The Beards, an Australian folk rock band, formed in 2005 in Adelaide. The group consisted of Tom Bettany on bass and backing vocals, Michael Bidstrup on drums, Joshua Fielder on guitar, and Joel McMillan on lead vocals and keyboards. They evolved from the Dairy Brothers and gained popularity with their self-titled debut album, released in 2007. The band performed at the Adelaide leg of the Big Day Out in 2008 and 2009, and released a follow-up album, Beards, Beards, Beards, in 2009. In 2013, they embarked on their first world tour, performing across Europe and the United Kingdom. The band released their fourth studio album, The Beard Album, in 2014. In 2016, they announced their retirement from live performances and concluded with a Farewell Tour, ending at The Governor Hindmarsh Hotel in Adelaide on October 28, 2016.
