Larry Fleet Is Another Year Older As He Heads Back To Australia

Larry Fleet returns to Australia, bringing a headline tour, a Gympie Music Muster appearance and a new record in tow

Larry Fleet(Credit: Matt Paskert)

As far as country artist archetypes go, Larry Fleet is the ultimate embodiment of the genre. A Tennessee-born blue-collar worker with humble beginnings playing with family members for the love of the craft, before being plucked from obscurity by a fellow country legend (Jake Owen). Now, almost ten years in the industry and his fifth record, Another Year Older, is in the hands of his international fanbase, Fleet still finds this surreal.

Fleet spoke with Countrytown about his upcoming August trip to Australia, which will be his second visit to Australia in as many years after gracing the stage at CMC Rocks last year.

The star is bringing his own Another Year Older tour as well as joining the Gympie Music Muster lineup, joking that while the 23-hour flight and grilling from customs can be rough, it’s totally worth it

Fleet said, “I remember how friendly everybody was and also how people over there are real 'music lovers' and really appreciate the meaning of the songs. Also, the coffee is wonderful too. I was honestly so surprised with how everybody knew the words to my songs. I remember starting my sets, and people would be singing but it really blew my mind when I started singing Where I Find God and the whole crowd was singing louder than me. It was a great feeling.’

Another Year Older came out in February, and as the name suggests, the tracks delicately explore what it means to grow with more wisdom, gratitude, faith, and perspective. This is not too far of a departure from the themes that Fleet usually covers in his previous four records, though he seems to be at a junction in his work where he is enjoying the ride and is honest about his motivations.

Fleet says that there are always nerves putting out a record, but that he feels even more exposed this time as he is exploring new subject matter and actually self-produced this record for the first time, recording with his band

Fleet said, “It is reflective for me because I’m in a stage of my life where faith, family and working hard are the most important things in my life. There are songs about family in there, and there’s songs about redemption, songs about getting drunk advice in a bar from people you shouldn’t take advice from… and there are some sexy feeling songs too. I’ve either been through it or going through it now, and each song is personal to me.”

Having already ticked off some major Australian country bucket list items, like performing at CMC Rocks and, of course, doing a shoey, it’s only natural that performing his headline tour and performing at the Gympie Muster are next. Fleet said that when he was in Australia last year he had been told that Gympie Muster was one to aim for, and to be part of the lineup not even 12 months later is something he is grateful for.

Fleet said, “I’m just excited that I got invited to play it. I honestly just like meeting new people and hearing their stories, and I like playing cool places and making memories so that’s what I’m looking forward to.’

Fleet continued, ‘Honestly, just playing internationally is something I could’ve never imagined and is still surreal to me but taking these songs to Australia is exciting and I hope that people like them and that the songs connect with people.’

Fleet said he is excited to bring his headlining shows to Australia and show off his talented and hard-working band, and really slow down to introduce his songs with the stories and inspirations that brought them into being. With so much country music out there, and especially in the growing Australian scene, he says he feels blessed that people still return to his music and attend his shows.

Fleet said, “I love writing songs and telling stories, and I learned the art of telling a good story from the generations before me. It warms my soul to play for true music and song lovers. There’s so much music that is coming out every day, and I’m honoured people choose to listen to mine and love it and buy a ticket to come and see me, so you better believe I’m going to give them the best show I can give them.”

The US leg of the Another Year Older tour wrapped up at the end of April, with the Australian shows kicking off in August and a support act yet to be named. Tickets are still on sale for his tour, as well as for the Gympie Music Muster.