Tassie musos make new fans at Gympie Muster

The Bad Dad Orchestra has returned to Tasmania having been part of an extraordinary line-up of musical talent that drew a record crowd to the 2024 Gympie Music Muster in Queensland.

More than 50,000 people visited and camped at the Amaroor Creek State Forest between August 29 and September 1 which saw four-day passes sell out, record-breaking crowds at nine venues and 8000 music lovers in front of the Optus Hill Stage.

Among the crowd were hundreds of Tasmanians who made the pilgrimage, excited to see a home-grown band insert its soulful rock into the mix.

The Dads’ lead singer Jimi Steele, Luke Young (drums), Levi Abbott (keyboard), Carl Treasure (guitar), Lee Mallinson (guitar), Vince Walker (bass guitar), Chris Bonner (trombone), Andrew Sulzberger (trumpet) and Carl Bulow (saxophone) were thrilled to be accepted into the line-up on the back of the launch of their Makin’ Me Wild album in March.

“It’s not often that a Tassie band gets a gig at this popular event – the Wolfe Bros would be the last to play there,” Chris Bonner said.

“It’s a diverse line-up with country music and blues and roots at its core – it was amazing to play alongside top national acts like Casey Barnes, Felicity Urquhart and Joe Camilleri & the Black Sorrows, Little Quirks and Cheap Fakes.”

The Dads have been getting a great response in Queensland in general, with a run of music festivals such as Blues on Broadbeach, Caloundra Music Festival and Mojo Burning in Brisbane all making it onto the itinerary in recent years.

“It’s certainly not a money-making exercise when you’ve got nine band members, so we’re grateful to receive Arts Tasmania funding to get us to big national events like the Muster,” Bonner said.

Touring the album has taken the Dads all over Victoria, NSW, Queensland and Tasmania in recent months.

Bonner said that as a bunch of dads with families and day jobs it’s not easy touring.

“It takes some careful planning but we’re just lucky to have the opportunity and we’ll be releasing another single, Rockin’ My Heart, off the album next month so there’s no slowing down.”

The Dads will be performing at Blues at Bridgetown in WA in early November alongside John Butler and Dave Hole and will see in the New Year back in Queensland.

In the meantime, closer to home, you can catch them at Junction Arts Festival in Launceston on Sunday at 4.30pm (entry is free) and at Festival of George in St Helens on October 5.

Photos: Steve Bone