The Panda Band

Yes, it is a bear, but it's also a great band from Perth, Western Australia
The Panda Band could be best described as art-tech-indie-pop. Art: because of their crafty arrangements – tech: because they play with effects, keys and samples – indie: because by choosing to run their own label, they are in the drivers seat – pop: because they are big on catchy, layered melodies and sing-a-long bits.
As the follow up to their 2005 EP Sleepy Little Deathtoll Town, which received rave reviews and extensive airplay, The Panda Band independently released their first album This Vital Chapter (we're almost not even here) in Australia (August 2006) where it was been met with critical acclaim and 4-5 star reviews from press including Rolling Stone, Sydney Morning Herald, The Melbourne Age. National radio station Triple J selected it as their feature album and presented the August promotional tour, which had sold out shows in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane.
In North America the album was released through Filter US Recordings and Fontana Distribution. The band received airplay on Nic Harcourt's Morning Becomes Eclectic and several other KCRW programs as well as scoring Myspace Pick of the Week.
The Panda Band have won multiple WAMI awards, an APRA professional development award, and performed in Australia and internationally alongside many artists including Gomez, The Sleepy Jackson, Modest Mouse, Eskimo Joe and Little Birdy.
Now armed with a new album due for release in July 2011, the band are ready to resume their seat at the forefront of quality Australian artists. In the words of Paula Zammit (The Drum Media NSW): " With a style that hints at The Beatles, Dylan and Bowie, The Panda Band appear very well equipped for international stardom, should it be just around the corner (lets just hope it is)."