Session Guitar player from Sydney . Member of 1927 for 10years.
Other local artists: Richard Clapton, Glenn Shorrock , Ross Wilson, Marc Hunter, Human Nature , Steve Kilbey, Joe Camerleri, Wendy Mathews , Mark Williams The Chantoozies, Mark Gable,Real Life, Boom Crash Opera, OSHEA . Kate Ceberano
Internationals: Berlin (US) Martika (US) Men without Hats (CAN) Limahl(UK).
Powerful, dynamic and highly energetic; Mount Kujo is a Melbourne based, internationally formed act blending Funk and Jazz influenced by Latin and Afro-beat. A collective of jazz musicians from all around the world deeply rooted in Melbourne’s music scene, playing original arrangements rich of colourful harmonic changes, syncopated rhythms with explosive horn sections and extensive solo parts.
Mount Kujo have an extensive touring record in Australia, having played festivals (Dragon Dreaming, Castlemaine Jazz, Renaissance Festival) as well as some of Melbourne’s finest night clubs (Night Cat, 24 Moons, Toff in Town, The Gaso), they are probably best known for their intimate residency shows in some of those beautiful hidden bars in the side streets of Melbourne’s underground music scene.
Mount Kujo I available on vinyl and all streaming platfroms including bandcamp.
Jazz survives gracefully into our modern age because of its flexibility as an art form. It flows through cultures and adapts with each new reinvention, thriving within or without structure. That’s a perfect metaphor to introduce the sound of Mount Kujo’s first self-titled studio album, the follow up to Live at Bar Oussou.
If the nucleus of the band was documented on that live recording from 2020, Mount Kujo’s 2022 effort bears the fruit of hard work, introspection and musical growth. Their compositions have matured far beyond the monothematic “afrobeat orchestra” ideas that bandleader Max Myland brought to Melbourne’s warmer cityscape from Berlin and now include elements of latin-rock, spiritual jazz and even drum ‘n bass. The group has embraced the true spirit of being a musical collective: a living, breathing unit that adapts to its surroundings quickly, and boasts a confident studio prowess that has benefitted from their unconfined stage style.
Awkward attempts to secure band members by inviting them to a tombstone factory / rehearsal room in the outer suburbs of Melbourne, plus the insecurities of the last years meant Mount Kujo got used to operating as a loose collective. The idea of being comfortable to play and rehearse as a larger or smaller band came out of their compulsion to continue to be creative no matter what circumstances they found themselves in. Max recruited and bunkered down with the core composers of the band – keyboardist Phil Setton (“We talked about Steely Dan all night”), trombonist Tom Panckridge (“This band doesn’t actually work on paper”), saxophonist Will Larsen (“Listening to Tom’s solos is giving me permanent stank face”) and drummer James Carman (“When we play together, it feels like this is what I’m on Earth to do”) to compose the foundation of tunes that would become this exciting album, while leaving space for rotating members of the greater collective to add their own flavor in the mix.
The first single, Orientation is a classic Kujo standard, finally fleshed out as a studio version, hails alongside Golden Holden and Move to showcase Mount Kujo’s fondness for groovy arrangements in the vein of 70s cinematic funk, bolstered by Latin and West African rhythm accompaniments. Cliffhanger proves they are masters of tension, bombastic vamps and then enthralling an audience with a four-to-the-floor backbeat.
The warm, vintage-analog feel to the album is a great credit to sound engineer Deep Sheth, who took pains to recreate many creative studio ideas from the 70s, including looping the drums in a garden hose with a mic on the end, a trick picked up from Sylvia Massy.
While the group jokes that “stage beers” are tantamount to the “Kujo Vibe”, peering into that answer exposes a greater truth about the Mount Kujo ethos: these musicians are as pure as it gets, in an industry moment where – for many – getting on Spotify playlists and selling t-shirts has become more important than the music, Mount Kujo are dedicated to honing their compositions and setting them free on stage. They savor the post-soundcheck hangs, dealing with stage and production issues and simply existing in their creative element. “No one is irreplaceable in the band, including me” explains Max, of the way they are allowed to forge forward without member’s egos getting in the way. A close listen to the immaculate Gobo River hints at this rooted, elemental part of the collective, even without lyrics or a physical manifesto and shows they are masters of quiet moments.
Another standout moment on the album is the second single Earth Hum, with an articulated and breathy pause and pedal tone mediating through the composition. It pedestals the arranging skills and depth of Mount Kujo, flexing some progressive influences and provides an exciting song to break up the set.
Max maintains his Berlin connections with renowned musicians from Germany’s jazz scenes. Contributing to the album is Benny Brown (Benny Brown Band) on trumpet, Daniel Avi Schneider (Bukahara) on violin and Niko Zeidler (Make a Move) on tenor saxophone. This inclusion gives the album a truly international feel, out of time and place upon a first listening. However, as you get a feel for the moods on this self-titled album, you will truly start to understand what is “the Kujo Vibe” – in essence, a collective dedicated to seeing their funky visions become reality, through the positive interactions of a musical family.
Relax With Max are a ten piece Melbourne outfit formed in 1984 by band leader Max Vella. The group presents a unique blend of funk, soul and afro-beat, along with elements of R&B and gospel. Relax with Max are notorious for their high-energy live performances and their ridiculously entertaining ability to get the crowd moving. The band consists of a selection of high calibre musicians including an explosive rhythm section, percussion and a four piece horn section.
Relax with Max has performed to crowds exceeding 90,000 at the MCG in the mid 90's as well as lending support for several international artists including Wilson Picket, Maxi Priest, The Chimes and The Commitments. More recently, the group has shared the stage with Seun Kuti's Egypt 80's band at Fitzroy's 'The Night Cat'. Several of the band's past members include well-known Australian musicians Ross Hannaford (Daddy Cool), James Black (Mondo Rock/RocKwiz), Greg Ham (Men at Work), Gary Young (Daddy Cool) and Lance Ferguson (The Bamboos).
Hailing from the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, The Regnans are an explosive, captivating band that blends funk, blues and rock to deliver an electrifying experience - and are excited to bring a new headline show to The Workers Club in October.
Consisting of Hamish Warner (Vocals), Zac Annal (Guitar), Angus Williamson (Bass) and Josh Buchanan (Drums), The Regnans have the potential to carve an incredible future in the music industry.
Loz Irwin-Ray is a Melbourne-based musician who specialises in voice, double bass, electric bass and piano.
Loz combines a love for creative expression and connection. She constantly strives to learn, understand and create a wide-variety of music. She finds herself rising to new creative challenges every day. Performing as a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist in a number of Melbourne bands, she enjoys effortlessly jumping from one style to the next. Be it straight ahead jazz, earthy folk or free electronic improvisation, Loz maintains an honest, considered and heartfelt approach to her music.
Loz covers plenty of ground in the Melbourne music scene, working as a vocalist, double bassist, electric bassist, pianist, choir director, performer, composer/song-writer, educator, arranger, session musician and curator. She typically plays and writes in genres including folk, jazz, improvisation, blues, pop, funk and neo-soul.
Prepare to groove like it's 1979 with Australia's hottest new sensation! Set cruise control for smooth as this all-star band of brothers will rock your soul with funk and style. From a gentle sway of yacht, to an energetic beat of rock... Yes, these guys do it all. The funkiest band to grace the stage, they'll get you jivin talkin' and your money walkin' so best believe what you're about to receive, cos' when the Yachtski's are in town, a good time's goin' down.
Featuring 8 talented brothers, guaranteed to steal your Mrs. This musical journey is your own personal time travel experience, so step in and ride like the wind where the music was timeless, and the vibes were endless!
Introducing a pre-show experience like none other with A&R Executive to the Stars, DJ Winston dropping the needle and unleashing a time capsule followed by two smooth sultry sets by 'The Yachtski Brothers'
Corner strives to create a safe space that everyone can enjoy.
Crowd surfing & dangerous behaviour will result in removal from the venue.
As the collective psyche of the globe gnashes its teeth at the abyss, and your liver, kidney, and soul are sold to almighty corporations, Better Than Sex will have you gyrating and grooving like nothing else.
It’s funk for cynics, jazz for nihilists, cowboy circus cabaret chaos…… an undefinable sound that hits a spot you didn’t even know was there.
A golden voice and mighty roar, bass lines that walk the Nullarbor, guitar riffs which defy the laws of arthritis, drums executed with the precision of a US bullet going through the head of a Freedom Fighter, trombone that erupts like the trunk of an elephant, and a saxophone so smooth it has multiple undisclosed court cases.
Better Than Sex. The soundtrack to the privatisation of your nervous system.
The perfect band for the end of the world.
To quote Mexican President Porfirio Diaz (1876-1911) “Poor Espy, so far from god, so close to St Kilda”
One of this year's biggest rising stars, Running Touch continues to go from strength to strength so we sat down with him at Splendour to get to know him.
Mysterious producer RUNNING TOUCH has seen his musical journey progress leaps and bounds over the past few months. From jumping on the Groovin' The Moo lineup to nabbing a spot at Splendour In The Grass this year, he's concentrating hard on sticking to his guns, and people love him for it.
His unique blend of personal and intimate electronica with dance sensibilities makes for an enthralling experience, whether it be in the club, in your bedroom or at the massive Mix Up Tent at Splendour, and his ability to transcend environments to create an intimate experience for each and every person is one that has seen him acquire a rapidly growing fan base.
With a slew of solid singles behind him, and incredibly promising movements to come, we sat down with him at Splendour this year to get to know him a little better.
Ultravibralux return to their spiritual birth place, the streets of St kilda with their their bold essoteric sounds. Their music is a unique cocktail of cinematic psychedelic funk that takes cues from greats like the JB’s, Frank Zappa, Funkadelic, Lalo Schifrin, Mulatu Astake, Herbie & Miles. Fueled with the classic tones and of valve-soaked sounds of 60s & 70s amplification Ultravibralux combine sophisticated tight horn arrangements, heavy hitting baselines and deep grooves. They will be performing songs from their first full length album ‘Secret Level’ recently launched to a packed audience at the Workers Club in Fitzroy.
The Hoodoo Men deliver powerhouse and soulful blues at its best.
Singer, songwriter & drummer, Tim Stout is backed by Leigh Vial on bass to complete a solid rhythm section, and Jim Laing on ripping blues guitar.
The Hoodoomen album – Found The Blues – reached top 10 on the 2020 Australian blues charts. Tim and the Hoodoomen have featured at many of Melbourne’s leading blues clubs and venues.
The Hoodoo Men have been reimagined by Tim Stout the singing drummer and songwriter driving the ship ,with an independent album Found the Blues and joined by Jim Laing on Guitar and Leigh Vial on bass , they have found a big powerful blues sound guaranteed to please , get feet and hips moving and they are not to be missed.