NEWS
Live on Timber and Steel!
the lovely folk at Timber and Steel have launched exclusively the new filmclip for Castle - get amongst at http://timberandsteel.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/timber-and-steel-exclusive-pear-and-the-awkward-orchestra-video-debut-castle/
Castle tour and filmclip launch!
Welcome to 2012! 
freshly returned from solo performances in Canada and USA, pear has put together a brand new awkward orchestra and they're all packing their bags for an East Coast tour this february celebrating the release of track Castle from debut album Smocks! as a single with its very own oh-so-cute film clip.
check the clip out here: www.youtube.com/pearandtheawkwardO from midnight, Friday 20th January 2012.
tour dates are listed at the right, check the folk-popsters out at a show near you! 12th feb heralds an exciting afternoon out for pear fans, with pear and tofu burgers, baked goodies and vintage clothes available for your purchasing pleasure at a once-off performance at It's Vintage Darling, Annerley, supported by Captain Dreamboat and Matt Witney, come join the fun!
here's what Time-off said about the album: "It belongs on the ever-expanding list of local releases that are hard to pigeonhole and even harder to ignore"
and RAVE: "deliciiously sweet symphony... if you don't know this talented bunch, it may well be time to get aquainted" (Indie Release of the Week)
so come along, bring your friends, let's celebrate!
Put On Your Smocks!
following the glorious band shows on the Smocks! album launch tour, pear is hitting the road again, and how, with the Put On Your Smocks! tour August/September, first dates covering Newcastle, Dorrigo and Byron Bay, with Sydney, Canberra, Wollongong, Katoomba, Brisbane and Gold Coast dates announced! come and make friends with the solitary pear and find out why she's off on her own - celebrating an honest, clean sound and delivery and clear path to the songs themselves.
in other news Smocks! was RAVE Indie release of the week - find out why here: http://www.ravemagazine.com.au/content/view/28165/181/
Smocks! tour, reviews, its all happening!
welcome to Smocks! land everyone, it's a wonderful place to be. our debut album Smocks! is now out and you can find it at your local JB-Hifi store or order it from abc stores nationwide; as well as finding it online on Itunes, look here: http://itunes.apple.com/au/album/smocks/id447735437 or for those of you in Brisbane, at Jet Black Cat (West End), or direct from our merchandise store at www.pearmerchandise.ecrater.com(so many options!)
Come and celebrate with us at our Brisbane launch on 24th July at a secret location in Bardon -
buy your ticket now and find out the address ($12 + booking fee) here: http://tickets.oztix.com.au/?Event=21889 get yours now they're going fast! For those of you who don't like buying tickets, its not all lost, you can still get them on the door, email us for the address at pearandtheawkwardorchestra@gmail.com or go to the corner of Birdwood Terrace and Ennever Street Bardon and follow the signs from there on the day!
Smocks! launches in Sydney and Melbourne are now, sadly, past tense but we had a great time celebrating with you all, thanks for coming! here is a snapshot of a review of the Sydney show:
"the first thing that strikes you about the four piece’s performance is how devastatingly clear Barros’ voice is. A few songs in, and you realise just how talented the group is, not just in terms of their skill with their individual instruments, but the composition of theirs songs, and their energy. Their presence on stage demands your attention for every little barely sung word and fluttering guitar lick. Their set has the quaint stop-start dynamic of the female folk singers like Regina Spektor, and the restrained, mesmerising melody of Bon Iver.
When Barros closes the set on her own, she is simply captivating. With soft, subtle guitar, and deftly acrobatic vocals, she's in her element. Although she is entirely and undeniably her own artist, her performance is hauntingly reminiscent of Jeff Buckley in its ability to hold an audience with so little, and yet so much. She’s magic to watch." - Andrew Campbell - the AU Review
Want to read more? get the full review here: http://www.theaureview.com/sydney/pear-and-the-awkward-orchestra-skritch-505-09-07-11
In other news, Smocks! was Album of the Week at Radio National last week, this is what they had to say:
"If you came up to me and said you wanted me to hear a debut album that combines folk/pop with poetry in a quirky, cabaret-esque style all done with a distinctive Australian swagger... you might find me looking nervously about.
Luckily, I don't read press releases before I listen to albums.
So while Pear and the Awkward Orchestra is all of the above, it is good. It is smart and it is funny. I get reminiscences of brave vocal acts from the 70s through to art music from the 80s and elements of the introspective blog culture of now."
film clips x 2!
we are proud to announce a double film clip extravaganza! check out our youtube channel: www.youtube.com/pearandtheawkwardO to get amongst!
bigger than you
Concept/Production Design- pear, Belinda McCulloch
Paper Dolls - Holly Leonardson
Director/Producer- Belinda McCulloch
Director of Photography- Jared Bazley
Editor/Colourist-Sarah Petrasiunas
oh katrina
Concept/Production design - pear
Director/Producer/Director of Photography/Editor/Colourist - Si Jay Gould
oh katrina update!
After a smashing single launch tour filled with cupcakes and joy, we are pleased to announce Oh Katrina has had quite a share of triple J loving in its first two weeks; to keep this up we need your help - request request request!
for anyone who likes tinkering around on the unearthed site we are also up there, check out www.triplejunearthed.com/pearandtheawkwardorchestra
GIGS
08/03/2012 8pm
Castle tour #13
pear solo at Elwood Lounge, Melbourne.
02/03/2012, 09/03/2012, 16/03/2012, 23/03/2012, 30/03/2012
Castle tour #12
pear solo at Wesley Anne, front bar, residency.
26/02/2012 2pm
Castle tour #11
In-store at Pure Pop Records, Melbourne, free entry.
25/02/2012 7:30pm
Castle tour #10
Grace Darling, Melbourne, $10 supported by The Tiger And Me, Nai Palm and Ainslie Wills.
23/02/2012 7pm
Castle tour #9
Yours & Owls, Wollongong supported by The Pennys $10.
22/02/2012 7pm
Castle #8
FBI Social, Sydney supported by Miss Little and Hello Vera.
17/02/2012 7pm
Castle tour #7
pear solo, Great Northern Hotel, Newcastle with Playwrite, free entry.
16/02/2012 12pm
Castle tour #6
Queen Street Mall, Brisbane, free entry, 12pm-12:30pm, 1pm-1:30pm, 2pm-2:30pm sets.
12/02/2012 2pm
Castle tour #5
A very special performance at It's Vintage Darling, Annerley, Brisbane, supported by Captain Dreamboat and Matt Witney.
$10/PWYC (pay what you can), barbequed pear and tofu burgers, baked goods and lots of handmade merchandise and vintage goodies - bring your pennies!
most special of all, this performance will be recorded! so come be a part of the fun :)
11/02/2012 7pm
Castle tour #4
Maleny Upfront Club, supported by Matt Witney
08/02/2012 7pm
Castle tour #3
pear solo at Songwriters in the Round
Dowse Bar, Paddington, Brisbane.
04/02/2012 7:30pm
Castle tour #2
Sol Bar, Maroochydore, supporting A French Butler Called Smith, $15 entry
03/02/2012 7:30pm
Castle tour #1
pear and the awkward orchestra at the Soundlounge, Currumbin, supporting A French Butler Called Smith
29/01/2012
pear solo at the Joynt, South Brisbane, Flying Solo, time TBC
21/01/2012 11:30am
pear and the awkward orchestra duo performance, free entry, 11:30am-12pm, 12:30pm-1pm and 1:30pm-2pm sets. top of the mall.
4/12/2011 8PM
Room 5, Los Angeles.
22/11/2011 7PM
Rockwood Music Hall, New York
12/11/2011 7:30PM
Shaika Cafe, Montreal, w/Pure Joy
11/11/2011 7:30PM
Burritoville, Montreal
10/11/2011 7:30PM
Avant Garde, Ottowa
PAST GIGS
18/09/2011 5PM
Put On Your Smocks! #10, an afternoon special solo show at the newly opened Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane.
10/09/2011 7PM
Put On Your Smocks! #9 Hotel Gearin, Katoomba, NSW
09/09/2011 7PM
Put On Your Smocks! #8 Yours & Owls, Wollongong
08/09/2011 12PM
Put On Your Smocks! #7 Newcastle University Cultural Awakenings festival
01/09/2011 7PM
Put On Your Smocks! #6 Camelot, Sydney, supporting the inestimable Mal Webb
Camelot Lounge: 103 Railway Pde, Marrickville, Sydney.
26/08/2011 8PM
Put On Your Smocks! #5 supporting Kira Piru and The Bruise (Newcastle) Saturation tour at the Joynt, Brisbane.
20/08/2011 7PM
Put On Your Smocks! #4 Treehouse in Belongil.
19/08/2011 6:30PM
Put On Your Smocks! #3 Thirty Three on Hickory, Dorrigo.
18/08/2011 7PM
Put On Your Smocks! #2 Before It Began, Darby Street (behind Darby Raj) Newcastle
18/08/2011 12PM
Put On Your Smocks! #1 at Derkenne Courtyard, Newcastle University.
04/08/2011 8:30PM
The Beetle Bar, Roma St, Brisbane
supporting Jordie Lane's 'Blood Thinner' tour
13/08/2011 7PM
upfront club, maleny
pear duo supported by Hannah Macklin
24/07/2011 5PM
SMOCKS! DEBUT ALBUM LAUNCH!
it's finally here! at a wonderful location in Bardon,
address on ticket purchase; $12 + booking fee from www.oztix.com.au
supported by Mckisko and Skritch (Mary Trembles)
10/07/2011 8PM
Melbourne launch for our debut album Smocks! at the Wesley Anne,
Northcote, supported by Killbot Kindergarten and Yeo, $12 on the door
09/07/2011 8PM
Sydney launch for Smocks, our debut album, at 505 in Surry Hills,
supported by Skritch (Mary Trembles), $20/$15 on the door
03/07/2011 1:20PM
solo at the Finders Keepers Market, The Old Museum, Brisbane.
1:20-2:05pm performance see you there!
01/07/2011 9PM
pear solo at the lass o gowrie, newcastle, supporting The Tooksie Collective and Electric Love Affair ( feat. Daniel March)
free entry
21/06/2011 1PM
Fete de la Musique performance solo at QPAC Melbourne St Stage - free!
12/06/2011 12:25PM
Queensland's Big Day Out, Southbank Cultural Forecourt, free.
11/06/2011 10:10PM
Showcase at UNCONVENTION Brisbane - at the Boundary Hotel West End
13/05/2011 8PM
supporting the amazing Hannah Macklin and the Maxwells REAL WORLD debut album launch at the Old Museum, Bowen Hills. $15 entry, also featuring Scott Spark
07/05/2011 4PM
The EDGE re-launching, featuring a whole stack of awesome local bands from 1pm to 9pm. The EDGE is the State Library digital lab, next to the State Library, Southbank.
12/03/2011 6:30PM
Blackstar Coffee Flood Fundraiser, Thomas St West End
19/06/2011 3PM
Live Spark at the Brisbane Powerhouse supporting Texas Tea, double film clip launch - for Oh Katrina and for Bigger than you!
06/04/2011 8PM
Flying Solo at The Joynt, South Brisbane
19/02/2011 8PM
Revolt, Melbourne, supporting Tin Can Radio and Georgia Potter
27/02/2011 4PM
single launch for 'oh katrina' at The Joynt, Brisbane, supported by Katie Wighton. $8 entry with a free single!
20/02/2011 8PM
'Katrina' single launch at the Red Rattler, Sydney, supported by Brian Campeau
18/02/2011 8PM
'Katrina' single launch at the Wesley Anne, Melbourne, supported by the Tiger and Me
15/01/2011 8PM
solo at the Old Museum, Brisbane, supporting Steve Poltz
13/01/2011 8PM
solo at The Loft, Gold Coast, supporting Steve Poltz (USA)
28/11/2010 4:30PM
Live Spark, Brisbane Powerhouse; supported by Inland Sea
04/12/2010 8PM
Heritage Hotel, Bulli, NSW
supporting Jeff Martin and Terepai Richmond on their "Worlds Apart" Australian Tour
tickets $37/40 www.heritagehotel.com.au
05/12/2010 8PM
Hotel Gearin, Katoomba NSW
supporting Jeff Martin and Terepai Richmond on their "Worlds Apart" Australian Tour
Tickets $37/40 www.hotelgearin.com
07/12/2010 7pm
TAP Gallery, Darlinghurst, Sydney
Victor Peralta 'exhibition of the feminine' opening night, all profits to White Ribbon Foundation
09/12/2010 8PM
Old Museum mini-festival spectacular
featuring: pear and the awkward orchestra
McKisko
Yeo (Melbourne)
Spookyland (Sydney)
markets/cupcakes/circus - $12/9
10/12/2010 8pm
Hi-Fi Bar, Brisbane
supporting Jeff Martin and Terepai Richmond on their "Worlds Apart" Australian Tour
17/12/2010 8PM
at the Grace Darling in Melbourne with Yeo (Melbourne) and Spookyland (Sydney)
29/12/2010 4:30PM
Peats Ridge Festival, Glenworth Valley NSW
12/01/2011 8PM
Flying Solo at the Joynt, South Brisbane featuring pear and the awkward orchestra (duo) 8pm, Katie Wighton 9pm and Captain Dreamboat 7pm
06/11/2010 10PM
at the Joynt, South Brisbane
10 pm performance supporting Kira Piru and the Bruise
23/10/2010 8pm
The Joynt South Brisbane
Final Flash (Montreal, Canada) and Inland Sea (Brisbane) supporting!
08/10/2010 7PM
apologies to all; cancelled due to illness
Boho Ball
Coorabell Hall, Northern Rivers
tickets see www.webtickets.com.au
or local outlet: Barebones Art Space
07/10/2010 7PM
25/09/2010 4:30 PM
Brisbane Backyards by Brisbane Festival, pear duo play at a venue TBC, tickets through Brisbane Festival
14/09/2010 12 noon
lunchtime concert King George Square Brisbane, full band for Brisbane Festival
22/08/2010 7PM
Sunset Sessions at the fringe bar, Paddington, Sydney
21/08/2010 8PM
The Elwood Lounge, Elwood, Melbourne
20/08/2010 8PM
no bands allowed
adrian slattery
yeo
pear
luke brennan
303 northcote melbourne $8
19/08/2010 8PM
doors at 8, pear at 8:30 at the wesley anne, northcote, melbourne
05/08/2010 7-9pm
31/07/2010 3PM doors we play 7:30pm
pear album fundraiser spectacular at the Joynt, South Brisbane, giant pear pinata ahoy!
pear and the awkward orchestra
Laneous and the Family Yah
The Rude
Kindling (members of Kooii)
Hannah Macklin
donation entry
26/06/2010 8:00PM
supporting the wonderful Dead Letter Chorus (SYD) and Two Hours Traffic (CAN) at the troubadour, 8pm doors, $15.
21/06/2010 5:00 PM
live in King George Square Brisbane CBD as part of Fete de la Musique
22/05/2010 8:00 PM
Jive, Adelaide, SA
supporting Jeff Martin (CAN) on his "the Ground Cries Out" Australian tour
21/05/2010 8:00 PM
Jive, Adelaide, SA
supporting Jeff Martin (CAN) on his "the Ground Cries Out" Australian tour
19/05/2010 8:00 PM
Republic Bar, Hobart, TAS
supporting Jeff Martin (CAN) on his "the Ground Cries Out" Australian tour
18/05/2010 8:00 PM
Tonic Bar, Launceston, TAS
supporting Jeff Martin (CAN) on his "the Ground Cries Out" Australian tour
16/05/2010 8:00PM
Ruby's Lounge, Belgrave, VIC
supporting Jeff Martin (CAN) on his "the Ground Cries Out" Australian tour
15/05/2010 8:00 PM
Pelly Bar, Frankston, VIC
supporting Jeff Martin (CAN) on his "the Ground Cries Out" Australian tour
14/05/2010 8:00 PM
The Corner Hotel, Melbourne. VIC
supporting Jeff Martin (CAN) on his "the Ground Cries Out" Australian tour
12/05/2010 8:00 PM
Lizottes, Newcastle, NSW
supporting Jeff Martin (CAN) on his "the Ground Cries Out" Australian tour
11/05/2010 8:00 PM
Lizottes, Newcastle, NSW
supporting Jeff Martin (CAN) on his "the Ground Cries Out" Australian tour
09/05/2010 8:00 PM
The Clarendon Guesthouse, Katoomba, Blue Mountains, NSW
supporting Jeff Martin (CAN) on his "the Ground Cries Out" Australian tour
08/05/2010 8:00 PM
The Heritage Hotel, Bulli, NSW
supporting Jeff Martin (CAN) on his "the Ground Cries Out" Australian tour
07/05/2010 8:00 PM
The Basement, SYD
supporting Jeff Martin (CAN) on his "the Ground Cries Out" Australian tour
05/05/2010 7:00 PM
artichoke cafe, Manly, NSW
solo sideshow
04/05/2010 8:00 PM
Lizottes, Kincumber, NSW
supporting Jeff Martin (CAN) on his "the Ground Cries Out" Australian tour
03/05/2010 8:00 PM
Lizottes, Kincumber NSW
supporting Jeff Martin (CAN) on his "the Ground Cries Out" Australian tour
01/05/2010 8:00 PM
Diggers, Coogee, SYDNEY
supporting Jeff Martin (CAN) on his "the Ground Cries Out" Australian tour
30/04/2010 8:00 PM
Fisho's, Manly, SYDNEY
supporting Jeff Martin (CAN) on his "the Ground Cries Out" Australian tour
29/04/2010 8:00 PM
Brass Monkey, Cronulla, SYDNEY
supporting Jeff Martin (CAN) on his "the Ground Cries Out" Australian tour
28/04/2010 8:00 PM
Brass Monkey, Cronulla, SYDNEY
supporting Jeff Martin (CAN) on his "the Ground Cries Out" Australian tour
25/04/2010 8:00 PM
Hi-Fi Bar Brisbane
supporting Jeff Martin (CAN) on his "the Ground Cries Out" Australian tour
11/23/2007 02:00 PM
Festival Esk
11/22/2007 10:00 PM
Ric's Bar
supporting the Golden Circles
09/25/2007 09:00 PM
Ric's Bar
09/14/2007 08:00 PM
the retreat, melbourne
playing with rosie burgess and austin
09/12/2007 08:00 PM
clifton hill hotel
acoustic night AND my first melbourne gig!
09/01/2007 10:00 PM
APEC summit fundraiser party $4 entry i play at ten pm. young pierrot also performing on the night
07/25/2007 09:00 PM
Ric's Bar
supporting tara simmons, limited edition
handmade covers of EP Russian Doll
14/01/2010 8:00 PM
Soak up some sweet and juicy folk-pop from Brisbane's Pear and the Awkward Orchestra; darlings of triple J and renowned along Australia's East Coast - find out why when these quirky nu-folksters hit the Raval room (upstairs at the macquaire hotel) January 14th on their lets hide tour; supported by Sydney's own left-fielder Brian Campeau and a new addition to Sydney, the melodramatic pop of The Understudy.
Praise for pear and the awkward orchestra –
"Roots artist we LOVE" – Sarah Howells, triple j
"music as emotionally evocative as it is strange" – David Allen, ArtsHUb
“Layering gorgeous pop melodies throughout a composition of light jazz and acoustic folk, pear exhibits her amazing talent against a stripped-back swell of sound into which you will be well and truly entranced.” – Scott Mehaffey, four thousand
19/06/2009 8:00 PM
the sweet juicy melt-in-your-mouth antics of the whimsical folksters pear and the awkward orchestra will be hitting the empress june 19th on an aptly named :winter: tour with support from yeo and mojo juju; a very special jampacked solo blitz; three heartbreakingly gorgeous singer/songwriters in intimate sans-band performances for one night only. wear your toe-socks, order tea or a hot toddy; come prepared to be lulled, serenaded and taken unawares by three of Australia's best up-and-comers.
pear and the awkward orchestra:
"poetic, original songs...extraordinarily brave vocal style" - Lonnie
Martin, Folk Rag
"Roots Artist we LOVE" - -Sarah Howells, Triple J
yeo:
"One part Prince, one part Phoenix, and one part My Disco" - Scott Mehaffey FasterLouder.com; "catchy, cheeky good fun" - Nick Christie
thecoolhunter.com
mojo juju:
"Eccentric, dirty, strange, sensual and rollickingly robust, their music takes audiences through places where the wild things grow..." -
Drum Media
28/06/2009 7:00 PM
The Troubadour
Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, Queensland -
Last date of June tour
06/06/2009 8:00 PM
Green Fest
Brisbane, Queensland
10/05/2009 5:00 PM
The Joynt
West End, Brisbane, Queensland -
So this is like my private more intimate birthday gig, come one come all for we are sunday afternoon also carnivale afterparty; also featuring Barons of Tang!!
09/05/2009 5:00 PM
West End, Brisbane, Queensland -
West End Carnivale and my birthday! joy!
02/06/2009 6:00 PM
The Valley Mall
Cost: Free
Description: Come one come all or just walk past and soak it in; we'll be doing three halfies from 6 to 9pm :)
01/22/2009 8:00 PM
Josh Levi Galleries
Woollengabba, Brisbane, QLD
Cost: N/A
Description: Part of an exhibition entitled 'January'
11/09/2008 8:00 PM
The Troubadour
Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, QLD
Cost: N/A&
Description: with Rosie Burgess
- Copyright Pear and the Awkward Orchestra 2009
- Email Pear
- www.myspace.com/pearau