"Kate Bush vibes with enormous tranquility and hope

buried deep inside..." - Triple J Unearthed

GOLDHEIST

"Listening to GOLDHEIST makes me feel like I just walked through a gallery of amazing impressionist paintings and all the colours attached themselves to me..."

Scott G

"GOLDHEIST sings the stories of every woman's life, affirming the joys and hardships of the human experience."

Dr Sharn Rocco

"GOLDHEIST'S music keeps you on your toes. There are moments when the sounds and themes are so universal and accessible you feel like you're walking into a familiar, comfortable room. Then there are moments where her delivery is so perculiarly unique that you might feel you're stepping into a place you've never encountered before."

Josh Cunningham (The Waifs)

BIRDS OF A FEATHER
(SING TOGETHER!)

BIRDS OF A FEATHER (SING TOGETHER!) is a collaborative performance project showcasing the songs and stories of regional female songwriters. Hosted at The Capitol Theatre as part of the Tamworth Country Music Festival, this concert has quickly become a beloved part of the festival line-up, with plans to start satellite touring through the year from 2027. Directed by Hester Fraser (aka GOLDHEIST), the show harnesses the power of nine vocalists and their instruments - piano, guitar, ukulele, mandolin, violin, bass guitar, flute and percussion - presenting a robust program of original songs workshopped uniquely for the group.

"Gratitude for the incredibly powerful, moving, emotional, inspiring music - and soul experience - witnessed and absorbed this morning from Birds of a Feather (Sing Together)! I cannot express just how beautiful this show was - and will remain! Featuring the genius of GOLDHEIST, Amy Vee, Anna Weatherup (The Voice), Melissa Fraser, Jane A Naoi, Brookie Gillett, Belinda Day, Jhana Allan and Katy Wren...tingles, goosebumps, stillness! Love!!"

- Luke O'Shea, 17 x Golden Guitar Winner

TOURING with ANDREW CLERMONT

Andrew Clermont augments whatever musical offering you place in his ever-so-capable hands. Like some kid of magical pantry, he has a delicious store of musical condiments to contribute to the music being dished up - from the ethereal drone of the didgeridoo to the cascading flutterings of the fiddle, Andrew has a sprinkle of virtuosic wizardry to add to any song, whatever the genre, story or ensemble.

GOLDHEIST and Andrew Clermont performing in the
Blanche Cave at Naracoorte.

FESTIVALS

TOWNSVILLE FOLK FESTIVAL

AUSTRALIAN CELTIC FESTIVAL

KANGAROO VALLEY FOLK FESTIVAL

COBARGO FOLK FESTIVAL

ST ALBAN'S FOLK FESTIVAL

FLEURIEU FOLK FESTIVAL

TAMWORTH COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL

GOLDHEIST on the Bicentennial Park Main Stage,
Tamworth Country Music Festival

GOLDHEIST with her new festival mug!
St Alban's Folk Festival

GOLDHEIST performing with Andrew Clermont and Anthony Walmsley, Cobargo Folk Festival

HEALING with MUSIC

In 2023, GOLDHEIST and Dr Sharn Rocco began a special collaboration, co-hosting a retreat at The Old Stroud Monastery to teach meditation alongside singing workshops designed to help participants 'find their voice' in a safe and low pressure environment.

These retreats have been hosted annually ever since, with a growing audience of women of all ages and walks of life who come to Stroud for peace, meditation and music.

"… joyous, healing and opening. Sharn's valuable, meaningful and useful teaching and instruction combined with Hester's wonderful facilitation of the song circles was joyous and soul connecting."

– Helen Martin

GOLDHEIST and Di Morrissey:
On The River for River Song

In 2024, acclaimed Australian author, Di Morrissey attended a GOLDHEIST concert at the Manning Regional Art Gallery. The performance inspired her to ask Hester to write a song to accompany her forthcoming novel, River Song. GOLDHEIST released the song - On The River - as a part of her 2024 monthly recording project, and the lyrics and links are printed in the back of the novel.

GOLDHEIST:
The COVID Years

During COVID, GOLDHEIST moved from Sydney back to regional NSW, and began work on her third studio album, Eyes of Love. Prior to the outbreak of the pandemic, GOLDHEIST had been working on a different project featuring songs addressing the perils of climate change, but when lock downs began, she decided to change course. Eyes of Love is a collection of love songs intended to create a safe, peaceful space for listeners, and includes her whimsical single Love Letter to a Year Most Bizarre.

The AU Review - Exclusive Album Premiere:

GOLDHEIST – Eyes of Love (2022 LP)

By Bruce Baker (read the original article HERE)

GOLDHEIST is the moniker for regional NSW singer/songwriter Hester Fraser. We are thrilled today to be premiering Eyes of Love, the third album from this outstanding artist. Releasing an album through these times is no easy feat, and for GOLDHEIST adapting to the circumstances has proved to be the order of the day.

The album was to be launched with a live show, but that has been scuppered with the current situation. As well as the online premiere of Eyes of Love, we have a brand spanking new video for the track “Love Letter to a Year Most Bizarre” which was a grand finalist in the Listen Up Music’s – The Songwriting Prize 2021.

Her previous album, Realm (2017), had an electro-pop feel to it, and for Eyes of Love, GOLDHEIST has embraced a more earthly acoustic approach. It gives the songs a beautiful directness and amplifies the emotions. There is a delicacy to the production, where the raw stripped back nature of it allows the intimacy of Hester’s songs to shine through. They are touching, they are tender and utterly heartfelt.

Hester told the AU what the album means to her:

"In early 2020, I recorded the first track for an album – a completely different album. As the events of the global pandemic unfolded and our lives were rapidly deconstructed, I found myself turning away from the studio, despite all the time at home, unable to retain a hold on songs that no longer seemed to fit into this brave new world. For a while, I couldn’t make music at all. It was my sister who made me realise that it is now, more than ever, that people need beautiful ways to connect with one another.

EYES OF LOVE explores themes of love and loss, friendship, sisterhood, joy, beauty and grief. I sing about my grandmother and my sister, my homeless friend in Hyde Park and his Akubra hat, trips to Bunnings to keep me sane through lockdown, and the magic of new love. I want these songs to bring peace, hope and companionship to my listeners, as we all endeavour to look upon this beautiful, savage, messy world through eyes of love."

“Love Letter to a Year Most Bizarre” vividly paints a picture of what we have endured during this time of social distancing. An astute reference to Bunnings and rosellas gives it a local Australian anchor point, yet the feeling of isolation and the angst of physical distancing is universal. The video was co-produced by Hester and Anthony Walmsley.

GOLDHEIST: Realm
SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE

GOLDHEIST recorded her first conceptual album in 2017, Realm, exploring the spirit of place - both physical and metaphysical. This album was launched with a sold out concert at the Sydney Opera House in the Utzon Room.

The album itself included the song You Were There, which was the NSW Regional Winner for the Listen Up Australia Songwriting Competition. The music video for this song was also a semi-finalist in the International Songwriting Competition, and was used to raise awareness for Suicide Prevention Australia.

GOLDHEIST performing at the Realm Album Launch, Sydney Opera House

GOLDHEIST performing on her lusciously decorated grand piano at The EKKA: Royal Brisbane Show, 2019.

GOLDHEIST: Wild Things
VIVID FESTIVAL 2018

In 2018, GOLDHEIST was included in the program for the prestigious VIVID Festival in Sydney. Collaborating with a Deaf Consultant and two AUSLAN Interpreters, GOLDHEIST put together a fully-interpreted concert in the Art Gallery of NSW.

Later, GOLDHEIST teamed up with the talented crew at Grand Illusions film to create a music video capturing the AUSLAN Interpreted performance of Wild Things. This song was also the Winner (Pop) of the Indie International Songwriters Contest.