Toby's new studio album "Love Underground' was launched to a completely sold out crowd at the Fly By Night, Fremantle on 17 th May 2008, followed by a 16-date national tour. Toby was joined by 17 of WA's top musicians, with an entire string and brass section. The night was a huge success, with Toby delivering her new songs in her usual gutsy, rocky, sexy style that she can only do so well.
In June, Toby and band are off to support Gomez at Summerfest in Milwaukee , the world's largest music festival; followed by dates in Chicago , Canada , Holland and Switzerland . She will be joined by Victor DeLorenzo from the Violent Femmes while on stage in Milwoukee. "Toby Beard is a superb singer/ songwriter and guitarist who not only plays and sings well, but has a fine flair for drawing in an audience and keeping them entertained and delighted with her songs and inviting spirit...She's a gas!" Victor DeLorenzo (Violent Femmes)
In 2007 Toby performed over 180 shows touring Canada twice, Europe twice and Australia, including supporting Xavier Rudd and Michael Franti at the Big Time Out festival in Canada. Her last album "Renaissance" is getting rotation on hundreds of radio stations world wide. Toby can perform to any crowd - whether it be 10,000 people at A Day On the Green (Nov 06) or an intimate crowd of 50, at the Porter, Bath , UK (May 07).
'Toby' are West Australia 's most energetic and vibrant roots act. So good that the likes of The Violent Femmes, Tex Perkins , Ash Grunwald, Nick Barker, Charlie Owen, Don Walker, Salley Dastey, Carus and Nicky Bomba have all felt compelled to join them on stage for impromptu performances.
"Toby" has supported The Indigo Girls, Paul Kelly, Pete Murray, Donavon Frankenreiter, Renee Geyer, Luka Bloom and many other national and international artists. She has played alongside musicians including Michael Franti, Jack Johnson, The Waifs, John Butler, Xavier Rudd, The Whitlams, Vicka and Linda Bull, and Alex Llyod. Toby has performed at every top WA festival including WA Blues and Roots Fest, Bridgetown Blues Fest (five consecutive years) , Fairbridge Folk Fest, Nannup Folk Fest, Broome Blues and Roots Fest and many more. Last year at Bridgetown she sold more cd's than any other act and had double standing ovations in the Blue Owls Nest. She has also performed at major festivals in Melbourne , Manchester (UK), Interlaken (Switzerland) and BC (Canada ).
While touring in Canada in 2006, Toby tried her luck at singing in French - enjoying it so much she decided to roll with her new 'bi-lingulism' and release "Tu Es Belle"������¦ her first non-english single. This was released in February 2007.
Also in February 2007, while performing at the Rails in Byron Bay , audience members, The Violent Femmes were so impressed by Toby that two of their members actually joined Toby on stage for an entire set. The next night, Toby was invited to perform backing vocals and percussion with the Femmes at their sell out show at the Tivoli Theatre, Brisbane .
Toby's performances are a perfect fusion of roots, blues, jazz, reggae, Latin and rock with the underlying passionate vocals from emerging young songstress Toby Beard. Think raw, yet controlled female vocals, along with dynamic guitar playing, an array of emotive, sincere, untamed lyrics about love, travel and devotion -add to the mixture a solid base of drums and electric bass guitar, and a line up of WA's most exceptional soloists and you have yourself 'Toby'. WA's top singer/songwriter.
Keep your eye on this girl-her charisma, her presence, her songs are simply addictive.
