The Boat People (Australian band)

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The Boat People
Left to right: Robin Waters, Tony Garrett, James O'Brien and Charles Dugan
Left to right: Robin Waters, Tony Garrett, James O'Brien and Charles Dugan
Background information
Origin Flag of AustraliaBrisbane, Australia
Genre(s) Indie pop
Years active 2000–present
Label(s) Shock Records
Website Official website
Members
James O'Brien
Robin Waters
Charles Dugan
Tony Garrett
Former members
Chris Pickering

The Boat People are an Australian four-piece indie pop band. The Brisbane based group consists of James O'Brien, Robin Waters, Charles Dugan and Tony Garret. They use instruments such as keyboard and tambourine mixed with 2-part harmonies, ironic lyrics and pop inspired melodies. They cite Crowded House, Jeff Buckley and The Beatles as their main musical influences.

Contents

[edit] History

Going by the name 'Four on the Floor' at the time, the band formed whilst still attending high school in Warwick, Queensland. In 1996 they entered and won a $20,000 grant in the Nescafé Big Break contest and used it to fund their first self-titled album.

In 1997, they re-recorded a song from the album and entered it into Triple J's Unearthed competition, consequently winning within their region and receiving airplay of the single "Anime Girl".

The group took a break to study jazz at the Queensland Conservatorium which greatly influenced their later work. After changing their name to The Boat People in 2000, they signed a distribution deal with MGM Records and recorded numerous EP's. Extensive tours of Australia, particularly the East coast, saw the band support major international acts such as The Shins, David Byrne, Dogs Die In Hot Cars and Idlewild.

In August 2005, they released their first full-length album titled yesyesyesyesyes, released on Shock Records.

[edit] Members

  • James O'Brien (vocals/bass)
  • Robin Waters (vocals/keyboard)
  • Charles Dugan (vocals/guitar)
  • Tony Garrett (drums)

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] EPs

  • The Boat People (2000, MGM)
  • Squeaky Clean EP (2002, MGM)
  • Three Pieces for a Small Ensemble (2003, MGM)
  • Tell Someone Who Cares (2004, MGM)

[edit] Awards

  • Belowground Music Video Awards, Best Indie Clip - single for "Tell Someone Who Cares"
  • Q Song Awards, The Courier- Mail Peoples Choice Award - "Unsettle My Heart"
  • Q Song Awards, The Song of the Year - "Unsettle My Heart"

[edit] External links