Spotlight on The Big Chill artists, 2024
We meet the incredible line-up of musos set to grace the 2024 Big Chill stage on 18-19 May at The Armidale Sportsground. Believe us, you’re not going to want to miss this.
The Rubens
Hailing from Menangle, New South Wales, this year’s headline act – The Rubens – are a five-piece alternative rock band consisting of the Margin brothers, Zaac, Sam, and Elliott, as well as their friends Scott Baldwin and William Zeglis. With tremendous backing from triple j and Ivy League/Mushroom Music, their self-titled debut album was released 14 September 2012. It was a resounding success nationally in Australia, where it is now ARIA Certified Platinum. To date, their entire catalogue has amassed over 300+ million streams and 250,00 physical albums. Whoah. Last year saw the band release their first new music in two years, in preparation for an album and a bunch of global shows to be announced in 2024. We. Can’t. Wait.
ELECTRIC POSTMAN
Proudly born and bred in Guyra, Benjamin Jackson – artistically known as Electric Postman – cut his DJ teeth in Brisbane’s bars, clubs and bowlos. Before long, news of his moves traversed The Torres Strait, landing him gigs in Papua New Guinea. When his farming roots came calling, Ben swapped club strobes for flickering fluorescent tubes and has performed in miscellaneous woolsheds across the New England ever since. When he’s not herding sheep or yelling at dogs (who answer to Fluffy, Strudel, Weird Horse and Sputnik), he’s running his record label, Um, Yep – a 10-strong, electronically-talented team who released their 13th volume in October 2023. The Electric Postman will be bringing an energetic collection of classics crossed with trippy tunes to The Big Chill stage this year. How best to describe his sound? Benjamin’s beats are born when you combine nostalgic tunes of the nineties and noughties with hyperactive dance music. It’s a treat for the ears, the eyes and the electric-loving soul within.
Jack River
Jack River is an ARIA Nominated, Platinum accredited Australian artist and multi-instrumentalist with a sophomore album just waiting to be lapped up. Out on 16 June, Endless Summer is an oasis, something to retreat to amid the apocalyptic horrors of the war and climate disaster in the modern world. Featuring 10 perfect pop songs that shimmer like melting highways and drip like strawberry ice cream, the album sees Jack River as the avatar up front, with a voice so sparkly and sugary as to almost be synthetic. That right there is down to her love of late 90s, early 2000s pop.
Kingswood
An indie rock band hailing from Melbourne, Kingswood is Fergus Linacre, Alex Laska, Jeremy ‘Mango’ Hunter and Justin Debrincat. Their sound is Led Zeppelin meets Muddy Waters and it goes down a treat. We’re talking 80 million plus streams to date, not to mention #1 ARIA Australian Country Debut, #1 ARIA Country Debut, #1 ARIA Australian Country 8 weeks and 21 weeks ARIA top 5 level of good. Having graced the stages of Big Day Out, Groovin’ in the Moo, Falls Festival and supporting the likes of Aerosmith and AC/DC – these guys know what they’re doing when it comes to rock and roll. Kingswood = good times guaranteed.
MARVELL
MARVELL is a six-piece Australiana, indie rock band hailing from Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Fusing a unique blend of folk-inspired storytelling, rock and roll energy, huge vocals, and an even bigger rhythm section, MARVELL is headed by brothers Tom and Max Marvell, and has been captivating audiences throughout the country’s live music scene. MARVELL's music draws on stories of the average life growing up in Sydney, exploring themes of love, loss, mental health, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world, all while showcasing the stunning natural beauty of their homeland. They have an impressive, combined total of 2.5M+ streams on their independently released songs, and 20,000+ monthly listeners on Spotify. In mid 2024, MARVELL is set to release their highly anticipated debut album, Good Thanks. Produced by acclaimed Australian producer Jan Skubiszewski (John Butler Trio, Dan Sultan, Delta Goodrem), and mixed by multiple ARIA award winner David Hemming (Icehouse, The Saints, The Screaming Jets), the album will feature 12 tracks showcasing the band's signature sound and storytelling prowess.
Fergus James
It’s been a busy couple of years for Fergus James, breaking out with his debut single Golden Age and supporting Ed Sheeran on his Divide tour. In late 2019, he played the main stage at Splendour In The Grass after winning the triple j Unearthed competition, completed his first headline tour (including a sold-out shows in Sydney and his hometown of Armidale) and released his debut EP All Of The Colours, which featured singles What Are We Waiting For, Back To Life and Mistakes (all of which were the most played songs on triple j during their time of release). Fergus’ sophomore EP, A Slow Separation is an explosive collection of songs that feature co-writes with Bon Iver collaborator Gordi, Chris Collins (Middle Kids, Skeggs) and Lucy Taylor (Dua Lipa, Ellie Goulding, Friendly Fires), Dylan Nash (Dean Lewis, Angus & Julia Stone, Gretta Ray), Japanese Wallpaper and Lachie Bostock of Mansionair. Exploring the highs and lows of young adulthood, the EP is a coming-of-age soundtrack.
Hudson Rose
The story of Hudson Rose starts with a girl, a guitar and a dream. Since releasing her debut single in 2020, Hudson Rose has established herself as an exciting artist in the Australian country music scene and continues with her latest upbeat catchy single Dancing On The Tables. Produced by ARIA award winning duo Squared, the song is an infectious anthem that embraces the essence of being young and keeping the spirits of the weekend alive, no matter what day of the week. From Wingham, a regional town on the Mid North Coast of NSW, Hudson arrives in life with a glass half full attitude and a commitment to her music creating an irresistible mix of hope, honesty, and fearless authenticity while showing her ability to craft catchy and deep melodies. With two sold out headline shows in her hometown, a finalist in the 2023 Banda & Young Songwriting Competition and included in festival lineups alongside headliners Casey Chambers, Brad Cox, James Johnston, Amber Lawerence, Andrew Swift, Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley, Hudson is an incredibly humble musician who unfailingly holds her own with industry veterans she shares the stage, studios and airways cultivating her honest and optimistic style everywhere she goes.
Fyrebirds
The Fyrebirds are Coffs Harbour musical duo Jet and Jack Fyrebird – but first there was Jet. Her musical journey began by performing at events across the Coffs Coast, before joining forces with the talented guitarist and musician Jack in 2022. Together, their musical career has soared and they are on one epic ride. Having shared stages with music legends (Daryl Braithewaite, The Fabulous Caprettos, Thirsty Merc’s Rai Thistlewayte and Everclear) and entertained packed NRL stadiums, this dynamic duo have no plans to slow down anytime soon. Known for their rockstar sound and appearance, they’re a must-see on the 2024 Big Chill stage.
Diesel
Born in Fall River Massachusetts, the youngest of seven from a sax playing electronics technician father and a mother in nursing, Mark Lizotte (aka DIESEL) grew up in Australia and the US. He formed the band ‘Johnny Diesel & The Injectors’ in 1986 from remnants of a previous band before embarking on a solo career in 1991. In 2017, Diesel celebrated 30 years ‘off the bus’ landing in Sydney in 1987 after a three-day bus journey across Australia, launching into nine shows per week – the rest is history. With over 35 singles, 16 albums, six ARIA awards and record sales edging one million, DIESEL is a journeyman of music. With blues music in his DNA, an influence largely from his father’s record collection, DIESEL has blended styles to come up with a truly unique sound, punctuated with his distinct guitar playing and vocals. An incredible artist not to be missed.
Splashpool
Meet Splashpool – the Northwest’s Premier Band. No song is too sacred as the band spans the years with the 80s coming in for some treatment. Sally-Anne and Rae let fly on vocals, and the boys lock in behind them. One for your list at this year’s Big Chill Festival.
Tori Darke
Singer/Songwriter Tori Darke is the full package. This Golden Guitar ‘Female Artist of the Year’ Finalist, Sports Model and all around down to earth Aussie chick has shared her music, not only Australia wide, but has toured as far as the Middle East several times playing for our Aussie Troops. Her recent appearance on The Voice saw Tori singing Stupid Boy as a duet with Keith Urban, which went viral and took Stupid Boy back to number one on the charts. Her previous single Disposable from her Silver Lining Album went to number one on iTunes within hours of its release, along with several of Tori’s other released singles charting #1 on the Australian ARIA and international charts. Previous Festival appearances include: Gympie Muster, Deni Ute Muster, CMC Rocks, Crusin’ Country, Country In the Vines, Tamworth Country Music Festival, Sydney Country Music Festival and, that’s right, the 2024 Big Chill Festival. She’s ready and raring to grace the Big Chill stage again in 2024.
Loren Ryan
Loren is a proud Gamillaraay woman making a profound effect on the industry by combining her love of music and her traditional language, writing original songs and translating well-known Australian songs into her native tongue. Her version of Flame Trees, recorded with the blessing of Cold Chisel, has over 427k streams (as at June 2023). In 2020, Loren released her single Yilalu which premiered live on ABC News Breakfast and ABC’s New Year’s Eve Live TV Special 2020. Flexing her diversity and musical talents Loren’s home-grown nature landed her a spot on the Indigenous Lullabies Project alongside Emily Wurramurra and Emma Donovan, releasing a children’s album Songs for Charlie through ABC Music in February 2022. Loren’s performance highlights reflect times like sharing the stage with Troy Cassar-Daley, performing a duet on the main stage at the 2017 Gympie Music Muster with Jessica Mauboy and harmonising with Kelly Rowland on The Voice AU and touring with Australian hip-hop MC and producer URTHBOY. Not forgetting the fact she became the 43rd winner of Toyota Star Maker in January 2023 following her performance at the final, held at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. Her voice can touch on zealous, limitless, and with conviction all in a line resonating over modern-acoustic grassroots, country sound. It’s an alluring blend, like Chris Stapleton meets Beyonce.
Sam Buckley Duo
Introducing the hottest Blues duo in town – Sam Buckley Duo! Featuring infamous Aussie Blues guitar slinger, Sam Buckley, and Aussie drums legend, Grant Gerathy, these two are smokin' hot. Sam launched his solo career in 2022 and has spent the last two years living in the Baez (his motorhome) and touring up and down the East Coast of Oz. Two of his debut singles, Blue Ocean and Rock Me Baby, made it into the AMRAP Top 10 Regional Chart and his show is gaining traction as Sam supported music icons Ash Grunwald (twice), Ray Beadle and Katie Noonan on their tours. Sam is thrilled to have former John Butler Trio drummer, Grant Gerathy, with him to form the Sam Buckley Duo. Grant is one of the most highly regarded and respected drummers and works with industry luminaries including Pete Murray, Bernard Fanning and others. Already, Sam Buckley Duo has been booked for the mainstream festival, Big Chill, in May which is huge! Together, you can expect the fire and monstrous guitar bends and howlin' vocals from Sam, paired with the dynamic feel and groove from Grant.
