Kicking off their much anticipated North American tour playing to a full house at The Bowery Ballroom on March 24^th, Boy & Bear are quite the live experience. With an easy going indie rock sound infused with rich harmonies and hints of ’70’s folk, the Aussie group are just getting their stride touring the U.S. and Canada after a few years spent globe trekking with the likes of Mumford & Sons as well as headlining their own European tour. With an authentic sound that boasts quality and an appreciation for simplicity, Boy & Bear are worth a listen.

Riding the wave of their sophomore album, Harlequin Dream released in August 2013; Boy & Bear are no amateurs- debuting at #1 on the Australian ARIA Albums charts the same week of it’s release. The lead single “Southern Sun,” is a great introduction to Boy & Bear for new listeners; featuring their melodic harmonies and effortless acoustic artistry. The video for “Southern Sun,” is cinematic, featuring the band casually performing in a picturesque mountain range that looks straight out of Into The Wild. In fact all of Boy & Bear’s music videos are enjoyable, full of storyline and rich visuals.

A quintet featuring big harmonies and strong acoustics by way of banjo and mandolin, Boy & Bear’s Bowery Ballroom performance was sublime. With solid momentum and a strong but understated stage presence they kept their audience at full attention. Playing their set of folk-rock grooves, Boy & Bear show their experience in their flawless execution. The marriage of pensive yet simple lyrics by way of lead vocalist Dave Hosking and full, lush instrumentation are what make Boy & Bear so damn good. They know what they are doing and it shows.

Boy & Bear continues their Harlequin Dream tour playing a sold out show on April 1^st in Winnipeg, Manitoba performing at The Park.

Article by Yasmin Martinez

Photos by Shayne Hanley