This International Women's Day we're celebrating incredible female artists in the music scene, and we're stoked to sit down with country music artist, Fanny Lumsden! Growing up on a sheep farm in western New South Wales, Fanny's journey from rural Australia to the global stage has been nothing short of remarkable. With 2 ARIA Awards, 9 Golden Guitars and critical acclaim for her album HEY DAWN, which debuted at #1 on the ARIA charts, Fanny shows no signs of slowing down. Her unwavering dedication to live performance and storytelling has firmly established her as one of the most esteemed performers in country music. And we're thrilled to have her share the top five female artists that have shaped her music and creative journey! Check out her picks below.

Catch Fanny Lumsden live at Byron Bay Bluesfest (Thu 17 Apr - Sun 20 Apr 2025), playing on both Friday and Saturday! Grab your tickets below.

Words by Fanny Lumsden:

Women tell powerful, important stories and these 5 story tellers that have shaped me and helped me to feel empowered to share my own, exactly as they are. I have found it within myself to be as truthful as possible and do it my own way because of the way these artists have done that. Beautifully, poetically and each fiercely loyal to themselves.

Dolly Parton

What's not to love with the prolific, extraordinary stories of Dolly Parton. On paper its ludicrous - a caricature of a woman, who came from the smokey mountains, who has changed the landscape for story tellers full stop and not only that, built an empire to surround it. The way she makes everyone feel included, no matter who you are. The way she sings about specific wistful stories and subjects that are delivered in such a deliberate way. She's an icon and all I can say is that I can't believe I got to live in the same bit of time as Dolly Parton and she said my name! (when she announced me as the winner of the ARIA for best country album in 2023).

The Chicks

I am obsessed. They came out with female centric, fierce stories, unapologetically, and have stuck to their guns the whole way through. Their album HOME is forever one of my favourite records, in how they weaved this organic, acoustic sound into what are certified bangers and household songs and stories of a certain generation.

Kasey Chambers

Nothing that she sings feels forced or inauthentic, ever. She tells a story like a true storyteller, with all the arcs and lines but her magic trick seems to be that she blows up the magic trick and is just extraordinarily honest and original. I was 12 when I first heard The Captain and I can 100% say that it blew my mind. She changed what I thought of 'being an artist' could look like. I still feel like that now. Trailblazer for all of us.

Gillian Welch

She is a wry storyteller that, poetically turns stories that shouldn't be inspiring, somehow, into things of beauty. And does it so masterfully that she makes it sound/look simple. Every time I listen to her records I think, I could write something like that, and that is the mark of a genius. Making the extraordinary feel easy for everyone.

Kate Miller-Heidke

She is the reason I began writing songs again which lead to me being here right now. I was studying Rural Science bachelor's degree at university and a friend gave me her album Little Eve, after seeing her open for Missy Higgins and it was another moment that below my mind. The literal nonsense she sings about in those songs spoke directly to my brain at the time and I literally picked up the guitar and wrote a song called the Cat song, which was the crucial first step in me getting to where I am now. She's also an incredible performer and has written some mind-blowing songs. Thanks Kate. You're ace.