Guy Sebastian @ Canberra Southern Cross Club

by Natalie Tsirimokos 16 June 2010

You may remember him as our nation’s first Australian Idol, but over the past seven years Guy Sebastian has grown as a seasoned artist, releasing five studio albums and has been placed as a judge on the new Australian series, X Factor.

This month and next, Guy Sebastian and his band will hit the road to perform songs from his latest smash hit album Like It Like That. The Bring Yourself tour will hit clubs in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra in what will be Guy’s last public performances in Australia until 2011.

It’s been a long road in the spotlight of reality TV and with his X Factor judging spot on the horizon, Guy’s content with being on the 'other side' of the table.

“If I could do the fame thing again, I would have been a little more private. I’ve always been a very honest person, I wear my heart on my sleeve and speak my mind about certain things in my personal life. When you just give out little pieces, people tend to make up the rest and form opinions when they don't even know you," Guy said.

Seven years of Australian Idol has presented a string of winning talent, but Guy used his moment in the spotlight to its greatest capacity, releasing more studio albums than any other contestant, co-writing songs with Brian McKnight and Robin Thicke, and eventually being signed to an LA music label, where he now resides.

“Every musician looks back at what they were doing years ago and is a little embarrassed! It's because you get better as a musician and a song writer.”

Despite this, Guy claims that he doesn't regret his Idol experience saying, “I would really be nowhere even close without Idol. These reality TV shows will always have their critics, but the good far out weighs the bad.”

Guy was only 22 when his music career really took off, leaving behind an unfinished medical degree and a childhood dream of becoming a professional cricketer.

“I was obsessed with cricket and always wanted to do that for a living. I was also at uni studying medical radiation, specialising in radiotherapy. I was doing my prac at Adelaide hospital and it was really horrible seeing cancer patients everyday. I decided I didn’t want to be on that side of it.”

Years later Guy found a way to 'give back,' visiting hospitals three times a year with his music.

"I help on a different level now – I go in as the good guy. I’m the musician, the guy who was on ‘that show’ and I can play and make people smile for a little bit.”

Despite his vast charity work, Guy refuses to be another celebrity who puts their face to an organisation.

“For me, I believe it’s what you don’t say that’s a good deed. We don’t advertise our charity work, or film it or anything like that, but it’s the best thing in my life.”

Guy will visit Canberra Southern Cross Club Woden on Wednesday 23 June for a special show that he promises will feel more like ‘a private party.’

“Because these are smaller venues I wanna get right up amongst the crowd - literally! I’ll be pulling up randoms to dance with me on stage too.”

If the thought of bumping and grinding with this Aussie star hasn’t sold you, Guy says he’s got numerous ‘tricks up his sleeve’ for Canberra.

Tickets are available now via Canberra Southern Cross Club on (02) 6283 7288. Dinner and show $78, starts at 6.30pm or show only $45, starts at 8.30pm.