With their gentle, folk sound, introspective lyrics and gospel sounding harmonies, Bandito Folk are making a name for themselves, with critics comparing them to the likes of Augie March and Jeff Buckley.
Since hitting the Brisbane circuit back in 2011, Bandito Folk’s lead singer and guitarist, Josh Tucker, is quick to point out that despite being “a pretty cliquey city with plenty of different [music] scenes”, his group doesn’t belong to any of them – he thinks this gives the band an advantage of their music standing out.
All meeting while studying a music course at the Queensland University of Technology, the five-piece group formed over a shared love of similar music. They self-released their first EP, ‘Don’t Talk To Strangers’, in 2012 followed by ‘The Embankment’ EP in 2013.
Defined by a lush, folk-rock sound and a rich ambience, Bandito Folk are set to release their latest EP, ‘The Perimeter Fence’, on 28 November 28. On first listen, the influence of church and gospel music is undeniable; Josh maintaining that it “wasn’t a conscious thing, it sort of happened”.
Which makes perfect sense for Bandito Folk, right down to the group’s fascination with pop-art and pulp fiction from the 1950s, as illustrated on their tour posters and on their latest EP. “The vibe of the posters with the pop art, noir and throw back; it fits in with the music. Because we’re not about creating modern sounds,” Josh says.
In the group’s early days, Josh says they were certainly influenced by artists such as Neil Young and Pink Floyd. But not in their sound: “in the ambience…the little breakdowns that happen. In reference to the EP, probably the third song [‘All American’] would be the best example of that; a slow build with a crescendo.”
As the primary songwriter, Josh also mentions key influences such as Paul Kelly, The Beatles and Joni Mitchell. “[These are] people who focus a lot of their music on the words and melody; it’s the most important thing in music but it’s overlooked.”
Kicking off the release of their latest EP with performances in the Fortitude Valley and the Sunshine Coast this weekend, Josh continues to be touched by the reception they receive at their shows and the growing appreciation of folk music. “The people that come to our shows listen to our music and reach out on social media; they obviously connect to our music. So there are people out there that like it, maybe they like it because it is a little bit different.”
Bandito Folk launch ‘The Perimeter Fence’ EP at The Underdog, Brisbane, on 28 November and the Palmwoods Hotel, Sunshine Coast, on 30 November.
