Bertie Blackman is set to tour Australia in August, launching her latest album ‘Secrets and Lies’. The tour will begin in Hobart on July 31 and end in Perth on August 29. Destinations include The Gaelic Theatre in Sydney, The Beach Hotel in Byron Bay, The Hi Fi in Brisbane and Melbourne and The Coolangatta Hotel on the Gold Coast.

 ‘Headway’ was Blackman’s breakthrough album, released back in 2003, establishing her as a promising Australian musician. As a singer-songwriter, Blackman received airplay on radio networks around Australia as a folk inspired artist before venturing into an indie-rock avenue with her follow up record ‘Black’ in 2006. Now, the Sydney based songstress has returned to centre stage with a new 13 track album full of fresh, modern songs. With her first album in almost three years, Blackman has turned up the heat and done away with her guitar, instead showing off her abilities as a pianist and throwing in a small dose of electronica along the way. Still, the most beautiful aspect of this record is Blackman’s remarkable voice, which remains as charming as ever.

Now in her mid-twenties, Blackman has come a long way since landing her first record deal, singing with the newly formed Forum 5 Recordings in 2008. She has continued to develop her sound while never wavering from her impressive stance as a straight-talking, truthful artist. Combining dark but honest lyrics amid surprising and contagious pop beats are what makes ‘Secrets and Lies’ come alive. The fourth track on the album, ‘Heart’ is daring and experimental; a fine example of Blackman’s unique creativity, while ‘Lust and Found’ is just as captivating, and full of mature, charismatic lyrics. Initially released in May, ‘Secrets and Lies’ entered the ARIA charts at number 72.

Already described by Paul Cashmere as ‘one of the most innovative Australian releases so far’, ‘Secrets and Lies’ is a showcase of Bertie Blackman’s originality and exceptional talent. Presented by Triple J and Street Press Australia, Blackman’s national tour may be the one to help finally land her on music’s main stage.

~ Joanne O’Neill