Our Backyard: Bella Frankie and Jesa

Bella Frankie performs original, unhinged Aussie folk yarns of love, flood, country and community. Michael Turner is (Wild Pumpkins at Midnight) on guitar, with the sweet vocals, Autoharp and uke of Ajita Cannings, Tash Kraemer (Australian Haydn Ensemble) on cello and Steve Gilbert (Shane Howard Band) on harmonica. They cut folk music with pop, blues, country, rock and sing in three part harmony, under the namesake of their two black dogs Bella and Frankie.

Jesa says: "Balancing sweet, soulful and gritty, JESA is an acoustic indie folk-ish pop singer/songwriter on Bundjalung Country. With influence from Lizzy McAlpine and Nai Palm (Hiatus Kaiyote) she combines punchy guitar, dynamic vocals and activist-esc lyricism for deep feelers, critical thinkers and nature lovers. JESA burst onto the scene performing at Bluesfest Byron Bay at age 15. Now she’s proudly opened for Kim Churchill and Caravana Sun, completed two East Coast Tours and become a two time semi-finalist in international and national songwriting contests.  JESA performed on the stages of Melt Festival and Happy Days Festival and in 2022 completed two East Coast tours celebrating the release of five track EP “Fire In The Sky”. This was the soundtrack for her empowerment through mental health, body image and heartbreak. JESA received Triple J and Double J radio play for her EP with reviews of single “You Before Me” as “gorgeous, catchy and fun” as well as “brings joyful energy that is needed in life”.