Biography
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Years Active
2003 – 2009 (6 years)
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Founded In
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Members
- Kate Wilson
- Sarah Kelly
theredsunband is a rock band from Sydney, Australia. Comprised of sisters, Sarah (guitar, lead vocals) and Lizzie (keyboards, tambourine, backing vocals) Kelly, the band performs and records as a three-piece, with the addition of a male drummer/backing vocalist.
The band are inspired by acts such as Mazzy Star and Cat Power, which is evident in both their production ethic and the treatment of the lead vocals. On the local front, the band received support from the numerous mid-late 90s Australian bands who played a brand of atmospheric indie-rock informed by the shoegaze movement of the early 90s, such as Sounds Like Sunset and Gersey, who gave the band their earliest support slots.
The band originally played as a two-piece, with Sarah on bass and John Matthews on guitar. Serendipitously, the two founding members of the group had previously met at kindergarten. "In the class photo we are the two kids at the front holding the sign; 'Arncliffe West Public School Year Kindi 1986'", writes Matthews on the band's official site.
The pair performed in two-piece format before the addition of Kate Wilson on drums, who was followed by David O'Leaf. The best known line-up of the band came in 2003 after the departure of O'Leaf, with Matthews switching to drums and Kelly to guitar.. This made way for the addition of Kelly's younger sister, Lizzie on keyboards. Not unlike bands such as The Dandy Warhols, early My Bloody Valentine or The Doors, theredsunband employ keyboard bass, rather than electric bass.
The band's debut album, "Peapod" was released in 2004 on Slanted Recordings and produced by Magic Dirt's Dean Turner – credited as Dean Dirt. It was recorded in St. Kilda at Hothouse Studios - the studio of former Kids in the Kitchen bass player, Craig Harnath.
On the 27th of March 2006, principal songwriter, Sarah Kelly, was awarded the Jessica Michalik Music Endowment by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA).
theredsunband have played with such artists as Cat Power, Magic Dirt, Youth Group, The Panics and were on the bill for the 2005 Big Day Out festival.
On 24 November 2007 during a live gig at the Northcote Social Club, Sarah announced that John Matthews had quit the band 4 days previously. The band has since performed with various guest drummers, predominantly Joe Hammond of Love Outside Andromeda.
Original drummer, Kate Wilson, now plays with Sydney bands The Laurels and The Holy Soul.
In November 2007, theredsunband released an EP, "Like An Arrow".
Their second LP, entitled "The Shiralee", was released on June 14th, 2008.
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