“We are now confirmed to play 3 big festivals in America"

It could have been the beginning of the end, and for a lesser group of musicians, it may have been, but for The Jefferson, now in their 5th year since forming in the classrooms of Australian Institute of Music, the temporary set back of a departing drummer couldn’t have worked out better. Having regained original drummer and AIM graduate Andy Hovarth, the dream is still very much alive.



Having recently launched their debut album ‘Safe Return To Earth’ produced by ARIA Award-winning producer Craig Porteils, The Jefferson have now progressed as far as establishing some very useful contacts in LA and Nashville, after ‘Googling’ as many industry people as they could find, to self promote the band and their music overseas. The boys were also lucky enough to come across Beth Wernick from LA management company ‘Imaginary Friends’ who has taken the band under her wing. From LA came a contact with Paul Zamek (of Zamek World Marketing) based in Nashville, who loved what he heard and contacted the band in Australia. Having been told they could do really well overseas in USA markets, the band are beginning to enjoy the fruits of their labour.

“We are now confirmed to play 3 big festivals in America this year, followed by some College gigs and hopefully the doors will continue to open” says Rana. The Jefferson will be playing The Next Big Thing Festival in Nashville, CMJ Festival in New York, and the Austin City Limits Festival, featuring such stellar acts as The Strokes, Muse, The Flaming Lips and Phish, just to name a few.

Having a recorded product to hand to people and letting people listen to the music online has been the key says Rana. “Nobody knows us over in the States, so our recorded music has been vital to making contacts and getting opportunities. You have to have a product,” adds Rana. The band are now also enjoying distribution through Universal Music in New Zealand where their song “Superstar“ will be on rotation twice a day on RockFM, the equivalent of Australia’s MMM.

Geoff Rana, lead vocalist & songwriter who studied Contemporary Performance at AIM is quietly confident. “Our current drummer recently left the band, and you think what’s going to happen, and then our original drummer Andy, who I was still friends with, was keen to come back in, and it’s on with the show” says Rana.

“I guess you could say we are a real AIM band again, as our bass player Jared King also studied at AIM” adds Rana. “It’s all about working hard and just keeping on keeping on”

For more information about The Jefferson visit: www.myspace.com/thejeffersonband
Read more about Contemporary Performance at AIM