Roving Musicians

The Roving Musicians category lists musicians who are able to change 'spot location' inbetween sets or wander whilst playing. Depending on the group, the musicians can walk amongst the audience or wander around a crowd, creating mobile music. Or they are able to change locations inbetween sets.

Also see Roving Performers

The duo was originally named Gypsy Nights after a famous duo that entertained in the restaurants and cafes of Budapest in the 1930s. Violinist Ernie Gruner and accordionist/singer Phil Carroll play: Gypsy, Klezmer, Middle-Eastern, French, Italian, Russian, Jazz and Tango Music that ranges from soulful to wild. Australian concerts highlights include the National Folk Festival and National Multicultural Festival. Phil and Ernie’s three NZ tours have included the Wellington Folk Festival and the Christchurch Jazz Festival.

Bossa Negra is a new band that conveys and invokes the excitement of Brazil’s crazy carnivals, football, beautiful beaches and the exhilarating nightlife of Rio de Janeiro. From a large ballroom to a small café, Bossa Negra are flexible in adapting to all occasions, venues and budgets in many formats.

Speewah takes its name from a legendary sheep station in Australian history where everything was said to be larger than life. Speewah was formed too long ago to remember and has a list of concert performances, bush dances, functions, celebrations, schools and pubs long enough to resurface the Gun Barrel Highway. We have performed on ferries, trains, ocean liners, trucks, camels, catamarans, campfires and of course, stages. Drawing on the Folk and Celtic traditions of our pioneers.

Bush Dances and Festivals - for 10 yrs the band played the Bush Dance for the children at the Gympie Muster, and has performed at Festivals and Shows all over Queensland including Woodford Folk Festival, The George St Fair, Farm Fantastic, Starlight Stampede, Hervey Bay Whale Festival, Pine Rivers and Mt Gravatt Shows, SE Qld Garden Expo... to name just a few. They have many schools and clubs that have become regular clients.

This exciting, high-energy percussion and dance ensemble from Guinea, West Africa, is Melbourne’s newest African band. Muhanamwé, meaning "Culture”, was founded in 2007 by Guinean master drummer Aliou Sylla, with the vision of sharing the rich Guinean culture with the Australian people. Bringing together powerful rhythms, vocal harmonies and stunning moves, Muhanamwé brings to life the colourful and vibrant culture of Guinea, and a musical tradition that can be traced right back to the ancient Mandinké Empire of West Africa.

Bois et Charbon play a unique variation on traditional Swing music known as Jazz Manouche. The music is full of passion and colour and played in the flamboyant spirit of the original forebearers of the music, nomadic Gypsies from the South of France called the ‘Manouche’.  Professional and reliable performers, they have been favourably received at weddings, birthdays, community events and festivals as well as performing to high acclaim at inner city bars and restaurants. 

Beat Around The Bush have been playing bush dances and bush music for over 20 years! We have played countless weddings, bush dances, school shows and festivals. Our dances are a heap of fun, with traditional dances being altered for an extra twist, under the zany direction of our crazed caller Ricardo. The music ranges from traditional Australian and Celtic tunes, songs and ballads to even RocknRoll.

A versatile performer of traditional Australian songs and dance, Greg's performances encourage audience participation. Greg has developed a number of shows specifically for the Corporate market, whilst others are aimed at pre-schoolers and a younger audience.

Playing a mix of passionate gypsy tunes, wild Klezmer, romantic French Waltzes, exotic Tangos, lively Tarantellas and more….. their music often inspires dancing in the streets! As well as playing for Festivals and Street Parties, this trio is also available for private functions. Formed in 2000, the Carnival Gypsy Minstrels have spread joy and merriment through their music at many Festivals and Events in SE QLD.

Afö (Malinke for ‘speak’) is a traditionally based West African drumming ensemble performing high energy rhythms from the region of Guinea in West Africa. Afö draw on the traditional music of the Malinke people and in particular those taught by the highly renowned exponent of the tradition, Mamady Keita. Afö capture the essence of this undeniably powerful and engaging traditional music and present an explosive and mesmerising performance.

Our Christmas Carollers bring "Joy to the World" and a festive atmosphere "Decking the Halls", and "Wishing you a Merry Christmas"! Our quartet helps you create a light and spirited atmosphere and a memorable occasion that your clientele will talk about long after.

Buongiorno! Fillipo plays fisarmonica (accordion) and sings canzones and plays dances of Italy. He plays great favourites such as Volare, Thats Amore, Finiculi, Marina, Santa Lucia, Tinterella di Luna etc. Fillipo can add violin, guitar, bass, drums and other singers per un grande carnivale! Fillipo and friends have played Italian music for many years in clubs restaraunts and parties around Australia

Phillipe the accordion player is one of the best roving musical entertainers in Australia. His repertoire is huge taking any requests and singing in 20 languages. His accordion is perfect for roving as you hear it floating over crowds from a distance. He has a great abilty to make people laugh, dance and sing along and create general merriment.

Underbelly provides live music at the highest level - associated Middle Eastern and African musicians are highly trained and experienced and can perform solo, duo or in any ensemble requested. Using traditonal instruments such as the Turkish flute, darabukka drum, Djembe drum and oud, ensembles can be tailored to create dynamic beats or mesmerising melodies that transport your guests to another time and place.

Jugularity plays an energetic mix of folk, jazz, blues, lounge, rap and gypsy music in a comedy-cabaret style. Jugularity is versatile - performing in concert, or as roving minstrels, or calling folk/bush dances or doing kids' shows. Jugularity is available for all manner of functions: festivals, fashion parades, weddings, divorces (half price if they played the wedding), open for inspections, wine tastings and other intimate occasions.

The Caribbean Kings are a talented and versatile group of musicians who have based their style on a blend of Caribbean, Latin American and African music. These styles are well known for their appealing dance rhythms and infectious joyous melodies. In choosing repertoire, the band has endeavoured to remain within the boundaries of ‘popular’ music, to remain commercially appealing and entertaining.

From underground Balkan parties to “The Famous Spiegeltent,” Babaganoush have ventured the Gypsy Circuit in full swing. Their blazing musicians are generating a Gypsy fever in Melbourne’s most intimate and liveliest bars and cafes. During hot performances, crowds are whipped into wild frenzies. Heartfelt and tormenting, the group seems to have a diabolical effect on their audiences. Cruel and insidious, Babaganoush’s Gypsy music is not for the weak and feeble hearted but for those who’ve had their hearts broken numerous times.

Straight out of Brunswick’s bohemia come Rapskallion dressed in their decrepit finery, singing songs of the open road, blue stone alleyways, fruit falling from the trees and the seven seas. Rapskallion, reminiscent of 20's pars Bohemia transported to a Romanian tavern and then set adrift on the high seas. Add a pinch of hip hop, vaudevillian sensibilities, a curly mustache and a startling array of hats, Rapskallion will inspire with their mix of quirky lyrics and rustic, rowdy and romantic accordion driven dance tunes!

Jahbutu rovers are the most authentic calpsoinans this side of the Caribbean Sea. They have the look, the moves and the grooves to get everyones toes D'tappin, vocal chords D'hummin and rovers D'shakin. Jahbutu creates a vibrant, colourful, exciting blend of dance music featuring traditional and contemporary West Indian music with the hottest sounds of soca, calypso, reggae, afro/latin beats, classics and favourites from todays currnt music scene.

Having earnt the reputation as King of Calypso Alvin delivers a vibrant blend of favourite caypso tunes performed with a dash of informality, classic tunes to warm up the vocal chords,and a little Bob Marley to get the pulse racing. Music stright from the streets of Carnival. Alvin has done countless presentations and performances at many schools, well known venues, festivals and also film and television.