Hailing from the Victorian goldfields, Bill Barber and The Holding Cell are paving the way for a new blend of Blues, southern rock and Americana in Australia.

Forming in June 2023, Bill Barber, Tommy "back beat" Brown, Jaspar Austin Gray and Shaun Klinger were in a place musically and personally where they wanted to do something different. From the very first rehearsal that's exactly what they had, different.

Aggressive, exiting and incredibly emotive. With the hard driving rhythm section of Gray and brown, heavily technical and soulful arrangements of Klinger and the Raw, powerful vocals and brutally honest lyrics of Bill Barber, the Holding Cell have created a unique blend of southern sounds that so far, has had them leave nothing on the table and no stone unturned.

A nothing short of amazing first year as a band with a constant foot on the gas. Already taking out 2023 MBAS blues performers of the year, placing in the semi finals at the international blues challenge in Memphis USA
playing sold out ticketed shows and being invited to play some of the biggest Blues festivals in the country, including Blues on Broadbeach, Echuca Moama Winter Blues and many many more.

With their First single and first LP "The Muscle Shoals Sessions" due to be released in July 2024. The "Cell" have yet another huge year ahead of them. Recorded live over 10 hours in the legendary FAME studios in Alabama, who have made some of the greatest records recorded some of the most influential musicians in history including Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, The Allman Brothers band, Jason Isbell, Drive By Truckers, Steven Tyler and countless others.

At it's essence the Holding Cell is the shared experience and brotherhood of four like minded musicians that love nothing more than sharing that with as many as they can.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd0TyDsCVS4 https://www.instagram.com/billbarberandtheholdingcell?igsh=eHllMmliZ2F3bWU4 https://open.spotify.com/artist/3fILdX7KAf2pAjFyd6LT13?si=ojsptap0SIiGRDJqqJR2Hg