Hailing from the Victorian goldfields, Bill Barber and The Holding Cell are paving the way for a new blend of Blues, southern rock and Americana in Australia. The essence of band is the shared experience and brotherhood of four like-minded musicians who love nothing more than sharing that with as many as they can.
Forming in June 2023, Bill Barber, Tommy ‘Back Beat’ Brown, Jaspar Austin Gray and Shaun Klinger were in a place musically and personally where they wanted to do something different. The Holding Cell is different – aggressive, exiting and incredibly emotive.
With the hard driving rhythm section of Gray and Brown, heavily technical and soulful arrangements of Klinger and the Raw, powerful vocals and brutally honest lyrics of Bill Barber, the Holding Cell have created a distinctive blend of southern sounds that leaves nothing on the table and no musical stone unturned.
The band’s first year has seen some nothing-short-of-amazing accolades. Taking out the 2023 MBAS blues performers of the year award, placing in the semi-finals at the international blues challenge in Memphis USA, playing sold out ticketed shows and being invited to play some of the biggest Blues festivals in the country, including Blues on Broadbeach, Echuca Moama Winter Blues and more.
Their First single and first LP “The Muscle Shoals Sessions” was recorded live over 10 hours in the legendary FAME studios in Alabama, which has hosted some of the greatest and most influential musicians in history including Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, The Allman Brothers band, Jason Isbell, Drive By Truckers, Steven Tyler and countless others.
The official Girrakool schedule and guide, is now available via our very own festival mobile app. Easily view the full line-up, schedules, get playing time reminders, or get notified of any event changes.
Girrakool Blues acknowledges the Darkinjung and Traditional Custodians of the lands on which our event is held. We pay respect to their Elders’ past and present and extend that respect to all First Nations peoples as knowledge holders with continuing connections to land, place, waters and community.
Privacy Policy
Thank you Ann maree! A confirmation email has been sent to anmareee@bigpond.com
Please check your inbox (and spam folder) and click the link in the email to confirm your email address.
Why not have the schedule in your pocket and download the official Girrakool Blues app
The official Girrakool schedule and guide, is now available via our very own festival mobile app. Easily view the full line-up, schedules, get playing time reminders, or get notified of any event changes.
