| 26 | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Origin | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Genres | Alternative rock Indie Rock |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Labels | Floodboy Records MGM Distribution |
| Website | http://www.26theband.com |
| Members | |
| Nick O'Donnell Drew Fellows Ross Duckworth Iain Wilson |
|
26 (also written as 26 (The Band) and 26(Twenty Six)) is an Australian musical outfit founded in 2004 by friends Nick O'Donnell (lead vocals/guitar) and Drew Fellows (keyboardist/vocals) who later recruited Ross Duckworth (bass/vocals) and Iain Wilson (drums/vocals). Originally categorized as Indie Rock, the group has employed a variety of guest artists and choirs to produce a unique sound to the band.
Contents |
The band’s first album The King Must Die was recorded by O'Donnell before he had a band[1] and was released in Australia through Floodboy Records and MGM Distribution and globally through iTunes in 2005. The album received national airplay and The King Must Die was honored as the FBI’s Album Show feature album. With the band’s growing popularity, 26 toured Australia in 2006 for the release of their single "Friendly Fire," which went on to win the 2006 Queensland Song Award for Best Rock Song[2] and was also a finalist in The Courier-Mail People’s Choice Awards.[3] The single also received airplay on Triple J nationally and FBI 94.5 FM Sydney. With the release of their second album Births, Deaths & Marriages in 2008 26’s track "Aloha" was featured on the 3 Mobile website which led to it debuting at No#8 on the ARIA Digital Download Charts the following week. That same week 26 was chosen as one of only 40 acts to showcase at Queensland’s 2008 Big Sound Conference, one of the most respected and fastest growing music business events in the Asia Pacific region.
The band’s opening track, "A New Beginning" taken from their 2008 album Births, Deaths & Marriages featured in the season finale of NBC’s police procedural drama series, Life[4] The Courier-Mail, 29 April 2009, "New beginning gets big boost"</ref>, created by Rand Ravich. The finale aired in the US and Canada to more than 5,000,000 viewers on Wednesday 8 April and aired in Australia (Network 10 - 29 April 9.30pm EST) to over 776,000 viewers. The show will air in another 22 countries. As a result "A New Beginning", as well as other selected tracks from 26’s catalogue, are now receiving airplay on US College/Alternative/AAA stations.
The title of the album Births, Deaths & Marriages is based on life changing events in 2007 which impacted each individual band member and shaped the writing of the album: O’Donnell’s second child was born, Wilson’s father died, the band lost a close friend to cancer, and Duckworth got married.[5]
Throughout the course of 2009, 26 are releasing the album 26x365 exclusively to iTunes in four parts: three songs every three months for one year.[6] With 26x365, Parts 1 and 2 released, 26 have already picked up an award for the third track from the album, "Bring on the Colour Guard", which took out the QSong 2009 – Rock Song of the Year.[7] "Bring on the Colour Guard" was also nominated for the Song of the Year.
In 2010 26 will be touring the US, Canada, Hong Kong and the UK as well as performing at the MUSEXPO[8] 2010 in West Hollywood on 26 April.
26 performed at this year’s ‘One Movement’ Festival/Conference in Perth performing along side Sarah Blasko, Hilltop Hoods, Scribe and Kate Miller Heidke[9] etc.
After 26's One Movement Festival show, the band have been invited to play at Canadian Music Week in March 2010. The band will also be touring Canada and the USA while over for CMW.
| Year | Album | Out Now | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | The King Must Die
|
Yes | Yes |
| 2008 | Births, Deaths & Marriages[10]
|
Yes | Yes |