February 6, 2017
Olivia Ruth has come a long way since she was a youngster on stage at the Kingaroy Peanut Festival strumming her guitar and singing … she’s now a loud and proud rock and blues singer just back from an overseas tour.
And her big break came in Kingaroy.
These days Olivia is based on the Sunshine Coast but she still has strong connections with the South Burnett where she first took to the musical stage.
Olivia draws inspiration from musicians as diverse as AC/DC and Black Sabbath to Janice Joplin and Joni Mitchell.
She has just returned from a month-long tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland where she wowed them with her all-original songs, which even earned airplay on London radio.
And she has just released her second EP – her first as a solo artist – called “Love & Liquor”.
Olivia won the the first “Big Break” music competition which was held in the South Burnett in 2012, taking out the grand final on stage at the Commercial Hotel in Kingaroy.
“It was a great experience for me, a great stepping stone,” she told southburnett.com.au
And she was full of praise for her former music teachers at school.
“Kingaroy State High School was also a great help. They have a great musical program.”
Olivia is now experimenting with a new musical style for her next EP, possibly with more of a gospel influence and maybe adding a pianist to her line-up.
The Big Break is returning to the Com Pub in Kingaroy, and so is Olivia.
This time around she won’t be competing, she’ll be playing on stage with whoever wins the Big Break grand final.
Applications from soloists, duos or bands wanting to take part in this year’s Big Break competition close on February 22 or when all available audition slots have been filled.
All auditions, heats and the final will be held at the Commercial Hotel and applications to take part have already opened.
The competition will get underway this Thursday (February 8) and will run until March 1.
The final will be held on Thursday, March 8, and Olivia will sing on stage with them in a special gig at the Commercial on March 10.
Prizes include studio time, paid gigs, radio airplay and an Ashton acoustic guitar.
For more information phone Michael on 0400-282-782.
- Download the application form (141kb PDF)
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He Plays The Blues (language warning)
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Recorded live at the Imperial Hotel in Eumundi in 2016:
