The Billycart Band Teaches Kids Lessons Through Fun Music
The Billycart Band, an Australian music group for kids.
Deidre Abel, a mother and grandmother wrote the songs which are inspired by real-life situations. She had been writing songs for a number of years for her family's bush band, which has played around Australia and overseas. She started to write songs which would 'teach our children good old fashioned Christian values' after two of her young grandchildren told their mother their yo-yo finger (the middle one) was 'rude finger'. Her son, Billy agreed to write music for them.
His brief was
* A CD which contained enough 'cool' factor to appeal to children of all ages. This was important as children are often discerning about their music at an early age
* It had to be intelligent enough for grown-ups to want to listen to. This is important if parents and grownups are to utilize the CD the way it was intended
* The band's image had to appeal to older aged children as well as young
* Image however, was not to be promoted so much as a friendly wholesome attitude
The brief was met and the Billycart Band was born with the release of their debut self-titled album. The band has received many e-mails and letters of thanks and congratulations from parents, grandparents, and young people who are not yet parents. Before the CD was produced Deidre knew the concept was a winner by the enthusiasm and encouragement she encountered from parents eager for such a product. It was this enthusiasm and encouragement that caused its production to continue.
A DVD Ready, Set, Go! followed in 2006. The CD and DVD are enjoying increasing sales in Australia and overseas and the band has a growing number of fans - young and old. Some young fans are even having Billycart Band-themed birthday parties.
Live performances were a natural progression and the band, joined by their friend Gibbo, have performed around Australia.
About the Band
Billy Abel and Mitch Murphy, both talented writers and musicians, had collaborated on several projects before they moved their focus to the Billycart Band. Collaborations included a 2001 Youth Outreach Concert , DVD recording in 2004 at Fox Studios Sydney, and The Mustard's debut album - 'Going Home' in 2004 for which Mitch won an Australian songwriters award. They continue to record and perform on projects apart from the Billycart Band.
Simon, Billy and Robert are brothers (in descending age order). All band members are married and Mitch, Simon, and Robert are Dads. Simon's children appear on the debut album.
All members live on the Central Coast of NSW and when they're not performing, Mitch is an engineer, Simon and Billy are communications technicians and Robert is an electrician. They prefer being members of the Billycart Band.