Our new ska tune. Recorded Live at the Polish Club 7/6/2013 with thanks Mr Craig Greening

Skinny Man From Berlin

Another Funky Tune by Nicholas Combe. It's about seeing an unnoticed kinder surprise on the floor of one of our favourite pubs. Thanks To Craig Greening for the recording from The Polish Club.

Kinder Surprise On The Floor

A New Afrobeat song about Japanese Hot Pot, performed and recorded At the Polish Club, in Canberra. Composed by Simon Milman. Recorded and mixed by Craig Greening.

Shabu Shabu

Our debut studio EP! From 2014

Canberra's Afrobeat collective Nyash! hit us on the blind side with 6 originals running the gamut from ska and Ethio-funk to dancehall and Afrobeat. A 10 piece dance machine populated by some of Canberra's tastiest and hairiest. And masterminded and directed by Canberra's only baritone sax wielding gourmand, Nicholas Combe!

released April 25, 2014

Nicholas Combe, Tom Fell, Patches, Reuben Lewis - horns. Lustri and Tom Sherringham - guitars. Simon Milman - bass guitar.
Rafaga - percussion. Jonathan Griffiths - traps.
Ben Fowler - guitar solo on Tro Tro.

Recorded and mixed by Sam King. Mastered by Andrew Edgson. Executive producer Simon Milman.

Washing Machine

The Long Count

The Skinny Man From Berlin

Kinder Surprise

Wait Long Small For Tro Tro

Coin Collector began its life during the quiet, uncertain days of the ACT lockdown. With live gigs on pause and venues shuttered, This Way Orkestra’s vocalist Jim Sharrock found himself, like many artists, out of work. In search of connection and creative spark, he launched a community project that brought him face-to-face with the youngest members of his neighbourhood.

Each week, Jim interviewed primary-aged kids from around his local area. They talked about life in lockdown, their families, their passions, and their thoughts on music. From these conversations, Jim wrote original songs inspired by each child’s story, which he then shared during his weekly livestream show, Lucky Jim, broadcast from a dance studio at Belco Arts.

One of those children was Josh, a neighbour with a deep fascination for coin collecting and the naval history of the early 20th century. When asked what kind of song he wanted, Josh opted for a rap about his coin collection rather than a WWII sea shanty—a lucky break, as Jim recalls. The result was Coin Collector, a quirky and energetic track that premiered live on the show.

Later, with support from an ArtsACT grant, Jim recorded a full album of songs from the project titled Lucky Jim and His Imaginary Friends, including the original version of Coin Collector. As the song made its way into the This Way Orkestra setlist, Jim and bass player Simon Milman developed and expanded the piece, transforming it into a playful, brass-fuelled crowd favourite.

From lockdown lull to festival stages, Coin Collector remains a tribute to creativity, curiosity, and collaboration.⁩ 

Coin Collector

Abdication

Canberra's very own enclave of Afrobeat + Ska + Reggae sounds - this 9 piece orchestra combines the mighty Afro-Funk of Nigeria's Fela Kuti with tight brass section and heavy jazz + ska grooves! (Formerly NYASH!)

Originally formed in 2012 by Nicholas Combe and Simon Milman - two stalwarts of the local jazz and reggae scene in Canberra - the band recorded their debut EP in the same year and played around the ACT and South Coast before both Nicholas and Simon moved overseas - one to Jogyakarta and one to Buenos Aires. 7 years later and back in their hometown - the band has reformed with original members and some great new additions.
This new band is blessed with the musical wizardry of members of Zambezi Sounds, Los Chavos, Dub Dub Goose, Dubba Rukki and The Ellis Collective - From West Belconnen to West Africa and beyond, this musical collective will keep your nyash shaking!

This Way Orkestra

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