
ABOUT
“Tracey has an energy that is infectious and a determination that can not be ignored. Her songs speak from the bottom of her soul and reflect the sound and scenery of her West Australian roots with an elegance that is unique.” Shaun Kirk
“Always incredible when a woman straddles the Blues, whilst allowing her authentic self to shine through and give it her own. Tracey has grown into her skin and it makes for a great musical treat. She's got what it takes!” Phaedra Watts, Festival Director, Nannup Music Festival
“There’s something undeniably captivating about the music of Tracey Barnett. Over the past number of years, the Bridgetown-based artist has crafted a sound that feels simultaneously grounded and dynamic; it’s rooted in acoustic sounds, but energetically, reaches into far wider territories.” Happy Mag
"Her fluent guitar playing interspersed with the odd taste of the harmonica and her beautiful melodic soulful voice was brilliantly uplifting. Tracey managed to captivate the audience and there was not a single foot in the house that wasn’t tapping to the earthy flowing rhythms."
Barry Benfell, South West Blues Club
Bridgetown is Western Australia's spiritual home of blues and roots, so it is no surprise that resident singer-songwriter Tracey Barnett has that music in her soul. Fusing traditional blues and country elements with modern rock rhythms, Barnett's music has taken her across Australia, earning her a WAM Award, chart success, and airtime on Triple J, ABC and community radio.
First making her presence felt in 2010, Barnett debuted with The First Of Many – a promising EP that introduced her authentic, heartfelt style. By 2013 her work was becoming more eclectic, and she captured a darker shade of her songwriting on the Blooming EP. Then, in 2017, Barnett reached the artistic milestone of a full-length album with the triumphant Heart, Soul, Feeling. Displaying more grit – lyrically and sonically – the album proved that Barnett's songwriting was maturing and had reached a place unrestrained by convention.
Its follow-up Tracey's second album 'Eyes Forward' has spawned three successful singles – Gotta Get Out, Eyes Forward and Darkness In The Light – each nominated for a WAM Song Of The Year Award. Produced by James Newhouse, the album shows off Barnett's ever-evolving songwriting, singing and guitar playing... not to mention the staggering arsenal she wields as a player (guitar, lap steel, resonator, banjo, harmonica, Hammond organ and percussion, thank you very much).
Released on August 20th 2021, Eyes Forward's fourth single – Freedom – is what Barnett half-jokingly refers to as a 'therapy song'... something that she created to exorcise a demon within herself. She explains, “I wrote Freedom as a message to a part of myself I was trying to let go of. I needed to find a sense of freedom and stop being held back.” This honesty and catharsis is only part of what gives the song its power... with its stomping rhythms and soaring vocals, Freedom is a barn-burning slice of the blues, itching to be unleashed on a live audience.
A multi-instrumentalist with powerful stage presence, Barnett is best witnessed in concert. Throughout her career she has made the conscious decision to remain solo, and as a result has created a closeness between her and her audience. This connection, along with her sheer instinct for songwriting, is what makes Tracey Barnett one the most exciting modern blues artists in Australia.
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A little history ...
Tracey started out as a guitarist in Alternative Rock and Metal bands during high school. Her first all girl rock band 'Slived', were the first all girl band to win Gozzy Rock. They recorded and EP but sadly disbanded shorty after as they were living too far apart and didn't even have their driver's licenses yet!
Tracey received a shake up after another band went on hiatus when the 14 year old drummer was admitted into rehab for drug addiction. She had a glimpse of her future and started to doubt the path she was on. It was then that Tracey feared there was no future for her in music full time. She graduated from senior high school with a music award in hand, a solo self recorded album under the name 'Stall' and her first spin on Triple J of a riff she'd submitted into a competition to win a Gibson Les Paul signed by one of her idols, Adam Jones from TOOL. She was the only female to have her track played on air for the competition.
After school Tracey did like many and worked in retail to afford a Diploma for a job that she felt wasn't her calling, but was secure, entered the workforce, but never lost her passion for music. In 2007 a friend persuaded her to busk on the street of the Blues at Bridgetown Festival and was spotted by a Margaret River based musician whom invited her to open for some of his shows throughout the South West and Peel Regions of Western Australia.
News of Tracey's talent quickly spread and her gigging schedule was soon a struggle to maintain along with full time work. In March 2012 Tracey has a serious horse riding accident which saw her laid up for over a month. In that time her priorities shifted realising that life is too short not to be doing what you love. She sold the business she was running to start music full time and hasn't looked back.
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ACHIEVEMENTS
ACHIEVEMENTS:
Nominee 2021 West Australian Blues/Roots Song of the Year
Nominee 2020 West Australian Blues/Roots Song of the Year
Nominee 2020 West Australian Act Belong Commit Song of the Year
Nominee 2019 West Australian Music Industry Awards 'Best Regional Act'
Finalist 2019 Gympie Muster Talent Search
Winner 2018 West Australian Music Industry Awards 'Best Regional Act'
Nominee 2017-2018 West Australian Blues/Roots Song of the Year
Finalist 2018 West Australian Country Music Awards 'Album of the Year'
Nominee 2017 WAMAwards Best Regional Act of the Year
Nominee 2017 WAMAwards Best Blues/Roots Act of the Year
Winner 2016 Lancelin Buskers Festival Open Woman's Division
Nominee 2016 West Australian Blues/Roots Song of the Year
Finalist 2016 Boyup Brook Country Music Video Clip of the Year Awards
Finalist 2013 MusicOz Australian Independent Music Awards
Nominee 2013 West Australian Regional Song of the Year
Winner Blues at Bridgetown '15 mins of fame' 2012
Nominee 2011 West Australian Blues and Roots Song of the Year
Nominee 2011 West Australian Country Song of the Year
2nd in the South West Heat of the Next Big Thing Competition 2009
FESTIVALS:
Blues at Bridgetown Festival (Bridgetown WA) 2021
Toodyay Music Festival (Toodyay WA) 2021
Covid Blues at Bridgetown (Bridgetown WA) 2020
Blues at Bridgetown Festival (Bridgetown WA) 2019
WAM Fest (Perth WA) 2019
Strings Attached WA Guitar Festival (Margaret River WA) 2019
Gympie Music Muster (Gympie, QLD) 2019
Nannup Music Festival (Nannup, WA) 2019
Blues at Bridgetown Festival (Bridgetown WA) 2018
Fairbridge Festival (Pinjarra WA) 2018
Blues at Bridgetown Festival (Bridgetown WA) 2017
WAM Festival (Perth, WA) 2017
Derby Boab Festival Closing Concert (Derby WA) 2017
Bodd Music Festival (Boddington, WA) 2017
Blues at Bridgetown Festival (Bridgetown, WA) 2016
Lancelin Buskers Festival (Lancelin, WA) 2016
Derby Boab Festival 'Long Table Dinner' (Derby, WA) 2016
Nukara Music Festival (Geraldton, WA) 2016
Blues at Bridgetown Festival (Bridgetown, WA) 2015
Derby Boab Festival Closing Concert (Derby, WA) 2015
Cherry Harmony Festival (Manjimup, WA) 2014
Blues at Bridgetown Festival (Bridgetown, WA) 2014
Saltwater Music Festival (Broome, WA) 2014
Nukara Music Festival (Geraldton, WA) 2014
Nannup Music Festival (Nannup, WA) 2014
Boyup Brook Country Music Festival (Boyup Brook, WA) 2014
Cherry Harmony Festival (Manjimup, WA) 2013
WAM Festival (Perth, WA) 2013
Blues at Bridgetown (Bridgetown, WA) 2013
Bridgetown Regional Winter Blues Festival (Bridgetown, WA) 2013
Blues at Bridgetown (Bridgetown, WA) 2012
Boyup Brook Country Music Festival (Boyup Brook, WA) 2012
Blues at Bridgetown (Bridgetown, WA) 2011
Nannup Music Festival (Nannup, WA) 2010
Blues at Bridgetown (Bridgetown, WA) 2010
Blues at Bridgetown (Bridgetown, WA) 2009
SUPPORTED:
Caravana Sun
Daniel Champagne
Damien Leith
Donavon Frankenreiter
Eugine Hideaway Bridges
Mental as Anything
Nathan Cavaleri
Nathan Kaye
Perch Creek
Shaun Kirk
Tex Perkins
Wendy Matthews
And many more!!