Georgia State Line joins the likes of Freya Josephine Hollick, Ben Mastwyk and His Millions and more at the inaugural Lightning & Rhinestones music festival.
With a live show that invites you in and makes you never want to leave, the ARIA-nominated project Georgia State Line’s unique brand of country-infused melancholy yields music that’s equal parts heartsick and hopeful.
The moniker of Melbourne-based songwriter and musician Georgia Delves, and her innately talented band of Tom Brooks, Laura Baxter, and Patrick Wilson will be bringing their infectious blend of both vintage and contemporary sounds and songs steeped in Tennessee sunsets to Geelong this weekend as part of the new Lightning and Rhinestones Festival.
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Joining the likes of Ben Mastwyk, Freya Josephine Hollick, Patrick Wilson and more, Georgia State Line is an exceptionally exciting addition to the lineup of the new alt-country festival.
As one of the most talked about Americana acts in Australia, thanks to the refreshingly honest sound that is even parts heartsick and hopeful, Georgia State Line has been on a hot streak since their release of the highly acclaimed debut album, In Colour, released through Cheatin’ Heart Records/Spunk Records.
Their 2021 debut album In Colour is a coming-of-age, for not just the band but also its listeners. Their unique brand of sound feels like home, a genuine and warm acknowledgment of the infinite possibilities of life. It is no surprise that the group have been nominated for a string of highly esteemed awards including ARIA and AIR Awards, and recently took home the trophy for Best Country Work at the 2022 Music Victoria Awards. They’ve performed as part of major festivals across Australia including CMC Rocks and Tamworth Music Festival and have warmed up the stage for major international acts like Justin Townes Earle and Eilen Jewell.
Having just been named amongst the dynamic group of Australian songwriters and composers as a recipient of the 2023 APRA PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AWARDS (PDAs), we sat down with Georgia Delves ahead of the group’s performance this Sunday.
We’re looking forward to having you in Geelong for the very first Lightning and Rhinestones festival. What is it about this festival that made you keen to be involved?
Whilst I love Melbourne and the Northern suburbs of which we frequent, I always love any opportunity to diversify the venues we play through. Really excited to be playing the Barwon Club and to be featured on a bill alongside a bunch of country artists (and our peers) that are just out there doing their own thing. I think that’s the most exciting part – each of us belongs to a strong community of musicians and music appreciators, and add to the genre in a way that feels unique and true to ourselves.
What are you looking forward to most about the festival?
Getting back on stage with my amazing band in Tom Brooks, Patrick Wilson and Laura Baxter. We played Port Fairy Folk Festival in March and haven’t had too many shows since as I write for a new album. Always a massive joy to play together.
As a Bendigo born musician, what’s it mean to you to have festivals like this across regional Victoria?
Yeah it’s great, and adding more to the mix is always going to be a positive move. I’m really grateful for my upbringing in the regional VIC arts scene.
In some spaces we’re either too country or even not enough, so it’s a great idea to just muster us up all together and say yep, this is happening, be there or be square. Also, by principle, it’s a wonderful thing for people to have an idea and see it through, so I’m really glad we can be a part of the first iteration of the festival.
What can we expect from your upcoming performance?
A bunch of new songs. I’m excited about those.
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You’ve had a huge few years since the release of your album In Colour – ARIA nominations and music vic awards included. How has the last few years been for you as an artist?
Yeah that was wild. Those pieces of recognition are an accumulation of so many hours of time, work and thought – something I’m super proud of too. Not just for me, but the band all together. It’s a great feeling. When I started the project at the end of my uni degree, I definitely didn’t foresee such things.
To have COVID occur simultaneously though, has made it all feel extra surreal, and a bit bizarre. It highlighted some massive holes in the structure of the industry (accessibility, artists making a living wage), but on the same token and more simply, reminded us of the sheer importance music has. I think that’s given me a newfound reverence for the craft, and something that inspires me to keep pushing through the obstacles, and elements of the industry that can, at times, dampen the shine of songwriting.
As your debut album, the album is incredibly impressive and the rest of the country clearly agrees. Can you tell us a bit about the album and it’s creation process? We believe it was years in the works?
You’re correct, it was years in the works. I wrote a lot of the music when I spent time in 2018 living and touring in a van. Feeling free, feeling confined. Recorded the music over 2019, spent 2020 planning what to do with it (amongst a global pandemic), and finally released it in 2021. I’m always so incredibly impressed by artists that release albums every year. It’s a huge feat of work, and something that can’t be rushed- a fine balancing act that consumes every inch of you.
Are you currently working on any new music?
Yes – I’m writing for a new album that we’ll hopefully record early next year. Would love to have a busy year of touring in 2024 too.
With a huge few years, a debut album and a bunch of live performances, what’s your next big goal in your music career?
To keep writing music that connects to someone out there, and all the while feels true to myself. To release another album and get overseas to tour. Would absolutely love to play in the EU and spend some time in Germany.
On the short term, we’re working towards a big show with a quartet that will be at the Melbourne Recital Centre in November. It’s going to be a huge feat of creative and organisational work – so that is a huge goal on the horizon. It’ll feature all our new works, and will be a taster of what’s to come.
The festival kicks off at noon and runs until 8pm on Sunday 18 June. Tickets can be purchased online here or for $40 at the door.
