From : Mic Conway's National Junk Band Contact : Mic Conway

MIC CONWAY’S NATIONAL JUNK BAND : www.nationaljunkband.com : www.myspace.com/nationaljunkband 26 GARNET AVE, LILYFIELD NSW 2040 : 0429 909 990 m : [email protected] : [email protected]

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From : Mic Conway’s National Junk Band Contact : Mic Conway

0429 909 990 m [email protected] 26 GARNET AVE, LILYFIELD NSW 2040 Cathy Kirkpatrick (02) 9560 1475 0429 633 286 [email protected]

Websites : www.nationaljunkband.com www.myspace.com/nationaljunkband


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MIC CONWAY’S NATIONAL JUNK BAND … illusion . vaudeville . satire . fire . magic . gob-smacking mayhem ... and some very funny songs. Jug band blues, political satire and lunatic onstage antics combine as a new-vaudevillian comedy cabaret. Audiences know Mic Conway’s tongue-in-cheek style from “Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band” and “Circus Oz”. From Byron Bay BluesFest to Port Fairy Folk Festival to Adelaide Cabaret Festival… the National Junk Band have become festival favourites for their unique collision of fire, illusion, passion, irreverent satire, magic, singing saws, flying chooks, musical mayhem and some very funny songs. Expect the unexpected as these “virtuosos of the bizarre” create a live stage experience that must be seen and heard to be believed. Wielding National guitars, ukuleles, a sousaphone, a phono-fiddle, actual garbage cans and metal sinks, these rhythmagicians will make your toes tap and your jaw drop and sides split. “The king of Vaudeville in Australia today.” : Lucky Oceans

“Aural extravaganza.” : Michael Smith, Drum Media

“Defies categorisation.” : Sydney Morning Herald BAND MEMBERS : MIC CONWAY : Vocals, tenor guitar, musical saw, harmonica, ukulele, gumleaf, silly noises, tap-dancing, fire-eating, juggling, magic. CAZZBO JOHNS : Sousaphone, tuba, jug, electric bass, swanee whistle, soprano vacuum cleaner tube, hosepipe trumpet, vocals. PHIL DONNISON : National guitar, National ukulele, lap steel (slide guitar), nose flute, kazoo. MARCUS HOLDEN : Stroviol, mandolin, tenor guitar, vocals. JEREMY COOK : Kitchen sink, washboard, thimbles, pots, cans, dinner bell, scrubbing brushes, garbage bin and vocals.


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TOURS AND FESTIVALS : Adelaide Cabaret Festival, SA (2010) Peats Ridge Festival, NSW (2010) Forth Valley Blues Festival, TAS (2010) Australia Day celebrations, NSW (2010) Arts NSW regional tour (2010) Blues Fest, Byron Bay, QLD (2009) Woodford Folk Festival, QLD (2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009) Cygnet Folk Festival, TAS (2009) National Folk Festival, Canberra (2001, 2004, 2007) Festival of Sydney, The Famous Spiegeltent, (2004, 2007) Port Fairy Folk Festival, VIC (1999, 2008) Blue Mountains Folk Festival, NSW (2006, 2007) Acoustica, Sydney (2005, 2006, 2007) Yamba Arts/Fringe Festival (2005) Toyota National Country Music Muster, QLD (2004) The National Festival of Australian Blues Music, Goulburn (2000, 2003) Queenscliff Music Festival, VIC (2003) Adelaide Fringe Festival, The Famous Spiegeltent (1999) Perth International Arts Festival, WA Maldon Folk Festival, VIC (2003) Fairbridge Festival of Folk/Roots Music, WA Illawarra Folk Festival, NSW (2002) RADIO – Interviews and Live to Air : ABC Central Coast (2010) ABC Illawarra : Drive with Nick Rheinberger (2009, 2010) ABC 702, Sydney : Weekends with Simon Marnie (Sept 2009) ABC Radio National : Into the Music with Roybn Johnston : “Picking on Something Smaller: A Little History of the Ukulele” (2009) ABC National : Mic as guest programmer for The Daily Planet : Lucky Oceans (New Year’s Day 2009) ABC 702, Sydney : James Valentine (August 2008) ABC Illawarra : Nick Rheinberger (July 2008) ABC 702, Sydney : Thank God It’s Friday : Richard Glover (July 2008) ABC Radio National : The Daily Planet : Lucky Oceans (June 2008) ABC Radio 774, Melbourne : Red Symons (June 2008) ABC 720, Perth : James Lush (June 2008) ABC Adelaide : (June 2008) ABC Statewide, Queensland (June 2008) River Radio 94.9, Brisbane : Wayne Roberts (June 2008) ABC Radio National : The Music Show : Andrew Ford (June 2008) ABC Radio National : Music Deli : live in concert at Port Fairy Folk Festival (2008) ALBUMS : Kitchen Sink Music (1998) 21st Century Sink (2000) Tin Can Alley (2002) Corporate Chook (2008) Everything You Never Wanted to Know – Live Shows and Interviews : DVD (2008) Pisstakes (2010) WEBSITES : www.nationaljunkband.com www.myspace.com/nationaljunkband


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QUOTES : “This show is an hilarious revelation – you never know what you’re going to get from one song to the next.” : Sarah Thomas, Adelaide Advertiser “...highly infectious music, hilarious jokes, dazzling magic tricks, fire-eating and much clowning around.” : Robert Dunstan, Rip It Up Magazine (Melbourne) “Aural extravaganza... You enter into the spirit, which is pure fun. Everything is delivered with tongue lovingly pressed into cheek... in a lovingly self-deprecating style on the unlikeliest array of instruments.” : Michael Smith, Drum Media “The hit of the festival... their CD was so good someone stole it from the ABC library.” : Robyn Johnston, The Planet, ABC Radio National “Defies categorisation.” : Sydney Morning Herald “A richly entertaining ensemble.” : Tony Hillier, Rhythms Magazine (2009) “Fully rounded entertainment making people giggle, dance and go 'Wow!'... Surprises abound ... A bewdy!” : John Shand, Sydney Morning Herald

ALBUM REVIEWS – “Corporate Chook” : “Lots of hilarity, no sacred cows – they like to attack a lot of things we take for granted, with some great jug band and swing oriented music mixed in there… What on the album isn't fun?” : Lucky Oceans (“The Daily Planet” ABC National, July 2008) “It’s a bloody good listen… Go buy it and cheer yourself up.” : Geoff Green (Springboard Media Editor, UK) “A splendid showcase for the band’s musicality.” : Tony Hillier, Rhythms Magazine (2009) “The world would be a poorer place without either this record or the National Junk Band… Go for a ride down a road you never thought even existed.” : Michael Smith (Drum Media, September 2008)


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BAND MEMBERS : MIC CONWAY ARIA award winning Mic Conway is an singer, musician, song writer, fire eater, magician, tap dancer, actor, multi-instrumentalist, juggler, latex mask maker, props builder and puppeteer. Mic was born into a family of vaudeville theatre and opera. In the 1970s, together with his brother Jim Conway, Mic founded the Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band. To their surprise it became a cult phenomenon, recording seven records, two of which achieved gold status. Mic also joined the legendary Pram Factory Theatre in Melbourne, creating Soapbox Circus, where he was ringmaster, musician, juggler and acrobat. In 1978 Soapbox Circus became the now world famous Circus Oz of which Mic was a founding member. Mic has toured across Australia, Britain, USA, New Zealand and Asia delighting audiences of all ages. He has written and recorded several albums and worked across the board in theatre, music, cabaret, television and film. His current outfit, Mic Conway’s National Junk Band is successfully touring and recording the most unique music and entertainment that “defies categorisation” (Sydney Morning Herald). Their latest album “Corporate Chook” has been driving audiences to the brink of hilarity and insanity. Recently, Mic has been developing a new duo show with Robbie Long (Australian Flat Pick Guitar Champion). Stripped back, irreverent and shameless, they take the stage playing unusual and idiosyncratic tunes that make jaws drop, toes tap and sides split. In a circus of comedy, magic and music they delight audiences with material that includes Captain Matchbox and National Junk Band favourites together with some of Mic’s Circus Oz antics. INSTRUMENTS : Vocals, tenor guitar, musical saw, harmonica, ukulele, gumleaf, silly noises, tap-dancing, fire-eating, juggling, magic.


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NATIONAL TOURS : Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band toured every state of Australia, performing over 2,000 shows. (1970-1980) Mic continued to perform and tour with Conway Brothers Hiccups and The Conway Brothers. (1980-1997) Mic Conway with Robbie Long (DUO) : Melbourne Cabaret Festival, VIC (2010) Darwin Festival, NT (2009) Athenaeum Theatre, “The Crimson Goat Cabaret Club (2009) Cobargo Folk Festival, NSW (2010) Illawarra Folk Festival, NSW (2009, 2010) The Butterfly Club, VIC (2010) Brookfield Winery, TAS (2009) Mic Conway with Clarke’s Gray Vest : Annual International Chardonnay Tasting, Cullen Wines, Margaret River, WA (2009) Western Australia tour (2009) Fairbridge Folk Festival (2009) Habour Sound, WA (2009) Mic Conway and the Rhythmagicians : Bitter ‘n’ Twisted Festival, NSW (2008) INTERNATIONAL TOURS : Conway Brothers Hiccups Orchestra : Houston International Festival, USA (1988) Conway Brothers Hiccups Orchestra and “Vaudevillains” (musical) : London, Edinburgh – The Fringe Festival, The Jazz Festival and the International Festival. (1986) Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band : New Zealand (1970s) ALBUMS : Captain Matchbox Whooppe Band Smoke Dreams (1973) Wangaratta Wahine (1974) Australia (1975) Making Whoopee (1976) The Great Stumble Forward : Matchbox and the APG Live At The Pram (1976) Slightly Troppo (1978) Making Whoopee (1996) Wangaratta Wahine (re-release) (2002) QUOTES : “Mic Conway is a very, very talented man. He should be elected as one of Australia’s living national treasures.” : Bill Riner, ABC Radio, Queensland “The king of vaudeville in Australia today.” : Lucky Oceans (The Daily Planet, ABC Radio National, July 2008) “Mic Conway carries a torch for the idea that music can be fully rounded entertainment, making people giggle, dance and go 'Wow!'.” : John Shand, Sydney Morning Herald “You can’t beat jug band music and Mic Conway – he’s a real stayer.” : Fran Kelly, ABC Radio National (3 March 2008) “That consummate musical trouper, Mic Conway … a delight!” : Sydney Morning Herald


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“Bizarre and unique brand of musical lunacy, with Mic “Microphone” Conway.” : Time Out, UK “Mic Conway looks like he was born on a cabaret stage… his ease with a variety of cabaret styles from music hall and vaudeville to New Wave testifies to this involvement and his expertise is apparent.” : The Age “FantasMic-orical Conway… Where does he get that ENERGY?!” : Eric Bibb “Does this man’s inventiveness ever cease?” : Chris Spencer (Trad&Now Magazine, 2008)

WEBSITE : www.micconway.com www.myspace.com/micconway


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BAND MEMBERS : CAZZBO JOHNS This musical genius has played with everyone from Bob Brozman to Luciano Pavarotti. Cazzbo held the position of Principal Tuba in The Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra from 1987– 2006. As part of festival favourite Mic Conway’s National Junk Band for almost ten years, her charismatic antics on the sousaphone are known and loved by audiences nationwide. Her improvising skills are unparalleled and she is a super-dynamic presence on stage. She now tours extensively across Australia and internationally, as sister Dawn in The Kransky Sisters. INSTRUMENTS : Sousaphone, tuba, jug, electric bass, swanee whistle, soprano vacuum cleaner tube, hosepipe trumpet, vocals. NATIONAL TOURS and FESTIVALS : Highlights from Cazzbo Johns’ touring history with outfits other than Mic Conway’s National Junk Band: The Kransky Sisters : Australian capital cities and tours of regional centres (2009) Adelaide Cabaret Festival (2008) Melbourne International Comedy Festival (2008, 2009) INTERNATIONAL TOURS : The Kransky Sisters : UK, Ireland, Holland, Belgium, Portugal, Sweden, Singapore, New Zealand (2007/2008) The Kransky Sisters : New Zealand International Comedy Festival (2007) The World’s Klang Street Band : Taiwan, Singapore (2000) Opera Australia Brass (quintet) : China (2000) QUOTES : “Australia's free-wheeling tuba virtuoso.” : Doug Spencer, Founder and Producer “The Planet” ABC Radio National “Despite her classical training, Cazzbo is a brilliant improviser with a great ear.” : Bob Brozman “The Paul McCartney of the jug.” : Mic Conway WEBSITE : www.cazzbo.com


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BAND MEMBERS : PHIL DONNISON Phil Donnison has been wowing audiences in clubs, pubs and festivals since his first jug band, formed while still in this ‘teens : Phileas McBlurt and The Emancipated Rampart Footwarmers Jug Band. Phil is great lover of National guitars and ukuleles, putting the “National” into the Junk Band. He is a founding member of Mic Conway’s National Junk Band, performing at the major festivals across the country, as well as on ABC Radio, Channel Nine breakfast shows, and Channel Seven morning show. He has recorded with some of the greats : Bob Brozman, Lucky Oceans and Del Rey. His new jazz / jug band The Jugalug Stringband was a hit at the Manly Jazz and Mittagong Jazz and Ragtime Festivals. (2006, 2007, 2008) In 2003 and 2004 he traveled with master guitarist and ethnomusicologist Bob Brozman to Rabaul, Papua Niugini. Together they recorded and videoed local musicians. The result is the acclaimed documentary and album “Songs of the Volcano”. INSTRUMENTS : National guitar, National ukulele, lap steel (slide guitar), nose flute, kazoo. TOURS AND FESTIVALS : Bellingen Jazz and Blues Festival (2009) Newcastle Jazz Festival (2007, 2008, 2009) Dubbo Jazz Festival (2008) Manly Jazz Festival (2006, 2008, 2009) WEBSITE : www.phildonnison.com.au www.jugalugstringband.com


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BAND MEMBERS : MARCUS HOLDEN Classically trained, Marcus Holden's passion for music spans celtic, jazz, blues, rock, country and more. He has played, arranged and composed for over 400 albums, working with such luminaries as Jimmy Barnes, Ross Wilson, Diesel, Mark Hunter, Jimmy Little, Ross Ryan, Graeme Connors, John Williamson, Richard Clapton, and Daryl Braithwaite, Warren Fahey. A founding member of the Fiddlers Festival (Fiddlers Feast), Marcus has inspired a whole new generation of fiddlers and groups. Soloist with Scotland the Brave, having performed and written works for the Melbourne, Adelaide, Tasmania, Queensland, Western Australian Symphony Orchestras as well as the Auckland and Toronto Philharmonic. He is the chairman of the Golden Fiddle Awards, dedicated to the promotion of the fiddle as an alternative to the classical stream of tuition and performance. He also runs a fiddle school (Southern Cross Fiddlers) and a recording studio (Bloody Dog) in Sydney. INSTRUMENTS : Stroviol, mandolin, tenor guitar, vocals NATIONAL TOURS and FESTIVALS : Highlights from Marcus Holdens’ touring history with Fiddlers Festival / Fiddlers Feast: “Poor Boy” : Sydney Theatre Company (2009) Tamworth Country Music Festival (1996–2010) Toyota National Country Music Muster, QLD (1989, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007) Woodford Folk Festival (1998, 1999, 2000, 2007) Port Fairy Folk Festival (1999, 2004, 2006) National Celtic Festival, VIC (2006, 2007, 2008) Energex Brisbane Festival (2002, 2004) Adelaide Arts Festival (2004) INTERNATIONAL TOURS : “Scotland the Brave” : Lincoln Centre, New York, USA (2009) Japan (2001, 2002, 2006) Japan : World Expo (2005) Tokyo Jazz Festival (2006) France (2006) Malaysia (2008) Brunei (2008) WEBSITES : www.fiddlersfestival.com www.goldenfiddleawards.org.au www.myspace.com/southerncrossfiddlers


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BAND MEMBERS : JEREMY COOK An original member of Mic Conway’s National Junk Band, Jeremy Cook designed and built a drum and percussion kit out of pots, pans, bells, sinks and more – reflecting the band’s love for all things recycled, hand-crafted, unique, and inspired by the jug bands of the 1920s and 1930s. A background in jazz led him to intensive studies of percussion in New York, with the assistance of a Music Board grant (1980). Since then he has toured with some of Australia’s most respected entertainers, gracing stages of theatres, festivals, schools, pubs and clubs both nationally and internationally : from local school halls to the Albert Hall. In 2008 he performed at Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum with Kim Carpenter’s Theatre of Image : Performance series “Pixel and Friends”. Jeremy is also the founder of Drum Circle : workshops touring schools and events. INSTRUMENTS : Kitchen sink, washboard, thimbles, pots, cans, dinner bell, scrubbing brushes, garbage bin and vocals. NATIONAL TOURS : Highlights from Jeremy Cook’s touring history with outfits other than Mic Conway’s National Junk Band: Justine Clarke : I Like to Sing! touring theatres nationally, including Sydney Opera House (2007, 2008, 2009) Christina Anu : Intimate and Deadly shows at Sydney Opera House and Adelaide Cabaret Festival (2005) Max Gillies : The Max Gillies Summit National tour (1986) Lennon – The Musical : Enmore Theatre, Sydney (1986) Jeannie Lewis : For a Dancer at Adelaide Arts Festival (1982) INTERNATIONAL TOURS : Black Hatz : Trip-Pop tour, Japan : (2009, 2010) The Elton Jack Show : USA, UK, Ireland, Spain, Germany, France, Switzerland, Hungary, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, The Philippines, New Zealand (1987–2008) Pardon Me Boys (Ignatius Jones) : Singapore (1987, 1988) WEBSITES : www.jemdrumcircle.com www.eltonjack.com

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From : Mic Conway's National Junk Band Contact : Mic Conway