The Tom Fun Orchestra is a Canadian

indie rock Indie rock is a Music subgenre, subgenre of rock music that originated in the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand from the 1970s to the 1980s. Originally used to describe independent record labels, the term became associated with the mu ...

ensemble from

Cape Breton Cape Breton Island (french: link=no, île du Cap-Breton, formerly '; gd, Ceap Breatainn or '; mic, Unamaꞌki) is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America and part of the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. The island accounts for 18 ...

, Canada. The band features an unconventional mix of

electric Electricity is the set of physical phenomena associated with the presence and motion of matter that has a property of electric charge. Electricity is related to magnetism, both being part of the phenomenon of electromagnetism, as described b ...

and acoustic

instruments Instrument may refer to: Science and technology * Flight instruments, the devices used to measure the speed, altitude, and pertinent flight angles of various kinds of aircraft * Laboratory equipment, the measuring tools used in a scientific l ...

, including violin,

banjo The banjo is a stringed instrument with a thin membrane stretched over a frame or cavity to form a resonator. The membrane is typically circular, and usually made of plastic, or occasionally animal skin. Early forms of the instrument were fashi ...

, accordion, trumpet, double bass, electric guitars and drums, and have elicited comparisons to acts ranging from

The Clash The Clash were an English rock music, rock band formed in London in 1976 who were key players in the original wave of British punk rock. Billed as "The Only Band That Matters", they also contributed to the and new wave music, new wave moveme ...

Tom Waits Thomas Alan Waits (born December 7, 1949) is an American musician, composer, songwriter, and actor. His lyrics often focus on the underbelly of society and are delivered in his trademark deep, gravelly voice. He worked primarily in jazz during ...

and

The Pogues The Pogues were an English or Anglo-Irish Celtic punk band fronted by Shane MacGowan and others, founded in Kings Cross, London in 1982, as "Pogue Mahone" – the anglicisation of the Irish Gaelic ''póg mo thóin'', meaning "kiss my arse ...

The Arcade Fire Arcade Fire is a Canadian indie rock band, consisting of husband and wife Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, alongside Richard Reed Parry, Tim Kingsbury and Jeremy Gara. The band's current touring line-up also includes former core member S ...

and

Broken Social Scene Broken Social Scene is a Canadian indie rock band, a musical collective including as few as six and as many as nineteen members, formed by Kevin Drew (vocals, guitar) and Brendan Canning (vocals, bass) in 1999. Alongside Drew and Canning, the othe ...

History

Formation and ''You Will Land with a Thud''

The Tom Fun Orchestra was formed in

Sydney, Nova Scotia Sydney is a former city and urban community on the east coast of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada within the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. Sydney was founded in 1785 by the British, was incorporated as a city in 1904, and disso ...

in 2005 by singer-songwriter Ian MacDougall. The group has since performed throughout Central and Eastern Canada as well as in Ireland, Australia and the UK. The band recorded their debut album, '' You Will Land With a Thud'', with producers

Gordon Gano Gordon James Gano (born June 7, 1963) is an American musician widely known as the singer, guitarist and songwriter of American folk punk band Violent Femmes. Early life Gano was born in New York City to actor parents Norman and Faye Gano, and ...

(singer-guitarist with the

Violent Femmes Violent Femmes are an American folk punk band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The band consists of founding members Gordon Gano (guitar, lead vocals) and Brian Ritchie (bass, backing vocals), joined by multi-instrumentalist Blaise Garza (joined 2 ...

) and Warren Bruleigh. It was mixed by Phil Palazzola and mastered by Howie Weinberg and released January 29, 2008, on Company House Records (

EMI Music Canada EMI Group Limited (originally an initialism for Electric and Musical Industries, also referred to as EMI Records Ltd. or simply EMI) was a British transnational conglomerate founded in March 1931 in London. At the time of its break-up in 2012, ...

). At the 2008 Music Nova Scotia Awards, The Tom Fun Orchestra won awards for Entertainer of the Year and Galaxy Rising Star. In March 2009, the band received its first

East Coast Music Award The East Coast Music Association is a non-profit association that hosts an annual awards ceremony based in Atlantic Canada for music appreciation on the East Coast of Canada. Its mission is to develop, advance and celebrate East Coast Canadian mu ...

with the ECMA Galaxy Rising Star Award. At the 2010 edition of the awards, Tom Fun received the Video of the Year award for their song "Throw Me To The Rats".

Earthworm Heart

In early 2010, The Tom Fun Orchestra began recording their second full-length album, ''Earthworm Heart''. MacDougall had been writing for the new album since shortly after the release of their first album, but the tracking process was very gradual. On July 16, they made a new song entitled "Miles Davis" available for free download from their website. In late July, they embarked on their second cross-Canada tour, which included a show supporting Primus in Toronto. In September 2012, Tom Fun announced their second full-length album, titled ''Earthworm Heart'', via a cryptic message on their website. The album would feature 14 new tracks recorded at Soundpark Studios, and will be released on November 13, 2012. However, on October 15, the entire album was made available to stream on

Exclaim ''Exclaim!'' is a Canadian music and entertainment publisher based in Toronto, which features in-depth coverage of new music across all genres with a special focus on Canadian and emerging artists. The monthly Exclaim! print magazine publishes 7 ...

's website. Produced and mixed by Jamie Foulds with Albert Lionais, the 14 tracks signalled a departure from the Celtic sound of ''You Will Land With a Thud,'' and saw the band take a much more stripped down, rock-oriented approach. Although still featured, the banjos and fiddles stepped back and made room for more guitars. What violin there was seemed to take on a more orchestral feel. On October 18 Tom Fun embarked on another cross-Canada tour in support of ''Earthworm Heart''. The album was named "alternative recording of the year" at the 2013 Nova Scotia Music Week.

Discography

*2005: ''Tragicfoxtankliftoff'' (three-song demo) *2008: '' You Will Land with a Thud'' *2012: ''

Earthworm Heart ''Earthworm Heart'' is the second full-length album recorded by Cape Breton indie rock band Tom Fun Orchestra It was recorded over a period of a few years at Soundpark Studios in Sydney, Nova Scotia Sydney is a former city and urban commun ...

'' *2021: ''I'm Your Man'' (single)

References

External links

Tom Fun Orchestra
official website
Company House Records
record label {{DEFAULTSORT:Tom Fun Orchestra Musical groups established in 2005 Musical groups from Nova Scotia Canadian indie rock groups