Sirocco (band)

Last updated
Sirocco
Origin Australia
GenresFolk
Years active1980–present
Labels Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Past membersBill O'Toole
Andrew de Teliga
Guy Madigan
Michael Atherton
Paul Koerbin
Peter Carolan
Peter Jacob
Paul Jarman
Martin Tucker
Doug Kelly
Chai Chang Ning
Robert Bester
David Hudson
Hugh Moran
Sabahattin Akdağcık
Andrew Tredinnick
Gang Xue
Jonathan Xue
Mark Cain
Website www.siroccoz.com

Sirocco is an Australian music group that began in 1980 with three musicians: Bill O'Toole, Guy Madigan and Andrew de Teliga. In 1981 Michael Atherton joined and the group recorded their first album Paths of the Wind.

Contents

They have been nominated for the ARIA Award for Best Indigenous Release in 1987 (Voyage), [1] for Best Independent Release in 1990 (Port of Call) [2] and for Best World Music Album three times, 1995 (The Wetland Suite), 1996 (Stars and Fires) and 1999 (Falling Leaf). [3]

The concept of the band was to find inspiration from the numerous cultures in Australia. When Sirocco started, the music scene in Australia was classical, rock, jazz and a little folk. However, the numerous migrant cultures, such as Chilean, Turkish, Arabic and Irish, had a vibrant music culture. Sirocco tapped into this and brought many of these expert musicians into the band for guest performances.

The early albums and performances were known for the unusual array of instruments rarely seen outside their community, including the oud, cittern, cabrette, kaval, dumbe, tupan. Their instruments were mixed and matched in the same way as the Australian population. Their performances were wild, always getting the audience up and dancing—"the excitement of rock and roll, the improvisation of jazz and the musicianship of classical". Of interest, they performed at many weddings because there are many intercultural marriages in Australia. The bride and groom came from very different cultures and it was only Sirocco who could perform their music in such an Australian manner.

They are well known for innovation and it was demonstrated in their concert in the endangered Macquarie Marshes in 1993 and the concert with the Dayaks in central Borneo.

Sirocco now have 14 albums released and a video. They have toured over 32 countries including India (four times), Laos, Nepal and Pakistan, and were the first Australian group to tour both Russia and China.

Discography

Albums

TitleDetailsPeak positions
AUS
Paths of the Wind
  • Released: 1982
  • Label: Arika Records (AR004)
  • Formats: LP
Earth Dance
  • Released: 1983
  • Label: Arika Records (AR004)
  • Formats: LP
Voyage
  • Released: 1986
  • Label: Larrikin Records (LRF 184)
  • Formats: LP, Cassette
Port of Call
  • Released: 1989
  • Label: Jarra Hill Records (JHR 2009)
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette
The Breath of Time
  • Released: 1990
  • Label: ABC Records (842738-2)
  • Formats: CD, LP
A Celtic Breeze in the Antipodes
  • Released: 1992
  • Label: Jarra Hill (CDJHR 2018)
  • Formats: CD
  • Compilation of Path of the Wind and Earth Dance
The Evergreen Realm
(with Chai Chang Ning)
  • Released: 1992
  • Label: Jarra Hill Records (CDJHR2015)
  • Formats: CD
Australian Voyage - Folk-Rock Symphony
  • Released: 1992
  • Label: Arc Music
  • Formats: CD
Wetland Suite
  • Released: 1993
  • Label: ABC Music (4795892)
  • Formats: CD
Stars & Fires
  • Released: 1995
  • Label: ABC Music (4798372)
  • Formats: CD
Walkabout the World
  • Released: 1996
  • Label: Musica Pangaea (MP 10001)
  • Formats: CD
Zephyr
  • Released: 1996
  • Label: ABC Music, EMI (72438544582 8)
  • Formats: CD
Falling Leaf
  • Released: 1998
  • Label: ABC Music, EMI (72434945182 7)
  • Formats: CD
Essential Elements - A Collection
  • Released: 2003
  • Label: ABC Music (13162)
  • Formats: CD
  • Note: Compilation

Film/television composer or contributor

Awards and nominations

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987.

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
1987 Voyage Best World Music Album Nominated [1]
1990 Port of Call Best Independent Release Nominated [2]
1995 The Wetland Suite Best World Music Album Nominated [4]
1996 Stars and FiresBest World Music AlbumNominated [4]
1999 Falling LeafBest World Music AlbumNominated [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yothu Yindi</span> Australian musical group

Yothu Yindi are an Australian musical group with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal members, formed in 1986 as a merger of two bands formed in 1985 – a white rock group called the Swamp Jockeys, and an unnamed Aboriginal folk group consisting of Mandawuy Yunupingu, Witiyana Marika, and Milkayngu Mununggur. The Aboriginal members came from Yolngu homelands near Yirrkala on the Gove Peninsula in Northern Territory's Arnhem Land. Founding members included Stuart Kellaway on bass guitar, Cal Williams on lead guitar, Andrew Belletty on drums, Witiyana Marika on manikay, bilma and dance, Milkayngu Mununggurr on yidaki, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu on keyboards, guitar, and percussion, past lead singer Mandawuy Yunupingu and present Yirrnga Yunupingu on vocals and guitar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midnight Oil</span> Australian rock band

Midnight Oil are an Australian rock band composed of Peter Garrett, Rob Hirst (drums), Jim Moginie and Martin Rotsey (guitar). The group was formed in Sydney in 1972 by Hirst, Moginie and original bassist Andrew James as Farm: they enlisted Garrett the following year, changed their name in 1976, and hired Rotsey a year later. Peter Gifford served as bass player from 1980 to 1987, with Bones Hillman then assuming the role until his death in 2020. Midnight Oil have sold over 20 million albums worldwide as of 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katie Noonan</span> Australian singer and songwriter (born 1977)

Katie Anne Noonan is an Australian singer and songwriter. In addition to a successful solo career encompassing opera, jazz, pop, rock and dance, she was the singer in the band George and remains the singer in the band Elixir; performs with her mother Maggie Noonan; and plays with her band The Captains. Noonan was the musical director of and performed at the 2018 Commonwealth Games' opening and closing ceremonies.

Donald Vernon Burrows was an Australian jazz and swing musician who played clarinet, saxophone and flute.

Saffire or Saffire: The Australian Guitar Quartet were an Australian classical music group, which formed in 2002. It consisted of four guitarists Anthony Field, Slava Grigoryan, Gareth Koch and Karin Schaupp. Leonard Grigoryan, Slava's younger brother, replaced Field in 2005. The members also worked as solo performers and in other ensembles. Their debut album, Saffire: The Australian Guitar Quartet, was released in June 2003, which peaked at No. 46 on the ARIA Albums Chart and No. 1 on the related ARIA Classical Chart. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2003 it won the Best Classical Album category. They released two more albums, Nostálgica and Renaissance before disbanding in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melbourne Symphony Orchestra</span> Australian orchestra

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is an Australian orchestra based in Melbourne. The MSO is resident at Hamer Hall. The MSO has its own choir, the MSO Chorus, following integration with the Melbourne Chorale in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Pyke</span> Musical artist

Joshua Jon Pyke is an Australian singer-songwriter, producer, musician and children's book author.

Gondwanaland, originally billed as Gondwanaland Project, were an Australian ambient musical ensemble which combined the indigenous Australian instrument the didgeridoo with western instruments such as synthesiser and guitar.

Tiddas were an all-female folk trio from Victoria, Australia.

Kevin Daniel Carmody, better known by his stage name Kev Carmody, is an Aboriginal Australian singer-songwriter and musician, a Murri man from northern Queensland. He is best known for the song "From Little Things Big Things Grow", which was recorded with co-writer Paul Kelly for their 1993 single. It was covered by the Get Up Mob in 2008 and peaked at number four on the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) singles charts.

Adam Plack is an Australian-born didgeridoo player, composer and producer, originally from East Brighton in Melbourne. He moved to New York City in 1991 and released four albums before moving into production and composition for meditation music in partnership with Deepak Chopra.

Nigel Westlake is an Australian composer, musician and conductor. As a composer for the screen, his film credits include the feature films Ali's Wedding, Paper Planes, Miss Potter, Babe, Babe: Pig in the City, Children of the Revolution and The Nugget. He also composed the theme for SBS World News.

David Hirschfelder is an Australian musician, film score composer and performer. As a musician he has been a member of Little River Band and John Farnham Band. He has composed film scores for many films, including Strictly Ballroom, Australia, The Railway Man, The Water Diviner and The Dressmaker. He was nominated for Academy Awards for his scores for Shine and Elizabeth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph Tawadros</span> Musical artist

Joseph Tawadros is an Egyptian-born Coptic Australian multi-instrumentalist and oud virtuoso. Tawadros has won the ARIA Award for Best World Music Album five times: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2020. and 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Grabowsky</span> Australian pianist and composer

Paul Atherstone Grabowsky is an Australian pianist and composer, founder of the Australian Art Orchestra.

The Fourth Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards was held on 26 March 1990 at the Darling Harbour Convention Centre in Sydney. Australian host Glenn Shorrock of Little River Band was assisted by Quincy Jones, and other presenters, to distribute 24 awards. For the first time there were live performances but the awards were not televised.

The 10th Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards was held on 30 September 1996 at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre. Presenters distributed 28 awards with the big winner for the year was You Am I gaining six awards.

Tony Gould is an Australian jazz musician, pianist, composer and educator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Tinkler</span> Australian trumpeter and composer (born 1965)

Scott Tinkler is an Australian trumpeter and composer. Tinkler has done a range of projects with the composer and violinist John Rodgers, working in ensembles such as Ellision, Hydromus Krysogast and the Antripodean Collective. Notably, Rodgers composed Glass, a concerto featuring Tinkler as soloist performed with the London Sinfonietta, which premiered at the 2010 Adelaide Festival of Arts.

Sally Whitwell is an Australian classical music pianist, composer, arranger, conductor and teacher. She has released five solo albums all on the ABC Classics record label. The first three albums peaked in the top 5 on the ARIA Charts' Classical Albums.

References

  1. 1 2 "ARIA Awards. Best Indigenous Release", Australian Recording Industry Association
  2. 1 2 "ARIA Awards. Best Independent Release", Australian Recording Industry Association
  3. "ARIA Awards. Best World Music Album", Australian Recording Industry Association
  4. 1 2 3 ARIA Award previous winners. "ARIA Awards – Winners by Award – Best World Music Album". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 12 November 2018.