ELIZABETH REID: Vocals * Viola * Autoharp * Piano Accordion * Ukulele
DENNI MEREDITH: Bass Guitar
BEN MACKLIN: Drums
Influences
BRILLIG LIKES Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Lonesome Wyatt & The Holy Spooks, Soursob Bob, John Baker Duo, Joan Baez, Smoke, The Audreys, Antony & The Johnsons, The Pogues, Ataraxia, The Deadfly Ensemble, Johnny Cash, Baterz, Edgar Allan Poe, Cinema Strange, Paul Williams, The Dresden Dolls, CW Stoneking, The Decemberists, The Yearlings, Paul Kelly, The Dirty Three, David Bowie, REM, Lewis Carroll, Absinthe...
REVIEWS have compared the band to:
Nick Cave, The Pogues, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, New Model Army, The Birthday Massacre and more.
Buy in Adelaide from BIGSTAR Records (Adelaide City, Norwood, Magill, Marion), MR V Records (City), and directly from the band at live shows (free badges & discount prices for live show purchases!).
Brillig does NOT use Autotune on its recordings. Never has, never will.
CONTACT BRILLIG:
brillig (at) brillig (dot) com (dot) au
PO Box 396, Rundle Mall
SA 5000 Australia
Photo by Velvet Photos; taken in Leipzig, Germany 2009
..
*GIGS
AT A GLANCE*
(if you are having trouble viewing the widget above...)
BLACK EYED SUSANS SUPPORT
Saturday 14th November at The Norwood Hotel,
Brillig plays at 8:30-9pm; also with Ukeladies. Tickets from the Venue
WHITMORE
SQUARE ARTS FAIR
Sunday 29 November; free afternoon outdoor show, Brillig plays at 2pm; also with the Baker Suite (3pm); LeighStarDust (1pm); Nobu (12pm); Bill Parton Trio (11am)
ADELAIDE
FRINGE FESTIVAL 2010
First 3 Sundays at the Grace Emily Hotel (Feb 21+28, Mar
7)
7:30pm; Free. Further details TBA
* UPCOMING GIGS
* BRILLIG BIOGRAPHY
"If
you know what Cohen, Cash, Cave, & The Cure have in common, it's right here" - Periplaneta, Germany
Combining
sea shanties, murder ballads, tender tales of lost love & lost life, Brillig's
inimitable style is enchantingly melancholic,
beautifully tragic, and... strangely uplifting...!
With a deliciously
dark look & captivating stage presence, Brillig draws their audience in
with infectious melodies and sweet harmonies.
This dreamily romantic style draw influence from such noted songwriters &
storytellers as Nick Cave, The Decemberists, Leonard
Cohen & Neil Young. The result appeals to fans of all ages
and genres.
Driven by
the vocal harmony & interplay between lead
singers and multi-instrumentalists
Matt Swayne & Elizabeth Reid, Brillig's trademark sound
features a graceful combination
of acoustic guitar, viola, autoharp, harmonica, banjo, piano accordion and ukulele.
Bassist Denni Meredith combines
thoughtful melody with smooth rhythm, while drummer
Ben Macklin (ex-Bit By Bats) adds his subtle percussive style.
Brillig
perform as a duo, trio and full
four-piece band, and suit
any stage, intimate or immense. This versatility has seen them
play to diverse audiences in theatres (e.g. Schauspielhaus
in Leipzig, Germany), main festival stages (e.g. Semaphore
Music Fest, Fleurieu Folk Fest SA), outdoor events (e.g.
Garden of Unearthly Delights, Whitmore Square Arts Fair
SA), and infamous venues across Australia
& Europe.
Brillig
has also supported such acclaimed acts as The
Audreys, CW Stoneking, Ned Collette, Mick Thomas, The Handsome Family
(USA), Sime Nugent, Martin Martini & The Bone
Palace Orchestra, & many more.
Earlier
recordings have earned airplay on national tastemaker stations (e.g. Triple
J,FBi, 4ZzZ) and numerous 1 hits
on Three D Radio. Brillig have also had widespread international
airplay, and reached 2 on the
Italian Alternative Chart alongside
Interpol & The Editors (Oct '07).
Signed
to Germany's Black Rain indie label for European releases, whilst
remaining independent in Australia, Brillig released their debut
acoustic album "The Red Coats"
across Europe, UK, Russia and North America
in June 2009. The 12 track LP
was recorded by famed South Australian producer Matt
Hills (Wolf & Cub, The Lucksmiths), and its overseas release
coincided with tour dates in Berlin & Prague
and an international festival debut
in Leipzig (Germany), where Brillig received a standing
ovation.
"The
Red Coats" has been attracting incredible
reviews, and over the last few months Brillig has been enjoying
interviews in numerous glossy magazines and airplay across the globe, including
Germany, Australia, UK, Spain, Belgium, Italy,
France, Russia, Czech Republic, The Netherlands, USA, Switzerland, Portugal
& more. The Australian edition of the LP is scheduled for release at the
Adelaide Fringe Festival 2010.laide
Fringe Fest 2010.
*
Brillig - Video Snippets from Europe 2009
Wave-Gotik-Treffen
Festival at the Schauspielhaus
Theatre on 31 May 2009 (Leipzig,
Germany)
..
Photo by Jason Sifis
INTERNATIONAL REVIEWS OF NEW LP "The Red Coats" (July 2009)
"unique
style, unique playing and superior production...a musical world of
charm, elegance and distinctiveness. "The Red Coats"
to my ears, is a total work of art."-
MEDIENKONVERTER (Germany)
"The
Red Coats has become a masterpiece that you can not readily pass up...we
hear musical pearls full of fragility and grace."-
USELINKS (Germany)
"BRILLIG
has this magical "not-of-this-world touch...Upon listening,
one thinks of fresh air after the rain, walks in the park with a pond
and swans. Absolutely recommendable."-
DARK MOMENTS (Germany)
"twelve
wonderful songs ...the atmosphere thickens with a magic charm.
Charm that increases with each listen to this excellent work of music,
where style & experimentation create a nostalgic combination,
wise and genuine. 8 out of 10"-
BABYLON MAGAZINE (Italy)
"gives
the listener one catchy moment after another -- madness! Older
individuals who like Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds need not consider whether they'll
like "The Red Coats" of Brillig - it's a compulsory purchase."-
KULTUR TERRORISMUS (Germany)
"The
Australians have suceeded in delivering twelve beautiful, melancholic
and tragic stories that need to be heard."-
WHISKY SODA (Germany)
"Brillig
deliver with "The Red Coat" a beautiful piece of music that
not only the Cheshire Cat, the white rabbit and Alice will love. A truly
consciousness, mature and well designed brew on the way to the next
trip into Wonderland. 8 out of 10" -
SCHWARZE NEWS (Germany) ....
....
.."A
mixture of innovation and folk traditionalism ... often
radical and always enchanting." - BUBBLEGUM
SLUT (UK)
..
....
"You
can really classify this masterpiece as somewhere between
Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen or Neil Young. Rated 6/6"
- ELEKTRAUMA
(Germany)
"A
little wave, a little singer-songwriter, a
little folk, a little indie, a little chanson,
but above all, Brillig. I advise everyone to enjoy
this masterpiece." - IKECHT
(The Netherlands)
"An
incredible work, completely captivating, full
of magic. Imperiously recommended." -
LA
DEFUNCION (Spain)
"Whether
performing as a two-piece acoustic show or the full foursome on stage at WGT
Festival, they are able to please their audiences of all kinds,
ages and genres. As we continue our quest for great bands, this one
lands near the top of our list of favorites. Rated 5/5"
- GOTHIC
PARADISE (USA)
"The
melodies on this album are truly intoxicating, full of melancholy
beauty that hooks into the heart of the listener, and makes
them think they are hearing more stories than songs, laden with a delicious
air of tragedy and tenderness."-
MENTENEBRE
(Spain)
Thank you a lot for the add. I've bought your Red Coats cd and I think this is one of the best albums which I heard this year. Really incredible! So amazing tunes, voices and instruments. I like this work very much. Old captain is my fave song:) Best regards and greetings from Russia!
Hi gang! The Sea Thieves are supporting Ms Hart on Friday November 20th and the superb Jed Palmer (Hope Diamond, Girls & Adam, Bergerac) will be playing with me! Would love to see ya there! Zac oxox
Hey Brillig! We absolutely loved your show at the Fleurieu Folk Festival last weekend! Sooo good. Especially the black banjo and the auto harp! Hope you had a great festival, good to see you!
Peace and abundance, Kira and Dylan The Wandering Minstrels
Hey Friends, We launched a new myspace and a pair of singles from our first album "Mirror Maze"; enjoy. A big Hug!......Brillig is a great influence, cool musik.
Hey Elizabeth, thanks for the comments and EP. My favourite is "Bird from the ashes" great to hear some banjo! I look forward to getting back to SA soon, had such a ball on this tour. maybe you'll get to TAS again soon?Thanks again for all your help.Samuel
Thank you again for the wgt-concert and now for the add. "the red coats" ist brillant, amazing, wonderful ... i dont find the right word ... just BRILLIG! all the best for you!!! Norbert
