Ruby James
00s-influenced alt-rock from Goulburn, NSW
Ruby James is a Goulburn-based singer-songwriter writing 00s-influenced alt-rock that's honest and made for singing along. Her debut album Polystyrene Smile, produced by Stephen Lindsay at Old Binda Road Studio, is out now on Bandcamp, with singles rolling out to streaming every few weeks. In October 2026 her single “Julie” reached Atomic Music's Top Twenty, and she was named 107.1 Highland FM's Artist of the Month.
Bookings and press: rubyjamesartist@gmail.com
Highlights
- “Julie” on Atomic Music's Top Twenty: #20 on the chart for Sunday 25 October 2026
- 107.1 Highland FM Home Grown Artist of the Month for October 2026, with her songs on air every day of the month
- Debut album Polystyrene Smile: launched at The Goulburn Club in September 2026 and out now on Bandcamp, with singles reaching streaming every few weeks
- Regular on the region's stages: The Goulburn Club, King O'Malley's and The George Harcourt Inn
- 15+ years gigging, solo with acoustic guitar or with a full band
About Ruby
Ruby James writes 00s-influenced alt-rock that's honest and easy to sing along to. Her songs cover the real stuff: family, friends, grief, self-doubt and the messy business of figuring out who you are.
She grew up in Hobart, where her stepdad taught her three chords at 11 and a chord book took care of the rest. School gigs led to Melbourne's live music scene and late nights on small stages, learning from the people around her. After a stint in Canberra she settled in Goulburn, where she found the space to write and record, and a generous local music community.
After more than 15 years of gigging, Ruby is happiest in rooms where people really listen. She plays regularly at The Goulburn Club, King O'Malley's and The George Harcourt Inn, either solo on acoustic or with a band. Her sets bring vulnerability, humour and a bit of noise.
Her songs are mostly autobiographical and usually start from a melody or a scrap of lyric. Her influences include Hall & Oates, ELO, Elvis Costello, Wings, Cold Chisel, Paul Kelly, James Taylor, Eva Cassidy, Green Day and early Avril Lavigne.
She recorded her debut album Polystyrene Smile at Old Binda Road Studio with producer Stephen Lindsay and session players Ben Malone, Mike Baker and Mike Hammond. The title comes from a lyric in one of Ruby's favourite songs, and the album is about looking for what's real beneath the surface. It launched at The Goulburn Club in September 2026 and is out now on Bandcamp. Singles are reaching streaming services every few weeks ahead of the full release. In October 2026 the single “Julie” reached Atomic Music's Top Twenty and Ruby was named 107.1 Highland FM's Artist of the Month. She has shows coming up around the Highlands and Canberra.
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