Bio

After stints as frontman and songwriter for Melbourne roots music bands The Haybalers and Broken Spoke, Paul Hicks emerged in 2005 with a solo album, Kettle of Fish, which led critics to draw comparisons with Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and Australia's Paul Kelly. 

“… a fine new album of thoughtful, all-original material that comes on like a more rural Paul Kelly …” - Keith Glass, Capital News 

"...a great storyteller... produces a mix of styles that evoke images as wide as Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen” - Rick Jenner, Capital News 

The country stylings of Kettle of Fish led Melbourne music journalist Jeff Jenkins’ to proclaim in Rhythms Magazine “Paul Hicks should be Australia’s next country superstar”. Jenkins also included Kettle of Fish amongst his top albums for 2005 alongside Bernard Fanning’s Tea and Sympathy and Ben Lee’s Awake is the New Sleep. 

The death of his parents proved to be the catalyst in Hicks relocating to rural Victoria for an extended sojourn of some three years, during which time he penned the songs for his exciting follow-up album Food for the Journey, which also received plenty of attention from the critics. 

“One of the great albums of 2007” - Jeff Jenkins, Inpress Magazine 

 “…songs such as Give me love first, Carpenter’s Son and Buffalo River Road may help to propel him to the upper echelon of Aussie personal songwriters” - Keith Glass, Capital News 

 “If this record is anything to go by, his burgeoning career must surely be ready to hit the big time” – Eva Roberts, Rhythms Magazine 

 “Why haven’t I heard of this guy before? He could certainly be selling millions of records if he were living in the US” – Lou Fulco, Readings Stores Newsletter 

In 2007, Hicks’ song Making My Way Back Home (from Food for the Journey) was one of 19 finalists in the Performance category of the highly regarded International Songwriting Competition (ISC), which attracted more than 15,000 entrants. The Performance category was ultimately won by four-time ARIA award winning Australian rock band Eskimo Joe. 

After a hiatus of some 10 years, Hicks returned to the studio in 2017 to produce his third studio album A little bit Country. Again comprising all original material, the new album signals a return to the rootsier, Melbourne country rock sound first displayed on Kettle of Fish, albeit with a stronger focus on hooks and arrangements. 

In demand as a live performer, Hicks has appeared both solo and with his touring band The Yard Dogs at venues and Festivals throughout Australia and Europe, including the Gympie Muster, The Deni Ute Muster, Milawa ‘Beat the Winter Blues’ Festival, Tamworth CM Festival, Mount Beauty Music Festival and the inaugural 2015 Aus Music Festival.