Casey Barnes

Casey Barnes is an Australian country rock singer-songwriter from Tasmania, Australia, who is best known as a contestant on the seventh season of Australian Idol in 2009. Barnes won the ARIA Award for Best Country Album in 2022.

Barnes has played alongside Bryan Adams, Diesel, Mariah Carey and Lady A.

Early life Barnes was born in Tasmania and spent the early years of his life there before moving to the Gold Coast as a teenager. Along with music, he developed a passion for Australian rules football in his younger years and played in the 1999 QAFL reserves premiership winning team for the Southport Sharks alongside future AFL superstar Nick Riewoldt. He decided to quit football in his early twenties to focus on music and began performing in local venues around the Gold Coast in the early 2000s. Two of his cousins, Lachie Weller and Maverick Weller, are professional footballers who played for the Gold Coast Suns.

Music career 2004–2008: Say What You Feel and Casey Barnes In 2004, Barnes, who had been performing around the country for a few years, recorded his first album, titled Say What You Feel. Following his set, the demand for his independently released album at the merchandising tent was overwhelming, with over 200 copies selling out.

In April 2006, Barnes released "What The Hell Are You Waiting for?", the lead single from his self-titled album, Casey Barnes, which was released in August 2007. The album featured "honest, passionate music with a rock/pop edge".

In 2008, Australian DJ-producer Marco Demark released a version of Elton John's "Tiny Dancer" featuring Barnes. The track peaked at number 66 in Australia.

2009: Australian Idol

In 2009, Barnes entered the seventh series of Australian Idol. He auditioned at the Brisbane auditions and made it to the semi-finals before being eliminated but received a wildcard into the top 12. In the live shows, he performed "(Baby I've Got You) On My Mind" and "I'm Not Over" but was eliminated after week two in September, placing eleventh.

2010–2015: Red Lion Motel, Jet Trails and Flesh & Bone In May 2010, Barnes re-released his 2008 EP, Red Lion Motel. and lead single "I Promise".

In January 2011, Barnes released "Never Break You" which became an anthem after the devastating Queensland floods and Cyclone Yasi. The song became his first to enter the ARIA top 50. Barnes donated all proceeds to the Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal.

Barnes' fourth studio album, Live as One was released in August 2016. The album included song written with Rick Price, Michael Paynter and Michael Delorenzis.

In 2018, Barnes won Australian Male Artist of the Year at the Planet Country Music for a New Generation Awards.

2019–2023: Town of a Million Dreams and Light It Up

In August 2019 Barnes confirmed he had signed with Chugg Music. Barnes' first album with the label was Town of a Million Dreams which peaked at number 16 on the ARIA Charts.

In February 2022, Barnes released Light It Up which won him his first ARIA Music Award

2024: Mayday In April 2024, Barnes announced his eighth album Mayday, preceded by the singles "Summer Nights", "Miracles", "Never Give Up on a Good Time", "Boys Like Me" and "Mayday". It was released on 31 May 2024.

2025—2026: Departure from Chugg Music, Made for This

In May 2025, Barnes released "Buy That Girl a Beer", which marked his first new music since 2024's Mayday.

His second release of 2025 was "Rough Around the Edges", which Megan Hopkins of Countrytown described as "a new sonic chapter for Barnes. Alongside his recent single Buy That Girl a Beer, it signals a deliberate lean into punchier, anthemic storytelling."

In September 2025, Barnes and record label Chugg Music announced they had amicably terminated their six-year partnership, signalling the beginning of a new independent period for the musician. He shared the news with the following statement: "The time feels right for a fresh start, and I'm excited to see what new opportunities lie ahead as we continue to build on the amazing momentum both here in Australia and internationally. I can't wait to share the next chapter of this journey."

In February 2026, Barnes released the third single and title track of his then unannounced ninth studio album, Made for This. The country-rock track, described by Megan Hopkins of Countrytown as "a gritty, defiant anthem about resilience and self-belief", was selected as the theme song for Nine Network's 2026 NRL season broadcast, being played at the beginning of each televised game.

"Made for This" also marked Barnes' first release via Community Music, the music distribution and artist services arm of leading Australian independent music company UNIFIED Music Group.

On 8 May 2026, Barnes released "Time to Burn", his first collaboration with Australian artist Pete Murray. Shortly thereafter, Barnes formally announced that his ninth studio album would be titled Made for This, and that it would be released on 7 August 2026. Subsequently, he announced the Made for This Tour, with performances taking place across Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania, from August to September 2026.

Discography

Studio albums Title Details Peak positions AUS Say What You Feel Released: 2004 Label: Casey Barnes (CBS1801) Format: Digital download — Town of a Million Dreams Released: 17 April 2020 Label: Chugg Music (CHG021) Format: Digital download, CD, streaming 16 Light It Up Released: 25 February 2022 Label: Chugg Music (CHG029) Format: Digital download, CD, streaming, LP 17 Mayday Released: 31 May 2024

Extended plays Title Details Red Lion Motel Released: 2008 Label: Casey Barnes Format: CD, digital download Flesh & Bone Released: June 2014 Label: Casey Barnes Format: CD, digital download

Charted or certified singles Year Title Peak positions Certification Album AUS 2008"Tiny Dancer"(Marco Demark featuring Casey Barnes) 66 Non-album single 2011 "Never Break You" Light It Up

Awards and nominations AIR Awards The Australian Independent Record Awards (known colloquially as the AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector. 2021 Town of a Million Dreams Best Independent Country Album or EP 2022 "God Took His Time on You" Independent Song of the Year 2023 Light It Up Best Independent Country Album or EP

APRA Awards The APRA Awards are several award ceremonies run in Australia by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) to recognise composing and song writing skills, sales and airplay performance by its members annually. 2021 "A Little More" Most Performed Country Work 2022 "Come Turn Me On"

2023 "God Took His Time on You" 2024

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. 2020 Town of a Million Dreams

2024 Mayday Country Music Awards of Australia The Country Music Awards of Australia is an annual awards night held in January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival. Celebrating recording excellence in the Australian country music industry. They commenced in 1973. 2018 Casey Barnes Best New Talent 2020 Casey Barnes ("A Little More") Best New Talent

Album of the Year

Contemporary Country Album of the Year Casey Barnes Male Artist of the Year "No Other You" (with Missy Lancaste) Vocal Collaboration of the Year

"God Took His Time On You" Single of the Year Casey Barnes Male Artist of the Year

Single of the Year

Song of the Year Casey Barnes Male Artist of the Year

Contemporary Country Album of the Year Album of the Year Top Selling Album of the Year

Gold Coast Music Awards The Gold Coast Music Awards are an annual awards ceremony that recognises musicians from the Gold Coast area. 2015 People's Choice 2020

2021

Hall of Fame

Queensland Music Awards The Queensland Music Awards (previously known as Q Song Awards) are annual awards celebrating Queensland, Australia's brightest emerging artists and established legends. They commenced in 2006.

(wins only)

"God Took His Time on You" Country Song of the Year