Great company: Shane Nicholson is coming to the Astor

Great Southern Nights is a NSW Government initiative created to kick-start the recovery of the live music and hospitality and tourism industries and Goulburn will be treated to a performance by Shane Nicholson at the Astor Hotel on Friday, November 27.

Winner of three ARIA awards and former husband of Kasey Chambers, Mr Nicholson, said music was extremely important during these tough times.

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"Historically, people have always turned to the arts in times of uncertainty or crisis," Mr Nicholson said.

"The arts have a way of reflecting the way we are collectively feeling, and give us all a way to connect as humans.

"These days, we have unlimited access to so much music online, but also after such a long period of segregation, I think it's important for humans to have those in-person shared experiences again.

"Its good to remember that while this pandemic has decimated the music industry, it's also affected the audiences that rely on it."

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Life hasn't changed much during the pandemic for the owner of three cats, so he has been able to continue working on his music.

"I'm fortunate, as my life has been largely the same during quarantine," he said.

"I'm a fairly seasoned isolator, having lived most of my life in the recording studio and hotel rooms.

"I've produced a bunch of albums this year for other artists, and put the finishing touches on my next solo album.

"I also grew a few herbs and painted some fences."

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Mr Nicholson will be performing songs from almost all of the 10 albums of his career so far.

Also performing in the Southern Tablelands will be Don Hopkins with Chris O'Connor on Saturday, November 21 and Steve Kilbey on November 28, both at the Goulburn Club.

In the Southern Highlands, Richard Lane and Lorena Gore will perform at The Loch Berrima on November 21 and 22, while the week after, the Gundaroo Colonial Inn hosts the pairings Sun Bears and Moon Dog and Stu Barton and Zac George.

See the gig guide and buy tickets at www.greatsouthernnights.com.au

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