Logo, Frank Jones

Big Folk

BiG FOLK play original songs with that Melbourne urban/folk/roots sound we've all come to love (pioneered, in part, by members of this band t hrough the 90's and 2000s).

BiG chorus songs with a little help from you are our specialty, we're a cross-generational band with strong family connections. It gets a bit wild at times, but it's always a lot of fun. Our BiG FOLK line-up includes some of Australia's finest musicians:

BiG FOLK Band Members

  • Frank Jones - Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica
  • George Butrumlis - Keyboards, Accordion, Guitar, Vocals
  • Howard Cairns - Double Bass
  • Dennis Close - Drums, Percussion
  • Amy Jones - Backing vocals
  • Rosie Wositzky-Jones - Backing vocals
  • Rosie Hilder - Backing vocals

Upcoming Shows

  • 26 Mar 2010 9:00  - CD Launch - Lomond Hotel East Brunswick, Victoria
    2, 3, 4 Apr 2010  -  National Folk Festival Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

Check out BiG FOLK's MySpace at: www.myspace.com/bigfolkband

 

(Press kit available soon)

 

The Story of "Small Ball", BiG FOLK's first full-length album (Launched 26th March 2010)

 

After taking a break from playing live music for a couple of years I was lucky enough to, out of the blue, get a spot at the 2007 Fairbridge Folk Festival. I gathered a band of my favourite Freo volunteers and had an absolute ball, realising yet again that there just ain’t no substitute for playing live music and flying by the seat of your pants.

Back in Melbourne I soon became despondent, I knew I wanted to play more live music and was beginning to form an idea for a brand new approach to my songwriting and performing, but brick walls kept popping up everywhere I turned.

In desperation I turned to my old ally and favourite musical mate George Butrumlis. George had recorded what I thought were my two best albums to date and had been in most of my bands since the demise of the Whirling Furphies in 1998.

“George”, I said, “I’ve got this idea in my head, but I don’t know if I’m gonna be able to make it work. I’m hearing something with a “big folkie sound”, and I want to write songs that get the audience involved, big chorus songs that people want to sing-along to. I don’t want to be up on stage just singing at people anymore, I want them to be involved with what’s happening.”

“Sure …… ,” he replied, and then cryptically added, “I’ve got this little Brazilian 3-piece called Sanfona happening at the moment. Why don’t we put you and the three of us together in the studio and see what happens?”

Brazil? Hmmm, wasn’t really my idea of a big folkie sound.

Sanfona was made up of George, Dennis Close (my all-time favourite drummer/percussionist), and Howard Cairns, a double bass player who hailed originally from Sydney and came from outside of my usual folkie circles and had a background in jazz.

Dennis, Howard and myself laid down the bones of the first four tracks the first time we got together in George’s studio. Then, throwing caution to the wind, we decided to get right away from “that accordion sound” that George is justifiably famous for and opted for keyboards and electric guitars instead.

We achieved the big chorusy sound I was searching for by adding the gorgeous backing vocals of my daughter Rosie, my niece Amy and Rosie’s good friend Rosie Hilder.

Well, it certainly wasn’t Brazilian, but it was unique.

We had found the BiG FOLK sound.

There’s a lot of great playing on this album from all of the musicians and singers, but I think the one who had the best time of all was George. I know it’s most un-musician-like of me, but I find spending time in the studio control room a boring and sleep-inducing experience, to say the least.

So, after a day of recording, Howard, Dennis and myself would motor off home leaving George to carry on with his own private nocturnal experiments with keyboards, guitars, amps, reverbs and compressors. A lot of what you’re hearing, the detail and landscape of the album, is down to George.

I’m quite proud of the songs I’ve written for this album, I think it’s by far the most consistent bunch of songs I’ve put together as an album yet. Love, death, the environment, families, Australia, rivers …. all of my favourite themes are here.

Enjoy.

Frank.