Don’t be a turd! Help Tassie Times get Little Bear to the Falls Festival - Vote for them HERE:

Falls Festival Foster Band Initiative - Power to the People

It’s no secret that Tasmania is a breeding ground for some of our country’s most exciting musical talent. No one is better positioned to comment on the who’s who of these shining stars than the people on the ground and around the towns themselves. So why not call on the people who know best to uncover some fresh local sounds to add to our festival line up?

The Falls Music & Arts Festival has banded together with a bunch of Tasmanian music’s most supportive media friends, to shine the light on local artists through the Falls Festival Foster Band Initiative. Its giving local Tasmanian acts a national platform to launch their music and their profile. Falls Festival Foster Band Initiative is a way to shine the spotlight on sizzling local artists that have been causing a stir in venues across the state over the past few years. By casting their vote, music fans will give these local bands the opportunity to score a slot on the Falls Festival line up alongside Arctic Monkeys, Fleet Foxes, The Kooks, Crystal Castles, Aloe Blacc and heaps more.

“We are really excited about this year, with so many of Tasmania’s media actively getting behind acts and for the first time. The public are able to have a say in who makes it on this year’s Falls Music and Arts program.” Simon Daly, Festival Director. 

During the month of October, the Tasmanian press are generously opening their pages and fostering one local act, featuring them, their talents and their story and giving them a big fat dose of love and attention that they so deserve.

Readers will be given the chance to uncover their new favourite artist and help secure them a paid spot on the Falls Festival line up by casting their vote via the Falls Festival website: HERE:

There are three paid spots up for grabs. Voting opens October 1st and closes October 31st, with the winners being announced November 8th.

YOU! can listen to tracks Gloomy Sunday and The Architect Sank and visit Little Bear on Facebook HERE:

“Little Bear’s self-titled EP is lyrically intricate, with dark and mysterious imagery and intimate story lines that are too imaginative to tell. The opening track “Lily” is exotic and sultry, set in a European folk scene - the lone piano accordion. “Jill and Tom” bares its soul with poetic lyrics floating on the brushed snare and electric cello bass lines. “The Architect Sank” is a classy folk love-lost sonnet with a retro edge in the tradition of Cat Power, organic keys and a swinging appeal - “I drew you in like a cold winter breeze . . .””

—  Lisa Haynes, Little Bear - Little Bear (Album Review)

Read about Little Bear at Triple J Unearthed HERE:

Little Bear in its infancy emerged between Urshula Leung and David Elliston when she returned to Tasmania for 6 months in 2009. David urged her to share her songwriting with him and cautiously they started writing charts. So there Little Bear was born. Between them, this duo has been the driving force behind Little Bear’s sound.

The band has evolved and become stronger over the coming months since Urshula permanently returned to her home state. Regular rehearsals, the addition of a new drummer Andrew Bender and Nicholas Mercer who sits as backbone to the pieces with his sold bass lines and licks on the cello, have amounted to a strong sound for what otherwise was a very melodically driven three piece.

Nick brings the tension to the band with his input, Dave is chordal, Sam strong in bluesy melodies on the electric guitar, Bender holds the beats and Urshula brings an emotive vocal with an emphasis on song writing, especially in the ballads.

Our latest member is Jhana Allen, playing Fiddle she soars between the lead lines and completes the band with her eastern european strings.

Little Bear is continually expanding their set with uptempo Gypsy/Folk Rock pieces and the occasional ethereal ballad. Sure to please an eclectic crowd. Come see them live.

Genre
Indie Gothic Blues, Gypsy Folk Rock

Members
Urshula Leung (Lead Vox), David Elliston (Keys, Accordion, Acoustic Guitar), Nicholas Mercer (Electric Cello), Jhana Allen (Violin), Sam Smets (Electric Guitar), Kit (Andrew Bender).

Hometown
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Record Label
Indie/Unsoundbwoy Productions

Biography
Little Bear is a six piece ensemble melding electric and acoustic in a diverse sound that draws on Jazz, blues, country, ambient and rock influences with exotic folk-overtones.

“It draws it’s diverse influences from each band member, bringing enough music complexity to blend and contrast for a strong experimental sound.” - Lisa Hynes (http://www.thedwarf.com.au/nd/albumreviews/little_bear)

More to come from Little Bear very soon…