In the tradition of artists such as Tom Waits, Calexico and The Pogues, Waiting for Guinness take their nourishment from ‘old music’ and hot-wire the styles of Berlin Cabaret, Mariachi, Vaudeville, Spaghetti Western and Swing-Jazz into their own surreal vision.

Variously described as Garage Cabaret, Gypsy Punk, and Gangster Jazz, the band has been playing the Sydney pub/club scene for over 5 years.  They may be one of the best dressed too.  The band features up to seven pieces including banjo, trumpet, saxophone, trombone, accordion, guitaron (Mexican bass), flute, guitars and drums.

WFG are locals of Sydney from a diverse background that began life as a busking group.  They have since filled Sydney venues such as The Basement, The Marquee, The Vanguard, The Hopetoun Hotel, La Bar, The Cat and Fiddle and The Excelsior Hotel to name a few. 

WFG have supported numerous acts such as The Cat Empire at the Metro (Sydney), Mic Conway’s National Junk Band at The Harp Hotel in Sydney, and Monsieur Camembert. 

Outdoor festivals include: The Bellingen Global Carnival 2004, The Village Arts Festival QLD 2004 + 2005, Glebe New Music Festival 2003, Kings Cross Arts Festival 2003, Live Bait Festival Bondi Beach 2004, Port Fairy Folk Festival 2005, Garden Music Festival 2005, Darling Harbour Jazz Festival 2005, St Kilda Festival 2005 and the inaugural Cockatoo Island Festival 2005.

 

More recent festival bookings include: National Folk Fesitval Canberra; The Great Escape Sydney; Woodford Folk Festival.  

WFG released their second independent album titled The Show on the August 2nd, 2004 through Vitamin Distribution, with a third album currently in production and due for release in the latter part of 2006.  In the past year they have been on numerous tours spreading their wings up and down the east coast of Australia. 

The Show is currently receiving airplay on Triple J, FBI 94.5FM, Eastside RADIO, 3RRR (Melb), 2ZZZ (Bris), 2SER, and ABC Radio National to name a few, and was album of the week at ABC Newcastle and Art Sound FM Canberra.

In concert, Waiting for Guinness’ spontaneous and anarchic performances are truly engaging.  The theatrical element is as strong as ever, harking back to their busking origins.  A fan once said “WFG make old music sound new somehow,” and they may have a point.  The band are not traditionalists trying to re-create the past, but write contemporary and original music influenced by the styles they love.

Waiting for Guinness are: David Stephenson (trumpet, trombone, guitar and vocals); Marko Simec (accordion, percussion, piano and vocals); Dirk Kruithof (guitar, banjo); Trevor Brown (alto sax, soprano sax, flute, bouzouki); Lino Romeo (guitaron [Mexican bass] and vocals) and joined on occasion by Tim Bradley (drums).