Black Market Tune is a band with an eclectic mix of musical styles, largely folk, from various regions throughout Europe, the U.K. and around the world. The band was founded in late 2012 when violinist Paul decided to organise a ten week tour in Austria. He found a Scottish accordion player who was an old friend and a guitar player from Italy. Shortly after, they decided to record and needed a guest singer and in 2013, Mira became the fourth member of the band. As Paul explains, “This was like the birth of Black Market Tune as it is now, touring Australia.”
Paul previously visited Australia last year on a holiday but this is the first time the band has toured here. “It has been good to see some of my old friends here who have come to see us,” he says. “We tour more in central Europe; Austria, Germany, Italy and the central part of Europe but most of all, in Austria where the band is based. Three out of four of our musicians are based in Vienna and the accordion player is from Scotland.”
How did Black Market Tune come up with their rather unique sound?
Paul puts it down to the various members’ different musical backgrounds. “For example, I grew up with folk music from my childhood. My dad was running a small folk group in the village where I grew up and so musicians stayed at our place so, as a very small boy, I observed this style of folk music and the other members of the band like Christian the guitar player, he’s really into singer style music and he does research into Austrian folk music so we include all of our own music where we can into our repertoire and John the accordion player was into electronic music. He is one of the uprising stars in the Austrian song writers’ scene. So there are different backgrounds which reflect in the music I think but one thing, folk music is the common ground of all of us I think. We all share the love and passion for folk music. Also, we pick different types of European folk music, for example we’re doing a Scandinavian song with a German lyric interpretation.”
In late 2014, Black Market Tune won the Austrian World Music Awards. “This was really quite unique,” Paul says, proudly. “Because we were the first band from a folk background and we were the first band from this area that was able to win a World Music Award and I think this is a sign that this blend of music originating from folk music is becoming more popular.”
Black Market Tune plays tonight at the Albert Park Yacht Club in Melbourne and tomorrow night at the Roxbury Hotel in Glebe, Sydney. For further details and for ticketing information, please contact the venue.
by Sharyn Hamey
Copyright © Sharyn Hamey 2015. All rights reserved
Friday 30th January 2015
Albert Park Yacht Club, ALBERT PARK VIC
Saturday 31st January 2015
Roxbury Hotel, GLEBE NSW
For more information on Black Market Tune, go to their website:
