After decades spent silencing the South African forests in which she was raised, Ruby Gill hummingbirded over the Indian Ocean to hum about violence, joy, privilege and border security to a tolerant Melbourne population in Australia.
Almost immediately, her piercing lyrics, classically-trained piano-hands and disproportionately massive voice left audiences across the country shaken, transfixed and sometimes a bit hungry.
Meanwhile, from an open fire in a secluded cottage on his parents’ farm in rural Australia, Billy Barker was diving boldly into heartbreak, existential angst and identity with his alt-folk musings. It was impossible not to be mesmerised by his unbridled approach to the guitar beneath biting lyrics that aren’t afraid to cover the pointy ends of life.
Somewhere between two countries, Ruby Gill collided with Billy Barker at the piano in a flurry of harmonies and heartburn. Here, “Magic Coat” was born.
Now, with new releases just around the corner, Ruby and Billy are traversing their bold, contemporary approach to folk across the oceans on an exclusive national tour of South Africa – taking new songs and old guitars on the not-so-merry-go-round to somewhere good, from an old barn in KwaZulu-Natal to the red-dust stages of Oppikoppi.
- 31 July 2018 – The Bioscope, Johannesburg
- 1 August 2018 – Music in the Hills, Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal
- 3 August 2018 – Secret Venue, Pietermaritzburg
- 4 August 2018 – Khaya Records, Durban
- 7 August 2018 – The Moral Kiosk, Johannesburg
- 8 August 2018 – Railways Cafe, Pretoria
- 9-11 August 2018 – Oppikoppi Festival, Limpopo
- 13 August 2018 – Café Roux, Cape Town
- 18 August 2018 – House of Machines, Cape Town (Billy Baxter only)
To get an idea of their sound, check out the music video for “Magic Goat” below:
Watch this space for regular updates in the Music category on Running Wolf’s Rant.
