NEW MUSIC: Stiff Gins 'Bear and Bee' Single + Video

Australia's longest-performing all-female First Nations band Stiff Gins return with their fifth studio album, Crossroads and tour dates!

 Dynamic musical duo comprising of Wiradjuri/Yorta Yorta woman Kaleena Briggs and Yuwaalaraay woman Nardi Simpson, Stiff Gins, are thrilled to announce their fifth studio album, Crossroads, marking their 25-year career as Australia's longest-performing all-female First Nations band, making harmonious and culturally resonant music-making. 

A celebration of Stiff Gin's role as cultural custodians of the Australian musical environment, Crossroads invites audiences of the past into the present, merges tradition with innovation and seeks to sing a future overflowing with strength and grace and is set for release on Friday 27 June with vinyl and digital pre-orders available now via Bandcamp. The Crossroads tour kicks off in Naarm on Friday 18 July, which will see the duo embark on shows up and down the East Coast, making stops along the way, venturing to Tarntanya/Adelaide, before concluding the tour in Barragga Bay, NSW, in September.

From humble beginnings at the Eora Centre in Redfern back in 1997, Crossroads reaffirms the band's status as Matriarchal pioneers in the Australian Blak music scene. Produced by Syd Green (Casey Chambers,19Twenty), Crossroads combines Stiff Gin's signature blend of folk, roots, and First Nations language and culture with newfound depths of lyrical storytelling, intricate harmony and rich layers of instrumentation.  The result is a sonic landscape that resonates with both introspection and resilience, all set against a political backdrop that advocates for increased representation and recognition of First Nations people in Australia. "Crossroads" not only delves into the emotional landscapes of transformation but also sings of profound belonging amidst change. As Stiff Gins navigate these crossroads, they craft a musical tapestry that resonates with themes of resilience, self-discovery, and letting go. 

Ahead of the album release, Stiff Gins are offering a taste of the album with their animated ‘Bear and Bee’ video produced by Four-Legged Fish Studios, Tess Chung, Fletcher Johnson, Amy Redden, Kirra Shay and Enda Murray on creative facilitation. 

Over the past 25 years, Stiff Gins' musical prowess has garnered accolades, including being the recipients of the prestigious Centenary Medal for ‘Outstanding Service to Indigenous Music. They have performed some of Australia’s biggest festivals, including Big Day Out, Homebake, Bluesfest, Womad, Tamworth Country Music Festival, Woodford Folk Festival, Port Fairy Folk Festival, Queenscliff Music Festival, The National Folk Festival, and Sydney Festival event “I am Eora”.  Stiff Gins have transcended borders and captivated audiences in North America, Canada, the UK, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. 

The duo's love for the arts extend beyond performance; they've conducted numerous workshops across Australia's remote and rural Indigenous communities and Nardi Simpson, known for her two novels, and is the highly regarded and celebrated author of ‘Song of the Crocodile and ‘The Belburd’, both released via Hachette Australia

While their last commercial release, Water and Wind, dates back to 2011, the creative evolution of Stiff Gins in their current phase of their illustrious career sees the duo’s collaborative synergy continue to evolve, intertwining cultural depth with artistic sophistication. Within today's contemporary music landscape, Stiff Gins continue to cement their cultural heritage through their collaborative bond that inspires and strengthens

Crossroads serves as a reflective narrative of personal and collective evolution while bearing testament to Nardi Simpson and Kaleena Briggs’ enduring spirit and sisterhood. Don't miss your opportunity to experience their breathtaking performances during July, August and September.

Crossroads Tour Dates

Fri 18 July - George Lane, St Kilda, VIC
Support: Candice Lorrae

Sat 19 July - Meeniyan Town Hall, Meeniyan, VIC 

Sun 20 July - Odessas at Leavers, Creswick, VIC 

Sat 26 July - Blak Day Out, Meanjin – SOLD OUT

Sat 16 August - Wauchope Arts Hall, Wauchope, NSW

Fri 22 August - Stone Pony, Aldinga, SA
Support: Kyarna

Sun 24 August - Trinity Sessions, Tarntanya/Adelaide, SA
Support: Katie Aspel

Fri 12 September - Smiths Alternative, Ngambri/Canberra, ACT
Support: TBA

Sun 14 September - Windsong Pavillion, Barragga Bay, NSW

All tickets on sale via: stiffgins.com.au/tour