MELBOURNE SKA ORCHESTRA ANNOUNCE ‘OUTLAWS AND OFFBEATS TOUR’ TOURING NATIONALLY IN 2024 CELEBRATING THEIR 21ST ANNIVERSARY
A milestone for many, often signifying the transition into adulthood, approaching the 21 year age bracket is always something to be celebrated. And in 2024, the 21st anniversary for the ARIA Award-winning collective Melbourne Ska Orchestra is set to bring the festivities to fans across Australia, with the band today proudly announcing the Outlaws and Offbeats Tour kicking off this August before whipping around the country well into October.
Commencing in Cairns on Friday 16 August, the Outlaws and Offbeats Tour will then head to Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast, before making its way through Newcastle, Wollongong, Sydney, Canberra, Castlemaine, Margaret River, Perth and Melbourne, and is set to close out in spectacular style on Saturday 19 October in Adelaide. Tickets for the upcoming Outlaws and Offbeats Tour are available now from melbourneskaorchestra.com.
Forming in the early 2000s and comprising up to 26 members, the sonic juggernaut that is Melbourne Ska Orchestra is one beating at its core with technical brilliance and infectious joy. Bringing their own unique take on the ska genre, Melbourne Ska Orchestra boasts some of Australia’s finest musicians and performances, helmed by the indomitable charisma of Nicky Bomba (John Butler Trio, Bomba, Bustamento). And from the group’s early days in 2003 wowing Melbourne crowds through to seven full-length albums, two ARIA Award wins and several nominations, and millions of streams worldwide, 2024 finds the talented collective now on the cusp of celebrating 21 years in action; and, as Bomba shares, there’s zero sign of Melbourne Ska Orchestra slowing down anytime soon. “It’s been quite an amazing journey so far,” says Bomba. “This whole ramshackle thing we call the orchestra was created from a love of ska and the fun vibes surrounding it all. We had no idea it would translate so well with everyone, and it still feels like we have a lot more to create.”
Energetic, bombastic and bustling with hilarious and finely-honed mayhem, a Melbourne Ska Orchestra live show is eternally one for the ages, with performances in their wake including multiple major festival appearances, three international tours as well as countless Australia appearances along the way. And it’s in 2024 that the group are sharing the love with hometown fans across the country once more, with the Outlaws and Offbeats Tour set to showcase not just the infamously infectious Melbourne Ska Orchestra live show, but also the marvel that accompanies witnessing so many talented musicians in the one room when MSO roll through town. “As always the MSO show is a bit of a spectacular time with great tunes, upvibes, energising grooves and a real connection with the crowd,” shares Bomba of what fans can expect on the upcoming tour. “We believe a strong interaction with the audience is vital to great experience.”
“It’s always a military operation getting this band on the road,” Bomba continues, “much like a soccer team playing in the national competition. So, when all the planets align and we’re actually on the plane and in the bus and doing soundchecks it’s really a ready-made family party. We always have fun. We usually go out with a touring party of 20+. That’s a lot of rooms, airfares and a hefty catering expense. I feel sorry for our tour manager sometimes but thankfully he has a happy disposition!”
Consistently creating and releasing new music over the years, from their self-titled 2013 debut album through to 2016’s Sierra Kilo Alpha, 2016’s Saturn Return, 2018’s Ska Classics, 2018’s TV & Movie Themes and Read All About It!, and 2019’s Transmission Friday’s, Melbourne Ska Orchestra also unleashed a live album in 2020, as well as two compilation albums, including the ARIA-winning One Year Of Ska in 2019 and, most recently 2023’s 20 Years Young. Embracing influences spanning classic OG Jamaican Ska from The Skatalites, Toots and The Maytals and early Bob Marley, Melbourne Ska Orchestra’s fresh-faced take on the ska realms also draws nods from the Two-Tone UK wave, including The Specials, Madness along with a cocktail of grooves from around the world including Funk, Reggae, Cumbia, Dancehall, Salsa, Samba and healthy seasoning of Jazz. Self-described by Bomba as a “ramshackle Ska Train hanging loose on the rails”, the Melbourne Ska Orchestra experience routinely transcends its jubilant sonic roots, connecting fans with boundless passion and sharp delivery with each new release and live show; and it’s this very fact that has permeated the group’s entire 21 years of existence. “I feel pretty lucky to perform music that I love with an amazing array of musical outlaws!” Bomba says. “This mighty big band really is a spectacle to behold and the energy that I feel on stage inspires me to connect with our audiences on the highest level possible. Outlaws and Offbeats indeed!
Viva La Melbourne Ska Orchestra!”
And as to what fans can expect from the upcoming Outlaws and Offbeats Tour? “We’ll be adding some new things to the show to give our fans a different twist,” Bomba concludes, “and we’re working on some tour specific fun.”
Tickets for the upcoming Outlaws and Offbeats Tour are available now from https://www.melbourneskaorchestra.com/shows/
MELBOURNE SKA ORCHESTRA – OUTLAWS AND OFFBEATS TOUR DATES:
Tickets available at https://www.melbourneskaorchestra.com/shows/
FRI 16 AUG I TANKS ARTS CENTRE, CAIRNS QLD | supported by El Moth
FRI 23 AUG I THE BRIGHTSIDE OUTDOORS, BRISBANE QLD I 18+ | supported by The Seven of Ska & Chutney
Tickets available from oztix.com.au
SAT 24 AUG I THE STATION, SUNSHINE COAST QLD I ALL AGES | supported by The Seven of Ska & Chutney
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
SUN 25 AUG I SOUNDLOUNGE, GOLD COAST QLD I 18+ | supported by Chutney
Tickets available from oztix.com.au
THU 29 AUG I KING STREET BANDROOM, NEWCASTLE NSW I 18+ | supported by Chutney
Tickets available from oztix.com.au
FRI 30 AUG I WAVES, TOWRADGI NSW I 18+ | supported by Chutney
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
SAT 31 AUG I METRO THEATRE, SYDNEY NSW | supported by Chutney & PlayLunch
Tickets available from www.ticketek.com.au | 132 849 | All Ticketek Outlets
SUN 01 SEP I THE BASEMENT, CANBERRA ACT | supported by Chutney
Tickets available from oztix.com.au
SAT 14 SEP I THEATRE ROYAL, CASTLEMAINE VIC | supported by PlayLunch
Tickets available from oztix.com.au
FRI 20 SEP I THE RIVER, MARGARET RIVER WA
Tickets available from theriver.oztix.com.au/
SAT 21 SEP I FREO.SOCIAL, FREMANTLE WA I 18+ | supported by ModSquad
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
FRI 04 OCT I 170 RUSSELL, MELBOURNE VIC I 18+ | supported by PlayLunch
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
SAT 19 OCT I HINDLEY STREET MUSIC HALL, ADELAIDE SA I 18+ | supported by PlayLunch
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
BULLY HAY SHARES UPLIFTING NEW SINGLE + VIDEO ‘WASH OFF THE WORLD’
Undulating and revitalising, the brand new single Wash Off The World out today from Tasmanian singer-songwriter Bully Hay drives home a message of empowerment and inspiration, topped off with the addition of The Tea Party’s Jeff Martin on production, recording and mixing duties. Also armed with an accompanying music video, Wash Off The World marks Bully Hay’s first single off his forthcoming debut album, Black Dogs and Songbirds due out later this year on Wednesday October 30.
“I want to get inside the ocean and wash off the world” declares Bully Hay, aka Jonathon Coleman, in the opening buoyant lines of Wash Off The World. Mimicking literal waves with its rolling and receding verses and choruses, Wash Off The World glistens with a wash of guitars and immersive textures, beckoning you to revisit time and time again with its fluctuating elements and flavours. “The sound is reminiscent of the early Powderfinger albums but has this (John) Bonham solid drum sound powering through,” shares Bully Hay. “And Jeff Martin’s influence throughout lent itself beautifully to really fill out certain sections. Often, it’s a process where the sound is shaped kind of unconsciously throughout the songwriting and recording process. I have never written a song with an artist or influence in mind and try hard not to. It’s not until after its finished, I start to recognise: ‘This sounds a little like Powderfinger or Something for Kate here and there’. And of course you can’t deny Jeff Martin’s influence across the sound. I’ve been a huge fan of Jeff and The Tea Party for over 20 years.”
Teaming up with his musical hero Jeff Martin to bring Wash Off The World to fruition, Bully Hay also channelled notions of enlightenment and awakening into the uplifting track, with Bully Hay penning the song almost a decade ago before ultimately jumping in with Martin to unleash it into the world in 2024. “Working with Jeff would be up there in the top memorable times of my life!” says Bully Hay. “I’d met Jeff through a mutual friend one night in Hobart after he played a solo gig down there. We ended up having a few drinks and sharing a few songs with each other. Jeff offered to produce a record of my songs. I let him know it was a deal as long as he played some guitar on the record, and we shook on it. At the time I thought it was just booze talking, but sure enough the next day it was all confirmed that it was going to happen. Throughout last year Jeff and his wife Melissa welcomed me into their home where I lived for about a month throughout the year and really got stuck into the songs in the studio. At first it was pretty nerve wracking as I really didn’t know what to expect. Jeff and I didn’t know each other apart from hanging out for a few hours one time after his show. And he knew nothing about me, so was most probably hoping I wasn’t some kind of psycho coming to live at his house! But as the days passed and the music was taking shape, we found we had a lot in common and became really great friends. The actual recording process was really fascinating for me. As Jeff has recorded so many albums, solo and with The Tea Party, I was just soaking it all in like a sponge. The highlights for me would be when Jeff would pick up a guitar and come up with these amazing lines to accentuate or soup up my guitar parts. I am not a lead guitarist, so to have Jeff Martin play lead on my record was pretty bloody awesome. The luck factor here is not lost on me.”
“As a producer it’s an incredible experience when you’re working with a singer and don’t have to use any of those evils like Autotune because the guy has perfect pitch every single time,” shares Jeff Martin of working with Bully Hay. “And the harmonies he comes up with…I couldn’t even do that! What Jono has accomplished – which is very rare – is that he can go from tender ballads in the style of Jeff Buckley, to country rock which reminds the listener of vintage Eagles, to these epic rock opuses.”
Engineered by Paul Pilsneniks (Silverchair, The Whitlams, Boy & Bear, Dope Lemon), Wash Off The World was also mastered by the Grammy-nominated extraordinaire Joe Carra (The Teskey Brothers, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard) at Crystal Mastering. The accompanying music video is an affecting piece that brings together powerful live performance as well as a moving narrative throughline. “The song to me is about breaking free of the walls imposed on us by our day-to-day grind and focussing on the important things in life.” says Bully Hay, “I used some of the lyrics of the song to create a visual representation of this, by having our protagonist literally run to the ocean to cleanse/reset his life.”
A proud Tassie boy currently based in Southern Tasmania, Bully Hay’s upbringing saw him immersed in music, with his musical family helping to ignite his lifelong passion at an early age. Ultimately inspired to become a musician by his father, who introduced him to some chords on the guitar at the age of 14, the rest well and truly was history, with the self-taught Coleman going on to learn music by ear, and performing in bands and as a solo artist for the years to follow. Settling on the moniker Bully Hay for his solo endeavours, the name was inspired by Coleman’s uncle who was one of “The Rats of Tobruk” in World War II. And now with his gaze firmly fixed on the upcoming release of his debut album, Bully Hay once again proudly flies the flag for Tasmania, with The Apple Isle intrinsically permeating through his captivating creations. “Living in Tasmania has really shaped me in my life, and very much so within my music,” Bully Hay reveals. “There’s a thread there behind a lot of songs of mine where I end up visualising certain places there, mainly coastal regions, which is why I often catch these kind of elemental lyrics (water, fire, etc.) creeping into my songs.”
“Wash Off The World is the first single from my debut album Black Dogs and Songbirds which is a full length, 11 track album I’ll be releasing later this year,” Bully Hay concludes. “Working with Jeff Martin on this album as my producer was a huge honour. He was able to draw these songs out of me and make them the best that they could possibly be. Listening to these songs, you’ll hear influences like Paul Kelly, Crowded House, Powderfinger, Soundgarden, Jeff Buckley and The Tea Party coming through, but the album now has its own Bully Hay sound. We’ve created something really special. Sharing the album will be my absolute pleasure. I can’t wait to get it out there.”
Wash Off The World is out today here https://gyro.to/WashOffTheWorld
PRESLEY DAVIS JR SHARES THREE TRACKS FROM THREE DIFFERENT GENRES RELEASES SINGLES HEART OF MY HEART, SHOWDOWN + CONVINCING ME TAKEN FROM NEW PROJECT ECLECTA TRIFECTA DUE OUT JULY 23 COMPRISING THREE ALBUMS ROADSIDE MAGNOLIA, TORANA AMERICANA + BIRDLIFE
A sentimental jazz song, a country ode to heartache and a sultry soul gem collide today in another trifecta single release from singer-songwriter, actor and creative cauldron Presley Davis Jr. Balancing various genres across his brand new tracks, Heart of My Heart, Showdown and Convincing Me, all out today, Presley’s eclectic prowess grows to new heights as he steps ever-closer to the upcoming release of three simultaneous albums; Roadside Magnolia, Torana Americana and Birdlife, with these albums forming into the amalgamated Eclecta Trifecta collective, due out on July 23.
Kicking off in swoon city, Presley’s first new single out today, Heart of My Heart, doles out the charm with ambling brass and tinkling keys as Presleyeffortlessly channels classic jazz with hints of barbershop charm throughout. A time-travelling delight that hastens you back to the golden age of Bing Crosby and poetic lyricism, Heart of My Heart also beckons another snapshot into Presley’s upcoming full length album Roadside Magnoliadropping this July as part of the Eclecta Trifecta project. “Heart of My Heart is a classic old jazz number,” shares Presley. “I love this song because of the beautiful sentiment in it. Modern pop music lyrics don’t have phrases like “I know a tear would glisten, if once more I could listen”. This was a pop song back in the day, just think about that for a moment. It’s definitely influenced by classic singers like Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and Dean Martin. I used to sing a lot of barbershop music when I was young and if you’re at my favourite pizza bar on a Tuesday you might hear the local barbershop group rehearsing at the next table.”
Next up, throwback country meets modern bliss via Showdown; the latest single from Presley’s forthcoming Torana Americana album as part of Eclecta Trifecta. With its crooning lyrics and sunny twang, Showdown bustles with warm instrumentals and poignant vocals, tapping into the past and the future simultaneously, as Presley explains, “I really like older country music like Willie Nelson and Hank Williams. I also like alternative country and roots artists like Gillian Welch and Anders Osborne. In this song you can hear the old with a bit of the new mixed in. This song was inspired by some of my past relationships. Sometimes you break up because it isn’t working, but then you get lonely, so you go back. Wash, rinse, repeat. We’ve all been there, haven’t we?”
And completing today’s simultaneous single release from Presley Davis Jr. is Convincing Me; a sumptuous and sleek concoction of funk and soul that could easily find itself at home soundtracking a salacious piece of cinema with its swaggering bassline and lush sonic backdrop. “I often write songs by playing a different instrument for a while,” shares Presley of conjuring Convincing Me. “Toying around with bass guitar often results in a song for me and that is what happened here. The original “scratch” lyrics for this were about going outside of your normal parameters for who you would sleep with – “you’re not my type, but…you’re convincing me.” When I revisited it, I thought that was a tad offensive so I rephrased it as “we shouldn’t go there, but you’re convincing me”. I can see this being included on a soundtrack because there is so much cheating and shagging going on in TV and movies these days. I love listening to Prince, Stevie Wonder, James Brown and I think you can definitely hear some of those influences on this track.”
The task of simultaneously creating three full-bodied and stylistically diverse albums saw Presley dive into a horde of personally meaningful genres, with the Eclecta Trifecta project also evolving from his experience during the pandemic years. Evaluating himself both personally and professionally at the time, Presley’s soul searching ultimately led to him settling on the idea to release a three-album project, with all three albums in three different styles set to release on the same day. Consisting of Roadside Magnolia, Torana Americana and Birdlife, Eclecta Trifecta spans everything from old-timey jazz to country, bluegrass, funk and soul, with all three diverse but focused albums beating at their core with Presley’s passion and deep understanding for each musical realm. Of his upcoming three albums, Presley shares, “Roadside Magnolia is a tip of the hat to my father and his lifelong dedication to performing that style of music. Torana Americana is me celebrating my love of playing and singing the music I grew up playing. Birdlife continues my obsession with all things soulful and funky. Funk has a history of including comedic tracks and there are certainly a few of those on there as well.”
Opening with the jangly Shine On Harvest Moon, Roadside Magnolia bustles with timeless whimsy and a sharp understanding of the traditional jazz genre, steadily doling out arrangements and lyrical delivery that would happily sit alongside the likes of Cole Porter (Nevertheless), alongside upbeat speakeasy vibes (Five Foot Two, Eyes Of Blue – In A Shanty, In Old Shanty Town and Sin To Tell A Lie), a stellartwist on a classic made famous by Willie Nelson and Patsy Cline (Crazy), a velvet-clad jazz take on a classic love song (It Had To Be You), and a standout adaptation of a longtime jazz staple (Lazy River).
Switching gears to an album made to be consumed on road trips or accompanied by a shot of whiskey, Torana Americana hurls a jubilant spotlight on all things country, from the toe-tappin’, string-fuelled opener Petunia through to a countrified version of a 1996 hit from The Monkees (Last Train to Clarksville), a cosy twist on a country and gospel favourite (Seven Spanish Angels), energetic bluegrass (Friend of the Devil – Blue Moon of Kentucky and A Full Time Job) as well as a stirring love song fuelled by glistening banjos (Sugarcane), and a modern alt country closer in the form of Bigger the Debt.
And from classic jazz and country licks to sleek scintillation, the third album from the Eclecta Trifecta series finds Presley embracing rhythm and blues with soul through a simultaneous vintage and contemporary lens, with seven songs lying in wait on Birdlife. From the tempered sensuality of its opening number How Can I, Presley effortlessly oozes through steamy funk (My Escape), upbeat gloss (Where You Be At), disco-ready beats (Cause I’m Rich), undulating soul (10 Shades of Blue), and an effusive celebration of tongue-in-cheek lyricism alongside breathy flutes and catchy hooks (YASWOM).
With Roadside Magnolia, Torana Americana and Birdlife all self-produced by Presley, the end result for all three full-lenghths was also cemented alongside mixing and mastering by Presley’s long-time collaborator and great friend Jason Torrens for Birdlife and Torana Americana, with Roadside Magnolia mixed in Argentina by Alejandro Rosenblat and mastered by Lucas Gomez. “I produce everything myself and can be pretty insistent on what I want based on what I hear in my head,” shares Presley. “Birdlife and Torana Americana were mixed and mastered by Jason Torrens, he owns Debasement Studios in Ferntree Gully, Victoria and has worked with Bodyjar, You Am I, Slipknot, as well as being Senior Program Leader at Collarts (Australian College of the Arts). I ended up getting Roadside Magnolia mixed in Argentina by Alejandro Rosenblat and mastered by Lucas Gomez. It is hard to find someone to mix jazz as it’s pretty niche and these guys did a great job. Be wary of mixers who say they can mix jazz without hearing an example of what they did first.”
A jack of all musical trades and adopting his stage name to honour Sammy Davis Jr., it seemed predestined that Presley Davis Jr would find himself immersed in the arts. Receiving his first guitar and tenor banjo at the age of eight from his father, a member of the Nicky Capodice Banjo Band, Presley was contracted to sing old jazz favourites six nights a week by the age of 17 and was touring North America by the age of 25, performing with different bands in different styles spanning bluegrass, blues, soul and rock. Eventually moving to his wife’s hometown of Melbourne, Presleywould find himself hemmed in by the world’s longest lockdown during the pandemic years; but rather than dull his creativity, Presley turned to his work and aspired to conjure something entirely for himself. And it’s via his upcoming trifecta album release and the independent process that Presley Jr has found the long-awaited return of full and unbridled creative fulfillment, as he explains, “This has been a real learning experience for me. I am feeling fulfilled for the first time in a long time. A lot of musicians have these dreams of doing new projects but get overwhelmed by the work involved that isn’t music related like admin and promo. Doing it yourself is genuinely hard but once you get through the first time it becomes easier. My current working theory is to record what you want, have fun and explore your creativity wherever it takes you. The music “industry” is in shambles so why not set your own goals?”
And after successfully mastering multiple genres across the space of three insatiable albums all at once, just where will Presley Davis Jr. turn his creative gaze to next? “A blues record is in the pipeline,” Presley concludes. “I am toying with a hip-hop-ish record, or at least a beats-based record followed by a rock record. Then I might retire and take up lawn bowls full time – I’m actually pretty good on the green already.”
Heart of My Heart, Showdown and Convincing Me are out today, Tuesday June 25
Roadside Magnolia, Torana Americana and Birdlife, aka the Eclecta Trifecta, are due out on Friday July 23 exclusively on Bandcamp.
| Listen: HEART OF MY HEART
|
Listen: SHOWDOWN
|
Listen: CONVINCING ME
|