If you live in the Northern Rivers, chances are you’ve stumbled upon Lou Bradley performing her alternative country tunes at the local markets, cafes and pubs, writes Christina Giorgio. Catch her while you can, because this country star is rising fast.
There’s no doubt that Lou Bradley’s on fire. Recently nominated for a Golden Guitar at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, and with two new albums under her belt, as well as a new role as artistic director for Murwillumbah’s inaugural country music festival, Bradley kicked off her music career sneaking into the backdoors of inner city Sydney pubs and bars.
Bradley realized early that she had a deep affinity with music. “My first memory is of being four-years-old sitting on a train holding a cigarette lighter and singing Marcia Hines songs to a whole bunch of people – my parents used to make me sing!” explains Bradley. Leaving home at 15 she was inspired by a song writer in the rock band she was playing with to become a professional musician, but it wasn’t until she relocated to the North Coast that she found her own creative voice as a songwriter.
Bradley and her husband and musical partner Phil Chaffer relocated to the Northern Rivers with their three young children in 2000 in search of their happily ever after. It wasn’t until they moved to the hills behind Huenbrook to a stunning 30 acre property with waterfalls and the natural beauty the Northern Rivers is famous for that Bradley started writing songs. She found a local small scale studio where she was able to record some demos and an EP which became the starting block for her own originals career.
One day, while they were driving through the mainstream of Mullumbimbimby Bradley spotted local independent music trailblazer John Butler in town. “I jumped out of the car and said ‘Phil, pull over I want to give John butler my EP’ and he was like ‘oh my god don’t do that, how embarrassing’,” she says. But this somewhat brazen move was the kick start for her career and lead to her being one of the first artists to be awarded a John Butler seed touring grant in 2005. Filling a minibus with her family and a Mullumbimby entourage they hit the road playing outback towns with Bradley quickly establishing herself as a touring artist.
Phil Chaffer and Lou Bradley – making music together.
Bradley’s other door opening move was her acceptance into the Country Music College. Inspired by a gig by Kasey Chambers at the Byron Blues Festival, Bradley realised that there might actually be a place for her in the Australian country scene. The intense two week program proceeding the Tamworth Country Festival introduced Lou to the historical roots of country as well as some major industry players including – Bill Chambers who invited her to perform a song at his Tamworth show.
The friendships and connections forged at her first festival have served her consistently throughout her continuing career. “To me it’s networking but it’s also just like a family,” she says. “You kind of build your friends and family around you. I think the networking side is really important if you love it, but don’t do it just for the sake of it.” She went on to record and release her ARIA and CMAA Golden Guitar nominated debut album Love Someone in 2007. It was a self-funded investment in her career that paid dividends not only financially but also in establishing Bradley as a respected player in the Australian music scene. Her latest album, Moonshine, set for release next week, was recorded live over two days with Bill Chambers in his central coast studio.
Lou Bradley’s latest album, Moonshine, is released this week.
There have been ups and downs along the way. With a tight knit family to support there have been times when the music has had to go on the back burner. Bradley has never let this stop her from holding fast to her vision of a shining career. Even a stint working pumping petrol just served as a reminder to keep working hard on her dream “It inspired me to really keep going because I don’t want to work in that petrol station forever,” she says. “Just keep your hand in, keep your dream alive and know that just because you’re working pumping petrol doesn’t mean you’re not an artist, it’s fine you just got to pay bills!”
It seems that 2015 will be Bradley’s time to shine. Having secured management with Footstomp, who represent musicians such as Busby Marou and Melbourne Ska Orchestra the future of this local artist is looking very bright. Moonshine and The Other Side are fresh off the presses ready to launch, there are plans to expand her touring base to Canada and the States in the not too distant future and her children are now young adults. The doors to a new era of Lou Bradley’s musical journey are wide open and I for one am excited to see what the future will hold.
