As a solo artist Ben Dew creates rhythm, melody and dynamics using his acoustic guitar, stomp box, tamborine and weissenborn. His inspiration for writing songs comes from life experiences, living on the coast and his love of catchy melodies and insightful lyrics. His unique sound combines strong smooth vocals, clean acoustic rhythms and foot tapping beats. Over the years Ben has gained extensive experience refining his craft entertaining crowds at gigs and festivals around Geelong and the Surfcoast as well as recently performing gigs in London. Ben Dew’s music combines a subtle mix of acoustic rock, roots and reggae styles which he comfortably makes his own. His love of live music ensures his performance is full of energy, polished earthy sounds and a unique experience you will love!

Finnian grew up on Victoria’s Surf Coast, from Lorne and Fairhaven to Ocean Grove and Torquay. He began playing piano at a young age and guitar once he hit high school but around 1998 it all changed. He was handed a techno CD and before he knew it, he started venturing up to Melbourne to get amongst the world renowned & vibrant Melbourne rave scene. Raves like Hardware, Every Picture Tells A Story, War Of The Worlds and Two Tribes were incredible but it was the small capacity raves happening every weekend in abandoned buildings and underground car parks that truly made the scene what it was, Including club nights like Teriyaki Anarki Saki at HiFI bar and watching DJs like Slack, Dee Dee and Sleeker.

That CD Finnian was handed, Carl Cox’s F.A.C.T 2. This was the mix that got him completely hooked on techno, acid and trance. Hearing this music for the first time it was hard to wrap his head around a continuous 90-min mix! When 1 track ended and another started and how a DJ could add and take away elements was mesmerizing. Finnian would listen and study mixes from the likes of Ben Sims, Dave Clarke and Jeff Mills.

Finnian’s friend Dan was the first to buy a mixer back in 98. A Gemini 626 two-channel mixer. They borrowed their parents CD players and hooked them up, trying to mix from regular CDs, occasionally they would stumble over 2 tracks with a similar BPM and actually feel like they were mixing. From mixed CDs they knew they had to start buying records. Finnian would have to catch the train from Geelong, up to Spencer Street Station before transferring over onto the Pakenham line getting off at Prahran Station. Hardware Records in Prahran was the place for techno & he still remembers his first purchase - Unknown Artist (Leandro Gamez) on Ongaku Records. 

Once he had a handful of records, Music Workshop in Geelong had the turntables. So every weekend Finnian would hire turntables and mix all weekend. He spent years practicing before playing a few house parties and local nights including Rip Curl’s Media nights for the Bells Beach Pro. Finnian began making his way up to Melbourne again, this time on the lineups. Some of his early DJ nights in Melbourne were run by the guys at Melbourne Techno Collective which featured other DJs like Ben Cromack and Dave Pham. 

In 2001 Finnian, along with a bunch of mates from Torquay got together to create KAOS. A club night at one of Geelong’s largest music venues at the time, the Wool Exchange. With a capacity of 1500, the night ran across 8 memorable themed nights with full venue decor. It was a blast for Melbourne DJs to relive what it was like to rave in the 90s as Geelong seemed like a decade behind at the time. Artists to grace the decks included Eric Powell, Steve Douglas, Mike Callander, DJ Slack, DJ Sleeker to a packed house each night.

Moving to Melbourne in 2006 saw Finnian playing regular nights at 161, Lounge, Seven, 2 Floors Up and Revolver while supporting a bunch of International DJs. Over the next few years Finnian’s sets began incorporating many different styles and influences going back to old house tunes, deep house and disco. It was around this time Finnian completed a degree in Audio Engineering at South Melbourne’s SAE.

Finnian moved to Hobart in 2009 where he began working for Production Works. A large-scale events company providing staging, lighting and sound for events ranging from small school carols to some of the biggest concerts in Tasmania. During this time however Finnian held weekly residencies at Mobius, Ivory and at regular clubs and festivals including Plan B, Grand Poobah, Wine Machine and Soundscape. Finnian started the popular club night Skull Pop at Mobius before taking on the huge task of Rose Quartz festival at Lake Pedder. The remote and isolated lodge located on the shores of Lake Pedder was a 3-day music and art festival with acts coming from all around Australia and overseas.

These days Finnian lives in Coolangatta, chasing sun and waves. This is where he builds surfboards and makes music for the international surf brand Sharpeye. While his productions take on a more deep and melodic trip, his DJ sets are fueled with techno, house, electro, trance, disco and progressive. Taking dance floors on a journey through all the corners of his experiences.

Yep, Im all about the music, playin it, writing it, listening to it, I like to be in lots of bands at once, so, I dont sleep much....oh well, you get that on the big jobs-EXILE is one of my original bands, been together 10 yrs this year! Its like we're married... we gig pretty regulary, come down and see us... Arabela is sadly no longer a performing band of mine but I still love our tracks...theres a few floating around here...and Ive crapped on long enough. Im out! :-)

contact: kimmi.net@gmail.com
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Splice together the DNA of Samuel L. Jackson from Pulp Fiction, Captain Jack Sparrow, Michael Jackson when he was eight, Data from the Goonies and a labrador puppy. Shake well in a soft leather Gucci cowboy boot, pour contents into a petri dish and place in the airing cupboard under the Anne Summers knickers for two weeks. Add a pinch of the cookie monster, two fingers of Dolly Parton and cover generously with the sex musk of Burt Reynolds and you’ll be close to recreating something that resembles Sammy Senior.

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ARTISTS SUPPORTED:

WOLFMOTHER, EVERMORE, SONIC ANIMATION, JUMPS (The CAT EMPIRE), Monkey Safari (Monaberry), Dcup (Sweat It Out), JAY WEST (Drop Music), JAMES CURD (The Greens Keepers), BOOGS (Revolver), SPACEY SPACE (Revolver), AGENT 86 (Light Speed Recordings), T-REK (FSD Productions), TRANTER (Gameboy/Gamegirl), SILVERSIX (Suck Music), NOT HAPPY JAN (M-Division Recordings), TOM PANDZIC (Balance), aNyO (Jump To This), MAT CANT (Scattermusic), JAMES QUIRK (Meccanoid), LUKE Mc D (Smash Bang), 1FISH TWOFISH (Scatter Music), GALTIER (Scattermusic), KAYSH/OK SURE (Play Digital), KATIE DROVER (Sweat It Out), aNyO (Jump To This), NOT HAPPY JAN (M-Division Recordings), JEN TUTTY (161), KLAUS HILL, MALAKAI (Boss Man Records), TRAMP (karova), STROKE IT RADIO, HOWL, NICKY BOMBA (JOHN BUTTLER TRIO).</p>

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