Andy Baylor with the Banksia Band

FRIDAY 4 OCTOBER | DOORS OPEN AT 7PM | SHOW AT 7.30PM - 10PM

PLAYING SONGS AND TUNES FROM THEIR NEW ALBUM –“IN ANOTHER LIFE “

Andy Baylor, guitars, vocals, fiddle with Sophie Dunn, violin, Kate Connor, violin, Denis Close, percussion, bass, harmonica, Phil Collings drums and Trent McKenzie, bass

IN ANOTHER LIFE –A collection of new music which started in the isolation of the lockdown years with a musical diary on the iPhone.  Glimpses of tunes and lines of poetry filled the long quiet nights and I’d send some of the pieces to my friend, musician /producer Denis Close who would put a rhythm track to them. We shared musical ideas like this for months as they turned into years. Gradually the songs came together. There are several songs which are personal reflections, folk- philosophy if you like, plus some songs which could be described as “Shop Talk” or songs about the musician’s life.  A Brazilian Choro, a Cajunesque swamp fantasy, a modern -day lament or two and a Celtic-tinged gigue.

Andy Baylor with the Banksia Band @The Coolroom 

Australian musical journeyman and roots music troubadour, Andy Baylor, will be returning to the Coolroom in Castlemaine with his original folk/roots Banksia Band. This will be the first gig for the band in quite some time and a great opportunity to hear their music in a relaxed setting.

Drawing on a broad knowledge of grassroots styles, including traditional country, folk, Cajun, Blues and Hi-Life, Andy and the Banksia Band present a sensual string orchestral sound which encapsulates the essence of contemporary Australian music-making. The songs and tunes offer a subtle, original and   authentic sound which has been described as a “bar-room folk symphony”. The Banksia band features Andy on guitar and vocals with Denis Close on percussion, Phil Collings on drums, Sophie Dunn on fiddle and viola, Kate Connor on fiddle and  Trent McKenzie on bass .

Andy himself has been described as “Melbourne’s Roots Music Maestro” and he has  performed  with a who’s-who of Australian and International  music  in a career that started in mid ‘70’s Melbourne .

“Andy Baylor’s music floats on air with blissful melodies and flowing dance tunes”… …Jeff Glorfeld, the Age