After a mesmerising acoustic ensemble performance on the Discovery Stage in 2025, rising star Ruby Mills will be returning with her full band to light up the Agnes Blues, Roots & Rock Festival main Marquee Stage as well as MC next February, joining a sizzling summer line-up headlined by Antipodean legends Dragon.
Ruby Mills is a Queensland-based vocalist with a love for the blues. Her vocal style is strongly inspired by jazz instrumentalists and the history and sounds of soul. She has rapidly become known for her strong vocal range and confident, captivating performances.
Mills was born in Brisbane but grew up just outside of Bundaberg on a 40-acre property. Singing came naturally from a young age and at 16 she entered and won her first local talent quest in Bundaberg, which inspired a sense of belonging and a drive to sing and perform.
Mills then went on to the Top 50 of Australian Idol and started performing small gigs in her home town in a bluegrass band of local fisherman she had known since she was five years old, called Ruby and the Strolling Bones. Instruments like the banjo, mandolin and harmonica generated an exciting new sound for Ruby, one she hadn’t grown up listening to.
In 2016, Mills made it to the Top 13 of X Factor Australia, pushing boundaries while singing unfamiliar pop styles as she captured the admiring attention of judges Guy Sebastian, Adam Lambert and Iggy Azalea. Her deep, earthy voice bridges the gap between blues and soul, to folk and jazz. Her gutsy vocals mesmerise with every word as she interprets her lyrics in a way you believe she’s singing just for you, when at times she’s holding a 15,000-strong crowd in the palm of her hand
Mills has a dual Diploma in Music and Music Business and has also studied jazz vocals and saxophone improvisation at the Jazz Music Institute in Brisbane. Previous projects include the rock ‘n’ roll influenced band The Honeydrippers and singing at the Brisbane Jazz Club, which taught her to appreciate some of her now favourite artists including Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Sam Cooke, Ruth Brown, Billie Holiday, Sharon Jones and major inspiration Etta James.
After an impromptu on-stage jam with Nicky Bomba at one of his gigs, he invited Mills to join his 32-piece band project, the Melbourne Ska Orchestra. Mills then spent two years touring with them as guest vocalist and band member, during which time the band won two Aria Awards and performed at sold out shows across the country and events such as Byron Bay Bluesfest, The Lost Lands and Gympie Muster.
Don’t miss the fabulous Ruby Mills performing on the #AgnesBluesFest main Marquee Stage with her full band from 1.15 to 2.15pm on Sunday 22 February 2026 and also appearing with her warm, engaging personality as MC. If you haven’t had the chance to see Ruby on stage yet, the time is certainly now. If you have, then you certainly won’t need convincing to catch this rising star again.
Limited discount #AgnesBluesFest 2026 tickets are on sale at $189pp until Sunday 4 January 2026, the ideal Christmas gift for you and your Festival besties. Book now via www.agnesbluesandroots.com.au/tickets
The Agnes Blues, Roots & Rock Festival is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar. #AgnesBluesFest is also proudly supported in 2026 by the Gladstone Regional Council’s Community Celebration Fund.
Rocking out since 2008, the Agnes Blues, Roots & Rock Festival is a 3 Day Annual Event held in the Great Barrier Reef’s Sensational Deep South. Follow @AgnesBluesFest on Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter).
Each and every year #AgnesBluesFest is not only focused on delivering a fantastic live show for ticket holders, it also ensures a positive impact on the local community and environment. In 2026, profits will go directly to local community groups, including the Agnes Water SES, Bin Chickens, Lions Club and the annual community event established in 1992, the 1770 Festival, held every May.
