When Lance Ferguson first pulled together a makeshift four-piece to play three sets of non-stop funk at Fitzroy’s The Night Cat back in 2000, no one could have predicted that gig would spark one of the most enduring careers in Australian music. Twenty-five years later, The Bamboos are not only still here — they’re bigger, bolder, and funkier than ever.
In 2025, the Melbourne collective celebrate their silver anniversary with their most ambitious shows to date and the release of a definitive career-spanning collection: The Bamboos Best. Out August 29 via Impressed Recordings on deluxe gatefold gold marble 2LP and CD, the 20-track set distills a quarter century of groove into one unstoppable package.
Building a Scene From the Ground Up
At a time when Australian stages were dominated by rock acts, The Bamboos carved out their own path. Their earliest singles caused ripples across Europe’s Deep Funk underground, eventually earning them a deal with UK tastemakers Tru Thoughts and sending them on international tours.
By 2007, with Kylie Auldist stepping into the spotlight as vocalist, The Bamboos had evolved into one of the country’s most formidable live acts. Festivals like Meredith, Womadelaide, and A Day on the Green witnessed their rise, and soon they were sharing stages with legends like Eddie Floyd, Syl Johnson, Betty Harris and Joe Bataan.
“The burning essence of the band is when we get on stage together,” says Ferguson. “That adrenaline rush and totally electric feeling somehow never went away.”
A Catalogue of Reinvention
Across eleven studio albums and two live records, The Bamboos have continually pushed at the boundaries of funk and soul. Their raw early grooves gave way to sophisticated songwriting and fearless collaborations — from teaming with Tim Rogers on the hit I Got Burned (2012) to symphonic reinventions with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
International stars including Aloe Blacc, Alice Russell, Megan Washington, Daniel Merriweather, Joey Dosik and Durand Jones have all shared mic duties with the band, while placements in US film and TV introduced their music to a global audience. Along the way, they’ve clocked up seven ARIA nominations, five APRA nods, and countless sold-out shows from London to Tokyo.
Through it all, The Bamboos have been more than just a band — they’ve been the foundation of what became the internationally recognised “Melbourne Soul Scene”.
The Bamboos Best – The Soundtrack of 25 Years
The new Bamboos compilation is both a celebration and an education. Spanning their entire discography, it showcases the band’s knack for evolving without losing their identity. For crate-diggers, it offers rare cuts unavailable on vinyl for years (and one track making its vinyl debut). For new listeners, it’s an ideal gateway into 25 years of music that’s as fresh as ever.
“It’s an honour to release a compilation of a simply incredible, seminal band,” says Impressed Recordings’ Luke Bevans. “Influential to millions around the world, and always funky as all hell.”
THE BAMBOOS BEST – 20 TRACK COMPILATION
Released Aug 29th on ltd edition gold metallic gatefold 2LP / CD by Impressed Recordings
Order with t-shirt bundles here <link to https://impressedrecordings.com/pages/bamboos>
The Anniversary Tour
Of course, a milestone like this calls for celebration on stage. The Bamboos’ 25 Years Tour this September will see an expanded live line-up delivering the hits, the deep cuts, and the energy that has made them one of the greatest live bands Australia has ever produced.
THE BAMBOOS – 25 YEARS TOUR
• Thu Sep 11 – City Recital Hall, Sydney
• Sat Sep 13 – Moorooka Block Party, Brisbane Festival (free show)
• Sat Sep 20 – Northcote Theatre, Melbourne (with special guests Kurt Rainbow plus DJs Chris Gill & Miss Goldie; free afterparty feat DJs Kano & Lance Ferguson)
A Legacy Still in Motion
From their DIY beginnings to international recognition, from Deep Funk 45s to orchestral reinventions, The Bamboos have stayed true to the groove while constantly moving forward.
As Ferguson reflects: “We always like to look forward. But as we reach 25 years in the game this year it feels like a good time to take a look back. We cherish those memories of music, shows, recordings, albums and tours — but above all and everything else — it’s all about the wonderful human beings around the world that we’ve had the great pleasure and honour to meet, perform with, play to and (hopefully) give something.”
Twenty-five years on, The Bamboos are still bringing the funk. And with The Bamboos Best and a huge national tour on the horizon, they’re proving that the groove never gets old.
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