For Greg Nunan, no matter how many years he has spent in Sydney, Cobram is still home.
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That connection to the Murray River and the community where he grew up inspired The River, the song that earned Greg Nunan & The General Jacksons Song of the Year at the 2026 Sydney Blues Awards in May.
The band’s success did not stop there, with their third album, Reds to Blues, taking home Album of the Year.
Released in December last year, the album is currently sitting in the top 10 of the Australian Blues & Roots Airplay Charts.
After receiving seven nominations at the Sydney Blues Awards in 2024, Greg said this year’s success came as a surprise.
“I wasn't expecting to win, especially with the artists that we were up against,” he said.
“I got some really lovely messages from people all over saying what the song meant to them and some of their favourite songs off the album.”
Born in Cobram Hospital and the youngest of seven children, Greg grew up on a farm that had been in the family for more than 100 years.
“Mum and Dad had a lot to do with the community, they gave a lot of their time,” he said.
Although he has lived in Sydney for the past 20 years, Greg said he still called Cobram home.
“I still call it home because your connection to the land, the river, the people, it never leaves you,” he said.
That connection became the inspiration for his song The River.
Greg said the song reflected his many memories of summer evenings spent by the Murray river, enjoying barbecues, fishing and water-skiing.
“It’s just a magical spot, a wonderful place,” he said.
“It’s a cathartic song, singing and feeling about times had at the river and yearning to go back.
“It was such a heartfelt song for me.”
Music has been a lifelong passion for Greg. He grew up listening to Status Quo, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Jimmy Hendrickson, but one musician changed everything.
“The thing that just changed my life is when I heard Steve Ray Vaughan at my mate’s house after skateboarding,” he said.
“I borrowed the tape and that was it.
“I was just a disciple.”
Greg starting playing gigs in Cobram during the 1990s, playing in bands, on houseboats and at pubs.
After his day-time job folded during the COVID-19 pandemic, Greg decided to pursue music full-time.
In his band, Greg Nunan & The General Jacksons, Greg plays the guitar and does the vocals, alongside drummer Liam Chandler and bassist Steve Pajor.
The trio have enjoyed a busy year on the road, including touring with Nineteen Twenty.
“We’ve got a wonderful synergy,” Greg said.
“Nineteen Twenty have got an incredible following and we were playing sold-out shows as their support.
“It’s been a really great ride this year.”
The band’s latest album, Reds to Blues, showcases a range of influences beyond traditional blues.
“Reds to Blues is like what it sounds in a way,” Greg said.
“It’s not just blues, there’s a whole mixture of sounds from country blues with The River to Hendrickson-style rock ’n’ roll.”
The album's title came from an unexpected conversation with musician David Helfgott.
“I did a support with David Helfgott in Coffs Harbour as a solo support artist and his manager introduced me to him,” Greg said.
“David was like, ‘Oh, hi, Greg. What sort of music do you play?’ and I said, ‘I'm a blues musician.’
“He said, ‘Oh, blues, blues, blues,’ and then stopped, looked at me and said, ‘I prefer reds to blues, don't you?’
“So that kind of inspired the title of the album then.”
The band is currently working on a new album, with Greg busy writing new material.
They are also looking forward to performing at this year’s Echuca Winter Festival.
“It’s going to be fabulous,” he said.
“It’s an incredible line-up. I know so many of the bands that are playing, and they are world-class.”