Brimming with hope, honesty and togetherness, multi-award-winning blues ‘n’ roots powerhouse, Hussy Hicks release an album the world needs to hear right now, Gather Up The People, out 24 July.
Never ones to shy away from activism, social commentary or using their voices for the greater good, Hussy Hicks follow up their 2017 Album of the Year winning release with a record addressing issues that have been at the forefront of the global consciousness this year.
“From floods and bushfires to a global pandemic and worldwide protests, it feels like everyone has been lifted up, shaken about and then put back down to try and make sense of it all,” said Hussy Hicks singer and songwriter, Leesa Gentz.
“ Although written over the past two years, it’s uncanny how relevant the lyrics and themes of this album are to these challenging times we’re in right now.
These songs question the state of affairs of the world, but we hope will leave you feeling optimistic and ready for change.” Living up to their sonically adventurous reputation, Gather Up The People features soul-drenched vocals, soaring guitar solos and an undeniable musicality that ventures from Mavis Staples inspired soul and southern flavoured blues, to Pink Floyd-esque soundscapes, 90s grunge and more.
“Experimenting with sound is such an important part of who we are as musicians,” said guitarist, Julz Parker, recently named Musician of the Year at the 2020 Gold Coast Music Awards. “ We made the bulk of this album with our band, but were lucky enough to be able to take it around the world to add flavours from our wonderful musical friends, like Kristy Lee’s vocals in an Alabama River house, chain percussion from a studio in Harlem NY and a jam in a pigeonnier in the South of France! ”
Following an award-winning production debut on Beccy Cole’s AIR Country Album of the Year, Gather Up The People is the first in six Hussy Hicks albums to be engineered and produced with Parker at the helm.
“I think producing an album that won those accolades gave me the confidence to back myself and produce our own album. Performing live as a band is where we truly shine and I wanted it to capture
that energy, while allowing space for some sonic playfulness,” she said.
A tour de force, this multi-award-winning act was set to celebrate the album with their 16th international tour, including some of the world’s biggest blues, roots and folk festivals, which was of course cancelled due to the global COVID-19 pandemic; however, Hussy Hicks are happy to announce a small run of intimate Australian shows in Sydney, Gold Coast, Newcastle and Ballina this August.
