The Prairie Oysters
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | SELF
Music
Press
The long awaited album from the award-winning band The Prairie Oysters is finally here. Livin’ For The Weekend has something for lovers of all forms of country music. The album features eight original tunes along with four covers from some of their favourite artists. This is an album that showcases many of the things that fans love about this band from Melbourne including shared lead vocals, accomplished musicianship, harmonies and a diverse set of original songs with catchy hooks
and great lyrics.
Livin’ For The Weekend is an independent release written, recorded and produced over an eighteen month period by band members Tony Bonnici, Rob Street and Dave Miles. It is receiving critical acclaim and airplay locally and internationally and is a must have for any lover of country music. The band’s line up on the album consists of the core members, Tony Bonnici, Rob Street and Dave Miles
with guitar and vocal contributions from their old mates and former band members Lee Slater and Mark Crossley.
Tony: “We opted to do it ourselves because and put it out there and see what happens”. Indeed! It was a punt that has already paid off local and international sales and with two finalist’s categories for Album of the Year and Best Group in the 2011 Victorian and National Country Music Awards.
Review: December 2010 -
After working all week, if your weekend plans include a car journey of any length, this new album from The Prairie Oysters needs to take pride of place in your CD stacker before setting off. Livin’ For The Weekend is full of fun, toe-tapping songs that this exciting 5-piece outfit has become well known for. Country, Rockabilly, Southern Rock – no matter what you call it, it’s simply great music. V8 Girl,
Don’t Stop, I Want To Know and Together Forever are superb tracks that showcase this band’s quality musicianship and songwriting. Just Can’t Get To You exposes a softer side while the title track, Livin’ For The Weekend sums up this great band to a tee. Livin’ For The Weekend is one of those albums that makes you feel good so forget the worries of a working week, crank up the stereo and live for the weekend with The Prairie Oysters, you’ll love every minute of it!
DARYL KIRKUP - Country Music Capital News.
Where To Buy Livin’ For The Weekend
Livin’ For The Weekend is available via:
The Prairie Oysters Site at www.theprairieoysters.com.au
The Country Music Store at www.countrymusic.com.au
CD Baby www.cdbaby.com/Artist/ThePrairieOysters
I-Tunes
Contact Details, inquiries, interviews etc.
Courtney McGregor
Southern Cross Artist Management
P.O. Box 1068 Buddina Sunshine Coast
Queensland Australia 4575
Ph: +61447 163 483
Email courtney.mcgregor@bigpond.com - Country Music Capital News
DECEMBER 2006
proved to be a major
turning point for
Melbourne country
band The Prairie Oysters.
It was at that moment in time
the boys learnt first-hand the
difficulties people in rural
communities face.
‘‘We were booked to play at a
gig in a regional town near the
New South Wales border but it
was cancelled because the
drought had also dried up their
finances,’’ the band’s Mark
‘‘Yorkie’’ Crossley said.
‘‘What really got to us was
how upset and embarrassed the
lady was for having to make the
phone call.
‘‘That hit us right between the
eyes and the gravity of the
situation really hit home.’’
Not long after, the idea of the
Rain Dance was born.
‘‘We thought about doing
fundraisers at first but we really
wanted to take the gig directly to
the folks affected by the
drought,’’ The Prairie Oysters’
Tony Bonnici said.
‘‘So we’d team up with local
organisations who organise the
venue and we show up to do a
show.’’
In January last year, The
Prairie Oysters performed its
inaugural Rain Dance in front of
200 people in Mathoura.
Since then, the band has
travelled throughout Victoria
and southern NSW, putting on
free shows for drought-affected
communities.
‘‘We really enjoy doing these
gigs,’’ Tony said.
‘‘We’ve learnt a lot and we’ve
met a lot of great people.
‘‘We’re humbled by their geton-
with-it attitude, good nature
and their resilience.’’
This weekend, it’s Smeaton’s
turn to host a Rain Dance.
Joining The Prairie Oysters in
staging the event are Smeaton
residents Julie Taylor and Tina
Dean, who operate the rural
community website
www.blokesnsheilas.com.au
‘‘It’s a night where the whole
family can come along and take
the focus off the worries
brought on by the drought and
socialise with neighbours and
friends, have a chat, maybe a
dance and just have a good
time,’’ Tony said.
The event’s dress code is
casual/country and light snacks
will be supplied. Drinks will be
available.
Proceeds from the event’s
gold coin donation entry and
the sale of the band’s new single
When the Dust Settles will be
donated to Aussie Helpers.
Aussie Helpers was
established in 2002 to help fight
poverty and to lift the spirits of
those severely affected by
drought. - The Ballarat Times
The Prairie Oysters play for the drought stricken Farmers in Northern NSW.
On a cold night with Aussie Helpers, the boys liven up the mood for the town of Bundarra. - ABC Regional News
Discography
Single - When the Dust Settles - (2007 Bonnici/Street/Slater)
The 'Oyster Pack - 2006
Various Cover Songs.
Songs - Ragtop - Wait A Minute - Hot Rod Heart - Heart Break Train - One Woman Man - Dixie Fried.
All now on play lists around Australia and O'seas.
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Livin' For The Weekend Album released November 2010.
Independent Release with,*8 band originals, and 4 cover songs.
Songs - *Need For Speed, Don't Stop. *You're The Woman, Just Can't Get To You, *Things That I Like Best, Your Song, I Want To Know, *Together Forever, *A Bit Too Late, Every River, *Tut Tut Tut,*Livin' For The Weekend.
Singles released - *Need For Speed, *Things That I Like Best.
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Visit the band website - www.theprairieoysters.com.au
Facebook Site - www.facebook,com/theprairieoysters
My Space Site - www.myspace.com/oystersonline
Photos
Bio
INTRODUCING ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S BEST COUNTRY
ROCK BANDS
The Prairie Oysters have been raising heck and eyebrows all over the country since 2005 with their brand of country music that's been accurately described by Amazon music as an explosive mix of country, southern rock, blues and rockabilly. The Prairie Oysters have been making friends around the world with their mix
of originals and covers, their showmanship and their sense of fun, which turns every gig into a party.
The Prairie Oysters have made country music accessible to a wide audience by mixing country, southern rock, rockabilly, rock ‘n’ roll and blues. Their shows have attracted large and diverse
crowds including many who don’t normally call themselves country music fans.
The Prairie Oysters have achieved a lot since their formation in 2006. They have travelled the country playing everywhere from small farming communities to major festivals in regional and capital cities. Their following continues to grow around Australia and internationally thanks to the success of their album sales
and radio airplay. The Prairie Oysters’ popularity has been recognised over the years with several awards and nominations
including the Country Music Guild of Australasia Award for Most Popular Band in 2007, 2009 and 2010. In 2008, they were a top ten finalist for Best New Talent in the National Country Music Awards and received a Golden Guitar Nomination in the same year for their single When The Dust Settles. They are currently
finalists for the 2011 Victorian and National Country Music Awards in the National Best Group and Victorian Album of the Year categories. The secret to their success is all down to one very important factor. FUN! The band is made up of four very
competent musicians who don’t take life too seriously and love doing what they do.
MEET THE LADS
Tony Bonnici -
Has been playing in bands since the mid 70s gaining a reputation as a versatile singer and musician. In the 80’s he formed the hard rocking pub outfit, Proprietary Limited and then went on to become the front-man for the Melbourne club band The Most. Tony is also a sound engineer and producer who has worked in many parts of the recording and broadcast industry. Tony grew up listening to Country and Rock’n’Roll and is into “honest music that can kick my butt, make me cry or both”. His bass playing and powerful vocals are crucial to the band’s sound, writing and producing and providing “grunt” to the overall sound of The Prairie Oysters.
As the seasoned subject of drummer jokes, Rob Street -
Has earned the right to shrug them off as he has earned himself a reputation as a versatile and sought after musician. He has played professionally since the early 70s and was a founding member of The Vincents. He was also a member of Rough
Cut, and The Most. Rob’s talents also include live sound production working with a number of shows around Melbourne and Victoria. As a drummer, Rob is as solid as a rock and combined with Tony’s bass, creates a tight, chest- pounding foundation. Rob voice adds to the band’s vocal mix offering lead and backing vocals. Rob is also a major songwriter in the band
and plays guitar but that will never stop the drummer jokes.
Dave Miles - joined the Oysters in June 2010. He’s no stranger to the band though, and goes back a number of years with Rob as the bass-player in The Vincents during the 80s and 90s. Dave is originally from Western Australia and began his music career at the age of 12, playing the organ and guitar. Throughout the 70s
and early 80s, Dave fronted a number of Perth outfits including the hard rock outfit The Jackals. He's since worked and played all over Australia with different bands playing everything from country to punk. Dave has since rediscovered his country music roots listening to the likes of Steve Earle, Dwight Yoakim, Paul
Kelly and John Mellencamp. Dave brings his unique “mongrel country” style guitar to give the band a hot front line.
Jamie Argent-Jones -
Is also West Australian and has been in Melbourne since 2009. Whilst in Fremantle, Jamie was playing everything from Irish drinking songs to underground psych-rock. Since moving to Melbourne, he has been performing with some of Melbourne’s top musicians as the guitarist with Sol Haus And The Spokesmen, a ‘50s and ‘60s R&B/soul revue. Jamie’s interest in country music was sparked in his teens after purchasing a few couple of country
records with a like-minded friend. He became increasingly interested in honkytonk country, blues, western swing and Zydeco, and these varied influences show in his versatile guitar playing. He joined The Prairie Oysters in late 2010.
HELPING AUSSIES WHEN TIMES ARE TOUGH
The Prairie Oysters give their time for free to a very worthy cause collaborating with locals to put on free shows for rural communities suffering the effects of the drought, fires, floods and economic hardship. The band has also given its time to play at fundrais
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