Bud Rokesky
is used to the isolation of lengthy spells on the road – though born in Brisbane and residing briefly in Rockhampton, from the ages of eight to 17 he lived on a 170-acre property just outside the tiny rural Queensland town of Imbil, population 300.

As with the best storytellers, though, Rokesky’s songs can be interpreted in many ways, not least because they seek to explore how different people have different takes on the same situation. It’s a perspective gained from a lifetime of observing others.

“Being an outsider meant I had a lot of free time growing up to question what everyone was doing, or why everyone was doing what they were doing,” he explains. “When people listen to the record I’d love for them to hear the beauty in other characters’ troubles so that they can think of their own troubles or questions as beautiful.

2023 saw Bud release his debut album “Outsider”, produced and recorded by Matt Corby & Alex Henriksson on the NSW North Coast at Corby’s Rainbow Valley Studios. With up to 1 million combined streams, the bluesy-Americana influenced record was hallmarked by the soulful track ‘Strike Out’, the sweet ‘Baby & I’, and the gentle ‘Love My Baby More’. The album gathered great support from CMT, community radio, Double J’s Tower of Song & national high rotation airplay across ABC Country & Australian Country Radio. Additionally, ABC Country & Saturday Night Country launched the album as their Feature Album of the Week, along with rave reviews from the likes of Country Music Capital News, stating “He is a storyteller – think Springsteen”, and Post To Wire & Rhythms Magazine comparing the “enigmatic and supremely talented” artist to Orville Peck, Marlon Williams, Townes Van Zandt & Waylon Jennings. Bud quickly followed the album with the standout single “Getting Old” which has opened a new chapter for the talented singer, songwriter.

Over the last couple of years, Bud Rokesky has secured support slots from the likes of Cedric Burnside (USA), C.W. Stoneking, Brad Cox, Deacon Blue, Meg Washington, Tim Rogers & Sons of the East, as well as Matt Corby and Tim Easton (USA). He has also become a fixture on the festival scene, having played to audiences at Bluesfest, Gympie Music Muster, Woodford Folk Festival, BIGSOUND, Nimbin Roots Festival, Groundwater, Queenscliff Music Festival, Tamworth Country Music Festival, and more. Last year he completed a headline run of shows in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.