Shelley’s Murder Boys Will Release Their Debut Album “Above Is A Roar” on September 7th
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Sydney bluegrass/old-time trio Shelley’s Murder Boys will release their debut album “Above Is A Roar” on September 7th. The album was produced and recorded by Jim Moginie (Midnight Oil) at Oceanic Studios. It features Shelley Eeves, Joe Glover and Jimmy Murray on fiddle, vocals, banjo and guitar, with guest performances by Rob Hirst (Midnight Oil, The Backsliders), Jim Moginie and Jake Pember (The Button Collective).
Shelley’s Murder Boys have been a staple in the Sydney folk and bluegrass scene since 2017 with their EP “Troubled Thoughts Keep Her Fed”. The upcoming album takes influence from the Appalachian traditions of old-time and bluegrass music with a collection of old-time songs, as well drawing in an alt-country, Americana style with a selection of originals. Each song on the album has been treated with Jim Moginie’s flair for instrumentation and arrangement and the tradition breaking addition of Rob Hirst on drums, adding a wild, percussive element throughout. Originals on the album explore issues such as climate change, social disadvantage and mansplaining, and come directly from the daily-life experiences of the band.
“Above Is A Roar” has already been enthusiastically received, with the band’s crowdfunding campaign coming in over double the target, and “Airds”, the single from the album, being premiered on ABC Sydney with Simon Marnie, broadcast across New South Wales. “Airds” was reviewed by folk music blog Timber and Steel and described as ‘a modal exploration of the old-timey style with Shelley’s unique voice and distinctive fiddle playing taking centre stage - beautiful stuff’.
The band’s album launch is on the 7th of September at Yulli’s Brews with special guests Kay Proudlove, and the Sweet Jelly Rolls. The band is touring NSW and ACT and playing at Club Millthorpe in Millthorpe on September 15th, Folkswagon Sydney on October 2nd, Flow Bar in Old Bar on October 4th, Yulli’s Byron Bay on October 6th, Treehouse in Byron Bay on October 10th, Dusty Attic in Lismore on October 11th and Smith’s Alternative Canberra on November 9th.