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The John Butler Trio is an Australian band who play a fusion of styles, including blues, bluegrass, Celtic and Indian music. John Butler was born in the US but from the age of 11, he lived in Western Australia in the small town of Pinjarra.
His earliest performances were as a busker on the streets of Perth during which he performed his own compositions. His first recording was a self-recorded cassette of instrumentals called Searching for Heritage. He still records his own music, released through the label Jarrah Records, which he co-owns with folk rock band The Waifs. In 2005, John started the JB Seed funding program, which he funds along with other artists. Project categories include 'Social Activism Through the Arts' and 'Indigenous Touring' along with more traditional music industry workshops such as publicity, and management.
Shannon Birchall plays the upright bass in the band. He studied at the Victorian College of the Arts and is well known as a jazz performer. Shannon has played with many other artists, including Deborah Conway on Summertown (on which Michael Barker also played).
Michael Barker plays drums and percussion for the band. A New Zealander from Rotorua, Barker has been playing drums since the age of 10. After playing with bands in NZ, he moved to Australia at the age of 18 to learn orchestral percussion. He has also recorded and toured with Neil Finn.
Line-up:
Visit the John Butler Trio website
