The Bearded Gypsy Band
Words: Kristy Delaine
The Bearded Gypsy Band has been setting the folk and world music scene alight with their energetic jazzed up gypsy sounds. While they’ve only been around for a few short years, the young four piece from the Adelaide Hills have been quickly gaining momentum and are about to play one of Australia’s largest World Music festivals.
It was only three years ago as a high school three piece that Tom Kneebone (guitarist), Tom Boehm (violin & mandolin) and Kiah Gossner (bass) had a “semi-regular” gig playing to “just a few people” in a coffee lounge. As interest in the boys’ talents began to grow, young drummer Max Tulysewski joined them and they became the Bearded Gypsy Band. Their unique mix of gypsy jazz provides for energetic live shows which infects the whole audience with enthusiasm and makes for a spectacle on the dance floor.
So how do you go from coffee lounge to WOMAD in just a few years?
With the 2012 WOMADelaide Festival almost upon us, Caught In The Mosh spoke with guitarist Tom Kneebone about their upcoming festival appearance.
It seems as though your music career came about quite accidentally, would you agree?
Yeah I think that sounds fair. [laughs] We started out as the “Heathfield High School Celtic Ensemble” it was a school created band by our music teacher. We played traditional Celtic tunes then we got the idea of writing a few. We were all interested in the gypsy style of music and we’re all influenced by Django Reinhardt and those types of guys. So we sort of thought “lets write some silly gypsy songs and see if someone likes them” and people did which was interesting so we kept doing it and it kept getting bigger and bigger. It’s strange but good.
There are many different descriptions of your band's style; how would you describe your sound?
Our sound in particular isn’t strictly that gypsy. I think we’ve got a little bit of the Balkans, a bit of traditional gypsy influence occasionally but a lot of it is the gypsy jazz which came in little bit later in the 1930’s or 40’s in France where these French gypsy’s were getting in to Jazz. They mixed the two together, it’s sort of gypsy with swing.
We do a lot of Celtic, Folk and even a bit of Blue Grass in there. So we do a lot of traditional styles of music just mixed together.
You recently came back from an interstate tour, how did that go?
Yeah we went to NSW for two weeks. We went to Maitland and Newcastle and some other places and then we went to the Illawarra Folk festival for four shows which was really good, it was an amazing festival.
It was only three years ago as a high school three piece that Tom Kneebone (guitarist), Tom Boehm (violin & mandolin) and Kiah Gossner (bass) had a “semi-regular” gig playing to “just a few people” in a coffee lounge. As interest in the boys’ talents began to grow, young drummer Max Tulysewski joined them and they became the Bearded Gypsy Band. Their unique mix of gypsy jazz provides for energetic live shows which infects the whole audience with enthusiasm and makes for a spectacle on the dance floor.
So how do you go from coffee lounge to WOMAD in just a few years?
With the 2012 WOMADelaide Festival almost upon us, Caught In The Mosh spoke with guitarist Tom Kneebone about their upcoming festival appearance.
It seems as though your music career came about quite accidentally, would you agree?
Yeah I think that sounds fair. [laughs] We started out as the “Heathfield High School Celtic Ensemble” it was a school created band by our music teacher. We played traditional Celtic tunes then we got the idea of writing a few. We were all interested in the gypsy style of music and we’re all influenced by Django Reinhardt and those types of guys. So we sort of thought “lets write some silly gypsy songs and see if someone likes them” and people did which was interesting so we kept doing it and it kept getting bigger and bigger. It’s strange but good.
There are many different descriptions of your band's style; how would you describe your sound?
Our sound in particular isn’t strictly that gypsy. I think we’ve got a little bit of the Balkans, a bit of traditional gypsy influence occasionally but a lot of it is the gypsy jazz which came in little bit later in the 1930’s or 40’s in France where these French gypsy’s were getting in to Jazz. They mixed the two together, it’s sort of gypsy with swing.
We do a lot of Celtic, Folk and even a bit of Blue Grass in there. So we do a lot of traditional styles of music just mixed together.
You recently came back from an interstate tour, how did that go?
Yeah we went to NSW for two weeks. We went to Maitland and Newcastle and some other places and then we went to the Illawarra Folk festival for four shows which was really good, it was an amazing festival.
Did you get a good response from the crowd?
Surprisingly we did. We did four shows and there was a slightly bigger crowd each night, by the last show there was a huge crowd. Then we did one show in Wollongong after the festival, we weren’t expecting many to be there but there was a line outside the door of people that we had to turn away!? They couldn’t get in, so it was a big success. It was fun.
It seems like people really get in to your music and dance around a lot.
I think that’s one of the main appeals of our band, we’re pretty high energy we can do that kind of thing, which is good.
How many times have you attended WOMADelaide?
We’ve all attended WOMAD quite religiously for the last 4 or 5 years. I think it’s just one of the most amazing festivals that Adelaide has. With its variety of music and just the way it’s put on, it’s so professionally done. They always get really high quality artists and Adelaide’s really lucky to have it. The combination of all those things put together makes it what it is; the quality of artists, the setting of botanic park and just the way it’s set up and the vibe of the whole thing it’s really brilliant.
Do you have any memories of a standout performance from over the years? Anything that really sticks out in your mind?
That’s a hard one…I never really go for the headliners as much, there’s just so much other good stuff that’s at WOMAD to discover…but one of the best things I’ve seen is a band called Paprika Balkanicus, a Balkan gypsy band with really amazing musician ship with violin, double bass and guitar. It’s just really frantic and hectic which is insane so I really enjoyed that one year. So many good eastern European things coming too.
Who are you looking forward to seeing this year at WOMAD?
I think we’re all pretty happy to have The Dirty Three playing, I haven’t seen them live before so I’d really like to see them.
Warren Ellis is brilliant to watch live.
Yeah he’s insane isn’t he, I’ve seen him with the bad seeds but to see him by himself would be so good.
I think I’ll have to have a good look at the program, sit down and work out a game plan. There’s so many to pick from and so many unknown people, as I said before that’s one of the best things about WOMAD; just walking around and discovering new things that you’ve never seen before
Where were you when you got the news that you’d be playing WOMAD?
We were just leaving for our tour to Melbourne, we had to keep it quiet for quite a few months, our manager told us in the car and then told us that we couldn’t tell anyone so we had this huge moment of excitement and then this huge moment of sadness that we couldn’t really share it with anyone. We were so stoked to get it, never thought we would- it’s such a big thing for us.
Surprisingly we did. We did four shows and there was a slightly bigger crowd each night, by the last show there was a huge crowd. Then we did one show in Wollongong after the festival, we weren’t expecting many to be there but there was a line outside the door of people that we had to turn away!? They couldn’t get in, so it was a big success. It was fun.
It seems like people really get in to your music and dance around a lot.
I think that’s one of the main appeals of our band, we’re pretty high energy we can do that kind of thing, which is good.
How many times have you attended WOMADelaide?
We’ve all attended WOMAD quite religiously for the last 4 or 5 years. I think it’s just one of the most amazing festivals that Adelaide has. With its variety of music and just the way it’s put on, it’s so professionally done. They always get really high quality artists and Adelaide’s really lucky to have it. The combination of all those things put together makes it what it is; the quality of artists, the setting of botanic park and just the way it’s set up and the vibe of the whole thing it’s really brilliant.
Do you have any memories of a standout performance from over the years? Anything that really sticks out in your mind?
That’s a hard one…I never really go for the headliners as much, there’s just so much other good stuff that’s at WOMAD to discover…but one of the best things I’ve seen is a band called Paprika Balkanicus, a Balkan gypsy band with really amazing musician ship with violin, double bass and guitar. It’s just really frantic and hectic which is insane so I really enjoyed that one year. So many good eastern European things coming too.
Who are you looking forward to seeing this year at WOMAD?
I think we’re all pretty happy to have The Dirty Three playing, I haven’t seen them live before so I’d really like to see them.
Warren Ellis is brilliant to watch live.
Yeah he’s insane isn’t he, I’ve seen him with the bad seeds but to see him by himself would be so good.
I think I’ll have to have a good look at the program, sit down and work out a game plan. There’s so many to pick from and so many unknown people, as I said before that’s one of the best things about WOMAD; just walking around and discovering new things that you’ve never seen before
Where were you when you got the news that you’d be playing WOMAD?
We were just leaving for our tour to Melbourne, we had to keep it quiet for quite a few months, our manager told us in the car and then told us that we couldn’t tell anyone so we had this huge moment of excitement and then this huge moment of sadness that we couldn’t really share it with anyone. We were so stoked to get it, never thought we would- it’s such a big thing for us.
Any live performance highlights you’ve done in the past year, any show in particular left you feeling fantastic?
Our album launch in January last year was pretty amazing. We did it at the Grace Emily, which might have been a mistake because we packed it out and had a line going down the street. There was broken glass and crowd surfing and it all got a bit too insane but it was good fun.
Travelling as well, mainly being able to travel to all these festivals that we’ve done over the past year has been a pretty good experience for us.
So can we expect a new recording from you soon?
We’re actually working on a new EP at the moment with all new stuff and by the end of the year at least, a new album would be good to have with some more singing
Who will be singing?
We all sing a little bit. Tom Boehm, the violinist, does do quite a bit of singing, but it took us quite a while to get our voices up to scratch. Now we’ve got a bit more confidence we can start introducing a bit more, which is good. I think instrumentals are good for a while but you really want to connect with people. Adding just a few vocal songs in there can help; it just makes it a bit different.
I’ll look forward to hearing some vocals in there. Are you hoping to have the EP out in time for WOMAD?
We’re hoping to but if it happens…. We’re trying our hardest, we’re hoping to have something new out to sell at WOMAD because we’re sick of our old album being old and not very good. Some new stuff might be quite good.
Stobie Sounds has made up some T-shirts to sell at WOMAD.
If you could have anyone as a guest vocalist on your new album who would you choose?
We used to do an old blue grass tune called “The Long Black Veil” and the version we learnt of it was one by Mick Jagger and The Chieftains, so maybe Mick Jagger. That could be good, it could be a really odd and interesting combination.
Our album launch in January last year was pretty amazing. We did it at the Grace Emily, which might have been a mistake because we packed it out and had a line going down the street. There was broken glass and crowd surfing and it all got a bit too insane but it was good fun.
Travelling as well, mainly being able to travel to all these festivals that we’ve done over the past year has been a pretty good experience for us.
So can we expect a new recording from you soon?
We’re actually working on a new EP at the moment with all new stuff and by the end of the year at least, a new album would be good to have with some more singing
Who will be singing?
We all sing a little bit. Tom Boehm, the violinist, does do quite a bit of singing, but it took us quite a while to get our voices up to scratch. Now we’ve got a bit more confidence we can start introducing a bit more, which is good. I think instrumentals are good for a while but you really want to connect with people. Adding just a few vocal songs in there can help; it just makes it a bit different.
I’ll look forward to hearing some vocals in there. Are you hoping to have the EP out in time for WOMAD?
We’re hoping to but if it happens…. We’re trying our hardest, we’re hoping to have something new out to sell at WOMAD because we’re sick of our old album being old and not very good. Some new stuff might be quite good.
Stobie Sounds has made up some T-shirts to sell at WOMAD.
If you could have anyone as a guest vocalist on your new album who would you choose?
We used to do an old blue grass tune called “The Long Black Veil” and the version we learnt of it was one by Mick Jagger and The Chieftains, so maybe Mick Jagger. That could be good, it could be a really odd and interesting combination.
So what’s next for you guys this year?
Sort of getting really hectic after WOMAD. We’re going to the Brunswick Music Festival over in Melbourne, following that we’ve got the National Folk Festival and the Apollo Bay Folk Festival. Then we’re also playing at Jive, in Adelaide, for hopefully our EP launch so lots of travelling but not many Adelaide show, hopefully more Adelaide shows in the future
I noticed that Triple J featured you as an unearthed band; do you think that’s helped to gain you some exposure and new fans?
It’s weird, we never thought we’d have Triple J appeal, but we did. We were featured once, which was pretty amazing we were pretty stoked about that. I do think it did help because a few people have commented on our facebook page saying “hey we heard you on triple j- nice work” I think any exposure is good exposure- especially on Triple J, it’s national, even just hearing our name on the radio was a good thing.
Have fun at WOMAD.
The Bearded Gypsy Band play WOMADelaide Monday, March 12, 2012.
Tour Dates:
17 February- Wittunga Under The Stars – SA
25 February- Adelaide Fringe Festival Club -opening night, SA
15 March- Esplanade Hotel –Vic
17 March- Baha Tacos Joint –Vic
18 March- Old Bar –Vic
23 March- Jive -Adelaide, SA
5 - 9 April- National Folk Festival – ACT
20 - 22 April- Apollo Bay Music Festival -Vic
Sort of getting really hectic after WOMAD. We’re going to the Brunswick Music Festival over in Melbourne, following that we’ve got the National Folk Festival and the Apollo Bay Folk Festival. Then we’re also playing at Jive, in Adelaide, for hopefully our EP launch so lots of travelling but not many Adelaide show, hopefully more Adelaide shows in the future
I noticed that Triple J featured you as an unearthed band; do you think that’s helped to gain you some exposure and new fans?
It’s weird, we never thought we’d have Triple J appeal, but we did. We were featured once, which was pretty amazing we were pretty stoked about that. I do think it did help because a few people have commented on our facebook page saying “hey we heard you on triple j- nice work” I think any exposure is good exposure- especially on Triple J, it’s national, even just hearing our name on the radio was a good thing.
Have fun at WOMAD.
The Bearded Gypsy Band play WOMADelaide Monday, March 12, 2012.
Tour Dates:
17 February- Wittunga Under The Stars – SA
25 February- Adelaide Fringe Festival Club -opening night, SA
15 March- Esplanade Hotel –Vic
17 March- Baha Tacos Joint –Vic
18 March- Old Bar –Vic
23 March- Jive -Adelaide, SA
5 - 9 April- National Folk Festival – ACT
20 - 22 April- Apollo Bay Music Festival -Vic