Returning to one of her early stages. Sari Abbott will play at Peregian Beach Hotel this month. Photo: Supplied.

Sari Abbott was still a teenager when Peregian Beach Hotel gave her a place to perform helping the young singer-songwriter build confidence in front of a live crowd.

Years later, the Sunshine Coast artist has played stages including Caloundra Music Festival, Byron Bay Bluesfest, Gympie Music Muster and Tamworth Country Music Festival.

But some of her earliest live experience came much closer to home.

Peregian Beach Hotel’s Kylie Plunkett said the venue had been part of Abbott’s music journey since she was about 16 or 17.

“We’ve loved watching her growth.”

Where Sari built her confidence

Sari Abbott now performs across Australia, with Peregian Beach Hotel among the venues that supported her in the early days. Photo: Supplied.

For artists like Abbott, venues such as PBH can be an important stepping stone to bigger stages, giving them the chance to build confidence, find an audience and learn how to hold a crowd.

“Having a venue for emerging artists to play back then was rare, and PBH gave artists like me a shot which in return I’m grateful for,” she said.

“I personally gained confidence, live crowd experience and a good following for my music.”

That experience also gave her somewhere to develop the storytelling that has become central to her songwriting.

She said the hotel had continued to make room for independent musicians and different styles of live music, while allowing songwriters to share their own experiences with an audience.

“Looking back, PBH played and continues to play an important role in supporting independent artists, different styles of live music and songwriting,” she said.

“I’ve loved writing about my time living on the Coast and travelling around Australia, and having the freedom to tell those tales in a public environment is important to me and creates a connection between the audience and myself.”

See Sari Abbott live in Peregian Beach

Sari Abbott will perform live at Peregian Beach Hotel on Saturday, August 22, from 3pm.

Partner content: This story was produced in partnership with Peregian Beach Hotel.

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