HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGES
Tableau images created by Jacqui Stockdale, photography by Anthony Rodriguez.
Additional photographs by Bob Hutchison and Eve Byers.
STAGE PLAN & TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
Floyd Thursby – Stage Plan & Tech Requirements.
SHORT BIO
Contemporary folk singer Floyd Thursby writes songs about love and death, wild nights and quiet days, sacred moments and everyday life.
His album ‘To those in flames’ (2019) was critically lauded and his 2020 album ‘The South Lands’, featuring duets with Vietnamese singer-songwriter Mademoiselle was shortlisted for the 2021 Music Victoria Awards, and led to placement of his song ‘You gotta fly’ in the major Vietnamese motion picture Gái già lắm chiêu V. As a composer he has scored a feature film (The Death & Life of Otto Bloom) and multiple short films. He also performs with acclaimed French gypsy jazz quartet La Mauvaise Réputation and new project Skiffle Party! His new album ‘The Fuller’s Field’ is due for release mid-2022.
To those in flames’ ALBUM OF THE WEEK: The Age, Brisbane Times & Sydney Morning Herald “a heartfelt collection of tracks, honed with the sweetest of attention to detail in the studio. While lyrically there’s much to enjoy here, Thursby’s guitar playing, on the title track in particular, are quite simply moments to savour. 3.5/5” The Age
“Floyd Thursby has a fascinating voice. But of course, all that would be insignificant without great songs as vehicles for that voice. Thursby has armfuls of them.” (Rhythms magazine)
LONG BIO
The alter-ego of Melbourne, Australia-based film composer, singer and guitarist Paul Gillett, Floyd Thursby has been recording and releasing his original songs since 2005. The child of award-winning poet Ross Gillett and successful author Melanie Guile, Gillett’s musical career started with the release of his first album in 1999 by the Ang Fang Quartet, an ensemble devoted to the performance of original music for silent films, live in the cinema.
Thursby’s debut 2005 self-titled EP, recorded with funding from Arts Victoria, received strong support from Melbourne’s RRR. Thursby’s critically-acclaimed debut album ‘A Thief’s Journal’, produced by Marty Brown (Art of Fighting, Clare Bowditch), was released in 2007 on Ang Fang Industries through MGM.
In 2008 Gillett formed the French gypsy jazz quartet La Mauvaise Réputation, with whom he sings vocals (in French) and plays rhythm guitar. The group has released two albums (Tours Eiffel en Plastique, 2011; Bad Reputation, 2014. Thursby’s second album ‘Sinatra’s Bones’, recorded by Neil Thomason at Head Gap, was released in 2013.
In 2016 he composed the score to the Australian feature film ‘The Death & Life of Otto Bloom’ (d. Cris Jones) and a soundtrack album was released the following year. The compilation album ‘Selected Works 2003-2011’, featuring acoustic re-interpretations of previously released tracks, was also out in 2017.
He has performed at festivals and events across Australia and internationally, including Port Fairy Folk Festival, Cygnet Folk Festival, Blue Mountains Music Festival, Majors Creek Festival, Newstead Live, Yackandandah Folk Festival, Brunswick Music Festival, Palm Creek Folk Festival, Mossvale Music Festival, Melbourne International Jazz Festival, Brisbane Festival, National Gallery of Victoria, Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory and on ABC Radio National’s The Music Show. International touring has taken him to USA, UK (Lymm Festival), Europe, the Caucusus, China and South-East Asia.
In August 2019 Thursby was invited to Hanoi to perform at the state banquet hosted by Vietnamese Prime Minister Phúc for visiting Australian PM Scott Morrison. Thursby’s album ‘To those in flames’, produced by Marty Brown, was released in October 2019. A bilingual album of duets recorded with Vietnamese singer-songwriter Mademoiselle entitled ‘The South Lands’ and funded by the Australian Embassy in Hanoi was released in September 2020. The album was shortlisted for the 2021 Music Victoria Awards and led to the placement of Floyd’s song ‘You gotta fly’ in the major Vietnamese motion picture Gái già lắm chiêu V. His new album ‘The Fuller’s Field’ is due for release mid-2022.
PRESS
‘The South Lands’ (2020, with Mademoiselle) SHORTLISTED: Music Victoria Awards, Best Intercultural Act.
‘To those in flames’ (2019) ALBUM OF THE WEEK: The Age, ALBUM OF THE WEEK: Brisbane Times; ALBUM OF THE WEEK: Sydney Morning Herald “a heartfelt collection of tracks, honed with the sweetest of attention to detail in the studio. While lyrically there’s much to enjoy here, Thursby’s guitar playing, on the title track in particular, are quite simply moments to savour. 3.5/5” The Age
‘A Thief’s Journal’: ALBUM OF THE WEEK: Radio Adelaide; ALBUM OF THE WEEK: PBS FM; RRR TOP TEN ALBUMS
‘Evocative lyrics and moody atmospherics drive home the message of the title track from the To Those In Flames album, confidently executed.’ — Christie Eliezer, The Music Network/Beat/Pollstar/Tone Deaf
‘Finally, a folk/country record where you can tell one song from another… Thursby writes with just enough ornament to trigger your imagination, never straying into pretension…This album is hard to fault.’ Forte Magazine
‘Floyd Thursby has a fascinating voice… But of course, all that would be insignificant without great songs as vehicles for that voice. Thursby has armfuls of them. There’s not an uninteresting moment on this debut LP…. an endlessly rewarding recording.’ Rhythms magazine
‘An intriguing sketch of brilliant songwriting… the band has delivered a masterpiece…. A Thief’s Journal goes straight to the poolroom.’ Rave Magazine (BRIS)
‘Lyrics from Bob Dylan’s new album? No, from Floyd Thursby’s debut self-titled 5-track CD. Go see him and hear for yourself. A powerful new addition to Australia’s most original singer/songwriters.’ Billy Pinnell
‘Babylon Gate is one of the best songs, lyrically, that I’ve heard all year.’ Claire Stuchbery, PBS FM
‘Overall, the sound is something like anyone from the Candle Records stable trying to cover Tim Rogers’ solo stuff…the standout track is the impressive Babylon Gate. Thursby whittles his own version of the classic country-style epic of bloodshed and revenge.’ Beat magazine
‘Such a genuine, raw emotion that I can think of a number of millionaire singer-songwriters who would do well to study Floyd Thursby for some tips on writing and performing honestly.’ Listen with Monger on Only Rivers Understand
‘A very powerful 21st Century song that, beautifully, soars beyond the years. Right up there with the very best.’ Steve Clarke, Cuillin FM on Only Rivers Understand
‘A multi-layered intelligent narrative, irresistible musical backdrops and a totally convincing vocal performance.’ Billy Pinnell, 3AW on ‘Only Rivers Understand’
‘In our world of screaming colorful aggression this CD album is like a small island of peace…very much recommended.’ Lord Litter on To those in flames
‘His blend of both allegorical and literal storytelling tunes tells tales of love and woe, humour and humility, and takes the audience on a delightful journey.’ timberandsteel.wordpress.com
MUSIC VIDEOS
Fahrenheit: https://youtu.be/70sFMcdWuEU
You gotta fly: https://youtu.be/mPgw9_RXk1Y
Mary comes to Camberlea: https://youtu.be/Bm8jNsyYLIc
Everyone can see the stars: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQE49Vx2xUk
To those in flames: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YG73zFDT10
The Thief: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wg5uCJmd3h4
SOCIAL MEDIA
Floyd Thursby 