Rusty Pickups: The Unstoppable Rise of Australia’s New Country-Folk Darlings
By Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine
Since the release of their six-song EP, Rattle In My Heart, in 2023, the Australian country and folk quartet Rusty Pickups have embarked on an astonishing golden run. Their trajectory has seen them pick up a dizzying array of shows, tours, and festival appearances that would be the envy of many established acts across the country, folk, and alt-country scenes of this sunburnt land.
In just the last year, this Darling Downs group—comprising Michael Cook, Lee Fielding, Ayden Roberts, and Waylon Katz—has shared stages with a remarkable roster of talent. They’ve played alongside esteemed artists like Darren Hanlon, Kasey Chambers, Haystack Mountain Hermits, and Kankawa Nagarra. In a truly unique “Nirvana moment,” they even found themselves sharing a stage with beloved children’s characters Bluey and Bingo at the Easter In The Country festival in Roma, QLD, a testament to their broad appeal and the diverse nature of their bookings.
Their journey has taken them to some of Australia’s most iconic music gatherings, often gathered around a single old-timey microphone, evoking a classic, intimate performance style. They’ve graced the stages of the Tamworth Country Music Festival, Gympie Muster, Neurium Creek Folk Festival, The GAS, The Long Sunset, and even warmed up a crowd of watermelon-crazed Kate Ceberano fans at the Chinchilla Melon Festival. By the end of this year, their plaintive balladry and dusty dance-floor shakedowns will have stretched from Katoomba, NSW, in the south to The Whitsundays in the north. A significant highlight on their calendar is their upcoming appearance at the Legends of Country festival, where they will play alongside country titans like Lee Kernaghan, Troy Cassar Daley, and Sara Storer.
So, who are Rusty Pickups? And how does a band that, by their own admission, many might not yet know, keep landing on such incredible lineups? The answer, as the band themselves would suggest, is best found by catching a live performance. Their self-deprecating humor creates an immediate connection, making space for music that feels instantly familiar, like a beloved classic you’re hearing for the fifth time, even when it’s your first. Their sound is a delightful blend of traditional, down-home, classic country-folk. It’s built on their innate ability to effortlessly weave splashes of riverboat keys, the melodic intricacies of clawhammer banjo, the rolling depth of upright bass, and the charming simplicity of acoustic guitar. This instrumental tapestry provides the perfect backdrop for classic storytelling vocals, memorable songs, and their signature four-part harmonies, which are a cornerstone of their appeal.
Rusty Pickups’ latest single, “California Widow,” which premiered on Sunburnt Country Music, offers a compelling glimpse into their songwriting prowess. Written by the band’s Lee Fielding and featuring the guest fiddle playing of five-time Golden Guitar winner Pete Denahy, this jaunty folk song has an intriguing origin story. As singer Michael “Cookie” Cook explains, it “formed and blossomed in the driving heat of a Tamworth Country Music Festival afternoon.” He elaborates, “Between sets, enduring the sweat and searching for the best way to use time in the shade of a beat-up purple caravan, we stumbled across a fiddle / banjo combo that reeked of a Californian sunset, with smatterings of hope and despair all rolled into one great big long stereotype.” This anecdote perfectly encapsulates their creative process: rooted in real-life experiences, infused with a touch of whimsy, and always striving for authentic, evocative imagery.
Rest assured, you’ll be hearing much more from Rusty Pickups in 2025. As they head towards the release of their highly anticipated debut album later in the year, their schedule is packed with plenty more rousing live performances across the country. Rusty Pickups are not just a band to watch; they are a band to experience, a genuine force in the Australian music scene whose blend of raw talent, humble charm, and undeniable musicality is setting them on a path to widespread recognition.