Viper Creek’s golden nomination – Damien’s band continues to notch up successes

It was a stunning 2019 for Narrabri’s Damien Baguley’s Viper Creek Band and the group’s hard work was rewarded with a significant accolade at the 2020 Tamworth Country Music Festival.

The band played over 60 gigs in 2019, debuted its album – Beautiful Destruction – at number one in the ARIA Country charts and finished with one and a half million streams on Spotify.

Following their successful 2019 Viper Creek’s Damien Baguley – vocals, Reuben Andrew – bass, Jeremy Minnett – guitar, and Brad Rheinberger – drums, were nominated as finalists at the Golden Guitar Awards in the Country Music Capital News Group or Duo of the year section.

Although the band did not come away with a golden guitar it finished in the top five in the category.

Lead singer Damien Baguley, who is the son of Neville and Kerry Baguley and grew up in Narrabri, said it was an honour for the band to be a finalist.

“Just to be nominated is a really cool thing.

“I grew up going over to the festival.

“Growing up in Narrabri, Mum and Dad would take me and I can remember watching the awards on TV.

“My first musical idol was Slim Dusty and I remember seeing Slim win all of those awards back in the day.”

As well as securing a Golden Guitar nomination the band played two, two-and-a-half hour gigs at the Longyard Hotel during the festival, drawing 500 people and selling out the second show.

Mr Baguley told The Courier that in 2012 Viper Creek played 10 free events a week in front of 20 people and now has a loyal following of fans who buy tickets to every show.

“That was our ninth festival as Viper Creek Band,” said Mr Baguley.

“We honestly probably don’t work as hard now as we did before,” he laughed.

“When we first went it was all about building the brand and we were doing 10 full shows and other little pop-up gigs.

“Now we do two ticketed shows which have pretty much sold out in the last three years.”

Damien said 2019 was a big year, and the Newcastle-based band intends to make 2020 even better.

“And we will definitely be coming back to Narrabri later in the year.

“We always look forward to that.”