Danny Bau dreams of playing on the big stage, so success in local competitions will help him get there.
Camera IconDanny Bau dreams of playing on the big stage, so success in local competitions will help him get there. Credit: Supplied/Jon Hewson

Making most of break

Rachel Fenner, Mandurah Coastal TimesMandurah Coastal Times

Now, acoustic guitarist Danny Bau will head to a Sydney musical boot camp after taking out the Fremantle heat for the Telstra Road to Discovery.

The win was a lucky break for Danny, who received a spot when another musician dropped out.

Danny’s music is on the border of alternative, folk, soul and pop.

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He has been playing for four years and credits his father for handing down his guitar and the majority of what he knows about music.

‘I got lessons from Dad; he taught me how to read chords,’ he said.

‘YouTube taught me the rest.’

Danny first became well known in the local scene when he took out Player’s Bar’s Battle of the Bands last year; he also plays gigs at other bars around town.

‘But I like playing at the Monkey Bar especially,’ he said.

‘Michelle Italiano here gives up and coming unsigned musos a chance to play, when they wouldn’t get a chance anywhere else.’

Danny has to beat out 16 other musical hopefuls to become one of two finalists.

These finalists receive a chance to perform as the opening act for Bon Jovi this December. They also receive a 12-month music mentorship, a round trip and performance at the Americana Music Festival, local gigs in Australia and a $14,000 tailored music development fund.

At the Fremantle heat, Danny performed two original acoustic songs called Free and Why Don’t I Get You?

‘Writing an original song can take anywhere from half an hour to three weeks,’ he said.

‘A few years from now, I’d love to be on the big stage, with sell-out shows.’

After the boot camp Danny will take part in the semi-finals event at the Great Southern Blues Festival in Narooma on October 6, where 10 musicians progress to the finals.