"Bringin beautiful music back to the streets".
We are in the process of building a new website, in the meantime, for all the latest news, shows, music and photos, check us out on MySpace @ MySpace.com/GrassrootsStreetOrchestra
Grassroots EP Available now in selected stores
You can now pick up your very own copy of our new self-titled EP from a select few decent independant retailers. Including Red Eye Records in Sydney, who are also selling it online. Otherwise you can find it at..
Gold Coast: Head-Hi in Burliegh, Rare Groove in Nobby's, Atlantis or Music Mania in Southport, Sunflower at Pacific Fair, Threeworlds in Mermaid Beach
Brisbane: Skinny's, Rockinghorse or Butter Beats in Brisbane City or Butterbeats in the Valley.
Byron: Music@Byron (Leading Edge) or Grooven
If anyone knows the right places in Melbourne for us to get it stocked, let us know!
Unearthed
We kind of overhauled our Unearthed entry.. and are now entered as a hiphop/roots band instead of roots/hiphop. Which really only means we now have a chance to make the hiphop charts instead of the roots chart. So go and rate our tracks and help us try to do the double! Just click here...
Got more photo's?
If you noticed on our MySpace, Steve developed a clever little flash plugin that pulls photos from Flickr tagged with Grassroots Street Orchestra and displays them at random, only thing is, we need more photos.. If you have any of us, please send them to steve@grassrootsstreetorchestra.net.
Other stuff...
Grassroots on Triple J
We are still getting a little bit of airplay on the J's, but we need people to keep asking for us in order to keep getting played. If you feel like helping out, leave a message to a show like:Roots 'N All, Home And Hosed (Aus Music Show), Super Request, Hip Hop Show and 2006 (New Music). If anyone is really dedicated there are a bunch more program pages that have their own Guestbooks here.
ALso, please if you find yourself with time to spare on a weeknight, try giving Super Request a call on 1300 0555 36, or text your request to 1975 7555, it would be so much appreciated!
Grassroots On The Web
If you haven't seen our MySpace page then check it out! - (http://www.myspace.com/grassrootsstreetorchestra) and leave us a comment.
If you need to know anything not included on this site, please email us at info@grassrootsstreetorchestra.net.
Mailing List
If you want more regular updates, gig reminders, and to even be told when this website has been updated to save you checking it all the time, why not join our mailing list? We promise not to send out too much random stuff.
Upcoming Gigs
Please check out our MySpace profile for all the latest tour dates.
Biography
Short Description
The Brisbane and Gold Coast based, Grassroots Street Orchestra, create uniquely Australian live original, eloquent, intelligent, hip-hop with organic blues, roots, folk-rock and reggae style grooves.
Bio
With their unique style mixing Australian hip hop and rap elements with live organic blues, roots, folk-rock and reggae grooves, Brisbane and Gold Coast based Grassroots Street Orchestra have created an original sound and a reputation for delivering high energy live shows. Their hybrid sound has so far allowed “Grassroots” to cross genres, playing alongside Australian blues and roots artists such as Blue King Brown, Bomba and Carus & The True Believers; and hip hop acts such as True Live, Good Buddha and The Winnie Coopers. Grassroots have also been well received at festivals such as: Bilyana Folk, Ryhtm & Life, Brisbane 4ZzZ Market Day and Radiothon, Joyfest (1 & 2); Buddha's Birthday Festival in Southbank, Brisbane; the East Coast Blues & Roots Music Festival, where they performed as roaming buskers; Amnesty International Rock4Rights Festival; and the Weapons of Mass Creation hip hop festival.
In 2006, Grassroots Street Orchestra independently recorded and released their debut self titled EP. A few of the tracks from this EP received some airplay on Australia's National youth radio station Triple J as well as more regular rotation on local Brisbane and Byron community stations such as 4ZzZ and BayFM, even making it in at number 55 on 4ZzZ's annual 'Hot100' countdown.
The opening track of that recording, “Time For Action”, was selected to be included on a sampler for California labels, Long Beach Records and Martian Church. The sampler is currently being distributed throughout the US and Europe, and Australia.
The latter half of 2006 was spent touring in support of the debut EP, playing shows from Melbourne to Brisbane, which will continue through 2007, with more major east coast tours planned and an aim to begin recording in April for a debut long player.
With only six members, it might seem like a pretty minimal orchestra, but no matter which venue or festival, or who they are playing with, Grassroots Street Orchestra promises to have hips shaking, heads bopping, tongues wagging and minds ticking.
The Orchestral Players
Surya "Surreal" McEwen
Rap Flows (Vocals), Street Philosphy
- Hailing from the hills of Mullumbimby in far North Eastern New South Wales, Surya has been recording hip-hop mix-tapes on his home computer for years and is passionate about politics and spirituality. Surya's lyrics flow just as smooth when rapping his favourite verses or creating spontaneous freestyle raps as he goes. Surya now resides in Brisbane and studies politcal sciences.
Steve "Wailin'" Wallis
Vocals, Wailin' Harmonica, Acoustic Guitar, Rap Backups
- Also a graduate of Mullumbimby High School, Steve brings alot of the blues/folk/country influence. His guitar case boasts the sticker slogan 'Country Music Is Not A Crime'. Steve has a multimedia degree and works in Brisbane 9-5 as an eLearning developer (you can thank him for our websites). Steve also collaborates on guitar and harmonica with Toowoomba hip-hoppers 'Labratz' as well as Brisbane local Country/Folk singer Hamish Wyatt.
Robyn "Gelfling" Cummins
Bass Guitar, Congas, Shakers, Back-up Vocals,
- Robyn is one of those people that can play almost every instrument better than you and it really frustrates you, you know the type! She only started up playing bass for this band, and now rocks the bottom end with passion at every gig. Things really go wild though when you let her near a conga, when five minute percussion breaks have never been so entertaining. You might also recognise Robyn as percussionist for Brisbane band 'Red Eye Moon' and 'Parlourvice, as well as various Gold Coast Percussion and Fire Show groups.
Charles "Bobby Alu" Wall
Drum Kit, Percussion, Anything He Can Reach To Hit
- Another Gold Coast local, Charles played drums in punk-rock bands in high-school before a friends introduced him to African djembe drums. Since then his passion for hitting things from all countries and cultures has broadened his reportoire immeasurably. You probably know Charles as the new drummer with Gold Coast band 'Cloud 9' as well as percussionist with 'Kwerkshoppe', and in various Brisbane and Gold Coast african percussion groups, such as 'Spankinhide'.
Youka "Lele-Lady" Snell
Violin, Melodica, Vocal Harmonies, Total Sassiness
- Youka started out her connection with GSO as an extra super special guest... Then she started coming to almost every show! In a short time she became an integral part of the band. Currently studying Jazz at the QLD conservatorium and with crazy amounts of talent which she likes to share with people by performing as a guest artist with half of the singer/songwriters in Brisbane. Youka is also a member of Brisbane band 'Parlourvice'.
Jai "Gantic" Mitchell
Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Some Vocals
- Yet another member with his roots in Mullumbimby. Long before GSO, Jai met Surya through basketball at lunchtimes, and Steve through playground jam sessions in study periods. He later got to know Robyn and Charles through Threeworlds Gold Coast drum shop. Jai works days as a labourer for an industrial ropes technician, on top of a building. You may know Jai as one half of two seperate acoustic duos with Gold Coast folk singer songwriters 'Natalie Weir' and 'Kym Campbell', as well as playing bass for The Gold Coast soul/reggae band 'The Cool Calm Collective'.