Paddock Bomb: a gig and an album

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The Nugget
March 07, 2025

★ PADDOCK BOMB TO DROP DEBUT ALBUM ★

Jess “rockin’ mole” Parker

Castlemaine's favourite all-girl rock outfit Paddock Bomb has taken off like ripped jeans since their first gig at the Main Game last year. And they have news.

The sisters of shred are going to be releasing an album this year. Eeeep!

In the meantime, everyone can get a taste of their fangin'-to-go energy on Friday at the Theatre Royal.

Frontwoman Jess Parker says the community support has really got the band's ride-on-mower revving.

"All four of us in the band have been doing music for a really long time. To have the response we've had in Paddock Bomb has been so encouraging," Jess says.

"It's given us a lot of fuel to keep going and keep creating in the band. It's so much fun."

Mid-last year, Paddock Bomb had two songs and five weeks to pull together a full set.

They were asked to play the Main Game when an injury hit a member in the originally-scheduled band (Moody Beaches).

Jess wrote songs and the band practiced like all hell, channeling the blood and thunder of their rock idols.

They brought what was missing from the Aussie rock scene in the 80s: Estrogen.

"Paddock Bomb is like an Aussie pub rock band with a female edge," Jess says.

"We're pretty heavily influenced by bands like Cold Chisel, the Divinyls and Amal and the Sniffers. There's a raucous energy with a bit of a blues element as well."

Paddock Bomb's gig on Friday celebrates International Women's Day eve. Jess says she's feeling pretty good about being a woman in 2025.

"A lot more room and space is being carved out for women in the arts at the moment," she says.

"The arts are so crucial for society. When women are more visible in that space, it creates a bit of a domino effect for the rest of society.

“It's a signal to women and non-binary people that you can make a bit of noise. There's a lot of power in creating with other women, which is why I love Paddock Bomb."

And making music with a bestie is the cherry on top. Jess has been friends with Paddock Bomb bass player Jessie Dennis for 20 years.

"When I first met Jessie she handed me this album by Sahara Hotnights. That was the first time I went 'I want to play guitar in an all-girl band' and 20 years later we're doing it together."

She says Castlemaine has been a dream community for her since she moved here five years ago, into a house with a paddock and mower to bomb around on.

"I feel so lucky to be living in a town with such a thriving music and arts community. I don't think I will ever leave Castlemaine. It's the first time in my life where I've really felt at home somewhere."

  • Buy tickets to the International Women’s Day film screenings and Paddock Bomb gig at the Theatre Royal.

    • 5:00 PM: Looking for Simone - Simone de Beauvoir’s The Second Sex ignited a global feminist movement. This documentary traces her journey across the U.S., exploring the ideas that shaped her work.

    • 7:30 PM: Teaches for Peaches - Bold and unapologetic, this film dives into the world of Peaches, the genre-smashing artist who’s been breaking gender and sexual norms for decades.

    • 9:00 PM: Paddock Bomb - Central Victoria’s own sisters of shred bring the party! Come and see why their last local show sold out.

  • Follow Jess Parker on Instagram for updates on her solo music and the Campbells Creek Bootleg Boxing club, which she hosts on her property.

  • Follow Paddock Bomb to stay in the loop on their gigs and upcoming album.

    Julia Watt (drums), Liz Sedman (guitar), Jessie Dennis (bass), Jess Parker (vocals, guitar)

❀ FEMINIST POTTER STRIKES AGAIN ❀

Dusty Pots is life and her new work gives me hope. That is all.

♡˖ EVENTS ˖♡

𖥔 TALK TO MOI PLOISE 𖥔

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  • if you were taken down by the flu-mageddon that hit Castlemaine North Primary School this week,

  • all about your upcoming event, and

  • who I should interview next. xx