‘2009 SONG OF THE YEAR RUNNER UP FOR ‘FEELING ALRIGHT NOW’
Just Plain Folks Awards, Funk Category
New York based The Hipstones are on a musical odyssey that has taken them from the clubs and music festivals of their home town Sydney (Australia) to the recording studios of the Big Apple. It’s just another chapter in a truly international story that began when the group’s two founders Mark Palmer (keys/lead voc) and Anthea White (lead voc) formed their unique partnership in a high rise in the world’s most populous city, Tokyo, Japan.
The recent move to New York is a part of a natural progression that brings the duo closer to their musical roots and their great love of the American soul, funk and jazz traditions. Internationally, The Hipstones have taken home the runner up award for 2009 song of the year (funk category) for “Feeling Alright Now” in the Just Plain Folks Awards. Another career highlight was sharing the bill with the likes of Chaka Khan at Indonesia’s Java Jazz Festival - with a massive 100,000 festival attendees.
With one highly successful album Something's Gonna Start already behind them in Australia, The Hipstones have welcomed the opportunity to complete their long awaited second album, Dreamers, in New York, cementing the talents of Anthea White and Mark Palmer as two of this countries most talented and innovative musicians.
Back in Australia The Hipstones hit the prime time TV airwaves when their debut album’s title track Something’s Gonna Start was selected to appear on the Logie Award Winning soap, All Saints, during their “episode of the year”. Their numerous performances, using their nine piece lineup, on the National Nine Network’s top rating Kerri-Anne morning show were so well received that they were asked to become the first ever “House Band”. The group also performed at the ‘After Tour Party’ of multi-platinum and internationally acclaimed group, "Human Nature”, and had everyone dancing their feet off.
Exposing America to The Hipstones engaging blend of soul, pop and body shaking grooves, has started on the right foot, with regular performances at New York’s notable, The Living Room, as well as performances at Joe’s Pub, Union Square Summer Stage, Rockwood Music Hall, Webster Halls Basement, The Bitter End, and various LA venues. In their own backyard, they have twice performed at The Sydney Opera House as well as playing numerous festivals, and receiving regular rotation on local radio stations. Regular performances at Sydney’s notable The Basement, Opera Bar and popular Sydney venues have developed this hardworking band into one of Australia’s finest.
“a very appealing and distinctive recording that combines a kind of thread of 1960s-style soul with an intriguing mix of other ingredients, such as jazz harmonic complexity, and sometimes a kind of dreamy atmospheric texture”. George Graham, WVIA FM
“…a world class album with as much subtlety and cool funk as anything by the likes of Sade with a twist of Stevie Wonder.” Michael Smith, Drum Media (Australia)
“their CD is one you'll probably want to go back to many times”. George Graham, WVIA FM
