Martha's Vineyard (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | May 1986 |
| Founder | Peggy Van Zalm |
| Defunct | 1990 |
| Headquarters | Perth , Australia |
| Products | Music albums, singles, extended plays |
Martha's Vineyard was a rock ensemble originating from Perth, Western Australia, established in May 1986 by lead vocalist Peggy Van Zalm. Their debut album, titled Martha's Vineyard, was released in June 1989 under the rooArt label, with production handled by Nick Mainsbridge. The album reached the top 100 on the Kent Music Report Albums Chart. Music historian Ian McFarlane characterized their style as "reflective folk rock," combining somber vocals, both acoustic and electric guitars, subtle percussion, and expansive arrangements to create a cohesive and captivating sound. Their musical approach bore resemblance to other Perth-based groups such as The Triffids, The Honeys, and Chad's Tree. Van Zalm’s vocal delivery drew favorable comparisons to artists like Patti Smith, Chrissie Hynde, and Joni Mitchell. Throughout their career, they toured across Australia supporting prominent acts including Simply Red, INXS, Eurythmics, The Go-Betweens, Paul Kelly, The Triffids, Mental as Anything, The Saints, and Weddings, Parties, Anything before disbanding in 1990. By 1994, Van Zalm had embarked on a solo music career.
History
Peggy Van Zalm (formerly of Distant Carnival), who provided lead vocals, acoustic guitar, and harmonica, co-founded Martha's Vineyard in May 1986 alongside Anthony Best (later known as Bhante Sujato) on guitar, harmonica, and vocals; Lisa Jooste on violin; Norman Parkhill (previously with The Scream and Matinee Idols) on bass guitar and vocals; and Aidan D'Adhemar on drums and vocals. The band’s name was inspired by the vacation island located off Massachusetts. Van Zalm was raised in Cowaramup before pursuing Fine Arts studies at Curtin University. Their inaugural live appearance took place on 21 May 1986 at Perth’s Red Parrot nightclub where they supported the proto-punk group The Saints.
Shortly thereafter, they released a self-titled cassette featuring five tracks recorded at Northlake Studios in Fremantle with engineer James Hewgill. This was followed by a split single titled "Our Day," paired with Errol H. Tout’s "Sounds of Swimming," issued through Lizard Records/Monkey Music. Van Zalm penned "Our Day." Subsequently, Catherine McAuliffe joined the lineup on bass guitar while Parkhill transitioned to guitar duties.
The band served as the opening act for artists such as Paul Kelly, Weddings, Parties, Anything, The Go-Betweens, Mental As Anything, Eurythmics, and INXS at the Perth Entertainment Centre. In October 1987, they launched a six-track mini-album called For a Small World under Monkey Music; the title track was composed by Best. Soon after this release, Stuart Fenner replaced Jooste on violin and Phil Kakulas (formerly of The Triffids) took over bass guitar from McAuliffe. Later that year, they toured the Eastern States supporting The Triffids during their Calenture tour.
In 1988, Best, D'Adhemar, Kakulas, and Van Zalm moved to Sydney. By the following year, they secured a contract with rooArt alongside other artists like The Trilobites and Tall Tales and True. Martha's Vineyard contributed the song "Unravelling," written by Van Zalm, to rooArt’s compilation RooArt Present Young Blood released in September 1988—a showcase of emerging indie bands. They were among four groups from this collection to earn a three-album recording agreement. In 1989, Australian Rolling Stone editor Toby Creswell identified them as one of five promising new bands likely to achieve chart success.
In April 1989, critic John O'Donnell commended their live show at Harold Park Hotel for its "lilting, well constructed arrangements" along with Van Zalm’s confident vocal performance. Their sole full-length album was recorded at Planet Studios in Perth with producer Nick Mainsbridge (also known for work with The Triffids). Released in June 1989 by rooArt and distributed through PolyGram Records, the self-titled album received positive reviews both domestically and internationally and entered the Kent Music Report Albums Chart top 100. The single "Old Beach Road," co-written by Best and Van Zalm, received radio play across commercial stations and community outlets such as Triple J, reaching number 86 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart.
RooArt arranged for Martha’s Vineyard to open for Simply Red’s national tour promoting the album. Early in 1990, "Old Beach Road" was issued as a four-track 12" extended play targeting European audiences.
A follow-up single titled "More of the Same" was released via rooArt before internal conflicts and external challenges led to the band’s dissolution in 1990. RooArt later issued the album internationally under the name Old Beach Road, capitalizing on the single’s popularity. Throughout their active years, Martha's Vineyard earned critical acclaim while touring with Simply Red, INXS, Eurythmics, The Go-Betweens, Paul Kelly, The Triffids, Mental as Anything, The Saints, and Weddings, Parties, Anything.
McFarlane summarized their musical identity as reflective folk rock that blended melancholic vocals with acoustic and electric guitars alongside spacious soundscapes. He also noted their stylistic kinship with fellow Perth groups such as The Triffids and Chad’s Tree while emphasizing Van Zalm’s vocal likeness to Patti Smith, Chrissie Hynde, and Joni Mitchell.
After Martha's Vineyard
In 1989, Kakulas initiated a side venture called The Blackeyed Susans, which featured members such as David McComb and Rob Snarski. Following the dissolution of Martha's Vineyard, Kakulas worked alongside Grant McLennan on his solo projects before rejoining The Blackeyed Susans as their bassist. The group has produced seven studio albums and one live album, with several records benefiting from Kakulas's production involvement.
By March 1991, Jooste became part of The Deadly Nightshades, contributing guitar, violin, keyboards, and backing vocals alongside Ross Buncle and Ian Young.
Van Zalm embarked on her solo journey in 1994 with the release of Shine. Later, in 1999, she put out Revival under her own Red Dirt Records label, with production by Graham 'Buzz' Bidstrup; this album showcased her distinctive blend of folk-infused and jazzy pop vocals. She subsequently released two more albums co-produced with Geoff Nant: Different World (2001) and Light Diamond (2006).
Best exited the alternative music scene in 1992 to pursue a path as a Buddhist meditation monk in Thailand, adopting the monastic name Bhante Sujato. Upon his return to Australia in 2003, he established Santi Forest Monastery near Sydney before relocating to Bodhinyana Monastery in Western Australia. In 2019, he founded Lokanta Vihara in Sydney with the aim of engaging Buddhist teachings in response to modern challenges such as climate change and global consumerism. Sujato embraces an interpretation of Buddhism aligned with anarcho-pacifism and Engaged Buddhism, regarding The Buddha as an anarchist figure compatible with monastic discipline.
Parkhill shifted his career towards artist management, working with acts including Frente, Nikka Costa, The Badloves, and Leonardo's Bride. In 2005, he launched inSYNC Music, a company focused on providing music services for film, television, and advertising. His production portfolio includes soundtracks for Australian films like Somersault, Candy, Kenny, The Black Balloon, and Tomorrow, When the War Began, as well as TV series such as Packed to the Rafters, Top of the Lake, East of Everything, and Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries.
Members
- Anthony Best (also known as Bhante Sujato) – guitar, harmonica, vocals (1986–1990)
- Aidan D'Adhemar – drums, percussion, vocals (1986–1987, 1988–1989)
- Lisa Jooste – violin (1986–1987)
- Catherine McAuliffe – bass guitar (1986–1987)
- Norman Parkhill – bass guitar, guitar, vocals (1986–1989)
- Peggy Van Zalm – lead vocals, guitar, harmonica (1986–1990)
- Stuart Fenner – violin (1987)
- Phil Kakulas – bass guitar (1987–1990)
- James Elliot – drums (1990)
Studio albums
| Title | Album information | Highest chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS KMR | ||
| Martha's Vineyard |
|
77 |
Extended plays
| Title | Release information |
|---|---|
| Martha's Vineyard |
|
| For a Small World |
|
Singles
| Title | Year | Highest chart position | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS KMR | |||
| "Our Day" | 1986 | — | Joint release with Errol H Tout's "Sounds of Swimming" |
| "Old Beach Road" | 1989 | 86 | Martha's Vineyard |
| "More of the Same" | 1990 | — | |
| "—" denotes absence of chart ranking or no release in that region. | |||
ARIA Music Awards
Since 1987, the ARIA Music Awards have honored outstanding achievements and creativity in Australian music.
| Year | Work | Category | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Martha's Vineyard | Best New Talent | Nominated |