The smooth sound of saxophone wafts out of the pub and down the street of the outback town of Tambo.
Seven nights a week, musician Mark McGurgan sits down with his sax and keyboard for his usual set playing for travellers.
The playlist doesn’t include the usual country classics you’d expect to hear in a town like this in central west Queensland.
Rather than covering country icons like John Williamson or Slim Dusty, McGurgan bursts into a swing version of Meghan Trainor’s 2014 pop hit All About That Bass.
“Different people walk in [to the pub] and they’re just blown away, going, ‘Oh my God, we didn’t expect this’,” McGurgan said.
“It’s been nothing but positive feedback.”
‘Wish I’d gone to the country years ago’
In the aftermath of COVID-19, when Australia’s music industry was hit hard, the 54-year-old packed up his life in Melbourne and hit the road.
McGurgan’s daughter was already working at a pub in Tambo.
“I came out to visit her and they had a live-in musician,” he said.
Something about the country quirkiness of the pub appealed to him, so McGurgan got in contact with the owner and is now in Tambo for his second tourist season.
“I wish I’d gone to the country years ago because it’s much more receptive,” he said.
“I had to battle for gigs all the time [in Melbourne], was criticised for not being of a standard, undercut by other musicians and paid 50 bucks a gig.”
Music lessons strike a chord
In the short time he has been here, McGurgan has filled his diary giving music lessons to Tambo locals in between developing his musical niche: outback jazz.
“I’ve had a teacher from the school sign up for guitar lessons, the lady from the church sign up for improvisation on piano, so word is spreading,” he said.
For the 300-odd Tambo residents, having an experienced music teacher in town is a “golden opportunity”.
It has meant the world to mother of four Carroll Abel.
Living on a property 60 kilometres out of town, she never expected her daughters would be able to get in-person piano lessons.
“There isn’t really any other musical opportunities apart from Mark rolling into our lives, so we’ve really embraced it,” she said.
“Even going to the pub to watch the chicken races, have dinner and listen to Mark play is such a treat because we just don’t really get to see live music otherwise.”
McGurgan said he had “absolutely” noticed a difference when teaching country kids.
“The kids are more resilient in the bush,” he said.
“Sure, they play up just like city kids but they’re a lot more resilient — they seem to take things on board quicker.
“I think living in the country you have to be like that.”
Adults pitch for lessons too
Jazz isn’t the only unlikely music genre in Tambo.
The country town has also become home for an aspiring Indian rapper.
When he’s not writing lyrics in English and Punjabi, Mani Sohi manages the fuel station in town.
The 29-year-old tried to pick up piano lessons when he was living in Brisbane but had little luck.
He was surprised to find a music teacher so easily once he moved to the small country town, and not have to rely on online lessons.
“It is better when you learn like face-to-face, one-on-one,” he said.
Far from the chaotic cacophony of Melbourne’s streets, McGurgan spends his free time looking out from the pub as road trains rumble past into the horizon.
Country life has inspired some new songs for this crooner-turned-music teacher.
With no plans to go back to Melbourne any time soon, he feels the call of the long outback roads.
“I don’t think I could even live in the city anymore,” McGurgan said.
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