Regional band Broken Creek has struck a chord on the national stage.

The Picola-based folk combo of Erin and Lachlan Heycox was recognised at the 2025 Australian Folk Music Awards held on October 22, taking out the Duo of the Year award.

“It was quite shocking, honestly,” Erin said.

“We knew the other artists — a lot of them we’ve gigged with or collaborated with — and they’re incredible.”

The win arrives on the heels of a meaningful year for the band, marked by a residency in Echuca, songwriting workshops in Nathalia, and even an appearance in an SBS documentary that ended with a bush dance in a shearing shed.

Wherever they went, Erin and Lachlan’s infectious spirit for celebrating local arts followed.

“A healthy music ecosystem is one that’s really diverse,” Lachlan said.

“You can have bands doing stadium shows, but you also need artists creating small, meaningful gigs that connect deeply with people — singing about local landmarks and stories that no-one else is telling.

“Local specificity is powerful ... and this award recognises that.”

On Saturday, November 22, the sheer force of folk carries Broken Creek back to Nathalia’s G.R.A.I.N. Store for the launch of the duo’s latest EP, Folk from the Archive: Sally Sloane.

Keeping in tune with tradition, the record reimagines the work of Australian folk singer Sally Sloane, drawing from field recordings and song collections preserved in the National Library of Australia.

“Bringing her (Sally’s) songs through my voice is a way of honouring that lineage,” Erin said.

“These songs have survived because they say something.

“They’re not throwaway culture — they’re gold, just waiting in the archives for someone to listen.”

Tickets for the EP launch are available at trybooking.com/events/landing/1444922

Folk from the Archive: Sally Sloane is available on all streaming platforms.

To stay updated with Broken Creek, visit brokencreekband.com

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Tuesday, 20th June 2028

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