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Canberra singer Jack Biilmann promises to perform naked if he gets a full house at his gig on Saturday night

There's so much to Canberra-based singer-songwriter Jack Biilmann​ who originally hails from Pambula on the South Coast. 

​The acoustic blues and roots artist has played a private gig for champion surfer and shark puncher Mick Fanning. He's toured internationally. He's shared the stage with bands such as The Superjesus and Frenzal Rhomb 

And he's just released his second album, Streams, which also includes a musical tribute to the late Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes, called Forever Unbeaten.

But then there is his larrikin attitude to promoting his music.

The 26-year-old plays at the UC Refectory on Saturday night and has promised if he gets a full house, he'll perform in the nude. Briefly.

"If we reach venue capacity, I've said that I'll play a song starkers," he said.

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"I'm not sure if that's an incentive or deterrent, but I hope audiences will understand I'm much better on the guitar than shifting tin at the gym." 

And just for the record, the UC Refectory can fit 1700 but a smaller, more intimate configuration is being used on Saturday night so Biilmann only needs to get 300 fans for him to go the full monty.

That knockabout attitude is just one aspect of Biilmann's character which runs pretty deep. Biilmann prides himself on writing lyrics that are authentic and that expose raw emotion.

"Men, I think particularly, find it hard to talk about hard times. Even more so in smaller country and coastal towns where I grew up. Music can be a way to express and escape that," he said.

"Most of the time my music showcases real life issues, the struggles, thoughts and events that we all go through.

"In the track Quit, I wrote about a family member who is struggling with alcohol and how that has affected us. It's something I think others can relate to."

The gig with Mick Fanning happened by accident when they were staying at the same hotel in Japan and ended up having a few beers and Biilmann playing for the surfer and his mates.

Biilmann has made Canberra his home for the past six years.

"The Canberra scene has given me so much over the past few years, and I'm really excited to put on a massive show for Canberra and celebrate this album," Biilmann said.

Tickets for the show are available online.