“…[a] peerless command of traditional music…pushed outwards into beautiful new territory.” ~ Jeff Lang
One of Australia’s most highly regarded folk singers, Ruth Hazleton is a multi-award-winning instrumentalist, singer and songwriter.
In a career spanning over twenty-five years (with multiple acts), she has recorded and toured nationally and internationally and been privileged to work with some of the world’s most iconic folk & roots musicians including Andy Irvine (IRE – Planxty), Nancy Kerr & The Sweet Visitor Band (UK – 2015 BBC Folk Singer of the Year), James Keelaghan (Canada) & Bruce Molsky (USA).
Equpped with an electric guitar tuned to DADGAD and an open-back 5-string banjo, Ruth began her solo journey in 2019, releasing Daisywheel, produced by acclaimed musician and composer Luke Plumb (Shooglenifty). The album was recently nominated for ‘Best Folk Album 2020’ at the Music Victoria Awards and has been described as “…compelling and intimately fierce” (Living Tradition – UK).
Daisywheel is a lyrical voyage of history, struggle & resilience in song; a confluence and collision of ancient and contemporary and a cross-cultural zeitgeist. At times unapologetically political, the repertoire incorporates the many influences that have shaped Ruth’s musicianship over the years, escaping strict boundaries of genre. There are flavours of Celtic trad, old-time American music, Eastern European & Middle Eastern music and folk rock with washes of electronic programming and beats.
Intrinsic to her musical identity, Ruth also works as a rogue folklorist and oral historian and is a committed activist and advocate for independent music and folk culture in Australia.
Folk Unlocked
An incredible 65 Australian artists will be given a platform to be seen by members of the international music industry this month when they take part in Folk Unlocked, the inaugural virtual event from the …
