about Sunshine tip
Sunshine Tip throw voices, cello, guitar, mandolin, drums together to trawl the depths of human experience on the edges of city and country.
The algorithm calls it Americana, but this is locally-rooted music played by four lifelong musicians who draw on a rich range of musical experiences from country, rock, jazz and lounge, to Greek and Irish traditions.
Songwriter Dave Bowers’ lyrics wander along outer suburban train tracks and through emptying country towns. They evoke memories of dance floor heroics and hanging washing on the line, shifting from sadness to elation.
Dave Bowers (songwriter, vocals, guitars), Dee Hannan (vocals, mandolin) and Alice Garner (cello) have been playing as a trio since 2014 but have a much longer history of collaboration across different bands and artforms. In 2025, they were joined by drummer Al Barden, who brings a wealth of musical experience to the group.
Sunshine Tip's 2023 debut EP ‘We were the endlings’ hit no. 5 on the Australian Independent Record Label 100% independent singles chart. The 5 tracks were recorded and mixed by musician-producer Mitch Cairns at Coloursound and Cavern Sound Studios and in two of the band members' homes in Melbourne.
In 2026, the band has been working on an album with Roger Bergodaz (Lost Ragas) at Union Street Studio. So far they have released two singles - ‘Brooklyn Wind’ that speaks of a heady wind blowing in from the industrial zone, where suburbia and farmland meet. Hear some of the back story here. In September they released ‘New Shoes’, a short and sweet Springtime ode.
The band's music can be found on most digital platforms - we recommend Subvert.fm (new artist-run coop) and Bandcamp. Or you can find it on Quboz - Tidal - Apple - YouTube etc (basically everywhere except Spotify and Amazon)… Of course if you want to support artists first, we encourage you to purchase from this here website.
Visit the Shows page to find out when and where Sunshine Tip is playing next.
And grab a one-off upcycled Sunshine Tip T-shirt, available only at gigs!
