Electric Lunchbox
Electric Lunchbox started as Jayde BOND & Steve Shanahan, a husband and wife duo who released their debut album in December 2010. Electric Lunchbox weave their love of 50's Rock'N'Roll, Rockabilly, Motown, Doo-Wop and even spaghetti Western into their own unique style.
Career
Jayde Bond and Steve Shanahan started writing their debut album Electric Lunchbox four years prior to its release date in December 2010. Bond had been running the Music and Movement program at the Redfern Community Centre for the City of Sydney and decided to start writing children's music to go with the classes. Shanahan had his own recording studio, so the pair got together and started writing, producing and recording fun tunes and lyrics to get kids up and dancing.
Their first single 'Prawn Crackers' took out an award at the coveted 2011 Australian Songwriting Contest in the Songs For Children category. The song also won a spot on the playlist for US rock festival Lollapalooza's junior arm, Kidsapalooza.
After persistant requests by young fans to play live, the pair put together a five piece band and four back up dancers, and in July 2011 they had their debut sell out performance at the Petersham Bowling Club. The next day the group performed at Rhymes Kids Music Festival in Sydney at Sydney Olympic Park.
October saw them in Melbourne for the Rhymes Kids Music Festival, then back to their local area Marrickville, Sydney for the Marrickville Festival. The following month they appeared at the Newtown Festival.
In December 2011 they performed their Christmas show "Stockin Rockin Christmas Party" at the Petersham RSL Club, and on New Year's Eve 2011/12 Electric Lunchbox were invited to perform as part of the Children's Festival at Peats Ridge Festival.
On Australia Day 2012 the group were asked to perform at three different events, the Village Green at The Rocks, Sydney, The Entertainment Quarter Darling Harbour, and for the City of Ryde.
By March 2012 the nine piece band were heading to Adelaide for their debut appearance at the Adelaide Fringe Festival. They performed six shows over three consecutive days at The Famous 'Gluttony' tent, across from the Garden of Unearthly delights.
Other performances of 2012 include the Million Paws Walk for the RSPCA, and for Harmony Day, in North Ryde.
Steve Shanahan also works as a voice artist with credits including Tracey McBean, Bottle Top Bill, Ageing rock Dad 'Gene' in CJ the DJ with his latest credit being the voice of B1 in the animated series of Bananas in Pyjamas for the ABC Kids.
Group Members
- Jayde Bond - Lead Vocals, Percussion, Dancer
- Steve Shanahan - Guitar, Vocals
- Paul Johnstone - Drums, Vocals
- Frank Grubisa - Bass, Vocals
- Dave Schlesinger - Keyboard, Vocals
- Emily Grubisa - Dancer, Vocals
- Laura Grubisa - Dancer, Vocals
- Hunter Shanahan - Dancer, Vocals
- Sadie Shanahan - Dancer, Vocals
Reviews/Media
- "The best thing to happen to contemporary kids music in yonks" TimeOut Sydney - 1
- "Rollicking", "Multi-talented" - Rip It UP magazine - 2
- "Fifties music meets a new generation with Electric Lunchbox - The Daily Telegraph - 3
- "the music is upbeat, quirky and promises to elicit giggle from your youngsters" - Kid Style File 4
External links
References
- http://www.au.timeout.com/sydney/kids/events/26108/electric-lunchbox
- http://www.ripitup.com.au/article/5302
- http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/electric-moves/story-fn6bmg0w-1226173003832
- http://www.kidstylefile.com.au/2011/06/03/giggle-along-with-electric-lunchbox-upbeat-quirky-entertaining-australian-music-for-kids/