Shannon Birchall
Encyclopedia
Shannon Birchall is an Australia
n born musician, probably best known as the bassist for jam band
the John Butler Trio. Birchall is often labeled a virtuoso by different music experts. He is also known for composing and conducting the string sections of the John Butler Trio's work.
s. He has also toured overseas with The Hoodangers, an energetic cross between the Sex Pistols and Jelly Roll Morton. In 1997 they visited Europe, Russia and the former Soviet republics. They also toured North America. In 2000, Birchall returned to Europe, performing in Holland and Denmark with The Band Who Knew Too Much.
Since then, Birchall has played in a variety of bands - remaining loyal to John Butler Trio, but also playing with many other jam and blues bands. Shannon played on You Am I
's 2002 release "Deliverance". Deborah Conway
and Willie Zygier enlisted him to arrange and record on their 2004 album "Summertown". On 16 May 2007, Birchall was spotted on Australian music quiz show, Spicks and Specks, playing with The Band Who Knew Too Much.
On 23 March 2009, the John Butler Trio website reported that Shannon as well as JBT drummer Michael Barker
would be playing their last shows with the John Butler Trio in April. According to the website, this is an artistic decision made by John himself. To quote John, "Michael and Shannon have been by far the best line up I have performed with in The John Butler Trio to date. They have been a pleasure to live, love, learn, record and tour with. Their professionalism, musicianship, and commitment have been unwavering and for that and a whole lot more I am truly thankful."
In the fall of 2009, Birchall debuted with the Spaghetti Western Orchestra
, a highly theatrical and musical interpretation of the western cinematic works of Ennio Morricone
. A 2010/11 tour culminated in a live BBC radio
and TV performance at the Royal Albert Hall
in the 2011 season of the BBC Proms on 14 August.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n born musician, probably best known as the bassist for jam band
Jam band
-Ambiguity:By the late 1990s use of the term jam band also became ambiguous. An editorial at jamband.com suggested that any band of which a primary band such as Phish has done a cover of be included as jam band. The example was including New York post-punk band Talking Heads after Phish performed...
the John Butler Trio. Birchall is often labeled a virtuoso by different music experts. He is also known for composing and conducting the string sections of the John Butler Trio's work.
Biography
Birchall switched to double bass at the age of 15 after initially studying classical violin. He is a Victorian College of the Arts graduate and has played with the Tasmanian, Adelaide and Melbourne Symphony OrchestraMelbourne Symphony Orchestra
The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Melbourne, Australia. It has 100 permanent musicians. Melbourne has the longest continuous history of orchestral music of any Australian city and the MSO is the oldest professional orchestra in Australia...
s. He has also toured overseas with The Hoodangers, an energetic cross between the Sex Pistols and Jelly Roll Morton. In 1997 they visited Europe, Russia and the former Soviet republics. They also toured North America. In 2000, Birchall returned to Europe, performing in Holland and Denmark with The Band Who Knew Too Much.
Since then, Birchall has played in a variety of bands - remaining loyal to John Butler Trio, but also playing with many other jam and blues bands. Shannon played on You Am I
You Am I
You Am I are an Australian alternative rock band, fronted by vocalist/guitarist and main songwriter Tim Rogers. They were the first Australian band to have three albums successively debut at #1 on the ARIA Charts, and are renowned for their live performances.-History:Tim Rogers formed the first...
's 2002 release "Deliverance". Deborah Conway
Deborah Conway
Deborah Ann Conway, is an Australian rock singer-songwriter and guitarist, and had a career as a model and actor. She was a founding member of the 1980s rock band Do-Ré-Mi with their surprise top 5 hit "Man Overboard"....
and Willie Zygier enlisted him to arrange and record on their 2004 album "Summertown". On 16 May 2007, Birchall was spotted on Australian music quiz show, Spicks and Specks, playing with The Band Who Knew Too Much.
On 23 March 2009, the John Butler Trio website reported that Shannon as well as JBT drummer Michael Barker
Michael Barker (drummer)
Michael Barker is a New Zealand percussion musician best known for performing with many Australasian acts, including The John Butler Trio and Split Enz.-Early musical education:...
would be playing their last shows with the John Butler Trio in April. According to the website, this is an artistic decision made by John himself. To quote John, "Michael and Shannon have been by far the best line up I have performed with in The John Butler Trio to date. They have been a pleasure to live, love, learn, record and tour with. Their professionalism, musicianship, and commitment have been unwavering and for that and a whole lot more I am truly thankful."
In the fall of 2009, Birchall debuted with the Spaghetti Western Orchestra
Spaghetti Western Orchestra
The Spaghetti Western Orchestra, formerly the Ennio Morricone Experience, are a quintet of musicians who perform music from spaghetti westerns, especially the music of Ennio Morricone....
, a highly theatrical and musical interpretation of the western cinematic works of Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone, Grand Officer OMRI, , is an Italian composer and conductor, who wrote music to more than 500 motion pictures and television series, in a career lasting over 50 years. His scores have been included in over 20 award-winning films as well as several symphonic and choral pieces...
. A 2010/11 tour culminated in a live BBC radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
and TV performance at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
in the 2011 season of the BBC Proms on 14 August.
With The Band Who Knew Too Much
- The Band Who Knew Too Much (1996)
- Never Heard Of 'Em (1999)
- Come On Let's Go (2003)
- Eat Sleep Work (2007)
Albums
- Sunrise Over SeaSunrise over SeaSunrise Over Sea is the third album of The John Butler Trio and the fifth featuring John Butler. It was released in March 2004.- Conception and production :...
(2003) - Grand NationalGrand National (album)Grand National is the fourth album by the John Butler Trio. Somewhere between 22 to 25 songs were considered for this album, some created during or before Sunrise Over Sea....
(2007)
Singles
- "Zebra" (2003)
- "What You WantWhat You WantWhat You Want is the second commercially available single/EP by Australian jam band the John Butler Trio from the album Sunrise Over Sea...
" (2004) - "Somethings Gotta Give" (2004)
- "Funky TonightFunky Tonight"Funky Tonight" is the first single by the John Butler Trio from their fourth studio album, Grand National. It was released in December, 2006, on Jarrah Records. The song blends funk, roots, blues, and rock...
" (2006) - "Good ExcuseGood Excuse"Good Excuse" is a promotional only release by Australian jam band, The John Butler Trio from their fourth studio album Grand National."Good Excuse" was released in March 2007 in Australia by Jarrah Records and in the United States by Atlantic Records....
" (2007) - "Better ThanBetter Than"Better Than" is an alternative rock single/extended play by Australian jam band The John Butler Trio from their fourth studio album, Grand National...
" (2007)