One of Australia’s leading blues and roots bands.
The Hornets feature some of the country’s well-known and respected musicians. Singer song-writer Craig Horne together with guitarist Jeff Burstin from Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons and the Black Sorrows, is joined by guitarist Wayne Burt (also) from Jo Jo Zep and the Black Sorrows, Wayne Duncan from Daddy Cool on bass, Chris Tabone from the Bad Loves on drums and Bruce Haymes on keyboards from the Paul Kelly and Renee Geyer bands.
The band, which can appear as a duo, trio, four, five or six piece, have become a regular fixture on Australia’s blues and roots music scene for nine years. They have released four CD’s, to rave reviews and have gained a regular following of devoted fans as a result of their many incendiary live performances. Consequently, The Age named The Hornets…’The best blues band in Melbourne,’ and the Herald Sun said the band…’demanded attention.’
Craig Horne – Vocals, Singer, Songwriter, Acoustic Guitar, is a singer-song who has written songs that music critic Terry Reilly has said are destined to become classics. Patrick Donovan, Music Writer for The Age said that, Craig is…’blessed with a deep soulful voice …and writes Melbourne blues songs like no other’…’The principal writer and singer for Melbourne’s blues outfit The Hornets Craig has been described as one of Australia’s leading blues vocalists. Craig is also a novelist and has written two books including, ‘Bureaucracy Blues’ and ‘Alpha Jerk’ both published by Melbourne firm emPRESS.
Jeff Burstin – Acoustic/Electric Guitar, is one of Australia’s leading guitarists. An integral member of Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons and the Black Sorrows, he has more recently been performing with the Vika and Linda Bull bands as well as Stephen Cummings. Blessed with an encyclopaedic knowledge of the history and traditions of blues and roots music, Jeff draws heavily on these influences to produce a unique style that has the respect and appreciation of music lovers Australia wide.
Wayne Duncan – Bass Guitar. The first time Wayne Duncan played bass on a recording was back in 1966, on the Bobby and Laurie national number one hit Hitch Hiker. From there he went on to become an integral member of arguably Australia’s best loved and most successful 70’s band Daddy Cool. Over the past 40 years Wayne has been the musical foundation to a vast array of seminal Australian bands including the Black Sorrows, Andy Baylor, Renee Gayer, the list is endless. Wayne is simply the most distinctive bass player in the country.
Chris Tabone – Drummer with well known Australian rock act The Bad Loves, Chris has played with many blues and country acts over the years, including Chris Wilson’s Spidermen, Barb Waters, country harmony band GIT, Wendy Rule, the list goes on. A powerhouse percussionist, Chris Tabone is the go to man in Melbourne’s blues and roots scene.
Wayne Burt -Electric Guitar, is one the country’s great singer songwriters and guitar players. After a brief stint as Daddy Cool’s guitarist in the 1970’s, Wayne founded the legendary Australian band Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons, discovering its lead singer Joe Camilleri . Wayne wrote many of the band’s smash hits, including Beating Around the Bush and Dancing Shoes. He went on to join Camelleri’s Black Sorrows and subsequently wrote songs for Vika and Linda as well as playing incendiary guitar for countless Australian rock and blues bands.
Bruce Haymes – Keyboards. Aria Award winning Bruce Haymes started life playing keyboards with Russell Morris’ The Rubes and is now one of Australia’s leading piano players. An integral member of Paul Kelly’s band, Bruce has also been touring with Renee Geyer and adding tasty keyboards to her two most recent releases.
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