Joanna Hunkin sits down with Dave Dobbyn to discuss his new tour and growing confidence on the stage.
It's hard to believe now but Dave Dobbyn once suffered crippling stage fright.
"I grew up as a nervous kid. I was at an all male school, there was lots of bullying and teasing going on. It wasn't really my bag ... I was one of those arty little frailkids."
He was 21 when he finally took the stage as frontman for Th'Dudes, quickly learning to love the limelight.
"Once I discovered the stage, that people turned up to the gigs and were dancing, it took the edge off and made it fun for me. I've just been enjoying it ever since."
Since then, Dobbyn has gone on to become one of the country's most beloved songwriters, penning the singalong anthems Slice of Heaven and Loyal.
Starting in Whangarei and ending in Invercargill, the Slice of Heaven: 40 Years of Hits tour will see Dobbyn make 12 stops across New Zealand and coincides with the release of his latest album, due out on April 7.
