Country to Cambridge concert are, from left, Ryan Monaghan, Mike McKinley, Mark Stoddart. Rosie and Blair Shaw, and Dan Cosgrove.
In a world that puts musicians into boxes according to genres, Te Awamutu’s Dan Cosgrove stands out like a platinum plectrum.
Te Awamutu-based musician Dan Cosgrove, pictured in his home production studio, dropped a new single last week. Photo: Viv Posselt
He is widely considered one of New Zealand’s top country guitarists, yet the chameleon-like muso is equally at home leading New Zealand’s premier AC/DC experience (he calls it NZ/DC) or painted up for a Kiwi cover of Gene Simmons’ Kiss hard rock band.
Cosgrove dropped his new single ‘Changed Me’ last week; it reflects his country roots, or what he describes as ‘guitar-driven country rock’. But as much as his rich vocals and wailing steel guitar smack of true country, there is more to Cosgrove than meets the eye.
The former Hamilton Boy’s High student has a media arts degree in commercial music, and when not teaching music at the city’s Southall School – something he does four days a week – his home-based production studio is always busy. His DC Studio space was born during Covid and is just big enough for him to record, mix and produce for musicians from around the country.
“Much as I love it all, and if I’m really honest with myself, I probably prefer the journey of producing … that’s where my passion lies,” he said.
Dan Cosgrove, right, with fellow members of his KISS tribute band, Mark Stoddart, Jeremy Badger and Kevin Ryan. Photo: supplied
His AC/DC and Kiss tribute bands are two of the four bands he plays with almost every weekend. The others are the DCP, or Dan Cosgrove Project, and the Che Orton Band. Orton is an award-winning Kiwi singer-songwriter and Nashville recording artist known for his Elvis tribute material – his was the first band Cosgrove joined professionally.
In his own right as a singer/songwriter and guitarist, Cosgrove has played with some big names. He and his equally talented and now Australia-based sister Hannah May de Villers opened for Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood in Wellington when Hannah was part of a duo called Mae Valley, and as part of another act, Cosgrove has opened for Kenny Rogers and Jody Direen.
Names aside, The Tokoroa-born muso is as modest and chilled as a cool lager. He remembers starting music at around 10, largely because he was trying to keep up with Hannah. He taught himself to read music, learned keyboards, dabbled in drums and found his niche in the guitar.
He’s entered competitions and won a few, developed a real love for country music largely through performance and has found life throws up a plethora of material for meaningful song-writing.
He frequently works with other big names in Waikato, among them Rowdy’s Rose (Rosie and Blair Shaw) and James Ray and has played with Michael and Ashley Tipping. He has also worked with award-winning country star, Kaylee Bell, and his band, the DCP, was part of the recent Country to Cambridge concert held alongside this year’s Cambridge Autumn Festival.
While there is undoubtedly an inherited gene in there somewhere, Cosgrove and his sister both credit their vocal skills to renown New Zealand country music teacher Bettie Pratt, who died earlier this year.
“We both took singing lessons with her… she was great.”
Pictured at the recent Country to Cambridge concert are, from left, Ryan Monaghan, Mike McKinley, Mark Stoddart. Rosie and Blair Shaw, and Dan Cosgrove. Photo: supplied
