Bio :: Tom Fun Orchestra

Tom Fun Orchestra

The Tom Fun Orchestra is an eight-piece cluster-rock ensemble from Cape Breton Island that has been impressing music fans and critics alike with their raucous stage presence and high-energy show. Their unconventional lineup of violin, banjo, accordion, and trumpet married to a driving rock trio is redefining what people think of Canada's East Coast music.

With a live presence that borders on overwhelming, The Tom Fun Orchestra is indeed an impressive sight to see - eight members stretched across the stage like a gang of musical hooligans or huddled together with barely enough room to tip a glass. Their variety of instruments compete for attention in the din, fueling the dynamic of gruff lead vocals and backup harmonies joined by full-on gang vocals for the shout-along choruses that stick in your head.

Their debut album, You Will Land With a Thud, was recorded with Violent Femmes' singer-guitarist Gordon Gano and platinum-selling producer Warren Bruleigh (the Violent Femmes, The Pixies, Louise Attaque), mixed by Phil Palazzola (The New Pornographers), and mastered by Howie Weinberg (Nirvana). On the strength of the album, and their outstanding live show, the Tom Fun Orchestra was recently named Entertainer of the Year at the Nova Scotia Music Awards, where they also picked up the Galaxie Rising Star Award for Best New Artist. They have also been nominated for three East Coast Music Awards: CBC Galaxie Rising Star Recording of the Year, Star Style Creative Works Video of the Year and NewCap Radio Alternative Recording of the Year.

While the band's lineup will undoubtedly draw comparisons to indie-rock contemporaries like The Arcade Fire and Broken Social Scene, their sound is more reminiscent of The Pogues, Tom Waits and the Clash. The Tom Fun Orchestra comes from a hotbed of traditional music on the East Coast, but they embody the tradition of playing music rather than the custom of playing traditional music. In the process, they are creating a timeless, unique sound that bridges generational gaps and defies musical cliches.

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