When Brisbane artist Ruby Jo wanted to create a big sound onstage, she went and sought out some of best indie musicians locally to help her generate that sound.
Not only does the result create a blanket of sound, it also creates somewhat of a security blanket on stage, which is also partly why Ruby has brought together such a collection of musicians to join her. It also goes far beyond that."I think considering so many of us – especially in the Brisbane music scene – aren't really in it for the money right now, I think we just enjoy getting together and being a part of something much bigger than solo projects," Ruby says, "and I think we've all just really found a comfort in that."
When Ruby Jo takes the stage at The Zoo early next month as the headline act for the first instalment of Lazy Days Festival, her band will showcase this sense of community.
"It's my first time headlining a festival, but it will also be the first time with a lot of the musicians that are taking the stage with me," she says. "I'll have 11 people, which will be nice and big and fun. And the majority of them are new, which is also really exciting."
Until now, Ruby's most exciting festival moment came just last year, when she performed at the Caloundra Music Festival – which was also her first time performing on the Sunshine Coast.
"We were thrown into the deep end a little bit playing Caloundra Music Festival, and at a destination that we've never played before, but a lot of people followed us up from Brisbane, and we got to meet a lot of people that had been following us for a while, so that was really nice," she says.
"And to play in a line-up of such incredible acts – like, Missy Higgins was the first act that I ever saw live, then I was playing in a festival line-up with her, which was pretty wild."
Ruby's mother made sure her daughter's feet remained firmly on the ground, though. "My mum would joke around and say, 'I'm only coming for Missy – you just happen to be there,'" Ruby laughs.
Lazy Days Festival will feature artists from across South East Queensland, many of whom are female or non-binary. For Ruby Jo, who feels her inclusion in festivals can sometimes feel like a token gesture, it's a refreshing change to see a new event with such a diverse line-up.
"I think presenting the way that I always have, being a proud lesbian woman, and stereotypically not fitting the box of a very feminine-presenting woman, I have always felt like a bit of a token act," she explains.
"Like I've been chosen for diversity, or I've been chosen to be the one female in an all-male line-up, when really I'm a more masculine-presenting woman."
It's reassuring, Ruby adds, and a massive compliment, to be part of something that is predominantly female-led. "I feel very honoured to be headlining this festival, having not been chosen as a token of diversity and more just for my ability and for what we do and the fun that we have," she says.
"I think it's awesome that the majority of these acts were chosen off that basis, and the majority of these acts are non-males – that's really cool."
The event being held at The Zoo was no coincidence either, Ruby adds, as it has been known for years as a space for bringing emerging bands together in the local music scene. Ruby Jo recently did a co-headline show there with Mondeo, which she says was one of the best shows either act has ever performed.
"It was just a sea of people, and it was really cool because not only were they friends and family, they were also people we didn't know that have been followers of our music, and also just local musicians," she says.
"I think that was really cool, because it is such a venue that brings local acts together, whether that be the line-up itself, or just musos feeling comfortable and eager to not only support the artists but The Zoo for everything that they've done for us live bands."
Lazy Days Festival takes place at The Zoo (Brisbane) 3 June.
Lazy Days Festival 2023 Line-up
Ruby JoHannah Sands
Perry Street Park
Monstera
Sierra Hotel
Sarah Jay
Tom Jackson
Saik
Tahnee Rose
Sunny Skys
