BIO

Jonathon Coleman (Bully Hay)

Sixth-generation Tasmanian musician Jonathon Coleman writes and records under the name Bully Hay — an Australian alternative rock project built on contrast: dark yet hopeful, gritty yet melodic.

 

Following his 2024 debut Black Dogs and Songbirds — an 11-track release produced, recorded and mixed by Jeff Martin of The Tea Party and mastered by Grammy-nominated Joe Carra — Coleman now enters a defining new chapter with his upcoming album, Anywhere But Here.

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Raw, heartfelt and unfiltered, Anywhere But Here captures the chaos of trying to keep your head above water while quietly being pulled beneath the undertow. Exploring the tension between survival and surrender, the album blends 80s-tinged atmosphere with modern alt-rock punch — driving guitars, cinematic textures and anthemic choruses designed to hit hard. The songwriting is direct and deeply human, written for late nights, long drives and anyone fighting to become something more.

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Black Dogs and Songbirds introduced Bully Hay’s rare versatility, moving from tender ballads to soaring, guitar-driven rock, firmly anchored in the landscapes and emotional pull of Tasmania’s south-east. Jeff Martin praised Coleman’s dynamic range and natural vocal ability, calling his versatility “very rare.”

 

A self-taught multi-instrumentalist, Coleman has toured nationally, performing at Festival of Voices, Taste of Summer and Festivale, and supporting artists including Jeff Martin (The Tea Party) on two national tours, Monique Brumby, Dead Letter Circus, Ash Grunwald, The Wolfe Brothers and Boy & Bear.

 

Named in tribute to his great-uncle — a Rat of Tobruk — Bully Hay stands for resilience: forged in heritage and carried forward in sound.