Andi and George

The Andi and George Band” (self titled)
Mixed and recorded by Sam King. Mastered by Kimmo Vennonen. Available at The Front Café and Gallery, Café Essen and other selected stores.
Reviewed by Jorian Gardner


This is without-a-doubt one of the finest, and most exciting, local releases in many, many years. The Andi and George Band (Andrea Kirwin and George Bishop) haven’t been together for that long (2006), but in that time have formed a mighty musical collaboration and put together an album of 15 songs that are a pure delight to listen to. From the opening “Soon it will be Green Again” to the striking optimism of the closing track “Hope”, the album has “class act” written all
over it.


Kirwin and Bishop’s vocals throughout the recording are excellent. Kirwin especially can dash between the wistful highs of Katie Noonan and the rough and ready sound of Joni Mitchell as she makes every note she sings a melodic treat. The musicians who come together here help make this album what it is giving a perfect backing to Kirwin and Bishop’s insightful and thoughtful songs, including Matt Sykes on percussion; Chris Pound on bass duties; Grahame Thompson on the cello, ukulele and guitar; Elyane Defonte playing the violin, Liena Lacery on harp; with Same King on guitar and flute. Together the sound they create is, in a word, magical.


If there are any major industry record reps a reading this then I have to tell you – you aren’t doing your job properly if you don’t sign this group immediately as they are potentially huge future stars of the Australian music scene.
Seek out The Andi and George Band at gigs around Canberra and get a copy of the CD copied onto your ipod – I guarantee you won’t be able to listen to anything else for a while. A simply awesome musical offering.
- The Canberra Review

"If there was an award for Canberra's happiest musical act, the Andi and George Band would be a hands-down winner. In less than 18 months the group Andi Kirwin and George Bishop founded by accident has developed a reputation for spreading the good vibes, a positive message and street dancing.
Kirwin says guitarist, didgeridoo player and percussionist Bishop unearthed her songwriting appetite soon after they first crossed paths at a gig at the Front Gallery and Cafe in Lyneham in May 2006. She invited him to a barbecue, he pulled out his guitar and she became his student.
Before Kirwin knew it, the pair was up on stage performing at the Phoenix bar. "It just expanded from there. He was hungry, I was eating, I gave him food," she says. "He's so inspirational."
Kirwin, who as the daughter of a Fijian Uniting Church minister grew up singing, has since contributed about 60 tunes to a busking hat of about 100 songs.
So contagious are the pair's feelgood jams, that they soon found their friends wanting to get in on the act.
"All of a sudden we had all these people joining us on stage, it was great." The result is a spontaneous live show bursting with a heady compination of folk, funk, roots, reggae, rock, country, jazz, soul and hip-hop that draws on a diverse musical background and cultures.
"[our goal is to] get everyone to relax and chill out and do some dancing," Kirwin says.
The band has just released its third album, a self-titled collection of 15 folky jazz numbers recorded and mixed at Dahahoo member Sam King's house and featuring the talents of Matty Sykes on drums, Chris Pound on bass and double bass, Grahame Thompson on cello, guitar and ukelele, Elyane Defontne on violin, Liena Lacey on harp and King on flute.
"Canberra's been so good. Especially for live music - there's so much talent floating around, whether it be the jazz school or Cardboard Charlie events, there's just heaps of talent. We always encourage people to come out and join us. It's always a surprise."
In typical fashion, the Andi and George Band will release the new disc with a big party at the Front Gallery and Cafe in Lyneham on Saturday night.
"It's going to be huge. I can't wait. I keep inviting all these fire twirlers so there's going to be a tribe of 30 fire twirlers and we're going to borrow a gas cooker and cook up pancakes before the show."
Kirwin is hoping the band can sell enough CDs to help them buy a touring van so they can spread their cheer around indigenous communities and festivals over the summer."

By Matthew Heath
The Canberra Times "Live and Local" section. Thursday 20/09/07 - The Canberra Times

"An incredibly entertaining duo and a Hippo favourite…this dynamic duo writes about the nature of love and the love of nature. With harmonious vocals and happy smiles they are sure to delight lovers of live music. Strong Pacific influences and a passion for the environment and social justice these 2 multi-talented locals are wheeling & dealing in texture and mood, creating an ambience for the players to flaunt their colourful personalities".

http://www.hippobar.com.au/event.asp?day=Thursday&ID=2 - Hippo Bar