Full Biography
A simple idea born of fatherhood, friendship and music has flourished and taken shape.
A simple idea born of fatherhood, friendship and music has flourished and taken shape.
THE BAD DAD ORCHESTRA formed in mid-2015 from a concept devised by the band’s late guitarist Liam Guthrie. The 9-piece band quickly established themselves as a powerhouse of Tasmania’s live music scene. An export of the highest quality you can only expect from Tasmania’s island state.
With a traditional line-up, of guitars, bass & drums, a keyboard & 3-piece horn section THE BAD DAD ORCHESTRA brings big grooves, with snappy horn lines and catchy as hell vocals from front-man Jimi Steele. Critics have likened THE BAD DAD ORCHESTRA to the classic sounds of Australian pub- rock with a modern twist, whilst others have named it a unique brand of soul.
Since establishing, THE BAD DAD ORCHESTRA have gratefully featured on some of Tasmania’s most popular festival line-ups, including Falls Festival (Marion Bay), Party in the Paddock, Forth Valley Blues Festival, Junction Arts Festival, The Taste of Tasmania, Royal Eve, Festivale, The Great Huon Valley Festival, Bruny Island Blues & Roots Festival – most in successive years, and many more.
THE BAD DAD ORCHESTRA is building National attention following performances at 2018 MOJO BURNING (QLD), 2018 & 2019 EP tours across QLD, NSW, VIC, SA and TAS; and high-profile interstate appearances at BLUES ON BROADBEACH (May 2019), CALOUNDRA MUSIC FESTIVAL (October 2019 and 2021), QUEENSLCIFF MUSIC FESTIVAL (2022) and GIRRAKOOL MUSIC FESTIVAL (2023)
THE BAD DAD ORCHESTRA maintains a strong work ethic when it comes to writing and recording music; their 3 EPs – ‘Self-Titled’ (2016), ‘Go and Ask Your Mother’ (2017), and ‘Viva Le Bad Dad’ (2019), received extensive community radio and ABC regional radio airplay across Australia & New Zealand.
With a number of SOLD OUT shows under their belt, more festival bookings and plans to record their debut studio album, these nine Tasmanian Dads show no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
It’s big, it’s bad and it’s Dad!!