If you happen to be heading to Milwaukee for Pridefest this June then you’re in for a treat: the lineup is a-maz-ing! There’s Etta James, new sensation September, ’80s mega icon Cindy Lauper and R&B super diva Brandy. And also on that bill, snuggly sitting there on day 2 as the opening act for Brandy, is Perth’s very own Toby, a singer songwriter who fuses together roots, folk, jazz, Latin and rock to create a sound that is extraordinarily her own… and one that is clearly destined for the world stage.
So how does a little girl from Perth end up in America, appearing alongside some of the nation’s biggest – and most eclectic – female performers? Simple: you make friends with an acoustic act like The Violent Femmes… and follow their advice.
‘I met the Violent Femmes a couple of years ago very, very randomly- they happened to be at a show of mine in Byron,’ Toby recently told OUTinPerth. ‘We ended up getting very drunk with them and they joined us on stage, which was huge for me because I’ve always been a massive fan of them since I was like 15 years old. Then they invited us to go on stage with them the next night, so we sort of became friends with a couple of the members and that led us to Summerfest last year in Milwaukee, and again this year.’
One of the Femmes, Jess Hamilton, suggested Toby apply to appear at this year’s Pridefest as well, seeing as though she’d be in Milwaukee at the same time. Lo and behold, Toby not only got the gig but a prime slot too. Add the fact that Toby will be appearing on some stage with some of the Femmes and, well, you quickly understand why she’s so excited about her upcoming American tour.
‘It’s gonna be huge,’ Toby beamed. ‘It’s our first big tour, so it’s a bit daunting because it will be a massive crowd, but really exciting that we start off with such a bang and something that we’ve never done. I’ve never played at Pridefest. You know what… I’ve never even been to a Pride Festival. So it’s really all these new things in one.’
But before then Toby is swanning around the swan state, playing a few dates. The majority fall well outside the metropolitan area but on Tuesday May 26 she’ll be appearing at Perth Blues Club and then at Clancys Fish Pub on Saturday May 30, where she promises to deliver a taste of what crowds can expect from her upcoming American show. And to add fuel to the fire that has Toby burning bright, she has recently released a DVD which captures some of her energy and might of the past few years.
If you plan on heading to Pridefest, be sure to check out exactly what it entails by visiting www.pridefest.com. And while online, why not register for a chance to win yourself a signed copy of Toby’s new DVD by registering on the giveaway page located at www.www.outinperth.com.
Scott-Patrick Mitchell
