Brisbane-based singer-songwriter and guitarist Luke Austen has a wealth of experience in the country music industry.
Since winning the perpetual musicianship award at Charters Towers Country Music Talent Quest in 1997,
Luke has added to his trophy cabinet and broadened his horizons, touring with some of Australia’s best known country stars.
In 2000 and 2004 he completed four tours of Australia with legendary bush balladeer Brian Young and in 2004, he became a fulltime member of Troy Cassar-Daley’s touring band.
In 2009 Luke released a five-track EP, No Stranger to the Rain.
LUKE AUSTEN WINS TWO GOLDEN GUITARS
On the release of Luke Austen’s debut album “Light Of Day”, popular country music publication Capital News had this to say about Luke Austen’s debut album “Light Of Day”.
"In a scene crying out for a new hero, Luke Austen's timing with this outstanding album couldn't be better".
Last Saturday night at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre their belief in Luke was confirmed when he won two prestigious Golden Guitar Awards: Heritage Song Of The Year for “Sacred Bones” and Bush Ballad Of The Year for “Every Time He Travels Through Cloncurry”.
Luke Austen was the winner of last year’s Toyota Star Maker, the national talent search that launched the careers of Keith Urban, Lee Kernaghan, Samantha McClymont and many others.
But Luke is no blow in. He earned his stripes touring the outback with country music icon Brian Young for four years before becoming a mainstay of Troy Cassar Daley’s band from 2004 until now. He’s also written songs for Troy and Adam Harvey.
So it’s fitting that each of these awards has a connection to Luke’s story so far: “Every Time He Travels Through Cloncurry” is a tribute to Brian Young. “Sacred Bones”, the chilling true story of Luke’s father discovering aboriginal remains in a cave, was written by Luke and Troy Cassar Daley and features Troy on harmony vocals and mandolin.