The Prairie Oysters + Band in Emerald, VIC

ABOUT

We are a band based in Melbourne. We are all part time musicians but very professional in terms of our attitude and our shows. We formed in 2005 as a casual side project and it took off from there.

Since our formation, we have traveled Australia performing at gigs including Tamworth, Deni Ute Muster and venues and festivals in most major cities, many regional centres and small rural and outback communities.

We write, record, produce our own tunes as well with two albums to our name, ("Livin' For The Weekend", and "Three"), and have won several awards over the years and have received radio airplay on ABC, PBS and Community Radio and TV coverage on Foxtel's Country Music Channel, (CMT), Aurora and via Channel 31's Wrokdown and Tone Control programs.

In addition to our original material, our set list also contains a selection of tunes that cover our influences from country, rock, blues and rockabilly as well some classic rock stuff that everyone knows. We adapt our set to suit the heads we are playing to. That is what has kept us working and successful since 2005.

In addition to normal paying gigs we will from time to time, to occasional charity or high exposure gigs if we think the cause is worthy, or it will be good publicity for us or both. We work with a charity called Aussie Helpers occasionally performing in remote outback communities playing to folks who've had a tough time from droughts and other natural disasters. Charity gigs are few and far between but vary in number and we decide each case on its own merits. We ensure our costs are covered so we are not out of pocket.

Most importantly, we want to have fun. We don't take each other seriously but we do take our music seriously and treat our audiences with the respect they deserve. So, if you're cool and a nice person as well as talented, who want to enjoy playing good time music and has good equipment and reliable transport, we'd love to catch up. No Egos please. If you have any involvement or issues with drugs, we understand the seriousness of it, but this won't be for you.

Screen name:

ThePrairieOysters

Member since:

Sep 26 2013

Active over 1 month ago

Level of commitment:

Moderately Committed

Years together:

11

Gigs played:

Over 100

Age:

66 years

Influences

Our influences are wide and varied. We all cut our teeth on 70s and 80s Aussie Pub Rock so you can add Aussie rock legends as a big part of our influences.

Other major influences: Steve Earle, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Mavericks, Georgia Satellites, The Kentucky Headhunters, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Marty Stuart, and many more.

Members Of Band

Tony Bonnici: Vocals, Bass
Rob Street: Vocals, Drums
Dave Miles: Vocals, Guitar

EQUIPMENT

Bass: Fender P Bass with Mark Rig
Guitars: Vox AC30, with, Fender, Ibanez, Danelectro, Taylor, Yamaha, .
Drums, Tama, Sonor Maple, Gretsch Maple, or Yamaha Oak Custom.

MUSIC

CALENDAR

Past Events