PepperCreek Revival with Kelly Auty
Formed in 2022, PepperCreek Revival is a collective of award-winning Melbourne musicians and has released two albums showcasing the band’s original songs and unique sound.
Bringing together collective musical experiences within roots music, I sought to explore a novel and innovative approach to songwriting, recording and performance,’ explains curator Barry Hills, award-winning producer and bass player, who was inducted into the 2022 Blues Music Victoria Hall of Fame.
The group consists of award-winning musicians
Brian Fraser on lap steel, electric and acoustic guitars, vocals,
Roland Kretschmer on electric and acoustic guitars, mandolin, vocals,
Nick Carrafa on drums and vocals,
and features multi-award-winning singer–songwriter, Kelly Auty on vocals.
Hills states:
PepperCreek Revival was born with a non-genre brand to play roots, blues, alt-country, folk and rock. PCR is now a team of seasoned musicians and has a unique guitar sound to complement each song with the soaring vocals of Kelly Auty.
With the release of its second album, It’s All Been Said in February 2026, PepperCreek Revival with Kelly Auty has established a solid fan base and continued success and entered at #5 on the Australian Blues and Roots Airplay Charts. All songs are original, including the euro-country ballad, ‘Remember’, and ‘Backward glance’ with its haunting chords and soulful lap steel.
Check out the interviews on Noise 11 and Australian Musician
From Greg Phillips, Australian Musician Magazine:
.... a defining characteristic of the album is its live, organic feel. Many tracks were recorded in just one or two takes with minimal overdubs, deliberately preserving rawness and ensuring the studio recordings closely mirror the band’s on-stage sound. Across the record, the collaborative dynamic is central: each member contributes arrangements and textures, resulting in stylistic variety, from rootsy and southern- tinged moments to gospel-influenced harmonies and more driving rock tracks. Strong vocal interplay and group harmonies are highlighted as key elements of the band’s identity.
The band released its debut self-titled album in November 2024, entering at #2 on Australian Blues and Roots Airplay Charts, and was received with fantastic media reviews.
From Greg Bush, Tamworth Country Music Capital News, 2024:
PepperCreek Revival’s debut album is a fusion of alternative country and blues. 'Train I'm on' is an immediate highlight, showcasing not only Auty’s vocal prowess but also Kretschmer’s and Fraser’s dynamic guitar skills. Elsewhere, Kretschmer contributes mandolin to the delightfully breezy ‘Through the Storm’, while Auty addresses social media negativity with a swampy blues backing on ‘B Grade Movie’. Additionally, ‘Falling’, featuring Fraser’s lap steel performance, stands out as a true country ballad.
Jeff Jenkins wrote in Rhythms Magazine, Nov – Dec 2024:
...The musicianship is outstanding, perfectly complementing Auty’s vocals. When one possesses a voice of such strength, there is often a temptation to over-sing. However, Kelly Auty understands the power of restraint. Everything on PepperCreek Revival’s self-titled debut sounds effortless, with not a syllable out of place.
https://www.facebook.com/peppercreekrevival
https://peppercreekrevival.com/it-s-all-been-said-epk
For further information and interviews contact Helen Jennings 0484 612 274
Backward Glance
B Hills, K Auty, R Kretschmer, B Fraser, N Carrafa
'Backward Glance’ - out today, Tuesday, August 26 - is the first single from Melbourne band PepperCreek Revival’s second LP, slated for release in early 2026.
A backward glance might happen for many reasons - a last goodbye, a lovers’ cry, a wave over the shoulder with a smile and a kiss sent on the breeze to be remembered by. But what if someone leaves without a backward glance? Are they tearful, angry, or indifferent? Someone walks out the door, dominoes left where they fall, hearts broken, people left wondering…
‘Backward Glance’ makes us question the choices we make through life and the price we may pay in the future. What if? Sliding doors. Kelly Auty’s lyrics flowed out quickly, almost complete, as ‘do you ever wonder?’ opened a Pandora’s’ box of questions. We watch the cards fall and we stumble through life making choices…some good, some not so.
The music set the vibe perfectly with the haunting chords written by Barry Hills, and a soulful lap steel motif from Brian Fraser. PepperCreek Revival squeeze every tear out of the music, moving from a whisper to a full-throated cry reminiscent of great ballad singers like Renee Geyer, Wendy Saddington and Janis Joplin amongst others.
‘Backward Glance’ was recorded live in July 2025 at Woodstock Studios in Balaclava, and engineered by Richard Stolz and produced by Barry Hills and Kelly Auty.
Remember
Lyrics Kelly Auty/ Music N Carrafa/ M McIntosh/ W Thomas
“Remember those days, remember always, young at heart, the world was free .”
This lyric is a reminder that our cherished people, places and history live within our memory.
Saying a final farewell to people we love makes those memories more powerful. Forever to stay.
"Remember" was penned in 2013, a tumultuous year when three of my closest loved humans 'left the planet'. The beautiful memories poured out as we all did our best to heal and move on.
'If only, If only...' we had one more night, day, chance to say...
The music features the beautiful sound of Roland Kretschmer on mandolin and has a Euro Country ballad feel reminiscent of the 80’s and 90’s with lush backing vocals.
PepperCreek Revival’s sound continues to cross genres as each song is being written and recorded. The full album due out in February 2026 will be testament of the individual talents within the band combining to produce their unique and engaging sound.