‘Why would you ever, wanna be normal?’ sings bohemian folk pop artist Lucy Gallant to a small, attentive crowd in Gympie on a moonlit March night.
A powerful stage presence, Gallant fills the small space at qube226, a cool new art gallery and venue on 226 Mary Street, run by the owners of Soma Soma Espresso and Art Post.
She presents as a flower child, singing in a deep, retro voice that reminded me of Lana Del Ray with some Amy Winehouse phrasing.
Gallant would have fit into California’s 1960s Haight Ashbury scene or the Monterey International Pop Festival with her flower-crowned hair, bindis sparkling on her face and fairy lights circling her feet.
Lucy Gallant performing live. PHOTO: supplied
In 2025, she’s singing about similar themes favoured by boho, folk singers of ‘60s: devious lovers, social change, freedom and the gypsy life but Gallant has other, new stories to tell.
She lost both her parents a few years ago and in ‘Heaven’ she asks her Dad ‘What’s Heaven like?
‘Rebel’ sounds like an anthem for alternative life-stylers with the line ‘I’m a fugitive in this world, running away from all the darkness and the cold.’
Gallant writes and composes all her own music, resulting in a unique and original sound. She plays guitar with a range moving deftly from powerful Spanish thrumming to fragile fingerpicking while playing a Cajón drum with her feet. Every now and then she pauses for a whimsical strum on the chimes.
Plays multiple instruments. PHOTO: Brea Martin Photography
For my money, Gallant is strongest when she channels sexy cabaret vibes and sings to a lover: in her songs ‘Tonight’ and to an ex-lover in Devious.
The whole package
Lucy Gallant is a beautiful woman with Burmese, Russian, Irish, English and Australian roots. Her act offers original genre-blending, soulful tunes that pack a lot of punch for a one woman show, particularly when that woman is pixie-sized.
She’s done the hard yards, touring as an indie artist on the global circuit for years, no mean feat in today’s shrinking live music industry.
Gallant has played the big gigs like Glastonbury Festival, Splendour in the Grass, Woodford Folk Festival and Byron Bay Bluesfest.
Commands attention
I have no doubt she commands the same attention at the big venues as much as she does in a small one like qube226 in Gympie (where she wagged her finger at people talking during her performance).
Gallant’s performance is arresting, her technical skill and musical talent obvious, her vibe positive and inclusive.
Arresting presence. PHOTO: supplied
Seemingly on constant tour, she tells the audience she’s been to 55 countries. These days she tours Australia in her campervan with her little dog, Lola.
Clearly, Gallant’s living her best life ‘waking with a smile on my face every day’ and she wants her audiences to do the same.
Lucy Gallant’s appearance at qube226 was brought to Gympie by Cindy Vogels.
Gallant is touring the east coast of Australia until June.
FEATURE IMAGE: at top of story of Lucy Gallant performing at cube226 by Brea Martin Photography
