With trumpeter Nick Garbett stuck in Italy for the majority of 2020 and early 2021 and bass player Alex Boneham still in Upstate New York, The Vampires have certainly felt the sting of the pandemic. Now with three quarters of the group back on home soil and the talented double bass player Noel Mason stepping in for Boneham, The Vampires are hitting the road again for their 20th tour with shows in Sydney, Bellingen, Bangalow, Armidale, Kiama and Wentworth Falls.
The Vampires are trailblazers for a new generation of creative jazz talent from Australia, having gained critical attention worldwide by pushing the genre into new realms. Creating a distinctive sound that is undoubtedly their own The Vampires have received nominations for Australia’s ARIA awards, Bell Awards, AIR Awards, and were the first instrumental group to be short-listed for the Australian Music Prize.
Combining influences from around the world, the band has developed an original sound that has been compared to such diverse sources as Mulatu Astatke, Blue-Note Jazz, Electric Miles Davis, The Art Ensemble of Chicago and Henri Texier’s cinematic music, yet has something of their own.
Since the band started playing together almost sixteen years ago, The Vampires have performed in at least sixty towns and cities, more than half of those in regional NSW and recently touring several times in Europe. In May 2021 the band will be returning to some of their favourite places as part of their east coast tour.
Thursday 8th April w Ben Hauptmann
Lazybones Lounge, Marrickville
Doors 7pm
Saturday 1stMay
Fillmores Kiama, presented by Kiama Jazz and Blues Festival
8pm
Tix: www.fillmores.com.au
Friday 7thMay
5 Church St, Bellingen
Doors for dinner 6pm
Pre bookings only, call for tickets: 66550873
Saturday 8thMay
The Lennox Sessions (Bangalow)
7pm
Bookings essential
www.facebook.com/groups/lennoxsessions
Sunday 9thMay
NERAM Armidale
Doors 4pm
Saturday 15thMay w Ben Hauptmann
Kindlehill Indoor Amphitheatre, Wentworth Falls
7pm
Tickets www.musichunter.com.au