Biography
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Years Active
2009 – present (15 years)
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Founded In
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Members
- Dave Hosking
- Jakob Tarasenko
- Jon Hart
- Killian Gavin
- Tim Hart
Boy & Bear are an Australian folk rock band, based out of Sydney, New South Wales. The band began as a solo project for singer-songwriter Dave Hosking in 2009) before quickly expanding into a full band. In February 2009, Hosking uploaded a track, "The Storm", to the Unearthed program on radio station Triple J, it became a featured song at the station. Hosking had met Killian Gavin who was a singer-songwriter and guitarist in Ovell, and the pair started jamming together. Tim Hart, from another university band Wintersound, joined as a drummer and singer-songwriter. Then they expanded with Jake Tarasenko (ex-Tripartisan Approach) on bass guitar. All four had fronted their own groups and became friends after regularly sharing the stage at gigs.
After winning the 2009 Unearthed competition, they gained a performance spot at the Australasian music festival Homebake. In 2010, Tim's brother Jon Hart joined the band as an official member; contributing vocals, mandolin, banjo and keyboards. They toured Australia opening for Angus and Julia Stone as a three-piece, with Tarasenko and Hart in London playing in Laura Marling's backing band. In May 2010, Boy & Bear released their debut extended play, With Emperor Antarctica. They then recorded the song "Fall at Your Feet" for He Will Have His Way, a tribute album to singer-songwriter brothers, Tim and Neil Finn. Boy & Bear's version of "Fall at Your Feet" was listed at No. 5 on the Triple J Hottest 100, 2010. Another of their tracks, "Rabbit Song" was placed at No. 45.
In November 2010, their cover of "Fall at Your Feet" peaked at No. 34 on the ARIA Singles Chart. On 5 August 2011, Boy & Bear released their debut album Moonfire. It was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee with producer, Joe Chiccarelli and reached No. 2 on the ARIA Albums Chart. In December, it had finished third in the Triple J album poll of 2011. On the Triple J Hottest 100, 2011 Boy & Bear were listed three times, "Part Time Believer" and "Milk & Sticks" at No. 50 and No. 49, respectively. While "Feeding Line" reached No. 4. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2011 Boy & Bear won in five categories: Breakthrough Artist – Single for "Feeding Line"; and Album of the Year, Best Group, Breakthrough Artist – Album and Best Adult Alternative Release for Moonfire.
In late 2012, the band announced that they had parted ways with Tarasenko. His replacement was Dave Symes, formerly of Seeker Lover Keeper and of Sarah Blasko's live backing band.
Boy & Bear released their second album on 16 August 2013, titled Harlequin Dream. It debuted at #1 on the ARIA charts. Two singles were released from the album - "Southern Sun" and "Three-Headed Woman."
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