.
"I have always enjoyed music that has a lot of melody and lyrical realness to them.
"With some of the Thirsty Merc songs, 'Someday Someday' which was about finding myself as a young songwriter and touring around and not knowing how I was going to hold a relationship together.
"'In the Summertime' was written about not wanting to go to work and just wanting to go to the beach and hang out and enjoy the summer which is a quintessential Australian theme.
"So I think it is those type of stories that are relatable and have strong melodies that can grab the audiences attention."
Rai grew up in Sydney and still resides there between touring and trips to Los Angeles.
Growing up Rai was exposed to music young with a piano teacher for a mother and a rock musician for a father. Rai learn instruments as a young child including piano, guitar and base.
His passion for music continued throughout school and university, and he begun playing gigs in his late teens. From there record deals followed and Rai found himself immersed in the music industry and learning about production and the business.
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