Folk duo Valley Road is set to perform at The GRAIN Store in Nathalia on Friday, July 4 at 6.30pm, with special guest Simon Marks.
The duo, comprising Rebecca Howell and Marty McKenna, has been making music together since 2012, but their journey as a formal partnership began after winning the Troubadour Foundation Award at the Burke and Wills Folk Festival in central Victoria.
The award led to their first album, recorded with renowned country music producer Rod McCormack on the NSW Central Coast.
The duo is now preparing to record their second album with McCormack later this month.
Their music, deeply rooted in the Australian landscape, draws from various folk influences including English, Irish and American traditions.
Marty McKenna, a fifth-generation wool grower, draws inspiration from his life on the land, while Rebecca, originally from Melbourne, finds her muse in central Victoria.
Valley Road enjoys visiting various rural communities, which was highlighted early this year, when they supported The Waifs on their 2025 Victorian tour.
“We are really excited to go to Nathalia because that is what it is about for us, playing these intimate shows where you get to chat to people and connect with their stories,” Rebecca said.
“Farmers always make a beeline for Marty.
“We have a song called 1982 that Marty wrote about the year of his birth, which was a significant drought year, or a combination of a significant drought, and whenever we sing that song, the farmers always want to come up to him afterwards and say, ‘I remember that’.”
The band's name comes from the road connecting their homes, which holds special significance, as it was also where they won their pivotal award.
“That just felt right to us, it felt evocative of the place we spend a lot of time,” Rebecca said.
“We spend a lot of time at Marty’s farm, writing and practising, so that felt like a reflection of that.”
Fans can catch Valley Road at upcoming performances, including the Blues Tram in Bendigo on August 9 and at the Lauriston Hall on August 30.
Their music is available on all streaming services, with Bandcamp being their preferred platform.