Paddy McHugh is an artist whose musicality has all the hallmarks of a natural storyteller threaded through with ease.
Raised in Tamworth, now based in Brisbane, McHugh has approached his career with the same outlook he brings to life: spirited, passionate and disarmingly honest. Pouring all these elements into his lyricism and arrangements, McHugh’s body of work has become both accessible and personable to a wide range of audiences. McHugh’s music is for everybody to find solace, kindred spirit and moreover anything else, a great story in.
His music and performances have charmed audiences nationwide, with McHugh’s endearing charm fusing together with his sonic blend of alt-country and traditionalist Australiana sounds establishing him early as an artist to remember.
Since 2014’s debut album Trials & Cape Tribulation, McHugh has been touring consistently, sharing his stories and connecting with individuals around the country who have become captivated by the troubadour’s natural sense of tone, sound and impact. 2017’s City Bound Trains further gripped fans, while for newcomers, McHugh introduced his core sonic identity as one built on poignancy and striking narratives.
A contemporary of Australian artists such as Paul Kelly and Mark Seymour and, to an international extent, artists like Billy Bragg and Damien Dempsey, McHugh’s music shares a common thread. The music that lingers in one’s mind long after playback doesn’t need to be the most bombastic; it’s the music that is driven with earnest storytelling rooted in a very real place, that makes the most impact.
McHugh thrives when producing music that pushes him in both a creative and personal realm. His music is raw and engaging, with the final product never failing to land an emotional blow, largely because it is so intrinsically connected to himself. It’s this relentless approach to his craft that has landed McHugh on stages with some incredible local and international artists including Sinead O’Connor, Kinky Friedman, Joe Pug and Damien Dempsey, while events like The National Folk Festival, Gympie Muster and Woodford Folk Festival have all welcomed McHugh into their artist family with open arms over the years.
As 2025 dawns, so does McHugh’s next chapter: a third album in the works, coming after some of the world’s most unpredictable and unprecedented times. These last few years have seen McHugh step into a new light as an artist and as human; experiences which fans will be able to see represented in an exciting new body of work.
