Think John Butler meets Jamiroquai ...

From the husky delta of the steamy inner Sydney streets, comes a band who unravel contemporary roots, funk, soul and blues, to create something deliciously sexy and new that you can't help but groove to … Their infamously huge live show has secured industry attention, with one Australian "Cigar" legend describing Extended Family as "a cross between Sly and The Family Stone, and Frank Zappa".

Following their receipt of the national MusicOz Award 2006 for Best Blues Artist, Sydney-based roots/soul/funk commotion Extended Family toured nationally in 2007, launching their album “The Way Back To Feeling Alright” (Highroad Music/MGM), at The Basement (Syd) and The Northcote Social Club (Melb). The launches were backed up with east and west coast tours, captivating audiences from Warracknabeal in rural Vic to Geraldton in WA. Extended Family (previously known as Panda) is an experienced touring act; the band has travelling frequently to Victoria, NSW and Qld over the past 7 years, headlining and playing with such acts as Jon Cleary and The Absolute Monster Gentlemen, Eugene Hideaway Bridges, Kid Confucius, Thirsty Merc, Dallas Frasca, The Fumes, Blue Shaddy, Carus & The True Believers and Angus & Julia Stone.

Also in July 2007, they played 10 shows in 11 days on their debut Western Australia tour, funded by a $10,000 2007 Contemporary Music Touring Grant from the federal government. The band has also enjoyed the rare pleasure of playing 6 sold-out headline shows at Sydney's premier venue, The Basement.

Extended Family were finalists in the SBS Performer of the Year Award 05, finalists in the Sunscreen Independent Film Clip Competition 06, selected in 2SER's Top 20 Australian Blues Artists 06, and in March 07, chosen as one of 5 Australian export-ready unsigned artists to perform in a world-first Australian SXSW showcase to Austin, Texas via SecondLife.com (sponsored by Sonicbids/Austrade).

Their debut single "Rollercoaster", always a crowd favourite, is receiving airplay on Triple J, Qantas Inflight and many community stations across Australia, with the innovative film clip (made for $150) debuting on "Rage" in July 07. "Rollercoaster" was also selected for the 2007 Perisher Blue compilation CD, while "Maleman" features on the Fuse compilation. "Life is like a butterfly with no wings" was selected for the Toyota Gympie Muster CD soundtrack.

The band has performed at Fuse Festival (Adelaide Fringe) 08, the Great Southern Blues & Rockabilly Festival 07 at Narooma, Caloundra Music Festival 07, Bimbadgen Blues Festival 07 and Toyota Muster 07 in Gympie, The Great Escape 06, main stage Peats Ridge 06, Australian Blues Music Festival 07, Newtown and Surry Hills Festivals, amongst many others.

2008 is off to a fantastic start, with Extended Family tearing up The Grande, the Chai Tent and the Blues/Roots Stages at Woodford Folk Festival. Four massive shows were performed in front of thousands and not even torrential rain could dampen the frenzy Family created. A highlight was the New Years Eve countdown show featuring a dancing leprechaun, sword swallower, extended percussion and hot horn sections, dance-offs with audience members - and of course, the infamous boxing match between 07 and 08. Extended Family also toured to the Fuse Festival in Adelaide, showcasing to industry at The Gov Hindmarsh Hotel and attending 3 days of conferences. Live appearances on ABC 702 FM, with Richard Glover in 2008 have included "Thank God It's Friday" featuring such comedians as Wendy Harmer and Anthony Ackroyd. Extended Family were also recently featured on WIN Television's 'Best of the Blues' show compiled from interviews & shows at the 2007 Toyota Muster.

With a swag of new songs ready to record for their next album (including the already crowd favourite 'Yesterday Morning'), look out for Extended Family near you. As one SMH reviewer said - “you’ll dance; you’ll dance like an idiot, and you’ll love it!”

To see the band perform live, check out this footage and interview from Sydney's Nocturnal TV,
filmed at Peats Ridge Festival on New Years Eve 06/07.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6XBHd_Evls

Extended Family's album

THE WAY BACK TO FEELING ALRIGHT (Highroad Music/MGM)
Now Available In All Good Record Stores Nationwide!!

AND
AVAILABLE NOW FOR DOWNLOAD FROM iTUNES!!
Buy your fave song for just $1.69!
Or get the entire funky album for just $16.99!!

"You tickle people from the inside and add colour to their souls."
Emma, from Melbourne @ Peats RidgeIndependent releases:
EP: Pandamonium Live (2002)
ALBUM: Extended Family(2004)
ALBUM: The Way Back To Feeling Alright (2007)

Folks have said that charismatic guitarist/vocalist Aaron "Aza" 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/Roxi" Stefanovic (also of Sydney band 'MA') has been described as 'Australia's hottest bass player' (by Triple J roots queen Dallas Frasca). Ostentatious Ian "Coomba" Watson (also of Brass Knuckles) delivers drums and percussion simultaneously with 'octopus-like' flair, while Scott Roland Turner plies his sultry blues/jazz style of old on saxophone/clarinet/harmonica.

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