Multiple Grammy® nominee (and winner this year) and Blues Music Award winner Ruthie Foster is set to return to Australia in March 2025, bringing her powerhouse vocals and remarkable musicianship back to our stages.
Known for her soulful voice and masterful guitar and piano performances, Ruthie will tour Australia fresh off the release of her tenth studio album, the Grammy winning ‘Mileage’ — her first with the legendary Sun Records label.
Ahead of her ‘Heartshine’ Australian tour, Australian Musician editor Greg Phillips caught up with Ruthie Foster over a zoom call to chat about the tour, the album, the Grammy win and her thoughts on vocal legend Roberta Flack who passed away on the day we spoke to Ruthie.
MORE ABOUT RUTHIE FOSTER AND THE AUSTRALIAN TOUR
Produced by Tyler Bryant (of Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown) and featuring contributions from his wife, Rebecca Lovell (one half of Larkin Poe), Mileage is a deeply personal work. The album reflects Ruthie’s journey, capturing the highs and lows of a life shaped by music, personal loss, and professional triumphs. From her roots singing in rural Texas churches to collaborating with iconic artists like Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, Ruthie’s music continues to inspire and uplift.
The tour is named after one of the album’s standout tracks, Heartshine, a song that took shape during the writing sessions as a shared vision between Ruthie, Bryant, and Lovell. With its emotional depth and soul-stirring sound, the track is a fitting symbol for the album’s powerful narrative.
Ruthie Foster’s musical journey is as eclectic and vibrant as her soulful voice. Born into a family steeped in gospel tradition, Ruthie’s earliest influences were the voices of her mother, grandmother, and the gospel singers she grew up listening to — artists like the Gospel Keynotes and the Blind Boys of Alabama. However, her path to becoming a solo artist wasn’t a straightforward one. Despite a deep love for music, Ruthie initially shied away from the spotlight, preferring to play guitar, piano, and write songs for others.
Growing up in the rich musical tapestry of Gause, Texas, Ruthie found herself drawn to the diverse sounds and arrangements of local gospel choirs and musicians. Despite her reluctance to take centre stage, Ruthie’s talent was undeniable, and her mother encouraged her to step up and sing out. She stood out as a young black girl with a guitar in a choir scene dominated by pianos, but with her grandmother’s vocal coaching and encouragement from her mother and the church community, she recognised her own power — as a songwriter, a musician, and as a captivating singer.
After studying music at a community college in Waco, Ruthie decided to take a break from music and enlist in the Navy. The stage drew her once more, and she was selected to sing for the Navy band Pride, where she honed her skills as a vocalist and performer. A development deal with Atlantic Records led her to New York City, where she immersed herself in the songwriting community and learned the craft of writing songs that spoke to the soul.
However, Ruthie’s journey took a turn when her mother fell ill, prompting her to step back from music and return to Texas once again. It was a period of introspection, caregiving, and deep bonding with her mother, and upon her return to writing and performing, it was to shape her voice as a singer-songwriter and storyteller. Drawing on her experiences and her musical roots, she began to craft blues, folk, and gospel-tinged songs that spoke to the universal themes of love, loss, and resilience.
Turning down a major record deal in pursuit of authenticity, she has stayed true to herself and her vision as an artist, signing with independent label Blue Corn Music to release Runaway Soul in 2002, followed by The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster in 2007, The Truth According to Ruthie Foster in 2009, Let It Burn in 2012, Promise of a Brand New Day in 2014, Joy Comes Back in 2017, and Healing Time in 2022. She has also released three live albums, Stages in 2004, Live At Antone’s in 2011, and 2020’s Live at the Paramount.
Now, with five Grammy nominations to her name and a win with her new album, Mileage, recently released on Sun Records, Ruthie Foster stands as a testament to the power of authenticity and resilience in music. Her soulful melodies, heartfelt lyrics, and unwavering commitment to her craft inspire audiences and fellow musicians alike as she continues to carve out a path that is uniquely her own.
Fans can expect to experience this magic live when Ruthie performs 14 shows across three states and one territory, kicking off in Victoria. She will open her tour at St Kilda’s Memo Music Hall on March 6, followed by performances at Queenscliff Town Hall (March 7), Port Fairy Folk Festival (March 8-10), Brunswick Ballroom (March 13), and Castlemaine’s Theatre Royal (March 14).
Next, Ruthie heads to New South Wales for the Blue Mountains Music Festival (March 15-16) and Wollongong’s Centro CBD on March 19. In Canberra, she will perform at Harmonie German Club on March 20, before heading to Sydney’s Concourse Lounge on March 21. Queensland audiences can catch her in Brisbane at The Old Museum on March 22 and at Tanks Arts Centre in Cairns on March 23.
Prepare for goosebumps as Ruthie Foster brings her rich blend of blues, gospel, and soul to Australian shores once again.
LINKS:
Website – ruthiefostermusic.com
Facebook – facebook.com/ruthiefostermusic
Instagram – instagram.com/ruthiefostermusic
YouTube – youtube.com/user/ruthiefoster
X – x.com/_ruthiefoster_
TikTok – tiktok.com/ruthiefostermusic
Threads – threads.net/ruthiefostermusic
Spotify – open.spotify.com/artist/2lL4ckeM1A2Qo2Fe64dP0F
Apple Music – music.apple.com/us/artist/ruthie-foster/63828964
RUTHIE FOSTER TOUR DATES:
VICTORIA
Thursday, March 6
Memo Music Hall, 88 Acland St, St Kilda (18+)
7.00pm
Tickets: $70-$80
Bookings
Friday, March 7
Queenscliff Town Hall, 50 Learmonth St, Queenscliff (All ages)
Doors: 7.00pm
Show: 7.30pm
Tickets: $81.25 (incl. bf)
Saturday March 8 – Monday, March 10
Port Fairy Folk Festival
https://portfairyfolkfestival.com/
Thursday, March 13
Brunswick Ballroom, 314 Sydney Road, Brunswick (18+)
7.00pm
Tickets: $80.63 (incl. bf)
Bookings
Friday, March 14
Theatre Royal, 30 Hargraves St, Castlemaine (18+)
7.00pm
Tickets: $82.15 (incl. bf)
Bookings
NEW SOUTH WALES
Saturday, March 15-Sunday March 16
Blue Mountains Music Festival
https://www.bmff.org.au/
Wednesday, March 19
Centro CBD, 28 Stewart St, Wollongong (18+)
8.00pm
Tickets: $80.00
Bookings
Friday, March 21
Concourse Lounge, Ferguson Lane, Chatswood (All ages)
7.30pm
Tickets: $84.15 (incl. bf)
Bookings
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
Thursday, March 20
Harmonie German Club, 49 Jerrabomberra Ave, Narrabundah (18+)
7.00pm
Tickets: $79.39 (incl. bf)
Bookings
QUEENSLAND
Saturday, March 22
Old Museum, 480 Gregory Terrace, Bowen Hills (18+)
8.00pm
Tickets: $80.00 (incl. bf)
Bookings
Sunday, March 23
Tanks Arts Centre, 46 Collins Avenue, Edge Hill (18+)
6.00pm
Tickets: $65 (incl. bf)
Bookings