In just a short couple of years, Toby and Code Red have grown to be West Australia’s top live performing band. It all started ‘accidentally’ one night when Toby played three songs at an open mic night in Fremantle. After that, everything seemed to flow into a whirlpool of gigs, recording and touring.

Toby Beard has been playing guitar since early high school, and she’s always had a love for singing and writing. Her first real performances were at Carine High School in front of hundreds of fellow students, teachers and parents. This all lead her to study at the prestigious West Australian Academy of Performing Arts, studying Bachelor of Classical Guitar. This is where she met many of her band members. After discovering that she wasn’t made for uni. Toby began travelling throughout Asia and Europe and in the meantime forming a huge collection of original songs.

Code Red’s vibrant drummer/percussionist, Elliot Bruse was also a Carine student. As was Pete Gallon, on bass, guitar and piano.

In the past couple of years Toby and Code Red have performed over 400 shows, touring extensively throughout WA and the East Coast (Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney) and also Toby had a residency performing in Interlaken, Switzerland. Their highlights of late include supporting Paul Kelly (sold out show), Pete Murray (sold out show), The Choirboys and international artists such as Donavon Frankenreiter, Luka Bloom (sold out), Glenn Tillbrook (Squueze), Eugene Hideaway Bridges and many other big names. They have also supported Bomba and Carus.

They have performed successful shows at WA’s top festivals including Freo Blues and Roots, Bridgetown Blues, Fairbridge Folk, Wignalls Vintage Blues, Blues and Roots in Broome, playing alongside Jack Johnson, Violent Femmes, G- Love, The Waifs, John Butler, Tex Perkins and Xavier Rudd just to name a few.

In April 2004 they launched their first full length album, “Indi-Live on The West Coast”, recorded live by non other then WA’s top producer, James Hewgill. Later in the year they released an EP, “GiddyUp”, which has a fun, country/blues theme throughout. In June 2005 Toby launched her fully acoustic album, “On Second Thoughts”. (featuring Toby on the piano and 12 string guitar)

Toby, Elliot and Pete form the backbone of Code Red. They are joined often by WA’s top soloists, Jean-Guy Lemire (harmonica), Jessica Walker-Gething (violin) Lucas Van Berkel (saxaphone), Fiona Simms (violin), Sarah Pierce (cello), David Rastrick, (trumpet, flugel, lead guitar) and Penelope Kimble (flute).

This roots/blues/rock group are a must see for everyone and anyone. Their live show is filled with passion, with never a dull moment on stage. Every member gives their all from beginning to end, and often you will see them up on speakers or performing up close and personal in the centre of their audiences. Its hard not to get involved in their lively stage show, or in Toby’s enticing, firery lyrics.