BLUE GRASSY KNOLL

Band

Gus Macmillan (Banjo, Flute)

Gus has a background in both music and management, and specialises in composition and sound design for theatre, dance and film. With over 22 years experience in the arts industry he conceived of and manages the Blue Grassy Knoll’s filmscore projects and is also producer and composer-in-residence with Redspan Dance Company. He works as a freelance composer/sound designer for companies such as Red Stitch Theatre and Complete Works Theatre and performs in Melbourne bands Hobson’s Choice, Devil Goat Family String Band and Stretch ‘n’ the Truth. In 2004 he completed a Graduate Diploma Course in Sound Design at Victorian College of the Arts, working with sound and music in a variety of different of art forms and collaborated with artists including Robert Draffin, Jon Bolton, Vanessa Pigrum, Kat Stewart, Dave Graney, Alison Bell and Leah Purcell. At the beginning of 2008 he worked in London as composer-in-residence for Theatre O’s production of Delirium (an adaptation of Brother’s Karamazov), which was performed at the Barbican Theatre in November 2008. In 2009 he performed with Chinese guitarist Akbar Ablitz as part of the Split Festival in Beijing and also created sound and music for the show Copernicus at the Melbourne Planetarium that won Peoples Choice Award at the Melbourne Fringe Festival. He works as a session musician and teacher of banjo, has an Honours Degree in English and a Masters Degree in Australian Studies, and was the 2005 Guildford Banjo Jamboree’s two-tune pick-off champion.

Simon Barfoot. (Guitar, Percussion, MC)

After studying Music at the University Of Melbourne, Simon played in a number of Melbourne bands before the creation of the Blue Grassy Knoll in which he takes on the role of guitarist, percussionist and MC. More recently, he has been working as a Production Manager and Sound Engineer for The Famous Spiegeltent, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and The London Hippodrome. Currently residing in the city of London, Simon can usually be found travelling with the international acclaimed circus/cabaret show “La Clique” as Technical Manager and Front Of House Manager. The public face of the band, Simon is very excited to be back in front of a home crowd.

Philip McLeod (Accordion, Cello, Mandolin, Harmonica)

Philip is a multi-instrumentalist, composer and performer. He toured North American and European tour as a member of the Spaghetti Western Orchestra and has also played cello with ARIA award winning vocalist Missy Higgins, double bass with Edinburgh favourites Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen and recording and performing with Children’s Rock Band The Mighty Buzzniks. He has composed music for The State Orchestra of Victoria, Electro-Tango ensemble Tangazo and Theatre at Risk. He works regularly with Irish Cabaret singer Camille O’Sullivan and Russian criminal band Vulgagrad and has been the resident musician for the Edinburgh and Melbourne seasons of the Famous Spiegeltent’s internationally acclaimed show La Clique. He has played on the recordings of many of Australia’s leading musicians and continues to perform and write music for dance and theatre productions.

Steph O’Hara (Violin, Mandolin, Accordion)

Steph has spent over 20 years exploring and refining his skills as a musician, freelance sound engineer/designer, and computer programmer. He has performed and worked extensively throughout the world including Australia, United States, Europe, Brazil, South Africa, Singapore, China, Canada and New Zealand. He took a 4-year residence in Amsterdam, working as a sound engineer and programmer whilst touring with The Blue Grassy Knoll. Upon returning to Australia in 2003, Steph has continued to work for both local and international festivals, theatre company’s, recording studios and broadcaster’s. Steph has worked over the last few years with Flying Fruit Fly Circus (The Promise -Helpmann Award, Pirates), Spaghetti Western Orchestra, NICA, Ilbijerri Theatre Company, Peep Show Inc., Chamber Made Opera, Snuff Puppets. He has also pursued computer programming, developing commercial and experimental software for the web, music, games and real-time performance. Steph lives in North Fitzroy, Melbourne with his partner Melinda and daughter Matilda.

Mark Elton (Double Bass, Tuba)

A highly regarded Musician in the Melbourne music scene, Mark has established himself as one of Melbourne’s leading Double Bassists. Beginning on the Tuba at High School, Mark was drawn to the Melbourne Jazz scene and to the Double Bass. He commenced classical training with a recently arrived Russian, Eury Frolov. 1995 saw Mark get his first break with Hotter Than Six, an 8 piece group featuring veteran pianist Graham Coyle and vocalist Nina Ferro, which introduced him to the international Jazz scene. HTS toured extensively over the following 6 years with return tours through the US, Canada, Europe, Scandinavia and Japan. Mark found his Mentor in long time friend Tom Baker, a multi-instrumentalist based in Sydney, who included Mark in his guest performances at European Jazz Festivals.
Mark joined New Orleans Jazz/Funk outfit The Hoodangers in 2000. A highly regarded group well established on the world Jazz stage, the band has since taken in festivals and gigs in New Zealand, Fiji, India and has had three return tours to Europe and Scandinavia. Mark has performed (live, on radio & television) and recorded with artists as diverse as: C.W Stoneking, Joe Camilleri, John Butler Trio, The Red Eyes, Nina Ferro, Julie O’Hara, Bob Barnard, James Morrison, Tom Baker, Dan Barrett, Rebecca Kilgore, Eddie Erickson, Randy Reinhardt, Scott Robinson, Abe Most, Leroy Jones, Jon Erik Kelso, The Band Who Knew Too Much, The Blue Grassy Knoll, The Syncopators, FLAP! and The Snappers.