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.
Rockhampton’s favourite sons Busby Marou are the perfect example that somethings 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.
Multi award nominated BONJAHhave 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.
Skipping Girl Vinegar are an old world, alt-acoustic four-piece obsessed with melody, pop-hook, and the search to stretch their song craft. In amongst the madness and fervor that has been the last four years, Melbournian fivepiece Skipping Girl Vinegar have become one of Australia’s most talked about bands. Comprising of brother/sister duo Mark and Sare Lang and their respective childhood friends Chris Helm, Amanthi Lynch & Kelly Lane, their debut single One Chance was the Australian iTunes ’single of the week’, added to high-rotation on Triple J and championed by major alternative and ABC radio nationwide.
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.
Lashing Tango, Rockabilly, Metal and Gypsy feels together with hard hitting guitar riffs, double kick blast beats and massive horn arrangements, The Barons of Tang serve up their self described ‘Gypsy Death-core’. The catchy tunes and punk ethos all tie together to mean one thing, dancing is inevitable! Described as having “more pure energy and excitement than a horny cheerleading team”, Their live show is a powerful force like no other, getting people off their keisters and shaking, jiggling, spinning, everything!
The Crooked Fiddle Band are based in Sydney, Australia, and formed in 2006 through our mutual love of the energy and intensity of various traditional world music. Whilst writing and arranging, they discovered that this energy was shared by the other music they love: there seems to be a common thread between the frenetic accompaniment of gypsy, klezmer and punk rock; between the twisting rhythms of math-metal and balkan folk; between the clear tonalities of Scandinavian folk, Celtic folk, and cinematic post rock.
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.
Ganga Giri is a world renowned didgeridoo virtuoso playing with a pumping percussive style. Ganga Giri inspires a positive celebration of global community and culture, creating a world-beat dance floor celebration. The show is a unique mix of dancehall, reggae, dub, electro, indigenous and world flavours that come together in an original energising experience that has been thrilling audiences across the globe.
Jen Cloher & The Endless Sea released their critically acclaimed ARIA nominated album Dead Wood Falls in 2006. They have toured with the likes of Josh Pyke, Ben Lee, Missy Higgins, Jose Gonzalez and Mia Dyson and played Homebake, Queenscliff, Falls, Feel Good and Harvest. With their 2009 album ‘Hidden Hands’ being described as “absolutely gorgeous” and “a superbly diverse collection of intelligent country-tinged pop”, they are sure to enthral Corinbank in 2012!
Sietta are an electronic soul duo from Darwin, made up of producer/instrumentalist James Mangohig and vocalist Caiti Baker. Their sound is ambitious electronic soul drenched in blues and hip hop and their debut album ‘The Seventh Passenger’ is a striking record with no peer in Australian music. Caiti soulful lyrics mixed with James’ heavy bass lines will reverberate through your bones at this years Corinbank.
Rarely will you see a band with the ability to connect with their audience as The Little Stevies’. Their unique blend of emotive and honest songwriting, combined with catchy pop melodies and beautiful harmonies do what so many others claim to, they give their audience license to really identify with them and to feel that they’re sharing something of themselves.
Sleek, sweaty, banging and pro; when it comes to their live show, Blue Mnts come Newtown hip hop 3 piece Thundamentals are a band in demand. Building upon the success of their outstanding debut album, Thundamentals’ 2nd album, ‘Foreverlution’ is, as the title would suggest, a deliberate blend of timeless organic tones interspersed with more contemporary sounding influences.
Since their early days as Australian folk darlings, brother-and-sister duo Tinpan Orange have 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.
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.
Cracked Actor’s 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.
“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.
“Put on your red shoes and dance like you’re trying to get a snake out of a toaster with a wet knife” If you haven’t experienced Canberra’s Fun Machine yet, you are missing out on an eclectic, crazy but always fun vibe that will certainly get you moving. Whether dressed as birds or covered in paint every experience with them will leave you with a smile. This time, don’t miss them!
Julia Johnson has been performing solo and with her band – The Deep Sea Sirens in Canberra since 2005, establishing herself as a strong songwriter and performer locally and nationally. Fitting into the broad Alt/Folk genre, her songs deal with everyday experiences and sometimes local history, with songs about love, loss, death and train accidents featuring in a usual set. She is a dynamic performer ranging from delicate whisper to desperate cry; the grit and honesty of her lyrics and performance create an intimate atmosphere even in larger venues.
Lauded for her unique voice, poetic lyricism, and tenderto-gutsy electric guitar playing, Lucie Thorne has earned her place as one of the most striking lyricists and voices of Australian contemporary song. She has been described as “Australia’s PJ Harvey… possessing the punch of Cat Power and the wise words of Joni Mitchell” You won’t want to miss her at Corinbank 2012!
The Beez bring an international feel to Corinbank, hailing from Berlin, Germany they are a potpourri of moving, silly, deep and sometimes meaningless pop and rock songs. These songs are, however, anything but common or garden variety. They rearrange and craft a song until a certain stylistically unmistakable Beez Feng Shui emerges. The Beez are at home on any stage and travel light; four voices, two acoustic guitars, an acoustic bass and an accordion and, it has to be said, more than a few costumes!
With their long awaited debut album under their belt, The Ellis Collective have had a massive 2011 and look to start 2012 off with a bang returning successfully to Corinbank. They have the ability to seamlessly blend and borrow from a diverse range of styles, wielding an ambidextrous musicality to create a sound that is undeniably unique and unmistakably Australia. Look out for Matt Ellis’ trademark blue singlet!
Arising from the death of Melbourne beat experimentalists The Melodics; Grey Ghost is a one-man 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. Futuristic, retro and retro-futuristic all in one; Grey Ghost is rock music you can dance to, mixed with dance music that rocks.
The Pigs take a hit song, turn it upside down, shake the change out of its pockets and set it down in its original form… foot-stomping bluegrass. These aren’t covers, these are popular songs done ‘Pigs’ style. There’s ‘Beyonce’, ‘Rage Against the Machine’, ‘White Stripes’ and more in a style you have never heard before. Make sure you bring your boots along to the stage when The Pigs do their thing at Corinbank 2012!
For fifteen years, Alice Cotteehas 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.
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!
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’.
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.
