FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – MEDIA RELEASE

After a whirlwind tour of Australia in support of their highly acclaimed third release Long Time Gone, and a trip to Austin Texas for SXSW, The McMenamins are back on the road again, this time coming to Melbourne for three shows before their next US tour. It has been a busy time for the Queensland-based brother and sister duo, who released their album through MGM in September last year and kicked off their tour with a coveted performance at Woodford.

No strangers to performing around the country, The McMenamins have been on the touring circuit since 2003 and with three releases under their belt, they’ve earned themselves a strong reputation as a folk duo to watch out for. They’ve performed with some of the country’s most successful artists and international superstars such as Toni Childs, Bertie Blackman, Lior, Ray LaMontagne, Jason Mraz, The Waifs and Missy Higgins to name a few.

Already their third album has been causing waves across the independent music scene, garnering them consideration radio airplay and the notice of some industry alumni. Their sound, which is a unique fusion of alt country, contemporary folk, roots and pop music, ranges from an aching intimate soundscape to foot tapping folk ’n’ roll. With diverse spectrums of sound, The McMenamins manage to create a truly intimate and unforgettable live show. The album itself includes some soaring string sectionals, rhythmic banjo beds, finger picking guitar, infectious mandolin riffs and stunning vocal harmonies.

Fleur McMenamin says audiences can expect an honest show. “Audiences can expect to see a very natural acoustic show with intricate instrumental work and siblings singing stories of love, loss and turmoil within the experience of our own lives and lives of people we have known and loved,” she says. “We like to make music that is simple and raw but with broad messages and emotion that can be felt by many.”

The duo admits they can’t wait for their return to Melbourne, this series of shows being the third time they toured to the city. “We are very excited about coming to Melbourne, we just love the music scene down there and every time we have played in Melbourne we have had such a great response,” Fleur says. “Everyone seems so supportive of live music and there is so much diversity and so much talent. We always get to work with and see other artists on a similar path to us and it is really encouraging and inspiring.”

In fact, touring has been an interesting and enlightening experience over the past 12-months for the brother and sister, who often take their whole family on the road. They kicked off their tour in the old fashioned traditional sense, loading everyone and everything into a tour bus and hitting the road. The experience is something that has certainly brought them closer and given them some great stories to share on stage.

“Our touring so far has been full of twists and turns - catastrophic weather, flooding in, roads cut, emergency flight bookings and four young children on our hips the whole way,” Fleur says. “The trials of four kids under five in a tour bus, and on the road for 30 days and 3000-kilomeatres, was an interesting ride to say the least. My youngest accidently got her hand cut up in the greenroom fan at Woodford (all healed ok thankfully) and I think all four kids got sick at least twice between Brisbane and Tamworth.”

Now The McMenamins are heading to Melbourne before their US tour in October, and another string of summer festivals across 2011-2012. Don’t miss out of the band that Rolling Stone called ‘rock solid folk’ as they perform three special dates in Melbourne this June.

Wednesday 29th June 2011 | 8pm
Northcote Social Club
High Street, Northcote
www.northcotesocialclub.com
Special Guest: Amy Vee

Friday 1st July 2011 | 7pm
The St Kilda Branch
Barkly Street, St Kilda
(03) 9078 1107

Saturday 2nd July 2011 | 4pm
Pure Pop Records
Acland Street, St Kilda
www.purepop.com.au 

Long Time Gone is out now through MGM Distribution

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