CASEY’S ON BRINK OF STARDOM IN US

COUNTRY musician Casey Barnes’ dream of cracking the US market is finally within reach.

His new single Keep Me Coming Back is being used on the Professional Bull Riders’ circuit and late last month the song featured on the iTunes’ country music Hot Tracks chart.

The Gold Coast-based musician, who self-funds his music, has opened for acclaimed acts Lady Antebellum, Mariah Carey and Bryan Adams and will play alongside Billy Ray Cyrus at the Crossroads in the Vines Music Festival in NSW in March.

“I am proud to say I do 99 per cent of everything myself,” Barnes, 38, said. “I don’t have the backing of a major label company to help me. I would hate to think about how much I have spent on my music.”

Barnes, who has been travelling to the US since he was 16, said recording a full album cost up to $50,000 and a video clip could be up to $10,000.