Andy Baylor & The Banksia Band at The Lomond Hotel.

Renowned Melbourne musician, Andy Baylor, has a new album of songs and tunes

“In Another Life”

Andy Baylor and The Banksia Band offer a colourful folk/roots sound which encapsulates the essence of Australian music-making. Their polished, eclectic music draws together threads of ‘roots music’ styles including Country, Folk, Cajun fiddle music, old, deep blues and world music exotica, and seamlessly weaves these into a contemporary Australian bar-room symphony.

Andy has written and recorded a whole new batch of songs and tunes which he and the Banksia band will be unveiling over Spring and Summer. The band features a sweet string sound with the fiddles and violas of Sophie Dunn and Kate Connor, the mandolin, mando-cello and guitar of Sam Lemann with Andy on electric surf, jazz-guitar, fiddle and vocals. This formidable front line is driven by percussionist/producer Denis Close’s exotic world percussion, the bass of Trent McKenzie and Phil Collings’ masterful jazz drumming.

“As with all my albums over the years, I have committed myself to passionate, honest expression through poetry and music, to tell something of the place and times I find myself living in. I love writing and playing music and even though I may naturally be a fairly shy, quiet person, when I play and sing I feel powerful - free to tell it like it is, and right where I should be.”

“Melbourne’s perennial favourite roots rock musician”…the Age EG

“Andy Baylor has opted not to play the glamour card. His blues is poetry of the back verandah kind, citing John Lee Hooker above John Donne, with a come-as-you-are feel set to the rhythm of the Melbourne suburbs.” Michael Dwyer The Age,

“He’s performed in everything from orchestras to string bands, and, on his latest release, Andy Baylor has combined lessons learned from the lot. The music floats on the air, light but tinged with melancholy with some blissful melodies and even some flowing dance tunes.” Jeff Glorfeld