Benson Manor live in the golden days of summer in Family Days
By Alan Shipston for Country Music News International Magazine
A classic Aussie summer is the backdrop for this modern country mid-tempo rocker, Family Days, with enduring rock undertones and a side of grit. This is the third single that Benson Manor has released through RTC records and it’s the nostalgic look at warmth, chaos and laughter that makes family life so special. Phil Behrens’ electric guitars fill the intro paving the way for Chris Knight to deliver, “It’s another hot day and by the way, Uncle Dave’s in it up to his waist, floating around with time passing by.” You can feel the long hot days of sun soaked afternoons spent by the water in the sound of Chris’s voice with its slightly raspy, breaking quality that country singers desire. A rousing guitar driven chorus, explodes with the anthem like lyric, “And it’s days like this, with the family on the water that we’ll never forget.”
And like all families, the song takes a turn towards more somber moments, celebrating loss and remembrance, “Now I got up and spoke to the church, told ‘em all how much it hurts,” as Chris recalls a difficult time in his life. The song wails behind him with a swirling B3 and guitars that tear through the robust arrangement. The golden summer days shine through this tune as the boys cherish the moments that become lasting memories, while holding close those who make them happen.
Based in Queensland, Australia, Knight and Behrens have been making music for over two decades, blending high energy performances with heartfelt storytelling. In 2013, the pair began recording their debut album but life steered them in a different direction and it wasn’t until 2022 that Chris promised his mother he would finish the album before her untimely passing. It was at this time that Benson Manor was born from a nickname for Chris’s home. Their first single, Dirty Weekend, set the tone for the follow-up, Let’s Talk, that struck a powerful chord with audiences logging more than 70,000 YouTube views and more than 300,000 online streams.
Inspired by Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley as well as artists as diverse as Slim Dusty, Johnny Cash, the Beatles and other rockers, Benson Manor have found a resonating sound that identifies both their background and the future. This song is for anyone who treasures laughter, stories and the simple joy of being surrounded by family.