Between The Wars
In 2009, two old friends got together in a room in a house. One played guitar and sang. The other played ukulele and sang. Taking influences from traditional Irish artists such as Christy Moore, the Wolfe Tones and the Dubliners, blending in the punk ethic and edge of Flogging Molly and the Dropkick Murphys, and bringing in the folk storytelling of singer/songwriters such as Frank Turner, Billy Bragg and Shane MacGowan, the two old friends forged forward to create a celtic folk punk juggernaut, unlike anything they'd ever done before. They named it after one of their favourite Billy Bragg songs.
From the humble beginnings of these two friends in a room came the seven-piece onslaught of Between The Wars. In the same way that the Pogues and the Dropkick Murphys stayed true to their own genre while blending in a strong Irish influence, Between The Wars are setting Melbourne stages on fire with their clever and unique fusion of Irish folk music with punk rock. This makes it mainstream enough for everyone to find elements they can enjoy, without losing their edge and unique flavour.
http://www.myspace.com/between.the.wars
Bobsy-Die
Bluegrass/Folk/Roots Music. Easy to listen to. We defy you to not get up and dance when this great central Victorian trio play their supurb mix of Colonial and Folk music.
Bobsy-Die perform their own brand of traditional folk music they call bushgrass.
http://www.myspace.com/bobsydiefolkband
Chris Wilson
CHRIS WILSON has been an essential part of blues and rock music scene in Australia since taking the stage with the Sole Twisters over twenty years ago. Stints with Harum Scarum and Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls followed, and by the end of the 80s Chris was renowned as one of our finest vocalists, harmonica players and songwriters, fronting the superb Crown of Thorns.
Chris has appeared at every major Australian festival and his performances, filled as they are with his own brand of sensuality and the dynamic power that leaves his audiences so satisfied, are always a highlight.
Daryl Roberts & Hey Gringo
Welcome to the acclaimed Australian Original - Groove Injected Retro Blues/Roots Combo Hey Gringo. Hey Gringo's Debut album "I WAS THERE" was independently released in 2000 and has scored rave reviews and airplay across Oz and as far as Argentina, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium & Denmark. Check out the BIO link for band members.
Hey Gringo is the creation of multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter Daryl Roberts who has previously performed in original bands in the 1970's such as Photo, Bandit & ex Blackfeather vocalist Neale Johns' Fingerprint as well as playing in US Blues legend Jimmy Witherspoons backing band to performing with Oz Legends SPECTRUM & good-time folksters Bobsy-Die. Hey Gringo has at times included guest appearances by some of Australia's most legendary performers.The band's relaxed and funky attitude and sound is characteristic of the influences that make Hey Gringo so different.
Happy Valley Hellraisers
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HAPPY VALLEY HELLRAISERS.
If you’re looking for a clean living band, who play daintily, nicely & correctly, you best grab a skinny latte and go and hide behind a shed, or in the next paddock til they’re finished!! Led by the irreverent Mick Coates, who’s deep booming bar room vocals have been heard belting out Johnny Cash & Cowdy songs around festivals in 3 states for the last 10 or so years, you’re in for a kidney stone dissolving treat. And if that doesn’t rock your boat, wait til you hear young award winning multi-instrumentalist & instrument maker Oliver Dear twanging it out on his Fender guitar, which is 25 years older than him!! He’s been playing festivals in his Dad’s band since he was a little 8 y o kid. And he’ll be wailing out a hellbilly song or two. Bendigo instrument maker come doghouse bass slapper, Finn Matthews, will be taking the rhythm duties. His raucous all night jam sessions are legendary amongst his Central Victorian neighbours. Paddy McGrath-Lester, sharing the beat on the drums, is the quiet lad of the outfit, he just sits there and smiles. He has been known to become vociferous late at night, when spooked by the lights of the Aurora Australis glowing behind a certain southern Tasmanian fast food outlet!
Jan Stephenson & 4 on the Floor
4 On The Floor has been performing around the Melbourne scene for over 10 years now and is what they like to call a rocky blues band with 3 piece harmonies.
The band line up consists of Andy Shields drums and vocals, Darren West bass and vocals and Jan Stephenson on Guitar and vocals.
Andy Shields has been drumming since he was a teenager and is well respected around the jazz, blues and rock scene. To add to his talents he is also a very competent bass player.
Rob Chuggs lays down the bottom end bass lines that other bass players only talk about, and pushes the band with a constant head of steam.
Jan Stephenson is a classically trained guitarist and has been playing since he was 10 years old. He has developed a style that blends blues, jazz rock and classical feels.
Katie Harder & Band
Katie Harder Bio
Katie Harder is a Melbourne born musician who has been writing and playing music for 10 years. During that time she has released an EP called “What it’s like” and a full length Album in 2005 called “Fragments of a wandering mind” under Humber records. She has travelled the east coast of NSW twice with her various bands and played many local gigs and interstate festivals.
Having had a break for a while to mother her 2 children she began playing again in June 2010 which saw her come runner up in a Storytellers and Songwriters competition which has been a springboard for her supporting bands like Blue King Brown, Ash Grunwald and Carus Thompson and being offered supports for You Am I and Thirsty Merc and playing live on stage with Clare Bowditch.
In late 2010 she recorded and co-produced an EP, which included her single called “Drink it In”. This song was shortlisted for the Australian song writing Awards in the Folk Genre in 2010.
In 2011 she finished recording her much anticipated independent Album “Far to Go Yet”. This album has seen her music evolve from a rock/pop sound to a more mature folk/roots sound. Encouraged by great songwriters like Paul Kelly and the Waifs, Katie’s music has that all Australian sound that pushes and pulls ideas and inspires her listeners so get the most out of life. Keep on the look out for Katie and her new band “the Gentle Folk” as they continue to play around Australia. Her next appearance with band will be at the Avoca Music Festival on the 25th March.
Lot 56
Lot 56 play raw, blues country rock built around songs laced with irony & a unique turn of phrase. They are an energetic live band who get the party started, the dance floor full & the crowd singing. As their new album declares, Lot 56 are "Somethin' Real".
http://www.myspace.com/lot56rockscountry
Peter Denahy
Pete Denahy is the man responsible for the hit song "Sort Of Dunno Nothin'" which has been played on Spicks and Specks, Rage and even on Big Brother.
He spent his early childhood in Japan and gained an appreciation of music from his Japanese grandfather who was a conductor, composer and cello player. At twenty-two he joined a band called the "Ploughboys" playing the fiddle and guitar and he did the pub rounds in Melbourne, six nights out of seven, which was a great experience but hard on the liver. Playing with the Ploughboys took him to one of his favourite festivals, Maldon Folk Festival and then to the bigger ones, Port Fairy and the National at Canberra.
Visit Peter's site at http://www.peterdenahy.com
Peter York & Band
Peter York's songs and instrumentals range from rootsie folk/rock to ragtime. Peter's songs touch both the delights of the human contition and it's broken bits. He is joined by two of his long time musician mates - I don't play the same thing twice' Darryl Thompson on bass and 'the man of a million campfire songs' Lionel Holt on fiddle, banjo and ukulele.
Richard Perso
Richard Perso sits on a stomp box, drum pedal under his foot, a tambourine under the other, strumming on various guitars. His bluesy voice resonates from 2 microphones. All of Perso's music is created live on stage without any backing tracks. His trade mark is playing on one of his three didgeridoos.
A true music sensation from a small town in Australia, Richard Perso is a "one-man band." Many music followers predict the rising star will be the future of folk and rock music. Perso has a busy 2010 year ahead of him with tours planned for the United States, Canada, and Australia. He will be playing various venues and festivals but will also be the face for an environmental campaign that will involve performances across the country at US high schools teaching students about the repercussions of plastic bag use on the environment.
Rudely Interrupted
Harder we work the luckier we get!
One of Australia’s most unique and rock bands, Rudely Interrupted have toured the world, played some of the biggest and most prestigious stages, starred in an AFI nominated critically acclaimed documentary film, and released their debut record “Tragedy of the Commons” worldwide on iTunes.
Rudely Interrupted is neither a novelty act nor a cover band but rather an inspiring and talented group of musicians that pump out uplifting pitch perfect indie-pop described by The Village Voice, “… as the real deal a Melbourne group with a taut impassioned sound somewhere between the Killers and Wire.”
Sal Kimber & The Rollin' Wheel
In defiance of the idea that it has all been done before ‘Sal Kimber & The Rollin’ Wheel’ offer a take on Australian Alt Country n Blues, that is authentic and exciting. Sounding rural and rootsy, but with urban savvy, their live shows take you on a ride over terrains from cutback duets on the xylophone and banjo, to 5 piece Rock n Roll Alt Country tracks.
On old time inspired banjo, electric and acoustic guitar and vocals Sal Kimber is joined on stage by her band ‘The Rollin’ Wheel’- Beth (Buffy) Kimber on keys, piano accordion and xylophone, Trent McKenzie on electric and double bass, Cat Leahy on Drums and Jacob Cole on lead guitar and slide.
Sarah Caroll & The Avoca Festival Allstars
Sarah Carroll has played all over Australia and the US as part of country swing harmony groups GIT and The Junes; also working with her illustrious husband Chris Wilson in rock and roots outfit The Pirates Of Beer and acoustic style in 3 Pairs. She plays with The Psychedelic Wildmen when performing her original songs, and her latest album, Home And Heart, has been very highly rated, appearing in best of 2011 lists by Basement Discs and Rhythms Magazine. The Avoca Festival All Stars is a special band put together just for this festival, and features the amazing rhythms of Chris Tabone and Tim Fullerton as well as the magnificent electric and pedal steel guitar of rock and country master, Ed Bates. www.sarah67comeback.com or facebook Sarah Carroll, Ukulele Queen Of The Bellarine.
Sarah Carroll
Sarah’s songs are by turns earthy, wry and romantic; the tune Ukulele Bitchfight was written while waiting for an interview at Centrelink; It Hurts Me (Wahine, 2008) tells of her sorrow at leaving her children behind when going on the road, while Shantaray (Wahine) employs an equine metaphor to describe undying love.
After 8 years of directing The Tides Of Welcome Soul And Gospel Choir, Sarah has handed over the reins and is working freelance with a number of community choirs around Victoria.
Sarah teaches ukulele to children and adults around the Bellarine Peninsula in Victoria, where she has lived with her family for ten years. http://www.sarah67comeback.com/
Shandell
Shandell is one of Australia’s most aspiring singer/songwriters, who has recently been astounding audiences across the country with her strong unique, rustic voice. One would say her voice is as strong as her handshake, the one thing that becomes undeniably apparent upon meeting this genuine country girl.
Shandell has been recognised nationally and internationally over her career being awarded the prestigious International Songwriters Award for her ‘Here With Me’ at the young age of 17, other achievements include being named Entertainer of the Year and later awarded the highly sought after Pellegrino Scholarship.
Visit Shandell's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/shandellmusic
The Long And Short Of It
In 2010 following the Tamworth Country Music Festival, Firefly Magazine wrote:-"The Long And Short Of It hit the Tamworth Country Music Festival this year for the first time. Based in Melbourne Victoria this duo act has a refreshing sound with terrific harmony. I saw the act at the Oasis Hotel and also received recommendations for their performances at the Carter Street Cricket Center on the Country Flavour Stage. They struck me as true entertainers who have a repertoire that covers from country music through variations of blues music to general pop music."
http://thelongandshortofit.com.au/home.html
The Perch Creek Family Jug Band
Brought up busking til the wee hours on the rowdy streets of the Gold Coast and Brisbane as children, the PCFJB learned to use their voices and multi-instrumental talents to pull a crowd and keep them there. Now they’re (nearly) grown up and have fine tuned their 5 part harmonies and unique style for their original and traditional repertoire that roves from bluegrass, old-time jazz, and country blues to whatever else they may just happen to fancy.
Featuring Australia’s top one-legged saw player, Who magazine’s ‘most handsome jug player’, and more (equally notable) siblings than you can count (where do they keep getting them from?), the PCFJB sing and dance their unique music to young and old.
http://www.myspace.com/perchcreekfamilyjugband
The Stetson Family
The Stetson Family have been having the time of their lives recording, releasing and touring their latest album, The Devil In His Sunday Best, which Rhythms Magazine described as “a landmark Australian roots album of 2011.” This band brings a rootsy and original edge to the familiar and timeless sounds of bluegrass and alt.country. Their songs are at times dark and dusty, lovelorn and heartbreaking, through to joyful, raucous and thigh-slappin’. It’s obvious this band has done some serious living and had a lot of laughs along the way!
Tobasco Tom and Doc White with Broderick Smith
Mix one part old-time medicine show, one part hillbilly swing, spice with a bit of country blues and New Orleans jazz and you have the Tabasco Tom and Doc White show.
Tabasco hails from Long Island, New York and is steeped in the traditions of the American musical heartland. Tabasco found himself in Australia in 1999 looking for like-minded souls passionate about keeping the music he loved fresh but faithful, energetic but respectful, adventurous but grounded. He didn’t have to look very far because just over the hill in the Dandenong Ranges, Doc White was trying to do the same thing.
Joined by Broderick Smith on harmonica to give a depth on top of the already great sound. Tabasco and Doc deliver the sounds and rhythms of this incredible musical heritage.
Wild Turkey
WILD TURKEY are one of the longest running Rockabilly bands in the Southern Hemisphere and are possibly the longest continuous gigging Psychobilly band in Australia still performing!
Formed in 1988 the band sprung out of Sherbrooke Community School, also the venue for Wild Turkey's first official gig (the band was previously called "The Deviates" prior to that so actually started in 1987!).
The line up for that first show as WILD TURKEY on the 20th of August 1988 was John on guitar and vocals, Matt Walker on lead guitar, Matthew Ralph on bass, and Chris Latham on drums. We also played at "Subterrian" which was a Melbourne club with the same line up amongst other shows.
After having many drummers (including Fred Strauks from Skyhooks, a teacher at Sherbrooke who played a couple of gigs for us), we finally met Kirk in 1990 and at that stage Wild Turkey started performing more regularily in Melbourne Venues.
2011 - USA and Australian Tour! 2012 - new ALBUM!
Zydeco Jump
ZYDECO JUMP has earned its reputation as a hot, high-energy band, guaranteed to deliver a great show! Its musical roots are very broad but the main thrust is the infectious blues, rhythm & blues, and Cajun music of the French-speaking black people of southwest Louisiana.
ZYDECO Jumps’ live set is a wild mixture of two-steps, waltzes, blues, boogie, and great original compositions influenced by the Zydeco tradition and the music that the members of the band have grown up with. The end result is some of the best dance music you will ever hear... Laissez les bon temps rouler!