Green hand band

Poverty, racism and inequality are cornerstone concepts Redfern-based reggae fusion group  Green Hand Band aims to break down barriers about. Drawing musical influences from soul, reggae and desert rock genres, the group uses music to  raise awareness of issues such as recovering from addiction, spiritual empowerment and love. Key writer, keyboard player and vocalist, Tim Gray, leads the band, bringing an infectious passion  to the stage along with the band comprising Turkish, Jewish, and Tuvalu cultural heritages. 

The band released its debut EP in November as part of Corroboree Festival in Sydney after  recording earlier in the year at Kameygal Studio housed in Gadigal Information Service in Redfern, Sydney.

It is a hard-hitting EP that the self-confessed recovering alcoholic Gray says is a healing journey, with songs that focus on social and political issues that face First Nations mob  and other  minority groups in the community.

Playing at Yabun 2015 and performing regularly in the Sydney live music scene, Green Hand  Band once collaborated with Jamaican artist Ras Daniel Ray during his recent Australian Tour.  The band are currently working on touring their Self titled EP over the next 12 months, Tim says spreading the messages the band espouses are his main priorities.

Born at Macksville, NSW, and growing up in East Hills along the Georges River, Tim was influenced by the likes of Bob Marley, Warumpi Band, No Fixed address and Coloured Stone.

He started playing piano at his foster mother’s prompting and the music grabbed hold of him; he started writing his own songs in Rehab and then going on to play in bands.

“I want to make music that heals, that breaks down barriers and explores the human condition,”  Tim says.

Gumbaynggir/Wiradjuri/Bidjigal Tim Gray man says growing up he was living through the changes like land rights being introduced in the Keating period, the Mabo decision, the term multi-culturalism and reconciliation gaining popularity.

These events pointed to change in Australia and helped shape some of his opinions as well as future key dates such as Kevin Rudd’s apology to the Stolen Generation.

A keen film maker and playwright, he plans to merge multi-me: