Hidden in the deep corners of Newcastle's music scene are the musicians bound to make your head turn, eyes widen, and foot start tapping. Hamish Price is one of those musicians.
Up and coming and flaunting a whole bunch of groove, the Hamish Price Trio are bound to make you listen and keep listening. Expect funk, jazz, a bit of fusion and a whole lot of furious jamming.
Released last month, 'Hamish Price' is his debut album. It's a record that dances between jazz, funk, and experimental music, with improvisation at its core and a constant need for momentum.
It opens in collision – extended jams, odd meters, and dense rhythmic interplay – before slipping back into moments of stability and clarity.
Furious ensemble sections sit alongside solo bass meditations and stripped-back duets, allowing texture and space to carry as much weight as virtuosity.
Who is... Hamish Price Trio includes myself on bass guitar, Sophie Hawthorne on drums and Zach Parnell (JP) on keys.
I've been in contact with JP since August 2024, when I travelled to Canberra to play a show with him for Tino (a good friend of both JP and me), and I met Sophie through university in Newcastle. I put the three of us together for the recording sessions for the album last August.
We sound like... Herbie Hancock, if he were a dance trio.
Our first gig was... On 26 February, 2026, at Lola's on Darby Street, Newcastle.
In the studio, we usually... Freehand the tunes. Lots of learning and adjusting on the fly. Each take is so different and unique. The possibility of an outtakes album is very high.
If we could tour with anyone... If there were some way to combine touring with Miles Davis and Funkadelic, well. . . that.
Social media is... @hamish_price
My favourite app at the moment is... 'Fruit Ninja'; gives me a good break and lets me vent out some frustration.
If you'll have us on your bill, all we ask is that our rider contains... Orange juice, cola, dark rum and fried chicken.
If you had to live in a city abroad, where would you choose and why? Havana, Cuba. Somewhere a little different and somewhere I know nothing about. Great music though.
Three people you'd like to invite around for a dinner party... Keith Jarrett, Steve Reich and Jaco Pastorius. I am a major fan of all of them.
Jaco is my idol. I believe I've entirely exhausted all videos of him available on YouTube. Keith Jarrett is an amazing improviser. His Köln concert is one of my favourite records I own.
Finally, Steve Reich. He is a fantastic composer and has some great interviews out there, and his album 'Electric Counterpoint' inspired 'Conversations', a track from my album. I am a massive fan of all three of them.
When it comes to pets are you a lover or hater of our furry friends? I grew up around plenty of cats and dogs. Lover of both!
No matter the expense, send me a case of... One of those mystery vintage clothes boxes.
The last time I saw the inside of a gym was... Last Wednesday. I've been going fairly consistently lately, but having the debut show the next day was sending me a little stir crazy, so I needed to get out of the house.
Do you have any phobias... I mean, snakes and spiders I can handle from a distance, but as soon as I have a spider on me, I hate it.
I went to clear the mailbox one morning when I was growing up, and a huntsman the size of my hand managed to get on my shirt. . . I've never forgotten that.
Best local takeaway joint for a midnight feed that will leave you with a food coma? The nearest Guzman Y Gomez. Especially on a weekday after payday, I'm bound to drive to/ order in Guzman.
Last show you binge-watched (and what kept you glued to the screen)? 'The Sopranos' as of late. I'm really loving all of the characters. The dialogue is fantastic too.
