Artist
The Bamboos
The Bamboos are Australia's premier Deep Funk outfit. Masters of super-heavy, raw and upfront drum-break driven grooves. Led by Guitarist Lance Ferguson (AKA Lanu), other members include Kylie Auldist (Vocals), Ben Grayson (Hammond Organ), Danny Farrugia (Drums), Yuri Pavlinov (Bass), Anton Delecca (Sax/Flute) and Ross Irwin (Trumpet).
The Bamboos formed in 2001 and released the 7" single 'Eel Oil/Blackfoot', earning them international acclaim from the likes of Snowboy, Mr Scruff, Jazzanova, Patrick Forge and Russ Dewbury. Their next release 'Tighten Up/Voodoo Doll' was picked up by Kenny Dope (Masters At Work) and Keb Darge (Legendary Deep Funk) for their U.S-based imprint Kay-Dee Records.
Making their home at Tru Thoughts records (home to Quantic and Alice Russell) in 2005, The Bamboos debut album ‘Step it Up’ was released jointly by Tru Thoughts and Ubiquity Records (US).
In 2004 and 2005 The Bamboos toured Australia and New Zealand alongside Quantic and Alice Russell to universal acclaim. In 2006 and 2007 The Bamboos toured Europe and the U.K, bringing their unmistakable sound to venues including The Jazz Café in London and countries including Germany, Spain, Ireland, Italy and Belgium. The Bamboos live shows have evolved into non-stop mixtape-style throwdowns that draw the links between Hip Hop, Soul, Funk and old-school Breaks.
The Bamboos have supported and/or performed alongside international artists including:
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings (USA), Moloko (UK), Derrick Carter (USA), Jazzanova (GER), Keb Darge (UK), Mathew Herbert (UK), Guru (USA), TY (U.K), Steinski (USA), Mad Mats (SWED), Quantic (UK), Snowboy (UK), Nextmen (UK), Joe Bataan (USA), Alice Russell (UK), Patrick Forge (UK).
The Bamboos have performed at events including Meredith Music Festival, Falls Festival, The West Coast Blues & Roots Festival, The St Kilda Festival, The Sydney Festival and Tropfest.
The Bamboos music has been featured in the worlds highest rating TV Show ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ .
The latest Bamboos album ‘Rawville’ has been described by IDJ magazine (UK) as ‘Arguably the best Funk album of the modern era…” Out through U.K’s Tru Thoughts, it was JBHiFi, Radio National and 3PBS FM’s ‘album of the week’ upon release in May 2007.
The single ‘Get In The Scene’ feat. Ohmega Watts is currently receiving radio support from JJJ.
"The best new Deep Funk band in the world today...." - Adrian Gibson (The Jazz Cafe/Freestyle Records U.K)
"The Bamboos are the best thing to come from downunder since The Avalanches..." - Exclaim! Magazine (Canada)
“…Arguably the best Funk album of the modern era…” - IDJ Magazine (UK)
Kylie Auldist has been singing from the moment she could speak and after her soulful vocals on The Bamboos album ‘Rawville’ and spectacular performances while touring with them we instantly signed her up! Get ready for the beautifully soulful music of Kylie Auldist alongside the production skills of Lance from the Bamboos!
In the summer of 2007, The Bamboos returned to the UK for their second European Tour and brought with them Kylie on vocals. Having heard her work on The Bamboos Rawville we were extremely excited about seeing her perform and also secretly interested in seeing if she fancied doing some more tunes.
On hearing her perform Robert Luis got out the magical pen and she signed for a whole bunch of albums, alongside Lance (The Bamboos/Lanu) on production.
Singing since the first day she could talk, with her father on guitar, Kylie is a natural vocal talent. She is half-Samoan but born and bred in the outback of Australia. From the age of fifteen she could be found singing country and western songs in pubs (which for the only non-white in town must have taken some guts! As she said “a bit like the reverse of Steve Martin in The Jerk!”).
On moving to Melbourne she joined and performed with a variety of funk bands. She did her apprenticeship in Fitzroy, did loads of gigs, festivals and also TV appearances on Good Morning Australia for seven years (with Aussie icon Bert Newton, who us Brits don’t know! But lots of old ladies in Oz do!!). She then joined up with The Bamboos and toured Australia and reached the fair shores of Brighton in the UK where we heard her perform and
signed her up!!
