Suite 101 caught up with Aaron Flower to talk about this exciting new development on the Australian music scene.
Suite101: Tell us the story behind the formation of Yum Yum Tree Records.
Aaron Flower: Yum Yum Tree was a house in Balmain where musicians from Sydney and Canberra lived from 2003 to 2010. It was a popular destination for parties, jamming, rehearsals and bands like The Alcohotlicks, Zoe and the Buttercups, The MFW and Exposed Bone were formed through this scene. So, the original idea of the label was to create an umbrella for these bands, but it’s quickly becoming bigger, with the recent additions of Benjamin Hauptmann, Bellyache Ben and The Cope Street Parade to the artist roster.
Suite101: As well as a label, Yum Yum Tree is described as a musician's collective - do you have plans for other activities apart from releasing records?
Aaron Flower: Yeah, we're going to put on shows hopefully every second month at a great place called Caravan, which is an artist run space in Marrickville. The first one is on December 9th and it’s the label launch, as well as the album launches for The MFW and Bellyache Ben. This one should be a cracker.
Suite101: Is Yum Yum Tree focused on a particular approach towards music making or type of music or concept?
Aaron Flower: I guess back when these bands were forming we were all into blending different genres. Zoe and The Buttercups play ‘jazzabilly' and The MFW play grunge jazz, so there is plenty of that sort of thing. Bellyache Ben plays steamgrass, which is steampunk and bluegrass. But there’s definitely not a strict rule for the bands on the label. Good music is good music, right?
Suite101: Two bands - MFW and Bellyache Ben - are launching their albums on the night. Could you tell us about them and their new albums?
Aaron Flower: The MFW has been around since 2005 and has been a regular on the various Jazzgroove stages and underground events over the years. We haven't released an album since 2006, so this is really exciting. The album is called Sus Scrofa and it's killer! So get ready all you lovers of grunge jazz. MFW is made up of Evan Mannell (gnash), BAZ Flower (wail) and Ben Waples (grunt).
I believe Bellyache Ben and The Steamgrass Boys were originally Ben Daley and Grant Arthur busking on King St years ago and they've slowly grown into a musical force that you need to see to believe. The band features Ben Daley (resonator, vocals), James Daley (mandolin, vocals), Grant Arthur (banjo and dobro, vocals), Bill Burns Brown (acoustic guitar, vocals) and John Maddox (resonator bass, vocals). They play every Wednesday night at Madam Fling Flong, 1/169 King Street, Newtown, from 8pm.
Suite101: What else will be happening on the night?
Aaron Flower: Luke Escombe, who is a great comedian and musician and inventor of the new musical style, ‘Flip Flop’, will be doing short comedy stings before each band. He has recently performed at Edinburgh Comedy Festival and Sydney Fringe Festival. There is also an elctroacoustic/experimental string trio called The Noise doing a 20 minute spot which will be crazy. Other than that we’ll be getting drunk.
The Yum Yum Tree Records launch is happening on Friday, December 9th, at Caravan, 5 Handley St, Marrickville, Sydney, from 7pm.
For more information, visit their official website.
Jasmine Crittenden - Jasmine Crittenden (B.A.)(Hons.)(First Class) is a writer and editor specialising in music, literature and travel.
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