-By Kim Parnell-
Australian music legend Richard Clapton has spent decades writing songs that have become part of the soundtrack to Australian life. From Girls on the Avenue to Deep Water and Goodbye Tiger, his music has endured through changing trends, formats and generations.
Ahead of his appearance at the Sounds of Rock Music Festival in Hervey Bay, Richard reflected on the changing music industry, the stories behind some of his biggest songs and why he’s looking forward to returning to the Fraser Coast.
Having started performing professionally in the early 1970s, Richard said the music industry was vastly different in those days.
“I used to tour constantly, doing six gigs a week,” he said.
“Audiences and fans were very loyal. If people came to see you and they liked what they saw or heard, they’d come back.”
While he admires some modern artists, he believes social media, algorithms and streaming platforms have changed the way music is consumed.
“I think lyrics are sadly getting lost sometimes,” he said.
“Among others, I love artists like Jason Isbell because songwriting still matters. A lot of music today can feel formulaic and samey.”
By the time Richard visits our region the musician will be 78, Richard remains passionate about performing and recording, although he laughs at the fact many people still underestimate his age.
“I’m one of those annoying people who physically doesn’t seem to age much,” Richard jokes.
One song forever tied to Richard’s legacy is the 1975 hit Girls on the Avenue. He recalled writing it after a night out with his friend and Festival Records colleague Colin.
“We lived in Rose Bay and there were these girls who lived on the corner in a street called The Avenue, which was the next street along from us.” he said.
“We’d been out at a bar drinking Black Russians and, on the way, home saw the girls on the veranda at the front. We were chatting to them and were a bit inebriated. I got home, sat down wrote the song. It was about capturing a moment.”
Ironically, much to Colin’s chagrin Festival Records almost refused to release the song because executives doubted its commercial appeal.
“They kept rejecting it at meetings,” Richard said.
“But Colin worked at Double J and he played it every hour. Commercial stations picked it up and suddenly it became a hit.”
Over the years, Richard has continued evolving creatively. He described his 2004 album Diamond Mine as a turning point because it embraced the home recording revolution.
“I turned the downstairs area of my house into a studio,” he said.
“It was liberating because there was no pressure. I could write a song, rethink it, go back downstairs and completely rework it.”
The album featured a stellar lineup of Australian musicians including Ian Moss and Dave Leslie from Baby Animals.
Another deeply personal project was his 2020 covers album Music Is Love, inspired by the music of the late 1960s American hippie movement.
“The songs on that album are in my DNA,” he said.
“They’re the songs that made me.”
The album became Richard’s first number one album, although he admitted its momentum stalled after the death of Mushroom Records founder Michael Gudinski.
“It sold out in two days,” he said.
“But after Michael passed away, the support behind it disappeared. That was disappointing because I was very proud of that album.”
Despite the highs and lows of the industry, Richard said he feels content looking back on his life and career.
“I went through periods of real disenchantment,” he said.
“But now, speaking to you in 2026, I’m happy in my own skin.”
As he prepares for the Sounds of Rock Music Festival, Richard said festival performances continue to suit him perfectly.
“I’ve done a lot of festivals over the years and love the atmosphere. The audiences are fantastic.”
Fans attending the Hervey Bay performance on Saturday, September 19 can expect a set packed with classics. According to Richard, he has recorded 246 songs across his career.
“One day I worked out it would take nearly three days to play every song I’ve recorded,” he laughed.
“With festival sets, you’re skimming across the top, trying to fit in as much as possible.”
That means audiences can likely expect favourites such as Girls on the Avenue, Deep Water, Capricorn Dancer and other hits that have helped cement Richard as one of Australia’s most enduring singer-songwriters.
While many artists slow down after decades in the industry, Richard still thrives on the energy of live crowds.
“I really do love live audiences,” he said.
“That connection never gets old.”
Nearly five decades after Girls on the Avenue first hit the airwaves, Richard remains both reflective and grateful — and Hervey Bay audiences will soon have the chance to see that enduring passion for themselves live on stage.
The festival lineup also includes:
Pete Murray
The Screaming Jets
Diesel
The Black Sorrows
Pseudo Echo
Toni Childs
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Get your tickets now: www.soundsofrockfestival.com.au.
