2024 CYGNET FOLK FESTIVAL EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Born with the same first name, Tasmanian songwriters LJ and Lucy are living proof that two heads are better than one. Their earnest, playful tunes had them crowned Emerging Artist of the Year at the 2024 Cygnet Folk Festival, and they've also performed at other fabulous events such as the National Celtic Festival and the Dark Mofo Winter Feast.

Their original music blends contemporary folk, Celtic and old-time influences. Expect crisp harmonies, lush guitar riffs and candidly relatable lyrics.

Header and bio photos by Cole Kelly @ Cygnet Folk Festival 2024

Photos by Ian Gordon @ the National Celtic Festival 2024

Videos

Find more videos over on our YouTube channel!

Shows

Previous Events

City of Hobart Winter Feast (Presented by Dark Mofo) | nipaluna (Hobart TAS) - June 2024

National Celtic Festival | wudawurrung country (Portarlington VIC) - June 2024

Simple Cider Benefit Gig @ Moonah Arts Centre | nipluna (Hobart TAS) - March 2024

Cygnet Folk Festival | palawa/muwinina country (Cygnet TAS) - January 2024

Solo Projects

LJ Parks

Image by Melanie Lunden

ljparks.com

instagram.com/ljparko

she/they

With a powerful voice, dynamic guitar riffs and playfully wry lyrics, LJ Parks has captured the attention of audiences from Hobart to Cairns and beyond. Hailing from Victoria's surf coast and based in southern Tasmania, in 2024 she was crowned Emerging Artist of the Year at Cygnet Folk Festival with her duo, LJ and Lucy, and was a featured Future Folk Artist at Port Fairy Folk Festival. She was also a finalist for Youth Artist of the Year in the 2023 Australian Folk Music Awards and will be competing in the 2024 Mothertone Talent Search at Gympie Music Muster.

LJ’s latest EP “All Caught Up” was recorded with ARIA Award winning artist and producer Monique Brumby, and is both nostalgic and eminently relatable, influenced by contemporary folk and Oz rock. 

This songwriter really gets around. Here's a few of the iconic events she's performed at: Port Fairy Folk Festival (VIC), Cygnet Folk Festival(TAS), Mount Roland Folk Festival (TAS), Tablelands Folk Festival (QLD), Folk by the Sea (NSW), Irish & Celtic Music Festival  (NSW), Franklin Folk Club (TAS), Kunanyi Folk Club (TAS), Sofar Sounds (Hobart, TAS), Queenscliff Music Festival (VIC), Lightwave Festival (TAS).

(Certified bird nerd, uncertified dog whisperer)

 

Lucy

Image by Christian Little

whatlucydoes.com

instagram.com/whatlucydoes

she/her

Deftly woven traditional irish seanois melodies with neo-soul soft jazz sound and tongue-in-cheek Australian honesty, Lucy has pulled the heartstrings of globalaudiences from her birthplace in Dublin, Ireland across the seas to her current home in far-south lutruwita/Tasmania - with many stops between.  

After completing a Bachelor of Music in composition & music production at the Australian Institute of Music (AIM) in Sydney, Lucy spent several years traveling and gigging between Ireland and Australia, notably securing a residency in Dublin’s famed temple bar while appearing at well-loved spots like The Tivoli, Bruxelles, Sine-E, The Workman’s Club and The International.  

Lucy returned to Tasmania for postgraduate research on women in music technology and self-production, currently mixing and producing a collection of original songs she engineered and recorded with an all-women band in late 2022, sharing the process online and building creative community through Patreon under @whatlucydoes

(Your friendly local, vocal plant witch, with excellent tarot reading and tea brewing skills)

Contact us

Bookings and other enquiries

artists@specificgull.com