Boy & Bear

Boy & Bear are an Australian folk rock band from Sydney. The group begins in 2009 as a solo project for singer-songwriter Dave Hosking and then grows into a full band.

Formation and early line-up

Hosking uploads the track “The Storm” to Triple J’s Unearthed programme in February 2009, and the song becomes a featured track on the station. Hosking meets singer-songwriter and guitarist Killian Gavin, who has played in Ovell, and the two start writing and jamming together. Tim Hart, a drummer and singer-songwriter from Wintersound, then joins, followed by Jake Tarasenko on bass, who has previously played in Tripartisan Approach. All four have fronted their own groups and become friends through regular shared gigs.

After winning the 2009 Unearthed competition, the band earns a performance slot at Homebake, the Australasian music festival.

Line-up changes and band members

In 2010, Tim Hart’s brother Jon Hart joins as an official member, contributing vocals, mandolin, banjo and keyboards. The band later parts ways with Tarasenko in late 2012, and Dave Symes replaces him on bass. Symes has previously played with Seeker Lover Keeper and in Sarah Blasko’s live backing band.

The group’s members are Dave Hosking, Killian Gavin, Tim Hart, Jon Hart, Dave Symes and Jakob Tarasenko.

Releases and chart success

Boy & Bear release their debut extended play, With Emperor Antarctica, in May 2010. They also record “Fall at Your Feet” for He Will Have His Way, a tribute album to Tim and Neil Finn. Their version of the song reaches No. 34 on the ARIA Singles Chart and appears at No. 5 in the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2010. Another track, “Rabbit Song”, places at No. 45 in the same countdown.

Their debut album, Moonfire, is released in August 2011 and is recorded in Nashville, Tennessee with producer Joe Chiccarelli. It reaches No. 2 on the ARIA Albums Chart. By the end of 2011 it places third in Triple J’s album poll, and three songs appear in the Triple J Hottest 100: “Feeding Line” at No. 4, “Part Time Believer” at No. 50 and “Milk & Sticks” at No. 49.

At the ARIA Music Awards of 2011, Boy & Bear win five awards: Breakthrough Artist – Single for “Feeding Line”, and Album of the Year, Best Group, Breakthrough Artist – Album and Best Adult Alternative Release for Moonfire.

The band’s second album, Harlequin Dream, is released in 2013 and debuts at No. 1 on the ARIA chart. Its singles include “Southern Sun” and “Three-Headed Woman”.

Style and activity

Boy & Bear work in folk rock, indie folk, indie pop and indie rock. They remain active from 2009 to the present and are based in Sydney, Australia.