Project Description

.

.

.

“…Sydney outfit the Forresters were formed by singer-songwriter Anthony Bautovich of the critically acclaimed Oz ensemble The Orange Humble Band…it’s a cool-sounding EP, and will surely find a home with the alt.country audience that is so enamoured of Vigilantes of Love and Golden Smog…”   – Maverick (UK)

“…bright harmonies, guitars that really should be pouring out of open car windows, joy in a Teenage Fanclub / Jayhawks vein…”  Americana UK 

…it’s a luscious mixture of pop, rock, r’n’b, and country, tantalising and exploratory. It never rests on it’s laurels: the songs develop and change as they progress, new elements continually introduced, new echoes from rock’s rich tapestry setting off gentle footfalls down the passageways of memory…” Nick West – Bucketfull of Brains (UK)

… regardless of vogue, there’s always a place for a band like The Forresters…” – Amplifier Magazine (U.S.A)

.

.

“Embracing folk and pop characteristics, supported by tender acoustic guitars”.

The Forresters are a band that’s been kicking it around the Australian music scene since the 1980s. After a long break, initially brought on by the first Sydney lockdown last March 2020, the band headed up by frontman Anthony Bautovich have broken the drought with their new release “Thirteen”.

“Thirteen” is the warm-hearted cover and homage to cult classic band Big Star. The American band is revered by many as unique wide-eyed storytellers of the American narrative. For The Forresters, “Thirteen” presented an opportunity to strip back the layers of the song to its fundamental core to reveal the delicate simplicity of the songwriting. Bautovich describes it perfectly as, “Embracing folk and pop characteristics, supported by tender acoustic guitars”.

.

.

The Forresters are virtuosos when it comes to telling stories that settle deep within the listener. This comes in part from Bautovich’s tender approach to songwriting and also from the truckloads of experience the core band has garnered from their careers as performing musicians. With the band comprising of Matt Galvin (Perry Keyes) on guitars, Nick Kennedy (Big Heavy Stuff) on drums, Brielle Davis (Not Good with Horses) on backing vocals, Cameron Bruce (Paul Kelly) on keys and Steve Balbi (Noiseworks) on bass, this is a band of extremely high calibre.

The song is our first glimpse of the new album “Something to Give” which is slated for release later this year. It should be a cracker of an album having been produced by the distinguished Mitch Easter. A legend in his own right Easter has played a part in shaping the sound of REM, Pavement and Wilco, and his nuanced ability to get to the nucleus of a song has resulted in a beguiling interpretation of “Thirteen”. The album itself promises to be a sparkling excursion into power pop, expanding on the previous material released by The Forresters with their EP in 2016 and 2019.

“Thirteen” is a fragile song that soothes and comforts in a way that feels like a treasured memory. Its unhurried nature and The Forresters steady performance is a fine example of something old becoming new again.

 ‘THIRTEEN’ will be released across all digital platforms 16th July

.

Follow THE FORRESTERS
Website – Facebook – Instagram – Twitter

.

THE FORRESTERS
BIOGRAPHY

.

.

Emerging from a period of lockdowns, isolation and a scarcity of live shows, Sydney band The Forresters deliver their rock’n’roll antidote – an uplifting power pop album, ‘Something to Give’. Breaking free from the restrictions of Covid-19, The Forresters celebrate by honing their sparkling, guitar-based sound on these 11 heartfelt songs with catchy melodic hooks and warm vocal harmonies.

After a lengthy hiatus since their debut album release and EPs in 2016 & 2019, The Forresters’ follow-up LP ‘Something to Give’ is a joyful excursion into contemporary power pop. 

Singer/songwriter Anthony Bautovich’s (The Lonelyhearts, Orange Humble Band) guitar-driven anthems are filled with chiming emotional sounds. ‘Something to Give’ is a blissful evocation of the radiant ’70s power pop bands including Big Star, Rasberries and Badfinger. 

The shimmering guitar work of Matt Galvin (Perry Keyes, Orange Humble Band) and keyboard playing of Cameron Bruce (Paul Kelly) are elevated by the mighty rhythm section of drummer Nick Kennedy (Imperial Broads, The Electorate) and bass player Steve Balbi (Noiseworks, Mi-Sex). The record boasts a great line-up of guest appearances including Peter Kelly (Orange Humble Band, The Gadflys) on trumpet, Jess Ciampa (Nature Strip, Bernie Hayes) on percussion, Nashville based Emma Swift on backing vocals and Charlie Owen (Tendrils, Beasts of Bourbon) on electric guitar.

The first single from the ‘Something to Give’ record is a cover of the Big Star classic, ‘Thirteen’. This stripped back acoustic version is homage to one of The Forresters’ key influences. 

The Forresters’ distinctive brand of ’60s and ’70s inspired power pop was produced by the ARIA Award winning producer Wayne Connolly with additional recording and mastering by Michael Carpenter. The album was mixed by US indie legend Mitch Easter at his Fidelitorium studio in North Carolina.  

.

.

AMNPLIFY – DB