Surprise Chef are Melbourne’s cinematic soul journeymen, pushing vivid shades of instrumental jazz-funk with a DIY mentality.

The centrepiece of their self-run College Of Knowledge Records roster, Surprise Chef’s output reflects a forward-thinking interpretation of the cannon of instrumental soul, touching on the legacies of composer/producers David Axelrod & Isaac Hayes and taking cues from the catalogues of Daptone and Truth & Soul.

Their debut LP All News Is Good News slipped rapidly into the collective consciousness of underground music lovers around the world, with the first pressing selling out worldwide within a week of its release. Following the release on College Of Knowledge Records, the record was quickly picked up for reissue by iconic UK label Mr Bongo.

Surprise Chef followed All News Is Good News in quick succession with their second album Daylight Savings, consolidating their deep cinematic instrumental soul sound with a marked development in musical focus.

Surprise Chef’s live show is an odyssey through dark landscapes of analogue synth-laden funk and left-field library music-esque scenes; a flowing, linear puzzle of vivid minor-key expressions.

Alanna Royale combines the best elements of rock, pop, funk and soul, all executed by their fearless leader and sensual vocalist, Alanna Quinn-Broadus, an unparalleled rhythm section – Jared Colby on guitar, Gabriel Golden on bass and Matt Snow on drums - topped off with greasy keys and brassy background singers. In January of 2013, the band released its debut EP, Bless Her Heart, which led to sold-out shows across Nashville and prompted Mike Grimes, owner of the world famous Grimey’s to declare them, “the next big thing.”
 
Alanna Royale shines bright by marrying a dirty Stax strut with a bold modern twist . The band has made appearances at Bonaroo and Austin City Limits and supported the likes of St. Paul and the Broken Bones, Big Freedia, and Hurray for the Riff Raff.