Chasing Youth and Crossing Oceans: Rusty Pickups Strike Gold with “Holding Onto My Hip”
By Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine
In the two years since their 2023 EP Rattle In My Heart began echoing through the valleys of the Darling Downs, Rusty Pickups have transformed from a local secret into one of the most hardworking and envied ensembles in the Australian country and folk scene. Their trajectory has been nothing short of a “golden run,” leading them through a whirlwind 2025 that shows no signs of slowing down.
Now, with their sights set on international waters and a debut album on the horizon, the group has released their latest single, “Holding Onto My Hip,” a track that perfectly encapsulates their “down-home” charm and virtuosic musicianship.
The New Single: A Playful Ode to the Passage of Time
“Holding Onto My Hip” is a masterclass in the traditional, acoustic-driven sound the band is known for. Written by bassist and producer Ayden ‘The Rambler’ Roberts, the song kicks off with a lush wall of four-part harmonies before launching into a spirited dance of clawhammer banjo, driving upright bass, and soaring violin.
Lead vocalist Michael ‘Cookie’ Cook delivers a playful performance, navigating the universal anxiety of “staying young”—both in body and spirit. There is a wonderful irony baked into the track; Cookie jokes that the “beard owners” of the band are skeptical of 30-year-old Ayden’s claims of a failing hip, especially with the arrival of the “youthful” Aimee Le Brocque on fiddle, who has perhaps made the rest of the veterans feel their age.
Recorded at their own Possum Studios in South East Queensland, the track feels intimate yet expansive, capturing the energy of a group that has spent 2025 winning over festival crowds at Gympie and beyond.
The Rusty Road to Tussock: A Giveaway of a Lifetime
The band isn’t just releasing music; they are taking their fans on an adventure. After a chance meeting with the crew from New Zealand’s Tussock Country festival, Rusty Pickups are heading to Gore, NZ, in 2026.
To ensure people believe they’re actually going abroad, they’ve launched the “Rusty Road to Tussock” promotion. In partnership with Greenmount Travel, the band is giving away a massive prize pack for two lucky fans, including:
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Return flights to Queenstown.
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VIP tickets to Tussock Country.
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Accommodation and transfers included.
For those staying on Australian soil, the stakes are still high. Fans can win house parties featuring Rusty Pickups (for those North of Tamworth) or the 2024 busking champions Rufous Whistler (for those South of Tamworth), along with exclusive merch packs and copies of the new album.
Artist Profile: The Darling Downs Quintet
Rusty Pickups are a true collective, featuring the combined talents of:
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Michael ‘Cookie’ Cook (Vocals/Guitar)
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Lee Fielding (Banjo/Guitar)
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Aimee Le Brocque (Fiddle)
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Ayden Roberts (Upright Bass/Production)
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Waylon Katz (Keys)
Their sound is a rich tapestry of “riverboat keys” and traditional folk elements, earning them spots on major lineups like Woodford Folk Festival and the Maleny Music Festival, where they will be filming the music video for the new single just one day after its release.
Looking Ahead: I Don’t Think About You At All… Some Days
The new single serves as a tantalizing appetizer for their highly anticipated debut album, titled I Don’t Think About You At All… Some Days. Following the success of their previous single “California Widow,” the band is poised for a massive 2026, which will culminate in the official album launch at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
Whether they are singing about aging hips or the dusty roads of the Outback, Rusty Pickups prove that authentic storytelling and four-part harmonies are a timeless combination.