Code One presents
Horse Drawn Cadillac + Kim Girdlestone Band + Fran “Big Mama” Liddle
Brass Monkey (Cronulla, NSW)
Saturday, 20 February 2027 6:30 pm
Cronulla’s own Kim Girdlestone Band bring their signature Daisy-Chain Blues to the stage, where soulful vocals and emotionally charged songwriting meet roots-rock swagger. Their last appearance at The Monkey was a standout, shifting from laid-back blues grooves to a more driving, full-band sound.
Fronting the band is Kim Girdlestone, whose unmistakable vocals and alluring stage presence draw you in. Her acoustic guitar playing grounds the sound, complemented by her guitar wingman Gavin Moar (Cote Guitars), whose distinctive electric playing brings his own tone and electricity. Alex Spango on drums and George Rigatos on bass complete the lineup, providing a driving rhythm section.
Familiar faces at the Cronulla Jazz & Blues Festival, the band has also featured on 7NEWS as part of Sydney’s live music revival. Kim has shared line-ups with Matt Corby, Pacey, King & Doley and The Pleasures, and was a finalist in the 2026 Sydney Blues Society Blues Challenge.
As Laura Katulka from Sounds of Oz put it: “Kim has much more than a voice on her side. She’s a true artist, a crafter of songs that hearken back to the classic traditions of blues and soul.”
Horse Drawn Cadillac mixes an ever-evolving batch of homegrown originals with a few rare hidden gems from deep within the vault of musical treasures. HDC makes you feel like you’re on a wayward journey to New Orleans via Chicago - a bump-and-roll ride with some high-octane horses.
A big band powered by a trio of soulful and gritty singers, driven by players with a Cadillac full of stage experience. Built for “all on the floor, bring your happy feet and let’s celebrate!”
HDC’s new album, WAYWARD EMOTIONS, geared for THE YEAR OF THE HORSE 2026, was engineered by Syd Green (19-Twenty / Kasey Chambers). It’s an album expressing a suite of emotions, so the soundscapes are varied, from moody ballads and a little bit of soul to southern sass and rocking-chair blues. When the Cadillac pulls up at The Monkey, that’s when the party begins. C’mon in, y’all!
Featuring: Tegan Portener (CLP), Pearl Noire (several!), Nello on harmonica (Southerly Change / Benji and the Saltwater SSS / Big Erle), Bootsie on saxophone and flute (Galapagos Duck / Dr. Gumbo; winner of the Sydney Blues Society Wind Instrumentalist of the Year award for the past two years), Wil Van Eckert on drums (Low Down Riders, CK and the 45s), Jonno Dallimore on guitar (Cass Eager, Benji), Romie Olivares-Panucci on guitar (JJ Spence) and Drewe Peard on bass (Big Erle / Swampin Beats).
Fran “Big Mama” Liddle is a powerhouse vocalist with the voice of an angel who’s found the keys to the liquor cabinet. Armed with her acoustic guitar and a killer catalogue of songs, she tears into the blues of New Orleans and the Mississippi Delta with an anything-goes attitude. A seasoned frontwoman, she tells it like it is, with songwriting that cuts through the bullshit and gets to the truth. Winner of the Sydney Blues Society’s 2023 Blues Award for Favourite Female Vocalist, Fran commands attention and leaves nothing unsaid.
Fronting the band is Kim Girdlestone, whose unmistakable vocals and alluring stage presence draw you in. Her acoustic guitar playing grounds the sound, complemented by her guitar wingman Gavin Moar (Cote Guitars), whose distinctive electric playing brings his own tone and electricity. Alex Spango on drums and George Rigatos on bass complete the lineup, providing a driving rhythm section.
Familiar faces at the Cronulla Jazz & Blues Festival, the band has also featured on 7NEWS as part of Sydney’s live music revival. Kim has shared line-ups with Matt Corby, Pacey, King & Doley and The Pleasures, and was a finalist in the 2026 Sydney Blues Society Blues Challenge.
As Laura Katulka from Sounds of Oz put it: “Kim has much more than a voice on her side. She’s a true artist, a crafter of songs that hearken back to the classic traditions of blues and soul.”
Horse Drawn Cadillac mixes an ever-evolving batch of homegrown originals with a few rare hidden gems from deep within the vault of musical treasures. HDC makes you feel like you’re on a wayward journey to New Orleans via Chicago - a bump-and-roll ride with some high-octane horses.
A big band powered by a trio of soulful and gritty singers, driven by players with a Cadillac full of stage experience. Built for “all on the floor, bring your happy feet and let’s celebrate!”
HDC’s new album, WAYWARD EMOTIONS, geared for THE YEAR OF THE HORSE 2026, was engineered by Syd Green (19-Twenty / Kasey Chambers). It’s an album expressing a suite of emotions, so the soundscapes are varied, from moody ballads and a little bit of soul to southern sass and rocking-chair blues. When the Cadillac pulls up at The Monkey, that’s when the party begins. C’mon in, y’all!
Featuring: Tegan Portener (CLP), Pearl Noire (several!), Nello on harmonica (Southerly Change / Benji and the Saltwater SSS / Big Erle), Bootsie on saxophone and flute (Galapagos Duck / Dr. Gumbo; winner of the Sydney Blues Society Wind Instrumentalist of the Year award for the past two years), Wil Van Eckert on drums (Low Down Riders, CK and the 45s), Jonno Dallimore on guitar (Cass Eager, Benji), Romie Olivares-Panucci on guitar (JJ Spence) and Drewe Peard on bass (Big Erle / Swampin Beats).
Fran “Big Mama” Liddle is a powerhouse vocalist with the voice of an angel who’s found the keys to the liquor cabinet. Armed with her acoustic guitar and a killer catalogue of songs, she tears into the blues of New Orleans and the Mississippi Delta with an anything-goes attitude. A seasoned frontwoman, she tells it like it is, with songwriting that cuts through the bullshit and gets to the truth. Winner of the Sydney Blues Society’s 2023 Blues Award for Favourite Female Vocalist, Fran commands attention and leaves nothing unsaid.