The Bamboos Celebrate 25 Years with The Bamboos Best
Lance Ferguson sat down with Australian Musician to reflect on 25 years of The Bamboos, marked by the release of The Bamboos Best, a deluxe double album featuring 20 career-spanning tracks. The compilation comes in a striking gold marble vinyl gatefold edition, designed by Kano, the same artist who created the band’s very first single artwork back in 2001.
Ferguson admits that narrowing down two decades of music to just 20 tracks was no easy task, balancing fan favourites, live staples, and deeper album cuts. The band is celebrating the milestone with special shows in Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne, with Ferguson promising audiences nights of dancing and energy.
Reflecting on the band’s journey, Ferguson spoke about the evolution of The Bamboos’ sound—from raw funk beginnings to more expansive blends of soul and songwriting—as well as the challenge of capturing the live essence on record. While past albums have experimented with lush production, Ferguson hints the next Bamboos album will head back to a more stripped-down, groove-driven approach.
He also shared insights on longevity, crediting his constant pursuit of the “perfect” Bamboos album as his ongoing motivation. Alongside the band’s legacy, Ferguson continues to explore other projects, including his Rare Groove Spectrum series, with a new volume due out in November via True Thoughts Records.
Looking back, Ferguson takes pride not only in the band’s contribution to Australia’s soul scene but also in seeing members like Kylie Auldist, Graeme Pogson, and Rita Satch flourish with their own acclaimed projects. For him, the past 25 years have been about craft, community, and keeping the groove alive.
Australian Musician editor Greg Phillips sat down with The Bamboos main man Lance Ferguson over a zoom call to discuss the band’s 25 Year career, the Best Of release and the upcoming celebration gigs.
THE BAMBOOS – 25 YEARS TOUR
Thu Sep 11th City Recital Hall, Sydney – Pre-sale live now
tickets + info here
Sat Sep 13th Moorooka Block Party, Brisbane Festival at Peggs Park, Brisbane
Free show, info here
Sat Sep 20th Northcote Theatre, Melbourne – tickets + info here
with special guests Kurt Rainbow plus DJs Chris Gill, Miss Goldie.
Free afterparty at Northcote Theatre Mezzanine feat DJs Kano & Lance Ferguson