An international celebration of Blues & Roots Music, held over 3 days in the beautiful and idyllic town of Bridgetown, WA

Held in the second week of November each year, the three-day festival showcases blues and roots music, attracting visitors from across the state, interstate and overseas.

Contact: mail@hussyhicks.com 


Critically acclaimed Australian act, Hussy Hicks are a tour de force featuring Leesa Gentz’ powerhouse soul vocals and Julz Parker’s revered guitar skills Prolific and accomplished musicians, Hussy Hicks have honed their sonic dexterity over the past 12 years with six studio albums, multiple industry awards and more than 1,000 live shows under their belts, from Australia’s biggest blues, roots and folk festivals to 15 plus international tours, which now sell out across Europe.

Known for their emotive lyricism, energetic live shows and fiery, frenetic instrumentation, it’s no surprise Hussy Hicks have staying power. From Gold Coast Artist of the Year and Album of the Year wins to Queensland Music Award and Golden Guitar nominations, their critical accolades extend even further, with guitarist Parker being touted by Australian legend, Phil Emmanuel as ‘Australia’s top female guitar player’ and voted fifth in Bluesfest’s Guitar Hero fan poll, among Santana and BB King.

The explosive duo features the electrifying award-winning frontwoman Zee Gachette deemed “one to watch” by BBC Radio 2 (drums and acoustic guitar), and guitar prodigy Sebastien Heintz (guitars and synth), who effortlessly deliver a fascinating cinematic road trip of sound. Zee’s hypnotic presence, bewitching raspy blue tones, big acoustic guitars and swampy grooves laced with Seb’s dark desert slide, psyche blues guitars and synth make for a beautifully dangerous concoction. From the acoustic sublime, to high octane rock. Sensual, expansive, powerful. The duo’s sound journeys through an intoxicating and experimental mix of Country Blues and Desert Rock

It has been a massive six years since Toby Beard launched her last full length studio album. With just short of 450 shows, Toby also managed 15 tours of Europe, 5 mini-tours of Utah (USA), 3 tours of Canada plus shows in Darwin, Broome, Tasmania, Sydney, Byron, Brisbane etc. In these six years she performed at worldwide festivals including Blacksheep Fest (Germany), Bardentreffen Fest (Germany), L-Fest (UK), Women's Red Rock Fest (Utah, USA). Blues at Bridgetown Fest (WA), Forth Valley Blues Fest (Tasmania), L-Beach Fest (Germany), Salmon Fest (BC, Canada), Skagen Fest (Denmark), Freo Folk fest (WA), Utah Pride Fest (Utah, USA), Sunshine Fest (BC, Canada) and Strib Fest (Denmark). In this time, Toby also released two EPS (Fall Into Me, About Time) and one live full length album (Live at Strib Winter Festival). She opened for the likes of The Waifs, Black Sorrow, Wallis Bird and Mick Thomas. 

The last six years have also been a huge journey on a personal level for Toby. Toby and her wife welcomed two beautiful babies and finally got legally married! 
2020 was by far the most horrific year of Toby's life, as her sister Pippa passed away in February. She very quickly learned what grief was all about and at the same time, due to Covid, she lost over 60 shows and 4 international tours. 

2021 is a new year and who knows where it will take us all. But one thing is for sure, Toby's new album 'What Happens To The Heart' will help you get through it. The ten track album covers themes of death, grief and loss. Toby's songwriting has become more vulnerable than it ever has before. 'Pray For Me' is about the Australian plebiscite which personally affected Toby and her (then, illegal) wife Amy. 'On The Road' would resonate with musicians worldwide who had tours ripped away from them due to Covid restrictions and travel bans. Toby sings openly about how much she misses touring with her Dutch band and the highs and lows of being on the road in such close proximity to her band mates. 'Caroline' and 'Coming Home' are bound to make you move and smile, whereas tracks like 'Quicksand' And 'Let Me Cry' will have you weeping in the first verse.

'What Happens To The Heart' was recorded and engineered at Rada Studios in Perth with Matt Gio. Both Matt and Toby agree that this is, by far,  their best work together.

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