Sunnyboys bring 40 years of memories

Sunnyboys is set to return to The Shed at Aussie World to celebrate the release of a new eight-track album and 40 years in music.

Sunnyboys will play The Shed at Aussie World. Photograph Dallas Kilponen

LEGENDARY Aussie band Sunnyboys is set to return to The Shed at Aussie World to celebrate the release of a new eight-track album and 40 years in music.

The gig on Friday, February 21, will put the spotlight on Sunnyboys 40 — an album comprising the first re-release of the band’s hitmaking 1980 debut 7”, including the original version of Alone With You plus four new recordings culled from the archives of chief songwriter Jeremy Oxley.

The debut 7” was recorded over two days in October 1980 and released via independent Sydney label Phantom Records on December 31 that same year.

The four songs featured on the EP were essentially the first songs Oxley had presented to the band on his arrival in Sydney from Kingscliff just a few months earlier. Alongside Alone With You, they included Love to Rule, What You Need and The Seeker.

The debut “yellow” EP was an instant underground smash, selling out its initial pressing of 1000 copies in just two-and-a-half weeks.

Part 2 of Sunnyboys 40 was recorded between touring commitments in 2018 at Airlock Studios, Brisbane. Overdubs were added over the following 12 months at locations in Sydney and Brisbane and the mixing completed in the summer of 2019 by current in-demand producer Konstantine Kerstin.

The idea was to tackle some material Oxley had written for other projects post-1984 and to complete some unfinished business from back in the band’s original lifespan.

This year marks 40 years since the band’s inception (though a mere 12 years of actual existence)

“You can’t keep a good band down,” Oxley said.

“These new and revitalised songs take it back to the reason behind the band in the first instance. The 40 years in between is nicely depicted in the change in voice while the energy and craftsmanship are still there in the sound, albeit a little fuller and rounder. I guess it’s just like us, too, really.”

Sunnyboys band members are enjoying a renaissance rarely seen for any band from any era. Tickets for the Aussie World show are from $60 plus booking fee. Visit www.aussieworld.com.au.

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