Busby Marou
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Busby Marou

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Band Folk Acoustic

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"Asa Broomhall / Busby Marou / Transvaal Diamond Syndicate"

The Zoo - Thu Apr 29
The Zoo isn’t packed, but the atmosphere is relaxed and the Thursday night crowd is nothing to complain about. Transvaal Diamond Syndicate kicks off proceedings with mesmerising tribal drum displays, including three additional drummers, while following track, Home, features the exquisite saxophone skills of guest member Mark Barker. Closing track Behind That Smile is a highlight as all eight percussionists leave the crowd abuzz.
Busby Marou’s unique vocal and hard-hitting guitar work bring the crowd even further to life as their lilting choral and harmonica pieces get the crowd a-clapping and a-cheering. Blue Road, Lhasa, and The Chase are well received, but it’s a rendition of Konomie as the closing piece that leaves an appreciative audience most affected and seemingly lost in reverie.
Unfortunately for Asa Broomhall, the crowd dissipates significantly as soon as Busby finishes his set. Unfortunately for those who leave, Broomhall puts on a showcase of his renowned vocal talents, especially with the drawn-out notes of The Return. As well as the odd Bob Marley and Stevie Ray Vaughn rendition, Asa deftly manipulates Buddy Guy’s You’d Better Leave, and with that, my night is complete.
TIM RETROT - http://www.ravemagazine.com.au/content/view/20720/82/


"Busby Marou"

ROCKY ROAD TO BRISBANE

THEY MAY BE SPLIT BETWEEN ROCKHAMPTION AND BRISBANE, BUT THE CLOSE CONNECTION THAT UNDEPINS BUSBYMAROU IS HARD TO MISS. CRAIG SPANN CATCHES UP WITH ONE HALF OF THE DUO, TOM BUSBY.

When country-loving singer-songwriter Tom Busby decided to head back home to Rockhampton to “save some coin” and score home-cooked meals a few years back, it’s fair to say he didn’t have a music career on his mind. But then he probably didn’t count on local musician Jeremy Marou becoming such an influential part of his life either.
While today he’s a passionate songwriter, Busby explains his first foray into music came with the odd covers show while studying in Brisbane – nothing too serious really. He says though a trip overseas, and shifting back to Rocky for a stint, gave him the chance to focus on his own tunes. But he’s the first to admit that, at the time, he needed some serious help – enter Marou.
“I had met Jeremy and I knew he was a freak on the guitar and just about every other instrument,” Busby says. “And I thought he could help me with some of my songs. So we put some demos down and they turned out okay.”
The pair started playing regular shows around Rockhampton and Busby says it didn’t take long for the chemistry between the two to become obvious.
“Just in a space of months, it became that tight,” he says. “There was this real… thing between the guitars and harmonies.”
It’s a connection he says that’s rooted in writing music together, moreso than simply playing it.
“I suppose I am the songwriter in the band, and [Jeremy] pretty much concentrates on the structure… and fixing up my mistakes,” he says. “I mean he plays every instrument and has never been taught. He’s freakish. So I think that’s how it developed. Me just playing and him trying to fix up all my mistakes and blemishes that don’t really bother me so much.”
The comfortable relationship between Busby and Marou is writ large across their debut EP The Blue Road. Recorded in Byron Bay, the release is easy-going and stripped back. While Busby says the pair went in to make the EP with ‘blindfolds on’, they had plenty of help from old friend Pete Murray.
“I had known Pete when I was playing around a bit in Brisbane,” he says. “He jumped on board as a bit of a mentor… he really helped with the songs.”
And that’s where we find the duo today, concentrating on refining their songs and sound – a task Busby says is not always easy, particularly given he is now back living in Brisbane, while Marou remains in Rockhampton.
“[Jeremy] loves that modern country sound, where I’m more into the old school country, more alt country rootsy kind of stuff,” he says. “I think it’s about now trying to merge that a little bit.”
That sound, he hopes, will be realised in the coming months as they move into a studio to record their debut album. And making that new record was given a serious kick start recently when the duo was selected to receive funding though the Federal Government’s new ‘Breakthrough’ program. Announced by Federal Arts Minister Peter Garrett, the program aims to “…bring new Indigenous music talents to the attention of the mainstream music industry by giving musicians the opportunity to make an all-important high quality recording of their work”. Busby says that winning the grant has already opened numerous doors for the duo. But he adds the program’s real success comes with the exposure it provides for talented, but largely unrecognised, Indigenous artists like Marou.
“Jeremy is an astonishing talent and you really have to see him play to understand it,” he says. “But he’s not the only one. There are so many freakish talents out there like him and they don’t do anything. Not because they don’t want to, but because they’re just not aware of the opportunities or given the chance. And that’s why programs like this are so important.” - http://www.timeoff.com.au/html/index.php?view=article&id=3258%3Abusbymarou&option=com_content&Itemid


Discography

EP 'The Blue Road'
LP - to be released Aug/Sept 2010

Photos

Bio

Since recording their debut EP (The Blue Road) with Australian singer/song writing icon, Pete Murray and acclaimed producer Anthony Lycenko, at Pete’s home studio in Northern NSW in late 2007, word of mouth is growing as quickly as the bands calendar.

From humble beginnings by the banks of the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton, Busby Marou are quickly making an impact on the Australian Music Scene. If you haven’t all ready seen or heard – expect to!!

Their debut EP has rotated on radio station playlists across Australia, including Triple J, ABC, 98.9FM, Deadly Sounds and Koori Radio. In 2009/10 the duo together with their band, were invited to perform at the following events:

• Supporting Pete Murray on his national tour;
• 15th Annual Deadly Awards 2010, Sydney Opera House;
• Big Sound QMusic Showcase 2010, Brisbane;
• LiveSpark Series 2009 & 2010, Brisbane Powerhouse;
• Woodford Folk Festival 2009/2010;
• CMC Rocks the Snowys 2010, Thredbo
• Triple J TV, live performance showcase 2010, Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
• Dreaming Festival 2010, Woodford
• Gympie Muster 2010, Gympie

2009 also saw the band being awarded nationally, as one of five successful applicants of ‘Breakthrough’ – A Federal Government initiative supporting emerging indigenous contemporary musicians. The award assisted in the production of the bands debut album, which is expected to be released in June 2010.

Jeremy, a proud Torres Strait Islander, has rare musical talent. He is fluent on just about every instrument, including ukulele, bass, drums and piano - But it is his natural ability on the guitar that will make you stop and listen. His obvious exposure to the traditional Murray Island song and dance as a child shines though the melodies and combined with Thomas’ distinctly Australian way of sharing his stories, the pair have developed a unique and Australian song writing flavour.