For fifteen years, Alice has electrified audiences as a solo artist and band player (notably the awe-inspiring Andi and George band). Her music is melodic and lyrically raw. A smooth blend of sultry voice with a raunchy mix of folk rock, the influence of Joni Mitchell is clear. Career highlights include WOMADelaide 2009 and Woodford 2009-10, also Canberra’s own Corinbank and Summer Rhythm festivals. Supports include Jimmy Webb (USA), Tim Rogers, Jenny Hval, Laura Jean and Jackie Marshall. After becoming mother to Jago in 2009, Alice has been penning new material and learning the fine art of nursery rhyming.
Beth’n’Ben’s songwriting spans from Blues, Roots, and Reggae to Jazz, Soul and Rock tunes. Their fusion of genre, and tongue in cheek songwriting consistently turn heads and get the crowd moving. After touring their first EP around the East Coast of Australia, the duo returned to Canberra to play the pre-fireworks entertainment on Australia Day, the main stage at Summer Rhythm Festival, and support set for Chris Isaak during the Enlighten Festival. Their track ‘Little Lady’ spent 2 weeks at #1, 7 weeks in the Top 5, and 4 months in the top 25 on JJJ Unearthed Roots Chart.
Big Score is the songwriting brains trust of the Canberra music scene. Four of the ACT’s most hyperactive songwriters have united with the Capital’s most over-worked drummer to create a movable feast of popular song. Expect tight pop played in the jamming-est way possible, and harmonies everywhere! Big Score have a long history of cameo-ing their favorite singer/songwriters, so with the amount of talent circulating at Corin the crowd should be prepared for anything!
Multi award nominated BONJAH have been a band since 2006 when the now muchloved five piece moved from New Zealand to Melbourne. Since then BONJAH’s powerhouse performances are reputed to be amongst the most talked about shows in the country. The band’s music is a blend of soul, rock and roots, and has been described as intimate, moving and full of good energy. With street buzz hitting fever pitch the band have received numerous nods from the music industry, over 500 shows under their belt, CD sales clocked in at over 20,000 units (independently) and appeared at many of Australia’s premier music festivals.
Rockhampton’s favourite sons Busby Marou are the perfect example that some things just make sense! The quality of the songs, Tom Busby’s cheeky on stage presence and Jeremy Marou’s freakish musical ability on all instruments combined to deliver a distinctly Australian way of sharing stories. Their unique song writing brings cracking harmonies, breathtaking musicianship and a natural feel for each others guitars that will leave you wanting more.
Canberra singer/songwriter Caity Sarah has grown up around music and now wants to make her own mark on the world, putting her own songs out there. She has started to gain a following on social media sites such as Youtube and Facebook, with her chilled-out acoustic sound proving popular among her peers.
Cilla Jane combines folk style guitar, haunting cello and enchanting vocals to create her captivating sound. The band will take you away into a dream like world. Cilla Jane has supported many great Australian artists such as Tim Freedman, Kate Miller Heidke and The Audreys. Cilla Jane recently released her second eclectic pop album ‘Until Morning Comes’.
‘Their members make up the cast of locally well known classical, experimental and folk musicians leaning in a vastly different direction to what you’d probably expect.’ BMA-Magazine Spike Thompson, Nick Delatovic, Seb Field, David Finigan, Sam King come together to create something that would ‘sound like what would happen if Radiohead shared a candle lit dinner with Fleet Foxes’ (-Riot Act). The music is built on a bed of mellow acoustic, kicked back drumming, sharp bass lines and twinkling electric guitars, all sugar coated in a layer of strings at times.
Taking inspiration from the golden era of hip hop, classic funk and soul, D’Opus & Roshambo add their own modern twist, with a tight blend of story driven hip hop and rich musical diversity. This Canberra duo have gone from strength to strength since meeting in 2003 and have earned a well deserved and loyal following around the country for their exciting and powerful live performances.
“It is about time Australia caught up with Fred Smith. This remarkable singer-songwriter – who at various times reveals influences that range from Paul Kelly via Lou Reed to Loudon Wainwright III to Leonard Cohen – keeps releasing amazingly accomplished albums. In tune with the times and prepared to reach beyond predictable folk formats, he is endlessly innovative and creative. He is also very funny.” (Bruce Elder, Sydney Morning Herald). In January 2011, Fred returned from 18 months in southern Afghanistan with collection of songs for his highly acclaimed new album Dust of Uruzgan.
Fun Machine find the question, ‘What sort of music do you play?’ very difficult. Some have suggested ‘soulpopalumniumfoil’, ‘irresistible dance-jib-snake-writhe’, and ‘I don’t care if you’re my son, I’m not giving you a quote for your Corinbank bio’. Talented instrumentalists, Fun Machine contains three cheeksters who moved to Canberra for uni but couldn’t find the beach. For them, Fun Machine was a thinly-veiled excuse experiment with the wardrobes of their mothers and get free bottled water. For others, Fun Machine has become that excuse to escape reality and burn through their best shoes, learning there’s always room for a smile!
Ganga Giri, rhythmic didgeridoo virtuoso and percussionist, reflects much of the creative inspiration which Australia represents today. Explosive and pulsating; ambient and flowing at times – Ganga Giri is a pumping percussive multi-layered experience of complex grooves and raw, deep natural sound. Ganga Giri mixes red natural elements with fat tribal beats and dirty funky bass lines to create a unique tribal-technological deep earth dance experience. Explosive and pulsating, at times ambient and flowing, the music is a pumping percussive multi-layered experience of complex grooves and raw, deep natural sound.An inspired music creator whose passion brings people together in a modern day corroboree.
Arising from the death of Melbourne beat experimentalists The Melodics; Grey Ghost is a oneman journey through time, space and sound. From the natural poetry of Jeremedy’s urban parlance, to the kind of universal rhythms that awaken our inner primate; this is music, however technological, that remains unmistakably and beautifully human. Hook-driven and hypnotic, the spine-tingling chorus of Grey Ghost’s debut single, Space Ambassador, paints an incredibly telling picture of its creator. This is a man, looking out at the stars, waiting for the time to make his mark.
We are a 3 piece band – piano, double bass, and acoustic guitar. We write our own songs, drawing on influences like (where to start?) Simon & Garfunkel and Joanna Newsom, and even Claude Debussy. We sing most of our songs together using textured harmonies. Our upright piano comes to all our gigs, and we will play anywhere we can get it (from backyards to theatres and music festivals).
Acclaimed indie folkster Jack Carty recently returned from back to back North American and Australian tours, and he has brought ‘One Thousand Origami Birds’ with him. The country-raised songwriter has toured extensively at home and abroad since the release of his debut E.P “Wine & Consequence” in early 2010. A record that earned him the title of “Singer Songwriter of the Year” at that year’s MusicOZ awards. If the recent reception of his debut album ‘One Thousand Origami Birds’ (described by Drum Media as “A captivatingly beautiful listen”) is anything to go by, he has miles yet to travel.
“Every life is a pastiche of a million colourful pieces. Every artwork transmits some of the artist’s colours into another person’s life. What a beautiful endeavour!” James Fahy has been releasing his colours all over Australia in 2011, touring the country with songwriter compatriot and life-long friend Joe Oppenheimer. Building on successes at Summer Rhythms festival, Dragon Dreaming ’09, and supports for The Beards, the Wildes, A French Butler Called Smith, Dub Dub Goose, Peter Combe, and Novocastrian touring veterans Benjalu, life on the road has finessed his unique vocal style and intimate, emotional take on modern folk.
Considered one of Australia’s premier alt-country folk artists, Jen Cloher makes her first appearance at Corinbank in 2012. Currently recording her third album In Blood Memory due for release in 2012, she’ll be previewing new material as well as playing songs from her 2009 release Hidden Hands and ARIA nominated debut Dead Wood Falls.
Jen has recorded a limited edition (50 copies) collectors EP ‘Baby We Were Born to Die’ which will only be available at Corinbank in good ol’ fashioned physical format.
Josh Pyke is one of Australia’s premier singer/songwriters. Known for his ability to weave intelligent lyrics with warm melodies and quirky song structures, Pyke is a modern-day storyteller whose unique and evocative use of both words and music places him in a league of his own. His latest album, ‘Only Sparrows’, with wonderful singles ‘The World is a Picture’ and ‘No-one Wants a Lover’ once again remind us why Josh is loved around the country and the world. Josh joins us for the first time at Corinbank in 2012.
Mixing traditional folk instruments with pop sensibilities and an alt country twang, Julia and the Deep Sea Sirens sing songs about love, joy, train wrecks and life in Canberra. Their second album, Family Pets has been receiving national airplay on the ABC since it’s release, and the band have spent the past twelve months playing to packed festival tents in Canberra and interstate. Under the beautiful leafy shade at Corinbank the band will be playing brand new material alongside songs from their first and second albums.
Described as “Australia’s PJ Harvey… possessing the punch of Cat Power and the wise words of Joni Mitchell” (Courier Mail) Lucie Thorne has earned her place as one of Australia’s most distinctive contemporary songwriters. Lauded for her unique voice, poetic lyricism, and tender-to-gutsy electric guitar playing, Lucie returns to Corinbank in a dynamic duo show with south coast treasure Jay McMahon (drums), combining spacious, gritty rocknroll and startlingly original dark-folk with that signature warmth and intimacy for which their live shows have become so renowned. “Thorne writes some of the most simple and beautiful songs you will hear” (The Age).
Interested in a modern day blend of Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and Crowded House’s Neil Finn then Matt Dent is for you! Intense songs of life, love and loss; Matt digs deep and is one those rare finds: a pure songwriter. Mix this with (in Matt’s upcoming LP)an epic Aussie rhythm section: the legendary drummer John Watson (Aussie Crawl, Kasey Chambers) and one of the country’s top bassists Jonathon Zion (Pete Murray, Ian Moss, Lior) and you get a modern revival of the classic Aussie pub rock genre mixed with roots, folk, country and blues.
One Foot in the Gravy makes noise that goes in your ears and turns into spaghetti milkshake. Then the diplodocus catches the asteroid in its mouth and everyone gets their boogie on. Also, they are a Canberra four-piece band combining the vocals and sloppy guitar work of Andy Walker with: percussionist and glamour star Mela Twidale; church funk king Joel Thorpe on bass; and wandering hairy man Cam Ewens on keys.
Barely squeezing onto most stages, Pocket Fox are a feast for your ears. Think lots of eclectic instruments and instrumentalists having fun and singing complex harmonies. They’ll give you tunes to dance to, stories to laugh and cry to, and they’re also pretty good looking.
Rafe and the Well Dressed are good. They’re actually much better than good, but far too modest to say so. They have a jazzy, swingin, boppin, foot tapping pop groove thing going on. A lot of their songs are funny, and the ones that aren’t funny still find a way to make you think “hmm, that’s a bit funny”. I think you’ll like them.
Sidney Creswick is a recently formed Acoustic/Pop band based in Canberra. Performing an eclectic range of originals, the band combines engaging performance with vibrant musicality. Having recently released their debut music video (directed by Canberran James Hunter), the band is already making it’s mark on Canberra’s tight knit music scene. In the upcoming months the band will continue to work on it’s debut E.P, due out in early 2012.
Sietta
Producer/instrumentalist James Mangohig and vocalist Caiti Baker are Sietta, are an electronic soul duo from Darwin. Sietta is perfectly at home in the depths of menacing electronic bass and drums, where beauty doesn’t mean picture-perfect; and lightness is never as illuminating as it is in blinding darkness. It’s in the refreshed imagining of dubstep and blues, hip hop and electronic soul that Sietta tackle themes of empowerment, love, hurt and mental health. Elefant Traks signed the duo in 2011 after falling in love with the sound they’d created – ambitious electronic soul drenched in blues and hip hop, a striking record with no peer in Australian music.
Expect to be overwhelmed and uplifted by up and coming indie darlings, Skipping Girl Vinegar by their acclaimed songwriting to their hook-riddled, acoustic, hobo-pop; rich with melody and classic sing-along choruses. This heart-warming band is a must see experience. Wowing audiences at many of Australia’s premier festivals including Splendour In The Grass, The Falls Festival, Sunset Sounds, Woodford Folk Festival, Port Fairy Folk Festival, Pyramid Rock and supporting the likes of The Lemonheads (USA), Something for Kate, Shout Out Louds (Sweden), Little Birdy, Missy Higgins and Angus & Julia Stone. Having recently released their sophomore album ‘Keep Calm Carry the Monkey’ to critical acclaim across the country the album has made many ‘album of the year’ lists, including The Age EG Awards, and spawning radio singles You Can, Here She Comes and Wasted. “Deep & Dark and it will haunt you. Album of the year? It’s going to be hard to top.” Jeff Jenkins MAG/Inpress
Son of Rut brings merriment! On a hot summer night in Canberra, songwriter Lizzy Rutten recruited five local musicians to bring life to her energetic folk songs. By 2010 the numbers had swelled to seven, with two more songwriters, Emily Vera and Jane Leyshon joining to create the dynamic and lively sound that you hear today. The sounds of Son of Rut are grounded in guitars and keyboards. Trumpet, four-part harmonies fuse with an unflagging rhythm section to create a stunning landscape of original music. They can be found in all good music venues Canberra, and beyond.
The Bamboos are generally acknowledged as Australia’s greatest modern Funk & Soul band. Emerging from the ‘Deep Funk’ scene of the early 2000’s, The Bamboos have since forged a unique sound of their own, combining elements of Old-School Funk, Hip Hop, Mod Rock, Psychedelic & Northern Soul. The 8-piece line-up led by guitarist Lance Ferguson and featuring the power-house vocals of Kylie Auldist are renowned for their blistering, high energy live sets which have kept people dancing all the way from Byron Bay to Bratislava. Their four studio albums and one live album for U.K label Tru Thoughts have earned them a place in the very upper echelon of the worldwide contemporary Funk & Soul scene.
Leaving a trail of battered dance floors, The Barons of Tang have played a swag of shows including Pride Fest (USA), Widow Peak Festival (USA), WOMAD NZ, Woodford Folk Festival, The Falls and even shared the stage with Gypsy Punk heroes Gogol Bordello. Lashing Tango, Rockabilly, Latin and bent folk with breaks, hard hitting guitar riffs, double kick blast beats and massive horn arrangements, the Melbourne 7 piece serve up their molotov mayhem. The catchy tunes and punk ethos all tie together to mean one thing, dancing is inevitable!
The Berlin Wall fell in 1989 and, with it, the impediment to musical cooperation between east and west. Deta, accordion chanteuse from West Berlin and founder of the legendary Cabaret venue Chameleon, teamed up with East Berliner bassist and singer Julischka to form The Beez, presenting a fast and furious melange of styles from Balkan to Burlesque, from Punk to Polka. Joined by Sydney guitarist/singer Rob Rayner and native San Franciscan banjo/dobro picker and singer Peter D’Elia, The Beez toured Europe, North America and Australia extensively with eccentric cover versions of pop and rock hits, “the originals of which can only be considered second best” (Berliner Morgenpost). Now The Beez are covering their own songs to wide acclaim.
Evan Buckley, the musical core of The Burley Griffin recently travelled through over 30 different states around the USA on tour, playing in bars, cafes, venues and on the streets for tips and petrol money. Their debut album was recorded over two months in Michigan, while staying with generous people, met on the road. He has fronted a number of projects including Romeo on Demand, Falling Short and Strong Like Sam and am now performing under the moniker The Burley Griffin, sharing the stage with many friends, old and new.
Having built a reputation as one of Australia’s most intense live music experiences, and fresh from their second tour of the UK and Europe, The Crooked Fiddle Band’s high octane performances conjure scenes of joyous frenzy, intense cinematic energy and medieval battle-like climaxes. Currently launching their debut album “Overgrown Tales”, recorded in Chicago with the legendary engineer Steve Albini. Intertwining folk traditions with modern evolutions, this Sydney-based acoustic four-piece has been described by Brian Eno as “… completely surprising: the music is original and quixotic… I can’t say I’ve ever heard anything else like it!”
Triple J Unearthed winners, The Ellis Collective take an unconventional approach to storytelling that recounts the jagged-edged disappointments of everyday Australian life. Releasing their debut album ‘Means What It Means’ in July 2011, the album is testament to the indie folk six-piece’s ability to seamlessly blend and borrow from a range of styles – folk through to country. Wielding an ambidextrous musicality, they create a sound that is undeniably unique and unmistakably Australian, featuring vocals that echo Gareth Liddiard with the lyrical strength of John Darnielle and Conor Oberst set against a backdrop of soaring string sections and multi-layered harmonies.
Melbourne alt-pop darlings, The Little Stevies have built up an exceptional reputation as a must see live act, drawing keen, loyal, Little Stevie-loving fans wherever they go. Their charming songs, unpredictable on-stage banter and overall uplifting aura are winning hearts throughout Australia. The Little Stevies have a depth not often seen in artists so young. Their lyrics are a mixture of the personal and the profound; their songs are akin to your favourite stories put to music. I challenge you to not be glowing after seeing them play.
The Pigs take a hit song, turn it upside down, shake the change out of its pockets and set it down in its proper form… foot-stomping bluegrass. Attacking anything, from Puccini to Daft Punk, the band is most famous for their banjo-driven version of Beyonce’s Single Ladies. The Pig’s quirky originals, include Macho Moisturiser, the ballad of a crocodile wrestler who maintains a strict skin care regime and Hey Christina – a tune that songwriter, Stretch Pig, dedicates to his ex-girlfriend and her new husband, “I wouldn’t mind, if the telephone started to ring everytime they were making love”.
Like the robust nature of their NSW homesteads Blue Mountains’ crew Thundamentals have forged their style from the peaks and valleys of traditional funk soul and Latin-based music. Though their debut EP (late 2008) was awarded ozhiphop.com’s ‘Best EP of 08’ award, it was Sleeping On Your Style that truly announced DJ Morgs, Jeswon and Tuka as a new tour de force on the Oz Hip Hop Scene. Both singles lifted from Sleeping On Your Style (Move It Up and The Mash) received high rotation on Triple J and the band began to pop up on ’acts to watch’ and ‘next big thing’ lists everywhere.
Since their early days as Australian folk darlings, brother-and-sister duo Tinpan Orange has evolved into a dizzyingly original musical force. Still evident is the lush songcraft and lyrical depth for which they are renowned, but the landscape in which the songs are set has shifted. Six-foot frontwoman Emily Lubitz twirls her flaming red hair out across a complex and original musical creation, in which virtuoso instrumental performances and pulsating rhythms merge to form a wholly unique sound. Imagine Edith Piaf in the body of Mrs Jessica Rabbit, wandering through a landscape of suburban fairy tales and electric static clouds.
Waterford make music with guitars bass and drums. They’re the older brothers with the good record collections who convert their melodic smarts into jangling pop. It’s post (grad) rock. Smithsonian indie. The sound of one band clapping. In the past few years Waterford has played shows along the east of the nation, supporting Oh Mercy, Crayon Fields and Lazy Susan amongst others. Their debut LP, ‘Say Ok’, is full of musings on adult suburban life. Recorded by Bruce Callaway (The Triffids, Ed Kuepper), it will be released in late 2011. Flex off for the day and have a listen.
