Waking Ugly is the pop/rock outfit that can provide a range of entertainment, from subtle background cover songs to an outstanding original showcase.
Originally from Melbourne, Darren Pace and Lydia Gardner are true professionals, having played their own songs and/or countless cover songs at all kinds of venues and events over many years.
Gardner’s vocals, described as “sugar-sweet but with enough strength to carry a bus load of school children” (Beat Magazine, 2010) and guitarist Pace’s “keen ear for a hook” (Fireworks Magazine, 2014) have resulted in comparisons to artists such as P!nk, Roxette, Blondie, Katy Perry and Taylor Swift.
The dynamic duo have played at many notable live music venues in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns, where they now reside.
Throughout their career, Darren and Lydia have won multiple international awards for their original music, including several Indie Music Channel awards, Music Scene Investigation’s ‘Artist of the Year’ award, and ‘Best Pop/Rock EP’ in the Akademia awards. They have also achieved semi-finalist or runner-up status in the prestigious Song of the Year competition for the past 4 years.
I'M YOURS - JASON MRAZ
THINKING OUT LOUD - ED SHEERAN
SLOW HANDS - NIALL HORAN
YOU'RE SO VAIN - CARLY SIMON
LIVIN' ON A PRAYER - BON JOVI
ACCIDENTALLY KELLY STREET - FRENTE
IT'S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP - ACDC
GIVE ME ONE REASON - TRACY CHAPMAN
I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE - MARVIN GAYE
MASCARA - KILLING HEIDI
TIMES LIKE THESE - THE FOOFIGHTERS
UNDER THE MILKY WAY - THE CHURCH
FALL AT YOUR FEET - CROWDED HOUSE
MOUTH - MERRIL BAINBRIDGE
WHAT LOVERS DO - MAROON 5
WE ARE NEVER EVER GETTING BACK TOGETHER - TAYLOR SWIFT
WALKIN' ON SUNSHINE - KATRINA & THE WAVES
WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME TOMORROW? - THE SHIRELLES
SON OF A PREACHER MAN - DUSTY SPRINGFIELD
Influences
Pat Benatar
Kylie
Katy Perry
P!nk
The Beatles
ACDC
Weddings, Parties, Anything
Jason Mraz
Ed Sheeran
The Divinyls
Alanis Morrisette
Gig Highlights
Traditional venues:
Chapel Off Chapel, South Yarra, VIC
The Esplanade Hotel, St Kilda, VIC
The Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood, VIC
Laundry Bar, Fitzroy, VIC
Eurotrash, Melbourne CBD, VIC
Club Voltaire, North Melbourne, VIC
Dicey Riley's, Wollongong, NSW
Mars Hill Cafe, Parramatta, NSW
The Music Kafe, Brisbane, QLD
Courthouse Hotel, Port Douglas, QLD
The Cotton Club, Cairns, QLD
The Bluewater, Trinity Park, QLD
Wharf One, Cairns, QLD
Apres, Palm Cove, QLD
McGinty's Irish Bar, Cairns, QLD
Hemingway's Brewery, Cairns, QLD
Elixir Tapas Bar, Cairns, QLD
The Chambers, Cairns, QLD
Hemingway's Brewery, Port Douglas, QLD
Rattle 'n' Hum, Palm Cove, QLD
Gilligan's, Cairns, QLD
Pachamama, Cairns, QLD
Hambledon Hotel, Edmonton, QLD
Trinity Beach Tavern, Trinity Beach, QLD
Cairns Coconut Resort, Woree, QLD
NOA, Edge Hill, QLD
Clubs:
Footscray Park Bowls Club
RSL Cairns Esplanade
Hawthorn Club
Kooyong Tennis Club
Sratford Bowls Club
Paradise Palms Golf Club & Resort
Yorkeys Knob Boating Club
Palm Cove Surf Life Saving Club
Charity and Community Events:
Cancer Council Relay for Life
NAB Ovarian Cancer Fundraiser
QV Summer Sounds
Grampians Music Festival
Pie Face Pie Jam
Hobsons Bay Council "Busk A Move" Program
Save Williamstown Fundraiser
CPL 70th Anniversary Picnic
Mareeba Animal Refuge Fundraiser
Tanks Market Day
AJ Hackett's 30th Birthday Bash
Cairns Esplanade Lagoon Stage
James Cook University Residents Party
Red Kite Fundraiser
Wedding Suppliers Christmas Party
Wedding Venues:
Sugar Wharf, Port Douglas, QLD
Renewell, Newell Beach, QLD
Alamanda Chapel, Palm Cove, QLD
Rex Smeal Park, Port Douglas, QLD
Sea Temple Resort, Palm Cove, QLD
Fitzroy Island Resort, Fitzroy Island, QLD
AJ Hackett - The Venue, Smithfield, QLD
