Following the Ray Mann exhibition shows in February, The Ray Mann Three have just been confirmed as the headline act for Surry Hills Festival. Held over two stages in Devonshire & Crown St on April 10, the line up also includes Jonathan Boullet, The Paper Scissors and Belles Will Ring. With just enough time to catch their breath, TRM3 will then be flying to Japan for a feature performance at the prestigious Greenroom Festival, alongside Arrested Development, Blue King Brown, G. Love & Special Sauce, 10cc and Rickie Lee Jones. The tour will coincide with the re-release of the album, and several showcase performances arranged by Blues Interactions/P-Vine Records, including a Tokyo show with Blue King Brown.

Rounding off a remarkable summer of Australian tours supporting Al Green and Tori Amos, The Ray Mann Three return home to Sydney ready to play some more. The band will perform over two very special nights, featuring original art by Ray Mann and special guests, at Notes in Newtown.

The Ray Mann Three w/ Ray Mann Art Exhibit
Thu 25th & Fri Feb 26th @ Note’s, Sydney, NSW
www.noteslive.net.au

The Ray Mann Three are Australia’s troubadours of minimal Soul music. Three well-dressed cats: sitting, jamming, sketching with minimal strokes; inhabiting a world of their own, but inviting you to visit – and maybe stay awhile…

The live shows of The Ray Mann Three and of Ray Mann (solo) have earned them spots supporting international acts such as Al Green, Tori Amos, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Jamie Lidell and Roy Ayers, and local acts ranging from Ash Grunwald and The Bamboos to Kate Miller-Heidke and Holly Throsby.

After leaving his role of longtime lead guitarist in Kid Confucius, singer/songwriter Ray Wassef went on with bassist Byron Luiters (who now also plays with John Butler Trio) and drummer Bart Denaro (since replaced by Grant Gerathy) to release a debut album, “The Ray Mann Three”: recorded in three days, produced by Tony Buchen, the album blends soul, jazz and hip-hop with timeless songwriting that calls to mind D’Angelo, Al Green, The Beatles and The Roots, and perfectly captures the band’s warm, intimate sound.

Since the band’s sold-out album launch and subsequent 30-date national tour in Spring 2008, The Ray Mann Three has released a series of digital-only singles from their independent album, and completed a successful Australian tour in July 2009, culminating in more sell-out shows in more cities around the country.

In support of the singles, frontman Ray created a series of music videos for $50 each. The first, “Smile”, was featured on Japanese TV’s “Billboard Top 40″ show. The second, “Hook Me Up”, was “Indie of The Week” on “Rage” on ABC TV in Australia.

Meanwhile, as the band has quietly gone about building its underground following in Australia, the sounds of The Ray Mann Three managed to reach the ears of a record label in Japan, P-Vine, who signed the band and released the debut album in Japan in May 2009.

Spring 2009 saw Ray Mann debut in yet another new territory – the art world. The Ray Mann: Art Exhibition in Sydney was the first time that various sketches, designs and videos Ray has created for the Three over the years were displayed together in a gallery.

“The Ray Mann Three fuse D’Angelo’s sex appeal with the grit of Tom Waits” – Sydney Morning Herald

“Urban, neo-soul, a dash of funk, lots of spunk with a truly fresh spirit… The Ray Mann Three have the ability to propel you into a higher sphere allowing your soul and intellect to waltz into the lofty clouds of the unique” – Drum Media

“Classic soul music with a modern funk twist… The musical atmosphere’s right for a band like this to break into the bigtime” – The Brag

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