Peregrine (band)
Encyclopedia
Peregrine is an indie rock
band from Sydney
, Australia
.
Winning a local band competition in Sydney's beachside suburb of Manly
within their first few gigs, the band established a residency at the Excelsior of Glebe
, in one of Sydney's most artistically diverse inner-city suburbs.
This residency ran for an exhaustive two years, packed out on Wednesday (and later Thursday) nights, and featuring guests including Andy Clockwise
, Melanie Horsnell
, Paul Greene, Aaron Thomas, Lior
, Tim Ireland, Bertie Blackman
and Wesley Carr.
The residency also attracted much of the cream of Sydney's art scene - writers, painters, musicians and filmmakers were regularly in attendance. At the time, the band was described in street-press magazine 'Revolver' (now 'The Brag') as "Sydney's best kept secret".
In 2003, the band booked itself into Big Jesus Burger Studios in Sydney's Surry Hills to record its first album, which was released under the title "One Big Happy Heart Attack".
, Darren Hanlon
), 'Heart Attack' was essentially a selection of the tracks regularly performed at the Glebe
residency.
Songs were tracked live onto two-inch tape, and featured many of the guests that had shared the Excelsior stage with the band - songwriters Paul Greene, Melanie Horsnell and Josh Schuberth back Winterford's vocals, friend Marcus Webb plays Hammond Organ
and Fender Rhodes keyboard, while other regulars pitched in on cello, violin and harmonica.
A representative from Shock Music Publishing
happened to enter the studio while the band was laying down one of its newer tracks, 'Fingerpointing'.
Winterford's publishing and the album's distribution would later be signed with Shock
.
The album was reviewed very favourably by Australia's national newspapers - with The Australian
giving it four stars and praising its "narrative wit" and "quiet charm".
The album's opening track 'Fingerpointing' was picked up by Australia's national youth radio broadcaster Triple J
among others, and was featured in the radio station's 'Home and Hosed: First Harvest' compilation, and on several films and television shows.
The as yet unreleased album has been produced by Daniel Denholm (The Cruel Sea
, Midnight Oil
, Powderfinger
, Alex Lloyd
).
According to blogs posted on the Peregrine web site, the album features appearances by celebrated Sydney songwriter David Lane, keys player Clayton Doley from The Hands, the string section from the Australian Chamber Orchestra
and the voices of Peregrine's regular guests Paul Greene and Melanie Horsnell
, among others.
The band has consistently posted updates about its album's progress, but little information is available as to its title or release date. In the meantime, the band has sold out shows at Sydney's famed jazz venue "The Basement" and appeared at the Peats Ridge Music Festival, among others.
The band recently updated its myspace site with a track from the forthcoming album, titled "The Good Ship".
"The Good Ship" is currently on high rotation on Sydney's FBi radio and Melbourne's SYN FM.
Winterford also writes music stories for the Sydney Morning Herald and is a keen advocate for the local live music scene in Sydney. Acts he has interviewed for the daily newspaper include Gomez
, Tori Amos
, Arctic Monkeys
, The Shins
, Wolfmother
, Silverchair
, The Magic Numbers
, Peter Bjorn and John
, The Waifs
, Archie Bronson Outfit
, and Regina Spektor
.
Winterford also occasionally appears as a solo artist, leaving the rest of the group to perform as an instrumental groove outfit called 'The Solid Ones'.
- Iain Sheddon, The Weekend Australian
"Brett Winterford sings with a wistfulness that makes him eminently likeable.”
- Katrina Lobley, Sydney Morning Herald
"A good songwriter is also a good storyteller. The lyrics, the melody, the rhythm - a multi-dimensional world guided by the writer but created by the listener. This is one such gift of good music; its ability to transport you to far off places that are inaccessible from your current situation. Peregrine have that. Swashbuckling, rollicking melodies through the seas of the unknown."
- Hutch, Sandwich Club blog, March 2007
"Heart Attack hums with life, both sprightly and seductive."
- Mike Gee, The Brag
“Proficient, infectious, acoustic popsters with intelligence.”
- Soph Gyles, The OzMusic Project
“Are they one of the big secrets about town or what? Amazing vocals, beautiful pop melodies, stunning.”
- Craig New, Revolver Magazine
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band from Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Early career
Peregrine began as the vehicle for the performance of songs written by Brett Winterford, who after several early line-up changes settled on drummer Mathew Smith and bassist Dane Higgins (both joining in 1999), and guitarist Felix Akurangi (joining in 2000).Winning a local band competition in Sydney's beachside suburb of Manly
Manly, New South Wales
Manly is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Manly is located 17 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of Manly Council, in the Northern Beaches region.-History:Manly was named...
within their first few gigs, the band established a residency at the Excelsior of Glebe
Glebe, New South Wales
Glebe is an inner-city suburb of Sydney. Glebe is located 3 km south-west of the Sydney central business district and is part of the local government area of the City of Sydney, in the Inner West region....
, in one of Sydney's most artistically diverse inner-city suburbs.
This residency ran for an exhaustive two years, packed out on Wednesday (and later Thursday) nights, and featuring guests including Andy Clockwise
Andy Clockwise
Andy Clockwise is an Australian born musician, performer, writer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Andy currently resides in Los Angeles, California. Clockwise likes to describe his style as “Schizo Pop”, while his musical genre is Indie/Pop. Andy has headlined his own tour as well as...
, Melanie Horsnell
Melanie Horsnell
Melanie Horsnell is a singer-songwriter from New South Wales, Australia.-Musical career:Melanie first picked up a guitar at the age of five, learning the classical and flamenco styles of play, and began busking at Manly Beach at the age of ten...
, Paul Greene, Aaron Thomas, Lior
Lior
Lior is a male, independent Australian singer-songwriter based in Melbourne.-Career:In early 2005, Lior independently self-released his debut album Autumn Flow, certified gold by ARIA...
, Tim Ireland, Bertie Blackman
Bertie Blackman
Bertie Blackman is an Independent Australian singer, songwriter and guitarist. She rose to fame with her debut album in 2004, entitled 'Headway' which came after years of prolific performances around Sydney's Inner city venues, where she developed a dedicated following.-Early life and...
and Wesley Carr.
The residency also attracted much of the cream of Sydney's art scene - writers, painters, musicians and filmmakers were regularly in attendance. At the time, the band was described in street-press magazine 'Revolver' (now 'The Brag') as "Sydney's best kept secret".
In 2003, the band booked itself into Big Jesus Burger Studios in Sydney's Surry Hills to record its first album, which was released under the title "One Big Happy Heart Attack".
One Big Happy Heart Attack
Recorded by producer Chris Townend (Augie MarchAugie March
Augie March are an Australian indie/pop rock band. Formed in 1996 in Shepparton, Victoria, the band currently consists of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Glenn Richards, lead guitarist Adam Donovan, bassist Edmondo Ammendola, drummer David Williams, and keyboardist Kiernan Box...
, Darren Hanlon
Darren Hanlon
Darren Hanlon is an Australian singer/songwriter who plays urban folk music. He has released five solo albums, three EPs and eight singles on Candle Records and Flippin Yeah industries , as well as several compilation tracks...
), 'Heart Attack' was essentially a selection of the tracks regularly performed at the Glebe
Glebe, New South Wales
Glebe is an inner-city suburb of Sydney. Glebe is located 3 km south-west of the Sydney central business district and is part of the local government area of the City of Sydney, in the Inner West region....
residency.
Songs were tracked live onto two-inch tape, and featured many of the guests that had shared the Excelsior stage with the band - songwriters Paul Greene, Melanie Horsnell and Josh Schuberth back Winterford's vocals, friend Marcus Webb plays Hammond Organ
Hammond organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
and Fender Rhodes keyboard, while other regulars pitched in on cello, violin and harmonica.
A representative from Shock Music Publishing
Shock Records
Shock Records is Australia's largest independent record label. It helps distribute records from overseas records labels such as Epitaph Records, and also for small record labels designed specifically for that band such as Cement Records...
happened to enter the studio while the band was laying down one of its newer tracks, 'Fingerpointing'.
Winterford's publishing and the album's distribution would later be signed with Shock
Shock Records
Shock Records is Australia's largest independent record label. It helps distribute records from overseas records labels such as Epitaph Records, and also for small record labels designed specifically for that band such as Cement Records...
.
The album was reviewed very favourably by Australia's national newspapers - with The Australian
The Australian
The Australian is a broadsheet newspaper published in Australia from Monday to Saturday each week since 14 July 1964. The editor in chief is Chris Mitchell, the editor is Clive Mathieson and the 'editor-at-large' is Paul Kelly....
giving it four stars and praising its "narrative wit" and "quiet charm".
The album's opening track 'Fingerpointing' was picked up by Australia's national youth radio broadcaster Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
among others, and was featured in the radio station's 'Home and Hosed: First Harvest' compilation, and on several films and television shows.
The second album
After touring 'Heart Attack' consistently up and down Australia's East Coast, the band took a break in 2004/05 to allow Winterford to travel. Upon his return, the band reformed with new bassist Mark Holbert, and began tracking a follow-up album at Sydney's 301 Studios.The as yet unreleased album has been produced by Daniel Denholm (The Cruel Sea
The Cruel Sea (band)
The Cruel Sea are an Australian indie rock band from Sydney formed in late 1987. Originally an instrumental-only band, they became more popular when fronted by vocalist Tex Perkins in addition to Jim Elliott on drums, Ken Gormly on bass guitar, Dan Rumour on guitar and James Cruickshank on guitar...
, Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil , were an Australian rock band from Sydney originally performing as Farm from 1972 with drummer Rob Hirst, bass guitarist Andrew James and keyboard player/lead guitarist Jim Moginie...
, Powderfinger
Powderfinger
Powderfinger was an Australian rock band that formed in Brisbane in 1989. From 1992 until their breakup the band lineup consisted of vocalist Bernard Fanning, guitarists Darren Middleton and Ian Haug, bassist John Collins, and drummer Jon Coghill....
, Alex Lloyd
Alex Lloyd
Alex Lloyd is an Australian singer-songwriter. His most popular album Watching Angels Mend, which includes the songs "Amazing" and "Green", was released in 2001 went double platinum. His third album Distant Light released in 2003 featured three songs that made the Australian top 40 singles charts...
).
According to blogs posted on the Peregrine web site, the album features appearances by celebrated Sydney songwriter David Lane, keys player Clayton Doley from The Hands, the string section from the Australian Chamber Orchestra
Australian Chamber Orchestra
The Australian Chamber Orchestra was founded by cellist John Painter in 1975. Richard Tognetti was appointed Lead Violin in 1989 and subsequently appointed Artistic Director....
and the voices of Peregrine's regular guests Paul Greene and Melanie Horsnell
Melanie Horsnell
Melanie Horsnell is a singer-songwriter from New South Wales, Australia.-Musical career:Melanie first picked up a guitar at the age of five, learning the classical and flamenco styles of play, and began busking at Manly Beach at the age of ten...
, among others.
The band has consistently posted updates about its album's progress, but little information is available as to its title or release date. In the meantime, the band has sold out shows at Sydney's famed jazz venue "The Basement" and appeared at the Peats Ridge Music Festival, among others.
The band recently updated its myspace site with a track from the forthcoming album, titled "The Good Ship".
"The Good Ship" is currently on high rotation on Sydney's FBi radio and Melbourne's SYN FM.
Personnel
- brett winterford (vocals, piano, guitar)
- Felix Akurangi (guitar, percussion)
- Mathew Smith (drums)
- Mark Holbert (bass, backing vocals)
Winterford also writes music stories for the Sydney Morning Herald and is a keen advocate for the local live music scene in Sydney. Acts he has interviewed for the daily newspaper include Gomez
Gomez (band)
Gomez are an English indie rock band from Southport, comprising Ian Ball , Paul "Blackie" Blackburn , Tom Gray , Ben Ottewell and Olly Peacock . The band is distinguished for having three singers and four songwriters, employing traditional and electronic instruments...
, Tori Amos
Tori Amos
Tori Amos is an American pianist, singer-songwriter and composer. She was at the forefront of a number of female singer-songwriters in the early 1990s and was noteworthy early in her career as one of the few alternative rock performers to use a piano as her primary instrument...
, Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys are an English indie rock band. Formed in 2002 in High Green, a suburb of Sheffield, the band currently consists of Alex Turner , Jamie Cook , Nick O'Malley and Matt Helders...
, The Shins
The Shins
The Shins are an American indie rock band comprising singer, songwriter, and guitarist James Mercer, guitarist/bassist Dave Hernandez, Eric Johnson of Fruit Bats, drummer Joe Plummer and bassist Ron Lewis. Their sound draws on several musical genres, including pop, alternative rock, indie rock,...
, Wolfmother
Wolfmother
Wolfmother is an Australian rock band from Erskineville, Sydney. Formed in 2000, the group was originally a trio composed of vocalist and guitarist Andrew Stockdale, bassist and keyboardist Chris Ross and drummer Myles Heskett. Wolfmother released their self-titled debut album in October 2005,...
, Silverchair
Silverchair
Silverchair were an Australian rock band, which formed in 1992 as Innocent Criminals in Merewether, Newcastle with the line-up of Ben Gillies on drums, Chris Joannou on bass guitar and Daniel Johns on vocals and guitars. The group got their big break in mid-1994 when they won a national demo...
, The Magic Numbers
The Magic Numbers
The Magic Numbers are an English pop rock band comprising two pairs of brothers and sisters from Greenford. The group was formed in 2002, releasing their critically acclaimed debut album titled The Magic Numbers on 13 June 2005...
, Peter Bjorn and John
Peter Bjorn and John
Peter Bjorn and John are a Swedish indie rock band, formed in Stockholm in 1999 and named after the first names of the band's members: Peter Morén , Björn Yttling and John Eriksson .They are best known for the 2006 single "Young Folks", which...
, The Waifs
The Waifs
The Waifs are an Australian folk rock band formed in 1992 by Josh Cunningham , and sisters Vikki Thorn and Donna Simpson...
, Archie Bronson Outfit
Archie Bronson Outfit
Archie Bronson Outfit are an English rock band. They met at Kingswood School, Bath .After leaving their native Somerset, the band moved to London where they were discovered by Laurence Bell, boss of Domino Records. The band were playing in Bell's local bar, "The Cat's Back" in Putney. The band...
, and Regina Spektor
Regina Spektor
Regina Ilyinichna Spektor is a Russian American singer-songwriter and pianist. Her music is associated with the anti-folk scene centered in New York City's East Village.-Early life:...
.
Winterford also occasionally appears as a solo artist, leaving the rest of the group to perform as an instrumental groove outfit called 'The Solid Ones'.
Singles
| Title | Year |
|---|---|
| Fingerpointing | 2004 |
| The Good Ship | 2007 |
Reviews
"Narrative wit and poetic soul-searching in abundance. Quietly charming."- Iain Sheddon, The Weekend Australian
The Australian
The Australian is a broadsheet newspaper published in Australia from Monday to Saturday each week since 14 July 1964. The editor in chief is Chris Mitchell, the editor is Clive Mathieson and the 'editor-at-large' is Paul Kelly....
"Brett Winterford sings with a wistfulness that makes him eminently likeable.”
- Katrina Lobley, Sydney Morning Herald
"A good songwriter is also a good storyteller. The lyrics, the melody, the rhythm - a multi-dimensional world guided by the writer but created by the listener. This is one such gift of good music; its ability to transport you to far off places that are inaccessible from your current situation. Peregrine have that. Swashbuckling, rollicking melodies through the seas of the unknown."
- Hutch, Sandwich Club blog, March 2007
"Heart Attack hums with life, both sprightly and seductive."
- Mike Gee, The Brag
“Proficient, infectious, acoustic popsters with intelligence.”
- Soph Gyles, The OzMusic Project
“Are they one of the big secrets about town or what? Amazing vocals, beautiful pop melodies, stunning.”
- Craig New, Revolver Magazine