Genre-defying New Orleans collective, TANK AND THE BANGAS, have made a name for themselves in the US as musical innovators, sonic visionaries. Now, they are turning their sights to Australia.

This March, for the first time ever, the five-piece will land in Australia to headline shows in Sydney and Melbourne along with appearances at Perth Festival and Auckland Arts Festival. They will take in Sydney's

Oxford Arts Factory on Tuesday 6th March, followed by Melbourne's Howler on Wednesday 7th March. Tickets are on sale now. Since beating out 6,000 entrants to win this year's NPR's Tiny Desk Concert contest,

Tank and the Bangas have been on an upward trajectory, selling out a North American tour and jamming alongside Chance the Rapper and Norah Jones. Frontwoman Tarriona' Tank' Ball and Anjelika' Jelly' Joseph share an electrifying on-stage chemistry, bouncing off each other, weaving and overlapping vocals and verses across the outfit's seamless hip-hop/neo-soul compositions.

"There are no words that can accurately summarise what this band can do with a crowd and a stage; Tank and the Bangas make music that you have to experience. " - Huffington Post

"This band combines R&B with hip-hop's poetry and rollercoaster storytelling, with a flair and alchemy that could only come from New Orleans. " - NPR

" Frontwoman Tank made transitions between riled-up raps, spirit-churning singing and a little bit of twerking seem effortless. Her equally talented co-vocalist Jelly was the perfect complement their chemistry was as infectious as their harmonies and ad-libs." -The Washington Post

Tank and the Bangas evoke a musical reference of rhythmic soul and spoken word amongst other genres as diverse as rock, gospel, funk and folk. They have quilted a unique sound that singles them out as one of the most distinctive groups to come out of New Orleans, recently winning Band of the Year at the New Orleans Big Easy Awards and opening for acts like Lianne La Havas, The Revivalist, The Soul Rebels and more.