While the names of the players involved will mostly mean nothing to your average music fan, dig a little deeper and Steve Banks and The Sidemen are a super group in the truest sense of the term.
After a "busy manufacturing career" that saw Steve "making joints; the implantable kind not the smokable one", he hooked up with Jeff Burstin (Black Sorrows and Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons) for a recording session featuring some other musical friends.One of those session players was Bruce Haymes (super keys man with Archie Roach, Paul Kelly). The result was the album 'Ordinary Man'.
Steve then moved to Bryon Bay, maintaining contact with Jeff and Bruce who'd venture north occasionally for the odd live show; but Steve was on the hunt to expand his musical crew.
"I looked for a local rhythm section and maybe another guitar. As it turned out, this region is festooned with amazing musos," Steve says.
"I met Greg Lyon (born in Victoria) who was (unbeknownst to me) once the 'go to' session bass player in Oz, had played with Georgie Fame for years and to top that, was a founding member of Crossfire, the jazz fusion success story from the '70s.
"He brought with him a guy he described as 'handy on the drums'. . . well that turned out to be Grant Gerathy (ex John Butler Trio) and then, I met Rick Fenn, Byron-based guitarist from 10cc would you believe. . . whereupon I finally acknowledge. . . the ether was trying to tell me something."
Now that's some seriously talented musicians, no matter what era you're from. "The show revolves around songs they've (we’ve) written or contributed to (some very big hits there) and songs that inspired us all to become performance artists.
"I sing with them, but I interview them too, on stage under a naked bulb almost. We've found so many images of them as young men and we project them as we chat.
"The set list is kick-ass. We even do a song written by Rick Fenn that was only ever done in the studio with Dave Mason and Dave Gilmour. Pink Floyd of course. Plus we've written some cool tunes since then."
Now Byron's very own super group is gearing up to perform at the inaugural Byron Music Festival (BMF) next month (16-18 June), featuring a line-up of 100 per cent Northern Rivers acts. To be headlined by Wolfmother, Hayley Mary and Kyle Lionhart, other artists include Tijuana Cartel, Bobby Alu, Drop Legs, Wharves, The Oogars and much more.
"As a performer, the BMF is just about the perfect platform for what we do," Steve says. "Steve Banks and the Sidemen are dedicated to bringing quality live performance to this region particularly.
"Nick [Sergi] and his team at BMF have a vision: in my opinion, it is about promoting local talent (of which there's an abundance) and bringing in well-known and respected acts to a very music savvy and appreciative community.
"The cross-pollination in terms of talent and experience is invaluable. It is an ambitious project in these troubled times, but I feel there's a tangible light at the end of the tunnel.
"I commend BMF's courage and creativity and its commitment to keeping live music alive. I cannot countenance the alternative."
Here, Steve shares a few reasons why it's easy to fall in love with Byron Bay.
1: Unbridled creativity in the arts
You'll have to forgive me for the thinly veiled reference to the amazing music scene up this way. Unparalleled.2: Stupendously beautiful produce
A gastronomic wonderland. Don't go to supermarkets any more. Farmers markets. Artisanal breads, grass-raised organic meats, eggs, veggies etc etc.3: Killer climate
Perfect. . . a tad humid for a week or two but splash about at the beach and who cares! T-shirts, shorts and berkies all year 'round.4: World class diving on your doorstep
Julian Rocks – another music reference? No, a world class dive spot with seasonally adjusted sharks. Grey nurse in winter, leopards in summer. All great whites banished to Ballina.5: Rural vibe but access to the bigsmoke a breeze
Direct flights to Sydney and Melbourne. Short drive to Australia's fourth largest city-the GC. Brisbane a hop beyond that.Steve Banks and The Sidemen perform Byron Music Festival Opening Night at Byron Theatre 18 June and Byron Music Festival at Dening Park 19 June.
