Ruby Boots

Sunday 10:30am - Main Stage

"Best Country Music Act" -- winner from the 2011 WAMi Awards.
There is no mistaking that Ruby Boots are a "band". They look like a band, play like a band and the chemistry between them is more like glue. With electric and acoustic guitars, banjo, mandolin, violin, washboard, keys, bass, drums and vocal harmonies some bands would look crowded. Ruby Boots just look good and they play excellent music.

While there's something of a resurgence in traditional roots genre, Ruby Boots are making it their own. Chain-gang chants and blues guitar through to western-swing and honky tonk piano, then across to folk-country and back around again, it's all there and it's sounding really fresh.

Bex's lead vocals are whipping up a hoedown one minute and blowing hats off the next with a soaring volume and power that makes your jaw drop. Bex also takes a lot of time writing the lyrics, a particular passion of hers, to convey the stories of a well travelled life and the people she's shared it with.

It's all captured on the latest 6 track recording "At Last", the launch of which marks the band's foray into label land with locals Walking Horse and Sydney based MGM Distribution. The collaboration was a natural progression as Ruby Boots recorded at the Walking Horse studio Ampersonic in Leederville with The Novocaines' Corey Marriott (engineer/ co-producer). Having handled all their own distribution for the first self-titled EP, this helping hand from Walking Horse's Matt Johnson has come at a perfect time now that the band plans to take their music to the nation. Keep an eye and ear out.

"Great songs, great singer, really strong band. My discovery of the Bridgetown Blues festival. Look out for them", Marty Jones (Managing Editor) – Rhythms Magazine

"Local country/folk rock outfit Ruby Boots more than earned a big ovation...they have a sound that should play well in the US", Simon Collins (Music Editor) – The Wire Mag (The West Australian Newspaper)

Bex Chilcott (Acoustic Guitar & Vocals) :: Tim Stacey (Bass & Sample Pad) :: Clay Smith (Electric Guitar, Keys & Backing Vocals) :: Jesse Woodward (Banjo, Mandolin, Washboard & Backing Vocals) :: Eliza Rogers (Violin & Backing Vocals) :: Ashwin Subramaniam (Drums)

see programme for performance details