Electronic Press Kit

Bios
Les Thomas – Long Bio (Solo)
Les Thomas is a Melbourne singer-songwriter whose music holds poetry in one hand and protest in the other. Rooted in folk and country traditions yet unmistakably his own, his songs reach into real lives — the hard truths, the hidden histories, the voices too often left unheard. Audiences describe his performances as moving, unifying and emotionally grounding, using the power of music to speak directly to the heart.
Winner of the Troubadour Foundation’s Keeping the Flame Alive Award, Les stands in the tradition of artists who see music as witness as much as art. His songs honour First Nations leaders, working-class families, survivors and truth-tellers. They carry the weight of history while speaking urgently to the present.
His third album, I Remember Everything, gathers these threads into a sweeping journey through memory and resistance. From ancient struggles to modern reckonings, it asks what it means to stand against injustice and still keep faith in our shared humanity. Its first single, The Firing Line, is already being taken up as a song of courage and conscience.
On stage, Les creates spaces where people truly feel. Whether on a festival stage, in a candlelit hall or at a grassroots rally, his performances move between fire and tenderness, humour and heartbreak. Audiences don’t just remember the songs — they remember the moment and the connection it gave them.
With two acclaimed albums behind him (Survivor’s Tale, 2013; All My Friends Are Superstars, 2023) and festival appearances from Newstead Live to Tamworth, Les has also carried his songs overseas to Nashville, Seattle, Tokyo, Ireland and Cornwall. Wherever he plays, he brings the conviction that music should be more than entertainment.
Les Thomas is one of the rare songwriters who can balance artistry and activism, offering songs that comfort, challenge and connect in uncertain times.
Les Thomas – Short Bio (Solo)
Les Thomas is a Troubadour award-winning singer-songwriter whose songs balance artistry and activism. His forthcoming album I Remember Everything traces memory and history with both power and tenderness, led by the single The Firing Line. With guitar in hand and a voice full of feeling, he draws from folk traditions and histories of resistance to create performances that leave audiences moved, uplifted and more connected to what matters.
Les Thomas & The Living – Long Bio
Les Thomas & The Living bring songs of conscience and connection to life with full force. Fronted by Troubadour award-winning singer-songwriter Les Thomas, the band balances artistry and activism in music that draws from folk and country traditions while speaking directly to the present.
With collaborators including Joshua Jones (guitar), Craig Kelly (bass), Justin Olsson (drums), Trev Fernandez (keys) and others, they create a rich and dynamic country-folk sound. From intimate storytelling to powerful anthems, they carry the spirit of folk and protest into a modern setting.
Their forthcoming album, I Remember Everything, traces history and memory with both intensity and warmth. The first single, The Firing Line, has already resonated widely as a call to courage and conscience.
On stage, Les Thomas & The Living deliver messages and melodies that transcend the music itself, transforming concerts into experiences of connection, defiance and hope.
Les Thomas & The Living – Long Bio
Les Thomas & The Living bring songs of conscience and connection to life with full force. Fronted by Troubadour award-winning singer-songwriter Les Thomas, the band balances artistry and activism in music that draws from folk and country traditions while speaking directly to the present.
With collaborators including Joshua Jones (guitar), Craig Kelly (bass), Justin Olsson (drums), Trev Fernandez (keys) and others, they create a rich and dynamic country-folk sound. From intimate storytelling to powerful anthems, they carry the spirit of folk and protest into a modern setting.
Their forthcoming album, I Remember Everything, traces history and memory with both intensity and warmth. The first single, The Firing Line, has already resonated widely as a call to courage and conscience.
On stage, Les Thomas & The Living deliver messages and melodies that transcend the music itself, transforming concerts into experiences of connection, defiance and hope.
Les Thomas Duo – Long Bio
Les Thomas and Joshua Jones are a duo that brings together storytelling, protest and finely tuned musicianship. Les is a Troubadour award-winning singer-songwriter whose songs balance artistry and activism, drawing on folk and country traditions with a distinctly Australian voice. Joshua is an accomplished resonator and electric guitarist whose playing adds colour, texture and drive to the songs.
Together they create a rare chemistry — songs that speak to conscience and connection, carried by warm country-folk tones and heartfelt performances. Their forthcoming album, I Remember Everything, is a sweeping journey through memory, history and moral witness. The first single, The Firing Line, has already been embraced as a song of courage and conscience.
Live, the duo deliver messages and melodies that transcend the moment, leaving audiences with more than a memory — a sense of shared humanity and purpose.
Les Thomas Duo – Short Bio
Les Thomas and Joshua Jones are a duo whose music blends conscience, connection and country-folk storytelling. Les’s award-winning songwriting is lifted by Joshua’s resonator and electric guitar. Their performances carry messages and melodies that transcend the moment, with their forthcoming album I Remember Everything led by the stirring single The Firing Line.
Videos

Press Highlights
“Remarkably perceptive, insightful and nuanced.” Stuart Coupe, one of Australia’s most respected music journalists and broadcasters
“Is it honesty in a singer’s voice and words that moves an audience strongly? Les Thomas has that. His energy draws you in and makes you feel deeply human. Connection and solidarity shine through his songs.” Trad & Now Magazine
“A great singer-songwriter.” Kavisha Mazzella AM, Australian Folk Music Alliance Lifetime Achievement Winner
“Les Thomas is one hell of a songwriter.” Bill Chambers, Australian Country music legend
“Les Thomas sings his stories with love and a deep sense of humanity… I didn’t hesitate to invite Les back for a reprise.” Kelly Skinner, Festival Director, Newstead Live
“Les Thomas brought a rare kind of hope to Newstead Live 2025 with his heartfelt and sincere songs. Word quickly spread about his growing suite of originals, powerfully delivered with his newly formed band fresh from Tamworth. Like Andy White and Michael Waugh, Les channels a deep wish for recognition and inclusivity – a vision that resonates with audiences who feel the injustice in the world and connect with his passionate call for a fairer future.”
Mandy Connell, Committee Member, Newstead Live
Music
Freedom Fighters was especially commissioned by the Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyhenner Memorial Committee. It is an under-acknowledged story of Tasmanian Aboriginal resistance and Les has been asked my Palawa elders to share the song far and wide.
Tours, Festivals and Special Productions
- Burke & Wills Folk Festival 2025
- Newstead Live 2015, 2024 and 2025
- Tamworth Country Music Festival 2024
- “All My Friends Are Superstars” National Tour 2023
- Justin Townes Earle Tribute, Brunswick Ballroom 2021
- Tamworth Country Music Festival 2016, 2024 and 2025
- These Machines Cut Razor Wire: ASRC Fundraiser (2011-2015)
Contact
Email: lesunpaved@gmail.com
Phone: +61 409 399 429
Postal address: PO BOX 449, Clifton Hill, VIC 3068, Australia
