Where did your band name come from?
My great great grandfather once owned a farm that now lies buried beneath Lake Burley Griffin. I started using the band name while I was touring solo in the United States and it made for a great story about my hometown when people would ask me to explain the meaning.
Group members?
Evan Buckley (vocals, acoustic guitar), Henry King (banjo, vocals), Kyle Mitchell (drums, vocals) and we've recently been working with Michael de Hoog on keys. We were also playing with a wonderful double bassist, before he got sucked into the void that is Melbourne.
Describe your sound:
Raw yet melodic folk-rock with a touch of alt-country. Both passionate and fun.
Who are your influences, musical or otherwise?
The first album I ever bought was by Ricky Martin, so I guess that's where I learned to shake my bon bons. As a songwriter, I'd say some of my major influences would be Paul Simon, Rufus Wainwright, The Avett Brothers and a strange, smelly, genius I once toured with named Brandon Reid.
What’s the weirdest experience you’ve had whilst performing?
Most of the strangest things that have ever happened to me have been while on tour. Specifically while performing, though, probably the time I was hit in the head by a flying sausage, mid stride.
What’s your biggest achievement/proudest moment so far?
Recording an album was a huge milestone. That happened while staying in Michigan with the band Mike Mains & the Branches who I had met while on tour. They were kind enough to learn my songs and play on the album, as I was still generally a solo artist at that point.
What are your plans for the future?
We're keen to start touring more throughout Australia. There's still so much of this country we're yet to see!
What makes you laugh?
Bad harmonica solos. Groin fat. Rap metal. Parks and Rec.
What pisses you off?
Pay parking. 6:20am. Monsanto. (Losing at) competitive sports.
What’s your opinion of the local scene?
It's like a warm blanket. It's hard to get out but it's so cosy and familiar, why would you want to? But honestly, Canberra holds many hidden gems.
What are your upcoming gigs?
Friday July 7 at The Front with a ton of other artists for The Front’s birthday celebrations, and Friday July 20 at the White Eagle Polish Club with The Bon Scotts.
Contact info:
theburleygriffin@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/theburleygriffin
