Biography
Zero Degrees officially launched in the summer of 2005. An Australian band emerging from the sleepy suburbs of Canberra, ACT. Brothers James and Ferdi Louis, originally teamed up with guitarist Mike Dann(then 16 years old) to create music, have fun and learn about life. With a strong focus on melodic songs performed with as much live energy as they could muster, Zero Degrees worked hard to develope their song-writing skills and fine tune an energetic live show.
From the get go, Zero Degrees performed as much as they could, playing underground venues, private parties and anywhere that would let them set up and play. Having been determined to do things their own way with a strong DIY approach, the band sat down to record @ Studio 52 in Melbourne and soon released their Independent debut EP 'Letters Never Sent' within 4 months of their inception.
By the time 2007 came around, Zero Degrees had clocked up 50+ indie shows under their belt. This gave the band the confidence they needed to turn things up a notch. They approached a number of Australia's established booking agents, asked if they could run live shows for some of the high profile acts they represented and bring them to Canberra. The band soon got their lucky break, a chance to put on a show for After The Fall and open up for them. Many hours spent postering and promoting paid off. The show had sold out and rocked the walls of the University Of Canberra with a huge roar, soon after this event the offers started rolling in. Following events run by the Zero Degrees team created a buzz in the local scene heard accross the country and had contributed to many memoriable shows in their hometown for touring bands hitting up the capital. Local Canberra bands were also invited to share the stage aswell.
Zero Degrees have supported an impressive lineup of artists such as Unwritten Law(US), CKY(US), From Autumn To Ashes(US), Evermore(NZ), Shortstack, Gyroscope, Kisschasy, Karnivool, The Butterfly Effect, The Getaway Plan, Cog, Something For Kate, Magic Dirt, Taxiride and more. They have also shared the stage with many talented up and coming Aussie bands.
Zero Degrees have toured extensively around Australia, performed for many charity events and have run their own school tours. The 'Amplified School Tour' in 2008 seen the band perform accross rural Australia, carting around a world class sound and lighting rig, setting it up, performing to excited students and packing it all up for weeks on end. These projects were a great success and source of pride for the band as they had brought live music out to audiences that often get overlooked by touring bands.
Zero Degrees have also had the privilege of being able to perform in a number of Australia's top live venues, which include The Metro Theatre, John Batman Theatre, Festival Hall, The Espy, Sodens, Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre, Station Resort, The Gaelic Club, The Arthouse, The Marquee, The Evelyn Hotel, Fowlers Live, Ruby's Lounge, Oxford Tavern, Stage 88, ANU Bar, The Helenic Club and many more.
During the Easter break of 2008, Zero Degrees hit the road for a VIC/NSW tour with Triple J Unearthed winners and one of Australia's most well respected bands in Unpaid Debt, to add to that, the lead singer of Irrelevant was in the Unpaid Debt touring party so it was a very rare and humbling opportunity. Learning the ropes from a band with as much musical Integrity and humility as Unpaid Debt has left a lasting influence on many bands, and has left its mark on Zero Degrees. Highlight of the tour was a sold out evening at the revered Arthouse in Melbourne which left many a punter galvanized from the sheer ferocity and energy of a trademark Unpaid Debt show.
Through all their efforts and hard work as a band, Zero Degrees caught the eye of some of Australia's top music Industry people. In 2008, the band signed with Empire Records/MGM. The same team whom developed great Australian performers Delta Goodrum and Missy Higgins. Empire Records also head the tireless efforts of the Kool Skools project which helps develop young Aussie musicians all over VIC/NSW culminating in large Awards ceremony's annually in Sydney and Melbourne.
Various appearances on Channel 10, Foxtel, Community TV, street press and radio stations around the country have helped set the stage for Zero Degrees next phase.
Zero Degrees have overcome many challenges both musically and personally, but through it all have learnt alot of lifes lessons along their musical journey and have gained strength from it. The essence of what the band represents is a strong message of 'No matter what life throws at you, stay positive and do the best you can'.
With a new full length Album ready for release in 2011, projects to be announced and the addition of a talented new member in Luke Davey to the lineup, stay tuned for Zero Degrees updates via the bands facebook.
Zero Degrees On Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/zerodegrees
Ferdi Louis - Vocals/Bass
Mike Dann - Guitars
James Louis - Drums/Vocals
Luke Davey - Keyboards
Artist descriptions on Last.fm are editable by everyone. Feel free to contribute!
All user-contributed text on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply.
