Conondale: Henry Catania might only be knee-high to a grasshopper, but he’s quickly winning hearts of Sunny Coast locals and has his eyes set on the big stage.
The 13-year-old, who plays the Gympie Music Muster this week, is a popular performer at Maleny’s Front Up Club, where he started performing at age 10, and has regular busking spots at Caloundra Street Fair and the Gold Coast’s Hastings Street.
But his biggest show yet was playing at last year’s Horizon Festival, the Sunshine Coast’s premier multi-arts festival, which returns this year from August 25-September 3.
Henry said he was “thrilled” to perform as the opening act for Indigenous Australian and Aria-nominated singer songwriter Emily Wurramara.
“It was a truly unforgettable experience.”
Henry was recently a finalist for Noosa Stars Alive and joins six finalists at this year’s Gympie Muster Talent Search, with live finals on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
And if that wasn’t enough, Henry has just been accepted into the Eumundi School of Music, headed by our very own ARIA award-winning and seven-times platinum vocal powerhouse Katie Noonan.
Henry has been singing, strumming and making music since he was just two, saying his dad Rob was his biggest influence. Oh and global music superstar Ed Sheeran, of course.
“I love performing (Ed Sheeran’s) songs, but I also enjoy putting my own spin on covers of other artists’ music,” he said.
“Dad started me off with a few cords, but then I taught myself the rest with YouTube videos and Dave Tran from GuitarZero2Hero.
“We have travelled around Australia since I was two, and I used to love sitting with the other campers at happy hour and sing to them on my ukulele.
“When I turned 10, I started to take my music more seriously and began dedicating myself to getting better every day.”
And it seems Henry is unstoppable, saying he practices his music for up to three hours daily, sometimes “sneaking” in more time.
“It makes me feel so happy when I play.”
Henry said performing at open mics and busking has allowed him to advance his skills and even score a few paid gigs at Noosa Social, The Local Beerwah, Kandanga Hotel and Noosa Acres.
And he’s quickly garnering a following of fans too. Robbie Hughes took to Henry’s Facebook page yesterday saying: “Good going matey really proud of you. Like a young Lee Kernaghan”.
Henry writes and plays original songs and covers in a wide range of genres.
“As a young musician I am still learning lots and I believe that busking and performing at gigs will help me improve and fulfil my dreams of becoming a professional musician, and hopefully I can inspire others to follow their dreams and never give up on what they love.
“I just want to be happy and play music. I would love to be on the big stage and also to travel around the world playing my songs.”
Watch this space!
Henry Catania plays at the Gympie Music Muster pre-celebrations today at the Muster Club from 2pm, and on Friday at the Muster’s Dodge Tavern at 12pm.
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