There’s just under a month to go until the man himself, Johnny Cash (aka Monty Cotton) takes the stage for all to enjoy a great night out in Dumbleyung. The show ‘A boy named Cash – a Johnny Cash Tribute Show’ has started its tour across regional WA, with the first show played in Broome last Saturday.
We were lucky enough to chat with Monty Cotton on his journey from Broome to his next show in Pannawonica and asked him a few questions in the lead up to his performance here in Dumbleyung on Saturday August 18.
Q. When was the moment you realised you could impersonate Johnny Cash?
About four years ago, I was attending a singing class with an opera trained teacher who didn’t regularly give out compliments – he was known by many to be a tough teacher. So, when he did compliment me and suggest that I had a voice similar to Johnny Cash, it stuck with me! Four years on, here I am today sharing my Johnny Cash tribute Show with regional WA!
Q. Have you always admired Johnny Cash, or did it occur once you were performing?
My father used to be in an Aussie Bush Band so as a child we had country music playing and admired other country musicians including Johnny Cash and John Denver. I’ve always been a fan of Johnny Cash!
Q. What was it like performing on ‘The Voice’?
It was a great experience. Nerve racking waiting for a chair to turn around, though overall really exciting and cool opportunities came from my time during and following the show!
Q. We’re very excited to have you perform in Dumbleyung. Have you heard of or been to Dumbleyung before? And where is the most unique place you have performed?
No, I hadn’t heard of Dumbleyung prior to this tour but it has stuck with me as the name is so different! I’m looking forward to visiting Dumbleyung and having a great show. The most unique place I have performed is on a cruise ship, south of Cape Horn at the bottom of South America.
Q. What obstacles (if any) did you have to overcome when you left your corporate job to be a singer/songwriter?
I left my job as an accountant on the east coast approximately 4 years ago and moved to WA. There’s a great music scene in Perth/WA and have been extremely lucky to travel and perform all over WA with not too many obstacles. In comparison to the east coast where you can gamble in most venues, in WA the main entertainment is live music! I’ve been lucky as it was an easy transition.
Q. What’s been the most rewarding part of your music career?
My top three rewarding moments would be touring as Johnny Cash, playing guitar for Gotye (Australian artist behind the hit song, ‘Somebody that I used to know’) and performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland.
Q. What’s the best advice you have received? And what advice would you give someone wanting to achieve their goals?
I was once told if you make a mistake, then make it twice. That way hopefully no one will pick that you made a mistake to begin with. Especially if a line is missed in a song!
Q. We read “Country Arts WA is proud of our Shows on the Go program which has been running for over 20 years, supporting up to 40 communities and reaching more than 5,000 people each year.” How does this make you feel?
Fantastic and appreciative! I presented the Johnny Cash tribute show last year and it was exciting to hear that the show was voted and chosen to be part of this year’s Country Arts WA performances. It’s really exciting and cool to be a part of and to engage with so many communities.
Do you want to see Monty live? Catch him on Saturday August 18 at the Dumbleyung Town Hall for the ‘A boy named Cash – Johnny Cash tribute Show’. Presented locally by the Dumbleyung Theatre Club, tickets are available from the Dumbleyung CRC and are $40 per person. Tickets include ‘A boy named Cash’ performance, dinner, live band to follow and cash bar facilities. For more information visit the Dumbleyung Theatre Club Facebook page or email admin@dumbleyungcrc.com.
Pictured above: Monty performs in Broome on July 21 to kick off the 'A boy named Cash' regional tour.
We were lucky enough to chat with Monty Cotton on his journey from Broome to his next show in Pannawonica and asked him a few questions in the lead up to his performance here in Dumbleyung on Saturday August 18.
Q. When was the moment you realised you could impersonate Johnny Cash?
About four years ago, I was attending a singing class with an opera trained teacher who didn’t regularly give out compliments – he was known by many to be a tough teacher. So, when he did compliment me and suggest that I had a voice similar to Johnny Cash, it stuck with me! Four years on, here I am today sharing my Johnny Cash tribute Show with regional WA!
Q. Have you always admired Johnny Cash, or did it occur once you were performing?
My father used to be in an Aussie Bush Band so as a child we had country music playing and admired other country musicians including Johnny Cash and John Denver. I’ve always been a fan of Johnny Cash!
Q. What was it like performing on ‘The Voice’?
It was a great experience. Nerve racking waiting for a chair to turn around, though overall really exciting and cool opportunities came from my time during and following the show!
Q. We’re very excited to have you perform in Dumbleyung. Have you heard of or been to Dumbleyung before? And where is the most unique place you have performed?
No, I hadn’t heard of Dumbleyung prior to this tour but it has stuck with me as the name is so different! I’m looking forward to visiting Dumbleyung and having a great show. The most unique place I have performed is on a cruise ship, south of Cape Horn at the bottom of South America.
Q. What obstacles (if any) did you have to overcome when you left your corporate job to be a singer/songwriter?
I left my job as an accountant on the east coast approximately 4 years ago and moved to WA. There’s a great music scene in Perth/WA and have been extremely lucky to travel and perform all over WA with not too many obstacles. In comparison to the east coast where you can gamble in most venues, in WA the main entertainment is live music! I’ve been lucky as it was an easy transition.
Q. What’s been the most rewarding part of your music career?
My top three rewarding moments would be touring as Johnny Cash, playing guitar for Gotye (Australian artist behind the hit song, ‘Somebody that I used to know’) and performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland.
Q. What’s the best advice you have received? And what advice would you give someone wanting to achieve their goals?
I was once told if you make a mistake, then make it twice. That way hopefully no one will pick that you made a mistake to begin with. Especially if a line is missed in a song!
Q. We read “Country Arts WA is proud of our Shows on the Go program which has been running for over 20 years, supporting up to 40 communities and reaching more than 5,000 people each year.” How does this make you feel?
Fantastic and appreciative! I presented the Johnny Cash tribute show last year and it was exciting to hear that the show was voted and chosen to be part of this year’s Country Arts WA performances. It’s really exciting and cool to be a part of and to engage with so many communities.
Do you want to see Monty live? Catch him on Saturday August 18 at the Dumbleyung Town Hall for the ‘A boy named Cash – Johnny Cash tribute Show’. Presented locally by the Dumbleyung Theatre Club, tickets are available from the Dumbleyung CRC and are $40 per person. Tickets include ‘A boy named Cash’ performance, dinner, live band to follow and cash bar facilities. For more information visit the Dumbleyung Theatre Club Facebook page or email admin@dumbleyungcrc.com.
Pictured above: Monty performs in Broome on July 21 to kick off the 'A boy named Cash' regional tour.
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