Dallas Frasca
Dallas Frasca | |
|---|---|
 Dallas Frasca: Photo credit (Sarah Gilpin) | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Australia |
| Genres | Rock, alternative, riff rock, soul |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Labels | Spank Betty Records |
| Members |
|
| Website | dallasfrasca |
Dallas Frasca is an Australian rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter based in Melbourne.
Her 2024 album, Force of Nature, debuted at number 2 on the ARIA Blues Chart in its first week of release. The single "Stand On My Shoulders" was nominated at the APRA Music Awards of 2025 for Most Performed Blues & Roots Work, and reached number 1 on the AMRAP Charts.
Frasca has supported major international acts including ZZ Top on their Australian and New Zealand arena tour, as well as George Thorogood on selected dates.
History
[edit]Early Life
[edit]Born in Adelaide, South Australia and raised in Wangaratta, Victoria, Dallas Frasca is an Australian roots rock singer and guitarist who performs both as a solo artist and as the frontwoman of the eponymous band Dallas Frasca.[1] She is a descendant of Dame Nellie Melba, one of Australia's most celebrated operatic sopranos and prominent figures in Australian history.[2]
Frasca began her singing career at the age of 18 after discovering her vocal ability at a friend's party.[1]
Career
[edit]In 2006, Dallas Frasca gained national recognition after winning triple j’s "Light Your Fuse" competition. Following this, she was booked to appear at that year’s Bluesfest, one of Australia’s major music festivals.[3]
In 2008, Frasca was invited to perform with iconic Australian rock band Midnight Oil at a special event in Sydney supporting Amnesty International.[1] That same year, she shared the stage with B.B. King in Cognac, France.[1][4]
In early 2009, Frasca represented Australia as one of seven artists from seven continents performing at the International Earth Day celebrations in Montreal, Canada.[1][5]
On 26 March 2010, Frasca was named Artist of the Year at the AIMAs.[1][6] Following this achievement, she was invited to perform at the 2011 AIMAs awards held at the iconic Sydney Opera House.
In 2012, Frasca placed third in the AAA category of the International Songwriting Competition (ISC) for her track "All My Love", selected from over 16,000 global entries.[7] The song was later re-recorded and released by Czech pop artist Lenny, reaching the top 10 on the charts in the Czech Republic.
In August 2012, Frasca joined Slash of Guns N' Roses to help launch Bob Irwin’s wildlife foundation, bringing together music and environmental advocacy.[8]
In July 2013, Frasca supported Patti Smith during a performance on Corsica Island.[9]
In April 2015, Frasca released her third studio album, Love Army, produced by New York-based producer Andy Baldwin. The album debuted at number 29 on the ARIA Charts, marking her first Top 50 entry.
On 16 September 2016, Frasca released the EP Dirt Buzz and launched her own independent label, Spank Betty Records. That year, she also toured Europe supporting The BellRays and Ugly Kid Joe.
In 2018, Frasca was nominated for the Artistic Excellence Award at the 2018 Australian Women in Music Awards and performed in the first ever all female band to play at a sporting event in Australia at the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Queensland.
In 2025, Frasca received her first nomination for an APRA Award and was invited to be the opening act for ZZ Top on the Australian and New Zealand leg of their world Elevation Tour, which also featured George Thorogood as a special guest. During the tour, Thorogood invited Frasca to join him onstage multiple times.
Collaborations
[edit]Frasca has collaborated with a range of notable artists across her career. She contributed vocals to Californian rock band Ugly Kid Joe’s 2015 album, Uglier Than They Used to Be, which reached number 10 on the BBC UK Albums Chart.[1][10]
She has recorded multiple tracks with Rob Hirst of Midnight Oil, including “Burnt Toast” from her album Not for Love or Money and a B-side track released with a single.
In 2015, Frasca appeared on a cover of The Clash’s “Safe European Home” with Suze DeMarchi of Baby Animals on DeMarchi’s solo album, Home — her first solo release in 20 years.[1][11]
A career highlight for Frasca was performing “Boys in Town” by The Divinyls at the induction of Chrissy Amphlett into The Age and Music Victoria’s Hall of Fame in 2018. She performed alongside Ella Hooper of Killing Heidi, with notable audience members including Molly Meldrum, Little Pattie, and members of The Divinyls.
Frasca also collaborated with Jim Keays of Masters Apprentices on his final studio album, Age Against the Machine (2015), performing a duet on the track “Dig a Hole.”
In addition, she toured with Xavier Rudd across Australia, playing to over 35,000 people. During a show in Kuranda, Queensland, on 22 November, Frasca and Rudd recorded a live version of Mavis Staples’ “My Own Eyes.” Rudd also featured on Frasca’s song “Strong Man.”
Band members
[edit]- Dallas Frasca (vocals and guitar)
- Rotating members
Discography
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]| Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS [12] | ||
| Not for Love or Money | — | |
| Sound Painter |
|
— |
| Love Army | 29 | |
| Force of Nature |
|
2 |
Extended plays
[edit]| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Learn Your Routes (as Dallas Frasca and Her Gentlemen) |
|
| Dirt Buzz |
|
Awards and nominations
[edit]APRA Music Awards
[edit]The APRA Music Awards were established by Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) in 1982 to honour the achievements of songwriters and music composers, and to recognise their song writing skills, sales and airplay performance, by its members annually.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | "Stand On My Shoulders" | Most Performed Blues & Roots Work | Nominated | [18] |
Australian Women in Music Awards
[edit]The Australian Women in Music Awards is an annual event that celebrates outstanding women in the Australian Music Industry who have made significant and lasting contributions in their chosen field. They commenced in 2018.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018[19] | Dallas Frasca | Artistic Excellence Award | Nominated |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h Gale, Catherine (16 February 2010). "Better late than never". The Advocate. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
- ^ Hall, Katy. "Dining Al Frasca". BMA Magazine Canberra. Archived from the original on 23 April 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
- ^ Wedd, Neil. "DALLAS FRASCA ...Not for Love or Money...the album tour!". Indie Initiative. Indie Initiative. Archived from the original on 24 February 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2010.
- ^ "Getty Images". Facebook.
- ^ "Dallas Frasca Official Facebook Page". Facebook.
- ^ "Getty Images". Graham Denholm.
- ^ "2012 International Songwriting Winners". ISC. Archived from the original on 14 June 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
- ^ "Rocker Slash bands with Bob Irwin". Archived from the original on 5 January 2013.|
- ^ "Photo of Patti Smith and Dallas Frasca". Archived from the original on 21 July 2013.|
- ^ "Ugly Kid Joe to release first album in nearly 20 years". Heavy Mag.
- ^ "Heartache brought Baby Animals frontwoman Suze DeMarchi back to Australia and inspired the concept of her new solo record". news.com.au.
- ^ Hung, Steffen. "Discography Dallas Frasca". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ "Not for Love or Money". Apple Music. August 2009. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ "Sound Painter". Apple Music. May 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ "Love Army". Apple Music. April 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ "Learn Your Routes". Apple Music. January 2007. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ "Dirt Buzz". Apple Music. 16 September 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ "2025 APRA Music Awards Nominees Include Kevin Parker, King Stingray, Missy Higgins, Tones And I, and Troye Sivan". noise11. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "2018 Recipients Finalists". women in Music Awards. October 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
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