Extended Family

EXTENDED FAMILY: Australian Blues Funk Band. (Best Blues Artist 2006 - MusicOz Awards) Think John Butler meets Jamiroquai, throw in soul, funk and groove roots and you'll begin to understand the high energy frisky fusion this Family creates. This is no Sunday roast Family with a white picket fence and neatly mown lawn. Meet the funkiest relatives around. And the messiest. Pull out the sofa bed. Hide the good china. Might pay to lock up the fridge too. Enjoy. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Best Blues Artist 2006 - MusicOz Awards)

Think John Butler meets Jamiroquai, throw in soul, funk and groove roots and you'll begin to understand the high energy frisky fusion this Family creates. This is no Sunday roast Family with a white picket fence and neatly mown lawn. Meet the funkiest relatives around. And the messiest. Pull out the sofa bed. Hide the good china. Might pay to lock up the fridge too. Enjoy.

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"Shoe gazers, cynics and clique-hangers: be on notice - your attempts to resist the temptation to dance will be futile. You will dance. You will dance like an idiot. And you will love it." Brett Winterford, Sydney Morning Herald, 2006.

"They play a mix of blues grunt and super smooth new age alt pop, with jazzy, Latin, African, Celtic and Middle Eastern rhythms and sounds, a social conscience and a sense of humour." The Blues Times, SBS, 2005.

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Independent releases:
EP: Pandamonium Live (2002)
ALBUM: Extended Family(2004)
ALBUM: The Way Back To Feeling Alright (Due for release Jan, 2007)

Folks have said that charismatic guitarist/vocalist Aaron "Aztec" Houston is a wit with old-school style - and that he is "The Best Bluesman in Sydney" (Clive, MD of Destra Media). Smooth soul queen, Alexandra "Soulsista" Kaye (also of Australia's leading acapella group Kaya), is a little bit Aretha and a whole lot of class. Milica "Rockstar" Stefanovic has been described as 'Australia's hottest bass player' (by Triple J roots queen Dallas Frasca). Ostentatious Ian "Coomba" Watson delivers drums and percussion simultaneously with 'octopus-like' flair, while Scott "Chip" Turner plies his sultry blues/jazz style of old on saxophone/clarinet/harmonica.

The band has played five consecutive sold-out shows at Sydney venue, The Basement, and the single Rollercoaster is on the soundtrack for the ASP 2006 World Surfing Championship series & on rotation on Triple J, FBi & 2SER. Also played on Triple J's Roots n All is Dolphin Song and Life is Like a Butterfly with No Wings. Selected as one of KK Blues' Top 21 Blues Artists for 2006, Extended Family is offers a unique blend of edgy roots/blues/funk, a huge live show and a reputation for making music you can't keep still to.

The new single Life is Like a Butterfly with No Wings was launched at The Basement on Saturday 30 September. This huge show featured Rob Longstaff (Melb), Funklantis, Kaya, and DJ Funk Shui, in addition to one of the best Extended Family sets ever seen. With a fat four-piece brass section, blues harpstar Michael Burley and the angelic harmonies only Kaya can provide, Extended Family showcased new tunes and old faves to the delight of all.

Extended Family were top four finalists SBS Blues Performer of the Year awards 2005. 2006 Festivals include The Great Escape Festival, Woodford Folk Festival with Kaya, Surry Hills Festival, Newtown Festival & Peats Ridge Festival. Invited to perform at Canadian Music Week 2006 & Australian Blues Music Festival 2006. 2007 kicked off with a massive show on the Main Stage at Peats Ridge Festival. Now booked for the Australian Blues Music Festival 2007 in February, the band are also playing showcase gigs in more intimate venues around Sydney with label cousins, The Maids. With a host of new tunes, an album to launch and another one ready to record, you'd best catch up with your Extended Family soon.