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The Hornstars to launch new single ‘Sideways’ at Open Studio

Melbourne band The Hornstars will release their latest single, ‘Sideways’ in early April, followed up by a launch party on Saturday 13 April 2024 at Northcote’s Open Studio.

Penned by guitarist Gareth Durant and drummer Joey Mount, Sideways is a love song of sorts - taking aim at the notion that romantic love must inevitably have fairy-tale ending. As vocalist Clancy Cullen sings: “These feelings, they’re strong, but they lied to me…”.  “Well, life doesn’t always go to plan” observes Joey, “sometimes things go sideways”.

Musically, the song draws on several influences, starting with a funky southern rock style groove, building to a gospel inflected pre-chorus, an epic guitar solo, and punctuated throughout by the three-piece horn section. “I wonder what the Stax house band from 1971 would make of their grooves washing up in a rehearsal room in Melbourne’s Inner North in 2024” muses Gareth.

The song was self-produced by the band and recorded and mixed by the band’s bass player, Mike Holloway. “We basically set the whole band up in a big room and recorded the song live. I think it really captures the band’s energy”.

The Hornstars will launch ‘Sideways’ at Open Studio, High Street Northcote, on Saturday 13 April 2024. The show will feature two sets of original music, dancing shoes are a must!

Sideways will be available on major streaming platforms in early April 2024. Scroll down for a sneak preview!

Sideways sneak preview

Press quotes

A big band with a big future” - Cameron Menegoni

The Australian Music Airplay Project

Live Video Show Reel

The Hornstars live at the Night Cat

Music Video

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Hornstars featuring at Hornstravaganza

The Gasometer Hotel, Friday 12 May 2023

The Hornstars are thrilled to be opening proceedings at Hornstravaganza, a night of horn-driven jazz, funk and soul at the Gasometer Hotel, Friday 12 May 2023. Make sure to be there early to catch The Hornstars, and stick around for 32 Bars and Mount Kujo. Doors open at 7:30. It promises to be a fantastic evening of live music!

The Hornstars will be opening for Boney M on Friday 10 February!

We are honoured to be opening the show for Disco Superstars BONEY M, featuring Maizie Williams in Melbourne!

Tickets are almost sold out - details and tickets in the link below.

Performing all their chart-toppers "Daddy Cool", "Ma Baker". "Rivers Of Babylon", "Brown Girl In The Ring", "Sunny", “Rasputin” + heaps more with a full live band!

BONEY M have sold over 100 million records worldwide and are the most iconic European disco act of all time.

Strap on your dancing shoes Australia, BONEY M are back bigger, better and more outrageous than ever!

HORNSTARS TO LAUNCH NEW ALBUM HALF WAY THERE ON 13 AUGUST 2022

21 JULY 2022 (Melbourne) – The Hornstars will launch their new album “Half Way There” at Open Studio, Northcote on 13 August 2022.

Having released their debut album on the eve of Melbourne’s first pandemic lockdown in 2020, the band returns to their favourite venue to launch album number two, Halfway There.

The new set consists of songs largely written during and in between lockdowns. Over this time the  band’s song writing continued to evolve, at times reflecting the harsh reality of life during the pandemic (witness the hard funk grooves of "No Gigs" and title track "Half Way There"), but also expressing aspirations for brighter post-pandemic future ("Touch", "Say Goodbye").

With this fresh batch of tunes thoroughly road tested in huge shows at The Night Cat and The Corner, this time the focus will be squarely on the Hornstars as they play two full sets comprising both their album releases to date. The band will showcase their diverse influences - jazz, soul, reggae – it’s not all funk as we know it, but it is definitely funky!

The Hornstars came together in 2016 with the aim of creating a big, funky live band vibe, with catchy original tunes to fill any dancefloor.

Half Way There will be available for streaming on all major streaming services.

Hornstars release new single Touch!

The Hornstars celebrated the release of their brand new single Touch at the Night Cat on 5 March 2022, with Mt Kujo and 32 Bars.

The single showcases The Hornstars' sound rooted in the traditions of classic soul and R&B. The new tune has proven to be a sure-fire dance floor filler.

The Hornstars single Touch is available for streaming and download via the usual outlets.

 

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