The Bank Holidays
| Company type | Indie pop band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2003 in Perth, Australia |
| Defunct | 2012 |
| Headquarters | Perth , Australia |
Key people | Nat Carson, James Crombie, Wibekke Reczek, Ian (Stafford) Chater, Stuart Leach |
| Products | Music albums and EPs |
The Bank Holidays were an indie pop ensemble originating from Perth, Australia, established in 2003 initially under the name Tunnelball. The founding lineup featured Nat Carson (guitar, piano, vocals), James Crombie (bass guitar, vocals), Wibekke (Bekk) Reczek (guitar, vocals), and Ian (Stafford) Chater on drums. In the latter part of 2007, Stuart Leach took over drumming duties from Chater. Their discography includes two full-length albums: As a Film released on 15 October 2007, and Sail Becomes a Kite which came out on 17 July 2010. The group had effectively ceased activity by the end of 2012.
History
The inception of The Bank Holidays traces back to a holiday in Norway where James Crombie and Wibekke Reczek first envisioned the band. Soon after, while in London, they invited their longtime acquaintance Nat Carson to join the project. Upon returning to Perth in 2003, they added Ian "Stafford" Chater as their drummer. Later that year, Chater was succeeded by Stuart Leach towards the end of 2007. Their debut performance took place at The Swan Basement in Fremantle, performing under the name Tunnelball—a moniker proposed by Darren Hanlon—before adopting the name The Bank Holidays for their subsequent gig at Perth's Hyde Park Hotel.
In September 2004, they introduced their initial EP titled Good Looks to Camera through Lost & Lonesome Recording Co.. Its leading song, "Tread Easy", earned them a WAMi Award in 2004 for the Indie Rock / Punk category. By February 2005, they embarked on a co-headlining national tour alongside the Panics, followed by the release of their second EP called Day for Night. That year, tracks like "Like a Piano" and "Not so Long Ago" garnered nominations at the WAMi Awards.
Throughout their career, The Bank Holidays performed alongside prominent Australian acts such as the Lucksmiths, Little Birdy, Youth Group, the Panda Band, and Augie March. They also supported international artists including Belle and Sebastian and Peter, Bjorn and John.
At the 2007 WAMi Awards ceremony, the band was honored with 'Best Indie Pop Act'. Their first album, As a Film, was produced at J Walker's countryside studio in Victoria and officially released on 13 October 2007.
By 2010, Crombie and Reczek had married. Their sophomore album, Sail Becomes a Kite released on 17 July 2010, showcased a progression toward more introspective indie pop characterized by layered harmonies. By 2012, with members residing between Perth and Melbourne, live performances became infrequent; their final planned show was at Perth's This Is Nowhere festival in October. After disbanding, Carson and Leach established Captain Coach, a Melbourne-based indie pop outfit that issued the single "Done and Gone" in August 2013.
Former
- Bekk Reczek (guitar, vocals)
- Nat Carson (guitar, piano, vocals)
- James Crombie (bass guitar, vocals)
- Stuart Leach (drums)
- Ian (Stafford) Chater (drums)
Studio albums
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| As a Film |
|
| Sail Becomes a Kite |
|
Extended plays
| Title | Information |
|---|---|
| Good Looks to Camera |
|
| Day for Night |
|
WAM Song of the Year
The WAM Song of the Year awards, initiated by the Western Australian Rock Music Industry Association Inc. (WARMIA) in 1985, honor outstanding accomplishments within Western Australia's music sector.
(only wins listed)
|- | 2004 | "Tread Easy" | Indie Rock/Punk category | |-
West Australian Music Industry Awards
The West Australian Music Industry Awards (WAMIs) are yearly accolades granted by the Western Australian Music Industry Association Inc (WAM) to celebrate achievements in the local contemporary music scene.
(only wins listed)
|- | 2007 | The Bank Holidays | Best Indi Pop Act | |-