There’s no better display of hard work than the schedule of a touring band, more accurately an Aussie touring band, and Sydney outfit Boy & Bear are of course no exception. Currently wrapping up a string of incredible shows in the states, the guys are showing no signs of slowing down, with a massive regional tour in their sights and a bunch of behind the scenes projects waiting in the wings. Bassist Dave Symes took the time to chat about touring, beer and throwing their support behind Aussie farmers.
Despite basking in the success of an incredible overseas tour, the band are gunning for some quality time at home and of course performing for an ever expanding collective of home grown fans, with Dave reminiscing about returning to Australia. “It’s just a really nice time of year to be back home and playing shows. It’s just so interesting being on the other side of the world like where we are now, it’s winter, it’s the end of the year and there’s such a different feeling here, so we’re really looking forward to being back”.
Never doing anything by halves, the boys are embarking on a massive regional tour taking Limit of Love around Australia, beginning in Ballarat on the 9th of November. “It’s going to be really nice to get back to Australia and play some of those regional centres that we haven’t really been to in quite a while… It was 2014 when we last did a regional tour so it’s going to be nice getting back out there and seeing all those places, especially after being away for so long”.
The inclusion of many regional cities was a conscious one for the band, with Dave commenting on why they keep returning to many a corner of regional Australia. “I think we really value the importance of planning a tour which doesn’t just revolve around playing capital cities, I think a lot of bands don’t necessarily invest time into touring to some of the smaller centres, but for us as a band, we’ve always sort of done this and we feel it’s important”.
Commenting further on the benefits that these regional tours can offer fans living in remote areas, Dave adds; “it’s nice to connect with new audiences that might not get to come to the city shows or a touring festival show, that’s what’s really important to us, and really, it’s what we do as musicians. You know, you take your show on the road and hope that people want to come along and hear it, whether you get 50 people or 1000 people it’s always exciting”.
It’s not just locational accessibility that’s at the forefront for the band, with the Limit of Love Tour also including several all-ages gigs. “It’s just a big event for kids under 18 that might not get to go to many concerts. Sometimes it’s people’s first gig which is pretty amazing to think of and it’s such an inspiring age when you’re just getting into music. Whether or not you want to be a musician or whether you’re just working out the things that you like, if we can be a small part of people’s inspiration and give them enjoyment out of what we do, it’s always pretty awesome”.
Taking this connection to their fans one step further, Boy & Bear in collaboration with Parlour are giving the chance for one lucky (Central Coast based) fan to host a special house show. “A mate of mine, a Melbourne singer/songwriter, Matt Walters has started this new company and concept called Parlour. It’s a way of connecting hosts with musicians and artists to put on mini concerts… It’s also a way to get emerging artists performing and as a band, we’re throwing a bit of awareness behind that concept”. Commenting on the advantages of such unique setting Dave adds, “music can be really nice in an intimate setting like that, it doesn’t always have to be a big arena or big festival, it’s a really nice way to connect”.
Boy and Bear have also been busy behind the scenes, jumping on the band wagon so to speak and creating their own beer, for a really incredible cause. “We hooked up with a small brewery in Sydney called the Akasha Brewing Company. We came up with this idea of making a Boy & Bear beer, which we’re calling the ‘Boy & Beer: AAA’ or All Australia Ale (also relating to access all areas)”. Although catchy, there’s little more behind the specific name of the bands’ brew than an eye-catching marketing ploy.
“All Australian Ale for us is really about keeping things local and supporting local farmers, communities and produce… This brewery is trying to branch out and focus specifically on Australia products… it’s also a nice way to tie with the tour especially when we’re playing these regional centers and it’s a chance for us to remind people to support local Australian farming.” The results from Boy and Bear’s collaborative craftsmanship in the brew house will only be available exclusively on tour, with all proceeds directly supporting the Australian charity initiative “Buy a Bale”, making each particular schooner just that little bit tastier.
BOY & BEAR ‘LIMIT OF LOVE’ TOUR DATES
Presented by triple j
Wed 09 Nov | Regent Theatre, Ballarat VIC
Tickets available from www.regententertainment.com.au
Thu 10 Nov | Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo VIC
Tickets available from www.ulumbarratheatre.com.au/Home | 03 5434 6100
Fri 11 Nov | Costa Hall, Geelong VIC
Tickets available from www.gpac.org.au/find-a- show/ |03 5225 1210
Sat 12 Nov | The Cube, Wodonga
Tickets available from www.thecubewodonga.com.au | 02 6022 9311
Wed 16 Nov | C.Ex Coffs, Coffs Harbour NSW
Tickets available from www.cex.com.au/ | 02 6652 3888
Thu 17 Nov | Miami Marketta, Gold Coast QLD
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
Fri 18 Nov | Beach Hotel, Byron Bay NSW
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
Sat 19 Nov | Lake Kawana Community Centre, Sunshine Coast QLD
Tickets available from www.scvenuesandevents.com.au/lake-kawana- community-centre | 07 5413 1400
Sun 20 Nov | The Mills Precinct, Toowoomba QLD
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
Wed 23 Nov | Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton QLD
Tickets available from www.seeitlive.com.au/Home | 07 4924 5600
Thu 24 Nov | MECC, Mackay QLD
Tickets available from www.mackayecc.com.au/ | 07 4961 9777
Fri 25 Nov | Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns QLD
Tickets available from www.tanksartscentre.com | 07 4032 6600
Sun 27 Nov | The Venue, Townsville QLD
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
Fri 02 Dec | Albany Entertainment Centre, Albany WA
Tickets available from www.ticketek.com.au | 132 849 | All Ticketek Outlets
Sat 03 Dec | 3 Oceans, Margaret River WA
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
Sun 04 Dec | Fremantle Prison, Fremantle WA
Tickets available from www.ticketmaster.com.au | 136 100 | All Ticketmaster Outlets
Wed 07 Dec | Orange Ex-Services Club, Orange NSW
Tickets available from www.oesc.com.au/ | 02 6362 2666
Thu 08 Dec | ANU, Canberra ACT
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
Fri 09 Dec | Waves, Wollongong NSW
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
Sat 10 Dec | Wests City, Newcastle NSW
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
