By TANIA PHILLIPS
BIG Things are calling the band from Perch Creek.
The Perch Creek Family Jugband, now based in Melbourne, is coming home as part of its “Dressin Up ‘n’ Shakin Down” tour.
Yep, the boys and girls from the Creek (out the back of the Tweed on the way to Nimbin) will play both the Mullumbimby Festival and the Soundlounge at Currumbin as part of their trip north to promote their single “Big Things Calling”.
The Perch Creek Family Jugband is four siblings and one stray partner.
With humble beginnings as a street jugband led by their eccentric father, Bob Hodgkins, The Perch Creek Family Jugband has been performing and evolving over the best part of 10 years. Though Bob has since hung up his jugband hat and handed over the reins, he laid in place the foundations for one of the most engrossing and innovative musical acts doing the rounds of Australia today.
From playing live on Spicks and Specks to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, The Perch Creek Family Jugband have a long history of working, touring, playing and living together, but interestingly, given their history and lineage, their new studio album (set for early 2014 release) marks the first time they’ve collaborated closely as a unit throughout all stages of the song-writing process.
Realised on a week-long song writing session in a holiday house nestled in the sand dunes of the Mornington Peninsula, new single ‘Big Things Calling’ was the first track to come out of the process. Featuring lush five-part harmonies over a chant-like chorus, with lyrics that hint at the melancholic while remaining uplifting and powerful in their themes of change and reflection, ‘Big Things Calling’ ushers in a new sonic direction for the troupe – one that sees them expanding beyond their traditional jugband roots into a more indie-folk, contemporary sound.
Since returning from the Peninsula trip, the band – Camilla Hodgkins (banjo, keys), Christi Hodgkins (harmonica, trombone, saw), Eileen Hodgkins (banjo-uke, guitar, tap dancing), James Chandler (double bass) and Lear Hodgkins (drums, washboard, jug); all of whom contribute vocals – have been on a roll with collaborative song writing.
The upshot of it all is a brand new album of original material that also sees them experimenting further with harmonies, instrumentation and production, all of which has instilled a new energy and excitement for where the band are at as musicians, individuals and most importantly, as a group.
Since relocating there two years ago, the band has exploded onto the Melbourne scene, earning themselves a reputation as purveyors of quality music and entertaining antics. Like Perch Creek itself, The Perch Creek Family Jugband are at times raging and relentless and at others placid and haunting, performing with a high energy, harmony-driven sound drawing from folk, roots and gospel, favouring instrumentation as diverse as the trombone, frailing banjo, washboard, double bass, overdriven blues harp, musical saw, tap dancing and a whole lot of other stuff including, of course, the jug.
Who: The Perch Creek Family Jugband.
Where: The Soundlounge Currumbin.
When: Friday, 22 November, with special guest Daniel Champagne.
Interested?: Doors 8pm, $22+BF, http://soundlounge.com.au
Also: Thursday 21 November – Sunday 24 November – Mullumfest, Mullumbimby, NSW: Thursday 21 November at Civic Hall (6pm);
Saturday 23 November at Civic Hall (6.30pm); Sunday 24 November at Courthouse (8.30pm) www.mullumfest.com.
