Gareth loves guitar, scuba diving and beer.

He was born in Adelaide, South Australia, and grew up mostly in Mylor, in the Adelaide Hills.

Studied Composition at Adelaide University, and then completed his Masters of Applied Linguistics at Macquarie University.

From Gareth’s energetic and emotional live performances shines his belief in the honesty, passion and humanity of music.

Gareth’s style of playing has been referred to as “boom-chick”, like the steady boom-chick, boom-chick sound of bass and drums, or like playing both the left hand part and the right hand part of a piano …on one guitar.

Bass, Rhythm (harmony), and lead – all together …. with percussion.

Carrying on the tradition of finger picking greats Mose Rager, Merle Travis, Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, Tommy Emmanuel, and most recently Smokin’ Joe Robinson and the Welsh Tornado Gareth Pearson, Gareth Barnes seamlessly blends and integrates blues, country, jazz and pop influences into his own breed of energetic, soulful, emotional guitar music.

“Whoever invented this mysterious little wooden box with strings was definitely onto something. Un-plugged, you can take it anywhere and have your own intimate concert; mic it up, and you’ve got a full roaring orchestra.”