Mat McHugh and The Beautiful Girls have firmly ingrained themselves in the Australian music scene.
The Beautiful Girls, an iconic name in Australian music, have dropped their long-awaited live single ‘Periscopes.’ The track is a preview of their upcoming live album, ‘RUMBLE INNA JUNGLE,’ set to release on Friday, December 1. But that’s not all – to celebrate they’re hitting the road for a tour that promises unforgettable live performances across various Australian locations.
For The Beautiful Girls, this tour and live album represent a significant milestone in their career. It marks their very first live album, capturing the essence of their world-renowned live show. ‘Periscopes,’ in particular, holds a special place in their hearts as it was the first song from their debut album. Mat McHugh, the band’s frontman, reflected on the journey from that first song to the live album, saying, “There’s been a whole lot of life between these two moments, and you can hear it.”
Mat McHugh further emphasised the importance of their live performances, stating, “The Beautiful Girls have built our reputation around being the best live band we could be.” Their dedication to delivering music in the moment has resulted in a live album that’s bound to bring joy to fans, just as much as it brought joy to the band.
The Beautiful Girls Tour Dates
- Fri 05 Jan – Good Gumnuts Festival, Heybridge
- Fri 12 Jan – Imperial Hotel, Eumundi
- Sat 13 Jan – Kingscliff Beach Hotel, Kingscliff
- Thu 18 Jan – Ramsgate Hotel, Henley Beach
- Fri 19 Jan – Mojos, Perth
- Fri 26 Jan – Sunken Monkey Hotel, Central Coast
- Fri 02 Feb – Hotel Steyne, Manly
- Sun 04 Feb – Festivale, Launceston
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Looking back at their journey, it’s evident that Mat McHugh, the man behind The Beautiful Girls, has always operated it as a “collective” rather than a “band.” Various players came and went, depending on the music’s requirements at the time. The music he crafted resonated not only in Australia but internationally. Two years after their debut EP, The Beautiful Girls were touring Japan, Canada, and the US.
Their sophomore album, ‘We’re Already Gone,’ reached #19 on the ARIA Album Chart, earned an ARIA award nomination, a Triple J ‘J Award,’ and secured a spot on Richard Kingsmill’s top 10 albums of the year. Julia Stone even lent her vocals as a guest on the album.
The journey continued with the third album, ‘Ziggurats,’ released in 2007, reaching #21 on the ARIA chart. This album included ‘I Thought About You,’ which earned a nomination in the 2008 APRA Music Awards in the Blues & Roots Work of the Year category. The Beautiful Girls continued to grace stages worldwide, including Japan, the UK, Europe, Brazil, the US, Canada, and their home country, Australia.
Impressively, by 2010, The Beautiful Girls had completed a dozen world tours in just eight years, all while remaining independent – no major label or corporate sponsorship in sight.
The past decade has seen Mat McHugh take full creative control, with every note and lyric reflecting his unique musical vision. So, what’s in a name? Mat McHugh has always been The Beautiful Girls, and there’s more extraordinary music to come from the man behind the name.
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