Country music singer Katrina Burgoyne made her way back to Gunnedah for her Nashville-to-Australia tour and it was Baan Baa’s Sarah Leete who opened for her at the town hall on Saturday, January 6.
Katrina had posted a call to action on social media for musicians in the area to pick up their instrument of choice and audition to be a part of the show.
In the end, it was Sarah and Gunnedah’s Sam Snape who caught Katrina’s attention.
Katrina had met Sarah five years ago at her previous Gunnedah show and was aware of her talent from social media.
“I knew she was from Baan Baa and I knew she had started playing shows from around town, just from Gunnedah social media,” Katrina said.
“As much as I had heard about her, I wanted to make it a fair playing field for everyone.”
Katrina had said there were plenty of talented people among the auditions and from about 10 submissions the two were chosen.
“I think we had a really strong support act and these guys are at that cusp of stepping to the next level,” Katrina said. “So hopefully to have them experience a bigger level of production, it might light a little fire under them, so that they can go, ‘I’m going to do that one day’.”
Originally from the Central Coast, Sarah had moved to Baan Baa 12 years ago and now jokes about almost being a local.
“I have been gigging locally for about 10 years and I have toured around Australia and done a few things but Baan Baa is definitely home. I love it.
“It’s a really good little community and it’s definitely home now.”
Sarah had been a fan of Katrina’s music so when people tagged her on Facebook to audition, she gave it a go.
“We had only just had the fires out at home with the Pilliga [fires], so we were in a bit of strife for a little bit but once that had calmed down and I had a chance to get my guitar, I jumped online and uploaded a video,” Sarah said.
Gunnedah performer Sam Snape, Katrina Burgoyne and Sarah Leete.
“Luckily, she picked me and Sam, which I think Sam is great.”
The two often cross paths at music events or shows but the Saturday night gave her an opportunity to see him perform.
“It’s really great to have events like this. We really benefit from the success of others,” Sarah said.
“Sometimes people can find the music industry quite competitive but having events like this only would encourage people to come and see live music.
“People really support each other by putting these on and then it gives the community something to come out and do.
“When I do shows at Baan Baa, people come out and support me. They are there to see everyone and have fun and support local music and that is really important, so it is good to be a part of it.”
Her original music is described as pop country with an early 2000 influence.
“I get inspiration from all kinds of stuff, all the songs that I have written that I have released have been my own,” Sarah said.
As she experiences life, she finds more inspiration to write music in her “little house” in Baan Baa.
She performed Girl Next Door which captured the feelings and experiences of returning home after some time.
“It is about how the town can stay the same but you will come back different which I think is kind of really relevant to Katrina’s trajectory, being over in Nashville and then coming home and sharing her stories.”
Sarah had her first headliner tour in 2022, where she performed in NSW, ACT, Victoria and Queensland but most importantly was able to play the song back in the Central Coast.
She is also a regular performer at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
“I play a lot of pop covers but to be able to play your own music and have people come and enjoy that, [it is great],” she said.
“Obviously, where we are it is quite geographically challenging to get to the places.
“Trying to get that off the ground and to be able to make my music and be able to do it for a living is the dream.”
Sarah Leete.
