By Ethan Benedicto
Captivating audiences with his mellow vocals and nostalgic atmosphere, Berwick local and seasoned musician, singer and songwriter Kerrigan La-Brooy aims to make 2025 a packed year.
After selling out his latest performance at Bunjil Place on 19 October, Kerrigan has his sights set on still making those waves happen, with new songs and melodies already in the works.
Kerrigan was nominated for and won the National Gospel Artist of the Year award during the Tasmanian Independent Country Music Awards on 2 November, a feat that he said made him feel amazing and honoured.
“Touring is key now that the kids are bigger—they can even join me on stage,” he said.
“I’ve played a number of songs at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, and after 23 years I went back and even then it was a bit weary.
“I didn’t know what to expect but people remembered me and they just took to me like it was, like a pause button and everyone just pressed play.”
The October Bunjil concert was a testament to Kerrigan’s versatility as a performer, tackling multiple genres from different periods, adding that there is always something for everyone in every genre.
“I did disco, 70s classics like Boogie Shoes, stuff that takes your parents back you know?” he said.
“I even do modern country rock, rock and roll in the 60s like Elvis which never grows old; I don’t want to be boxed into one category and I cater to any audience, the goal is always to give people an unforgettable experience.”
Despite his decades-long career, Kerrigan maintains that his passion for music remains rooted in his upbringing and personal connections.
He also coined his love for music as a familial trait, recounting that his parents met through and fell in love during a party, “through music”.
“I started when I was five years old. My dad and mum fell in love at a party through music, and they were my first inspirations,” he said.
“As a teenager, I decided to make music full-time, and when I was about 17, I was doing TV shows and radio shows overseas and then brought it to Australia, and I haven’t stopped.”
This lifelong dedication is complemented by his dynamic performances where Kerrigan combines his own tempos from the guitar to the keyboard.
However, staying put was never in the books for him, adding that he wants “to move, dance, and connect with the audience”.
Kerrigan’s success also extends beyond the stage, where after stepping away from touring to raise his six children, he founded Gethsemane Church & Charity, a not-for-profit organisation in Berwick that supports the homeless and feeds thousands of families through the help of initiatives like the Transit Kitchen in Narre Warren.
He believes that music can be utilised as a bridge to reach people, likewise with his endeavours through the church and charity, and both mediums allow him to share his message of connection and glee through song.
Kerrigan’s musical inspirations range from ABBA to Garth Brooks and to his parents, people and artists whom he has built strong connections with to reflect his style.
“ABBA has been a huge influence, I used to sing with a hairbrush in front of the mirror; they’re timeless,” he said.
For Kerrigan, performing isn’t just about the music—it’s about that connection, with the song, with the instruments, with the performance and most of all with the audience.
“I love seeing the audience’s faces, making eye contact, and knowing that I’ve touched someone,” he said.
“At Bunjil Place, we sold out with 200 people, but we’re already planning to book a larger venue for the next show to accommodate more fans.”
As he prepares for 2025, Kerrigan is eager to take his music to new heights, confident that with his knowledge of understanding what the audience wants to hear, he is more than ready to take things back to the stage.
“It’s a personal thing, if you’re being yourself and when you’re true to that when performing, then you can keep going,” he said.
“There’s so much to look forward to, touring is back on the cards, and the kids will be joining me on stage more often, it’s going to be an incredible year.”
With a career spanning decades, an unwavering dedication to his craft, and a deep connection to his community, Kerrigan La-Brooy continues to inspire audiences in Berwick and beyond, proving that music truly has no boundaries.
