The Steele Syndicate is all about the groove. Steele McMahon’s Brisbane-based octet is raucous, punchy and fun, with a genre-bending sound that reimagines elements of old school funk, reggae, ska and indie rock. The band packs a roaring, four-piece horn section and a rhythm section to match, creating music from soulful, contemplative ballads to dance-inducing funk frenzies. It’s a sharp-dressing, instrument-hopping unit!
Since its formation in September 2015, The Steele Syndicate has entertained over 80,000 people at Sydney’s City2Surf road run, played at the Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay, Cairns’ Reef Hotel and Casino, NightQuarter and a host of Brisbane’s best venues. The band is also breaking into the festival scene, having appeared at the Gum Ball Music Festival, Newstead Roots Festival, PigSty in July and headlined the Teneriffe Festival. With an active touring schedule since 2018, the band’s dynamic live show is leaving an impression up and down the east coast of Australia.
The Steele Syndicate has also opened for, among many others, the New Orleans-based, Grammy-nominated Hot 8 Brass Band. The Steele Syndicate’s second and most recent EP, ‘Sedona’, was released in December 2018. The latest record presents the band’s evolved, energetic sound, continuing its natural development since the August 2016 release of debut EP, ‘Antipodes’, to positive reviews and nationwide radio airplay. The crowd-favourite lead single, ‘Funky Trombone’, was premiered on Triple J, with the music video featured on themusic.com.au and MTV. 2020 brings an exciting new project of recording and releasing six singles, completing another east coast tour and expanding the band’s reach on the festival circuit. This year, audiences all around can expect more of The Steele Syndicate’s trademark moves, grooves and some powerful new tunes.
