Banawurun

a band from Brisbane whose live performances have captivated audiences and garnered critical praise both here in Australia and overseas. With a distinctive and original flavour of funk, soul and rock that won them the prestigious 2006 ‘Band of the Year’ at the Deadly Vibe Awards at the Sydney Opera House, Banawurun continually wow crowds wherever they play. Audiences were entranced when they made their first Woodford Folk Festival appearance in 2005 and elicited the reviewer from The Australian to describe the band as the revelation of the festival. Singer-songwriters Troy & Trevelyn Brady have a deep connection to the people of their respective heritages, Troy being an aboriginal man and Trevelyn originally hailing from Zimbabwe. Their love and respect for their cultures puts a distinct and unique message into the music they create with BANAWURUN. “Trevelyn and I know we both have to share a message of hope and empowerment to bring about change in today’s fractured society. For me personally, it’s about making people more aware of the lack of opportunities that too many people still have to face in our country but by spreading this message, we hope to break the shackles and bring about change. I feel it’s my responsibility not to do it just as a musician but as a person as well ” Troy explains.
“It goes a long way to describe what the vibe of BANAWURUN is about.”
Troy and Trevelyn had both been working in the music scene when in 2004, they decided to form an originals band with the intention of helping bring about awareness and change to social inequalities by promoting, through their music, a message of equality and freedom. However it took a little while for the band members to get settled. BANAWURUN (then called Troy n Trevelyn & the Tribe) started to find its feet by playing at various Brisbane venues when they got their first big break playing at the Stylin’ Up Festival in 2004. Word quickly spread about the band through the grapevine (particularly after an appearance on ABC TV’s “Message Stick” programme) and eventually the group started making a name for itself on the festival circuit around Australia.

Their first EP “Change” was released in early 2006. Although “Change” was released and sold independently, it still garnered a measure of success particularly with the first single release ‘Power 2 the People’. Due to strong support from fans and indigenous radio stations nationwide, Power eventually received a nomination for a Deadly award (Best Single of the Year). ‘Other songs from the EP such as ‘I’m Sorry’ and ‘Why Can’t I’ also received strong airplay.
Since then, BANAWURUN has gone from strength to strength performing many festivals in Australia and culminating in a highpoint last year when the band played a MUSEXPO showcase at LA’s famous Viper Room in the U.S. More acclaim followed in 2006 when BANAWURUN received 2 nominations (‘Band of the Year’ & ‘Best Single Release’) and were named ‘Band of the Year’ at the 12th Deadly Vibe Awards in Sydney.

2006 also saw BANAWURUN reach the finals of the Musicoz Awards for which ‘Australia’s Dark History’ was nominated in the Indigenous Category. Troy’s skills as a song writer have also been recognised with him being a finalist in the APRA Professional Development Awards. Another ensuing appearance at the Woodford Folk Festival 2006 resulted in a fan response for them to perform at the East Coast Blues & Roots Festival this year which they did in emphatic style. Currently the band is putting the final touches on their first album with ARIA award winner Paulie B as producer and the expectations are very high. “Everyone involved on this project has given their heart and soul to creating this album; Troy and I are blessed to have a special group of people together with us on this. Now it’s time for us share the message,”
Trevelyn says.
The first single of the album entitled ‘Stone Cold’ is typical BANAWURUN fare