Melbourne nine piece The Bamboos have announced their first Australian tour in over three years to launch their 10^th, and arguably their finest yet, studio album, Hard Up. The tour is a belated chance to celebrate across the country their 21 years together.

The Bamboos are undoubted pioneers of Funk & Soul in Australia, and this album and tour are a consolidation of the now 21 years of hard graft in getting Australian Soul music accepted both here and worldwide. Formed in 2000 by guitarist and bandleader Lance Ferguson during the now revered early noughties Deep Funk revival, amongst the likes of Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings they held their own against the overwhelming tide of rock music at Australian venues and stages in the early to mid 2000s. Vocalist Kylie Auldist joined the band in 2007 and in a short space of time they became one of the first local Funk & Soul live drawcards, establishing a loyal following and a peerless reputation as one of the best live bands in the country regardless of genre. 

They soon evolved into a more complex blend of modern songwriting and classic soul arrangements, appealing to both purist fans of the genre as much as casual music fans by focusing on what’s important: songwriting, groove and powerful vocals.

From a time where soul music was rare to see on Australian stages and hear on the radio The Bamboos have helped forge a scene where it’s now not just important locally but making waves globally. Their impact on what would become the now world-famous Melbourne Soul scene is undeniable, blazing a path and inspiring so many locals to play, record and explore new ideas in Soul, Funk, Jazz and Beats.