Byron Bay based folk/indie pop four piece The Lucky Wonders have made a huge entrance onto the Australian music scene in the short time since they formed, with a trail of rave reviews left in the wake of their album Thirteen O’Clock, and mammoth touring efforts. Songwriters Emma Royle and WAMI Award winner Jessie Vintila first came together to create live music for puppet show Puppets Break Out, playing an 11 show season in the 2009 Adelaide Fringe Festival. The collaboration was such a success they were inspired to pursue it head-on, and formed the core of The Lucky Wonders.
Within a few months the duo had enlisted the help of ARIA nominee Anthony Lycenko (Pete Murray, Xavier Rudd, The Beautiful Girls), Ben Franz (The Waifs, Tim Rogers) on bass and lap steel, and Dave Sanders (Rodriguez) on drums. Co-producing with Lycenko at Byron Bay’s Rocking Horse and 301, they created the twelve tracks compiling Thirteen O’Clock, which was to meet overwhelming critical acclaim.
“Top 10 albums and Top 3 gigs of 2010” - Sue Barrett - Rhythms
“…a stunning debut album with tracks ranging right across the broad roots genre.…a winning package. FOUR STARS” BMA
“…uplifting and life affirming…” andpluckyourstrings
“…relaxing and warm…” Scene Magazine
“…outstanding…a breath of fresh air. FOUR STARS” Hobart Mercury
“a stunning album which takes music back to its roots” Sound Of Oz
In October 2009 they formed a four piece band, with Jessie on lead vocals, guitar and ukulele, Emma on guitar, ukulele and backing vocals, Anastassijah Scales on drums, and currently Sam Parker on bass.
Happy Pill, the first single released from Thirteen O’Clock in November 2009, received Triple J airplay and hit No. 1 on Unearthed Roots. Catchy, powerful and haunting, Happy Pill stayed in the Unearthed Top 25 for an impressive seven weeks.
When The Lucky Wonders independently released Thirteen O’Clock in March 2010 and embarked on a mammoth forty date Australian tour, the praise began to roll in. So too did the airplay, with rotation on Radio National, regional ABCs, community, country and commercial radio. ABC North Coast featured The Lucky Wonders as Artist of the Week. They were interviewed in countless publications, including full page features in Rhythms, LOTL, Cherrie and street press Australia wide. They signed a distribution deal with Vitamin Records, who successfully pitched the album to JB Hifi Stores around Australia.
The band found a warm reception for their beautifully crafted songs and warm, quirky, irreverent banter all over Australia, venturing to far flung reaches of WA and the Top End. They opened for Pete Murray, Paul Greene, Sal Kimber and The Rollin Wheel, and Skipping Girl Vinegar, and played some premier venues around the country such as The Vanguard, Lizottes, Heritage Hotel, The Soundlounge, The Powerhouse, The Troubadour, and Settlers Tavern in WA.
On arriving home to Byron Bay, The Lucky Wonders returned to the studio to record follow up singles Anyway, inspired by Emma’s leap of faith in selling her flat to fund The Lucky Wonders, and Thing About Leaving, a country-esque sigh of homecoming contentment. They released the tracks as a double A-side, welcomed by fans and critics alike. “We were blown away by The Lucky Wonders’ last full-length release…and now they're following it up with this…both superb cuts” Babysue.
On their second national tour, they headlined shows with WAMI Song of the Year winners Rachel and Henry Climb a Hill, Saritah, Melanie Horsnell, The Stillsons and Hello Satellites. They were featured at Adelaide’s 2010 Feast Festival with a show described as ‘stunning’ by Feast’s director, Kerry Ireland, and Illawarra Folk Festival in 2011.
After a brief hiatus from national touring The Lucky Wonders hit the circuit again in July 2011, this time with a trip to their beloved Top End, where they played a two week season and a sell-out show at the renowned Darwin Railway Club, with support from Telstra Road to Tamworth winner David Garnham. Tasmania, Sydney, Canberra, Caloundra Music Festival and Wignall's Vintage Blues Festival in WA are next on their itinerary, with a new single I'll Be Fine due for release on Sept 1 and a second album in the pipeline.
Within a few months the duo had enlisted the help of ARIA nominee Anthony Lycenko (Pete Murray, Xavier Rudd, The Beautiful Girls), Ben Franz (The Waifs, Tim Rogers) on bass and lap steel, and Dave Sanders (Rodriguez) on drums. Co-producing with Lycenko at Byron Bay’s Rocking Horse and 301, they created the twelve tracks compiling Thirteen O’Clock, which was to meet overwhelming critical acclaim.
“Top 10 albums and Top 3 gigs of 2010” - Sue Barrett - Rhythms
“…a stunning debut album with tracks ranging right across the broad roots genre.…a winning package. FOUR STARS” BMA
“…uplifting and life affirming…” andpluckyourstrings
“…relaxing and warm…” Scene Magazine
“…outstanding…a breath of fresh air. FOUR STARS” Hobart Mercury
“a stunning album which takes music back to its roots” Sound Of Oz
In October 2009 they formed a four piece band, with Jessie on lead vocals, guitar and ukulele, Emma on guitar, ukulele and backing vocals, Anastassijah Scales on drums, and currently Sam Parker on bass.
Happy Pill, the first single released from Thirteen O’Clock in November 2009, received Triple J airplay and hit No. 1 on Unearthed Roots. Catchy, powerful and haunting, Happy Pill stayed in the Unearthed Top 25 for an impressive seven weeks.
When The Lucky Wonders independently released Thirteen O’Clock in March 2010 and embarked on a mammoth forty date Australian tour, the praise began to roll in. So too did the airplay, with rotation on Radio National, regional ABCs, community, country and commercial radio. ABC North Coast featured The Lucky Wonders as Artist of the Week. They were interviewed in countless publications, including full page features in Rhythms, LOTL, Cherrie and street press Australia wide. They signed a distribution deal with Vitamin Records, who successfully pitched the album to JB Hifi Stores around Australia.
The band found a warm reception for their beautifully crafted songs and warm, quirky, irreverent banter all over Australia, venturing to far flung reaches of WA and the Top End. They opened for Pete Murray, Paul Greene, Sal Kimber and The Rollin Wheel, and Skipping Girl Vinegar, and played some premier venues around the country such as The Vanguard, Lizottes, Heritage Hotel, The Soundlounge, The Powerhouse, The Troubadour, and Settlers Tavern in WA.
On arriving home to Byron Bay, The Lucky Wonders returned to the studio to record follow up singles Anyway, inspired by Emma’s leap of faith in selling her flat to fund The Lucky Wonders, and Thing About Leaving, a country-esque sigh of homecoming contentment. They released the tracks as a double A-side, welcomed by fans and critics alike. “We were blown away by The Lucky Wonders’ last full-length release…and now they're following it up with this…both superb cuts” Babysue.
On their second national tour, they headlined shows with WAMI Song of the Year winners Rachel and Henry Climb a Hill, Saritah, Melanie Horsnell, The Stillsons and Hello Satellites. They were featured at Adelaide’s 2010 Feast Festival with a show described as ‘stunning’ by Feast’s director, Kerry Ireland, and Illawarra Folk Festival in 2011.
After a brief hiatus from national touring The Lucky Wonders hit the circuit again in July 2011, this time with a trip to their beloved Top End, where they played a two week season and a sell-out show at the renowned Darwin Railway Club, with support from Telstra Road to Tamworth winner David Garnham. Tasmania, Sydney, Canberra, Caloundra Music Festival and Wignall's Vintage Blues Festival in WA are next on their itinerary, with a new single I'll Be Fine due for release on Sept 1 and a second album in the pipeline.
