Boy and Bear: Mexican Mavis

• http://kobestarr.com/sites/default/files/music/Boy%20and%20Bear%20Mexican%20Mavis.mp3

If you had told me two years ago that the guitar music of choice in 2010 and 2011 would be of the Folk variety I would have found it hard to believe. I still do, but the recent successes of Mumford and Sons and Laura Marling are impossible to ignore and it’s testament to people’s willingness to explore all music genres. How else can you explain Dubstep and Folk being the largest export of UK music in 2010? Paul Simon is licking his lips as I write, wondering if he can get away with a 54^th remastering of “Scarborough Fair” and encourage this years X Factor winner to cover “Bridge Over Troubled Water”.

Step in Boy and Bear a Sydney based folk fivesome ready to throw their Aussie Dollars into the folk melee and are gearing up for a few appearances at 2011’s South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival in Austin Texas in March.  The band started initially as a solo project with Dave Hoskins at the helm and was joined by Jake Tarasenko, Killian Gavin and Tim Hart who had all been singer songwriters, fronting their own bands. They were further augmented by the addition of fifth member Jon Hart.

Boy and Bear only formed in late 2009 so they really are a new band but it seems like their workrate has accelerated since their formation. You may have seen them in them if you had been to see the aforementioned Marling and Mumford last year, which is no mean feat and testament to their quality, ability and support.

They are yet to release an album but that is something that they are working hard to rectify and no doubt its success will be aided by big turns at SXSW, which has helped launch bands such as MGMT, Janelle Monae, White Lies and Vampire Weekend.

You should now be to listening to the sweet “Mexican Mavis”. You should now be able to tell they will have a brilliant year in 2011. Simples!

K*