toby
'Toby' are West Australia's most energetic and vibrant roots act. So good that the likes of THE VIOLENT FEMMES, Tex Perkins, Ash Grunwald, Nick Barker, Charlie Owen, Don Walker, Salley Dastey, Carus and Nicky Bomba have all felt compelled to join them on stage for impromptu performances.
'Renaissance' their latest offering is a perfect fusion of roots, blues, jazz, reggae, Latin and rock with the underlying gutsy, raw vocals from emerging young songstress Toby Beard.
Think raw, yet controlled, gutsy female vocals, along with dynamic guitar playing, an array of emotive, sincere, untamed lyrics about love, travel and devotion – add to the mixture a solid base of drums and electric bass guitar, and a line up of WA's most exceptional soloists – and you have yourself 'Toby'. WA's top singer/songwriter.
Toby has spent the last 12 months performing over 150 shows touring Canada , Europe and Australia . Her latest album “Renaissance” is getting high rotation on hundreds of radio stations world wide. Toby can perform to any crowd – whether it be 10,000 people at A Day On the Green (Nov 06) or an intimate crowd of 50, at the Porter, Bath , UK (May 07).
“Toby” has supported the likes of Paul Kelly, Pete Murray, Donavon Frankenreiter, Luka Bloom and many other national and international artists. She has played alongside musicians including Jack Johnson, The Waifs, John Butler, Xavier Rudd, The Whitlams and Alex Llyod.
Toby has performed at every top WA festival including WA Blues and Roots Fest, Bridgetown Blues Fest, Faibridge Folk Fest, Nannup Folk Fest, Broome Blues and Roots Fest and many more. She has also performed at festivals in Melbourne, Manchester (UK), Interlaken ( Switzerland ) and Canada .
While touring in Canada, Toby had a crack at singing in French – enjoying it so much she decided to roll with her new ‘bi-lingulism' and release “Tu Es Belle”… her first non-english single. This was released in February 2007.
Also in February this year while performing at the Rails in Byron Bay , audience members, The Violent Femmes were so impressed by Toby that two of their members actually joined Toby on stage for an entire set. The next night, Toby was invited to perform backing vocals and percussion with the Femmes at their sell out show at the Tivoli Theatre, Brisbane .
“If you've never heard of this band, then front woman Toby Beard will certainly charm you. Feeding off her audience an admirable stage presence, here is a girl that will bounce about on stage with her guitar, smile constantly and never be without a piece of joy.” (Renae Powell, Rip In Mag 2006)
'Toby' can range from Toby being solo, up to fourteen players at once. Toby has carefully selected her musicians, and only plays with the best. Showcasing strings, brass, woodwind, percussion, keys, harmonica, drums, bass and guitar. The band just keep getting stronger, and Toby voice, more powerful.
Coming up in 2007/2008 –
- October – WA state wide tour
- November/December – Europe tour
- January - QLD/NSW tour
- March - Canada trio tour
Next summer sees the release of Toby's brand new studio album. Keep your eye on this girl…her charisma, her presence, her songs … are simply addictive.
“We will undoubtedly be invited to participate in her life and her music for a long time to come” (Anjela Bignall, Groove Mag, 2006)
In the past 12 months, toby and band have toured Canada twice, Europe twice, the east coast several times, launching their Renaissance album and also their Tu Es Belle single (sung in french). This year Toby will be launching her brand new blues single 'Red Rooster'.
Website: www.tobymusic.com.au| www.myspace.com/tobybeard | www.youtube.com/tobybeard
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