Award winning Australian singer songwriter Fanny Lumsden will release her fifth studio album, “Traditions”, on 30 October. The 11-track collection explores family, identity, belonging and the traditions that shape people across generations, while examining how those traditions can evolve as lives and values change. “Traditions” explores family and identity For Lumsden, the album emerged from her changing relationship with tradition as she has grown older and considered her own position within a farming family. “As I’ve got older, I’ve begun to realise the value and meaning that can come from traditions, however what I’m still learning is how to balance the ideas of who I am, with those traditions and that they are all allowed to change as we go,” she explains. Lumsden acknowledges that traditions and families can be complicated, particularly when inherited customs are viewed through a modern perspective. “There is more to traditions than being steadfast, I think I’m discovering the movement and change they need to survive,” she says. The record ultimately considers how Lumsden can balance her own autonomy and ambitions with the traditions of her farming family, while recognising that some customs can evolve and others may need to be left behind. “Mother’s Eyes” offers personal reflection Alongside previous single “Difficult Woman”, the album features the new track “Mother’s Eyes”, which looks at Lumsden’s matriarchal bloodline while reflecting on ageing, appearance and self acceptance. “This song is a love letter to myself ultimately, that you’re going to question everything and your age but in the end when you look in the mirror it’s your mother’s eyes looking back and that can be enough,” Lumsden says. Musically, the track features pedal steel alongside banjo, creating a gentle backdrop for its reflective message. Paul Kelly joins “By The River” Another album highlight is “By The River”, featuring acclaimed Australian singer songwriter Paul Kelly. Lumsden has toured extensively with Kelly in recent years, including shows across the UK and Europe and his Australian arena tour. Kelly also provided inspiration for the song. While touring Europe last year, Lumsden sang harmonies on his deep cut “The Pretty Place”. She subsequently wrote “By The River” while staying beside a river in the Peak District. “In the song ‘The Pretty Place’, Paul somehow described the place that I always go in my mind when I imagine a safe place,” Lumsden explains. Rivers also carry strong associations with her own family traditions. “Going to the river is also a big tradition in my family. We are river rats through and through and we always seek a river out, so a river song was always going to come at some point,” she says. Lumsden added that she was “unbelievably grateful and awed” that Kelly agreed to sing her lyrics. Fanny Lumsden plans UK return Lumsden will tour Australia around the release of “Traditions”, while UK and European dates are planned for 2027. The forthcoming album follows another period of international activity for the Australian artist. Since making her Glastonbury Festival debut in 2023, Lumsden and her band have returned to the UK and Ireland five times in two and a half years. Her appearances have included The Long Road, Beautiful Days and C2C, while the BBC selected her for its live coverage of Belladrum Festival. She has also opened arena dates for Paul Kelly alongside Lucinda Williams and was selected by Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty to support three sold out shows at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre. During 2025, Lumsden headlined Australian festivals including Bluesfest, Savannah in the Round, Tamworth Country Music Festival and Big Red Bash. Lumsden builds career from rural Australia Raised on a sheep farm in regional Australia, Lumsden built her career through grassroots touring, including hundreds of performances in country halls across rural Australia. She is a two time ARIA Award winner, ten time CMAA Award winner and three time AIR Award winner.
The post Beyond Nashville: Fanny Lumsden appeared first on Maverick Country.
