By MICHELLE HERBISON
IT’S NOT often a folky singer-songwriter gets their audience up and dancing but Carus Thompson has mastered the art.
Thompson quickly realised his ability to energise audiences with his solo guitar during his early days touring the country supporting the likes of John Butler, Xavier Rudd, Jack Johnson and Pete Murray.
“I started doing it out of necessity but it started to become a real strength of mine,” Thompson recalled.
“When you don’t have a band you’ve got to find another way to get the rhythm out of the guitar but more than that you’ve got to find a relationship with the audience.
“People go to see music because they want to be entertained and have some sort of connection.”
Thompson’s latest album, Acoustic at the Norfolk II is a return to his live solo beginnings, acting as a sequel to an earlier record that resonated with audiences and kick-started his career.
“I did the first one about 11 years ago and since then I’ve had 11 years more of song-writing and three albums. For some reason it really hit a nerve with people.”
Thompson recently gathered together a band to again play The Norfolk Basement Lounge in Fremantle, this time showcasing his newer songs.
“It’s a super intimate venue that fits 180,” he said. “We had some of the same guys playing, a piano player and my brother singing harmonies.”
After nearly 20 years as a troubadour performing live around the world, Thompson said live performance came more naturally to him than the sterile environment of a recording studio.
“It’s a different skill, playing records. I’ve only gotten good at it in the last few albums,” he mused.
Lately his song-writing had moved towards storytelling and taking on different characters’ perspectives.
“When you first start writing especially in your early 20s everything just comes out and it’s very raw, but as you get older, life’s a bit less chaotic,” he said.
Idolising Paul Kelly, Thompson aimed to tell Australian stories through modern characters, avoiding the Australiana stereotype.
Thompson will join a string of local and visiting acts including David Bridie, The Strange Tenants and Julien Wilson at Ocean Grove’s Festivus music and arts festival on 12 April.
