Applejack & Moonshine are making big waves in the country music scene.
Camera IconApplejack & Moonshine are making big waves in the country music scene. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Mandurah band Applejack and Moonshine nominated for country music award

Victoria RificiMandurah Coastal Times

A GROUP of mates turned four-man band – Applejack and Moonshine – have received a nomination for the prestigious 2018 WA Country Music Emerging Artist Award.

Mandurah residents Captain Moonshine (aka Dave Feenstra) and Applejack (aka Dave Daniels) initially started as a duo who used to catch up and play music together.

In early 2017, the pair gained two more members including El ‘Nato (aka Nate Lansdell) and Iron Mullet (aka Gavin Sounness).

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Applejack and Moonshine then headed straight to the studio to record their debut album Deep, Dark, Down which was released in August when they supported Blue Shaddy at Mandurah’s Ravenswood Hotel.

Guitar and banjo player Moonshine said the group played at last years Harvey Dixon Rodeo.

“For me, the Harvey Dixon rodeo has been a highlight as I’d never played on a stage like that in my life and it was an incredible event to be a part of,” he said.

“The band is taking everything as it comes but since we released an album we’ve been gaining interest from listeners and we’re being asked to perform at a lot more rodeos and festivals.”

Their album has been hitting airwaves in the U.S and has ranked on the Australian Americana music charts with their single Deep, Dark, Down.

“Since the release of our album things have just gone a little crazy with gig opportunities, festival slots and plenty of interest from community radio,” Moonshine said.

Applejack and Moonshine’s genre of music is classified as ‘hillbilly swampstomp and blues’ – up tempo, toe tapping, thigh-slapping country music.

“The audiences respond well to our sound and love the hillbilly vibe,” Moonshine said.

“It’s a bit surreal because we’ve all played indifferent bands in different outlets our whole lives and it seems that we’ve had a break in the music industry with Applejack and Moonshine – it’s a very strange feeling.

“We hope in the future to keep recording and tour the US playing shows as our music seems to be doing really well in the US.”

The band will be back recording a new EP in the next few months.

Applejack and Moonshine’s debut album Deep, Dark, Down is available to purchase or stream now on iTunes and Spotify.

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