NEW SINGLE: The Rookies 'On The Shoulder's Of Giants'

Learn from the past and lean into the future with The Rookies - ‘On The Shoulders Of Giants’ + Celebrate 400 Rooks Return Residency shows + Feed The Fire Vinyl Pre-Order

It’s a new year and it’s time for new music, and The Rookies are bringing their visionary and thought-provoking musings to life with their latest release ‘On The Shoulders Of Giants’, set for release on Wednesday 22 February. The second single from their upcoming album Feed The Fire, slated for release on Wednesday 22 March 2023, ‘On The Shoulders of Giants’ follows the thought-provoking messaging from the first single ‘Dry Bones’, taking inspiration from the wisdom of our ancestors as a basis for imagining a better future. As The Rookies prepare for the release of their fourth LP, following up from Play Jazz 2 in 2021 and Stay Weird 2019, they invite you to celebrate the impressive milestone of the collective’s 400th show and longstanding residency at the legendary The Rooks Return from 8 pm on Wednesday 22 February.

‘On The Shoulders Of Giants’ is a reminder to us that sometimes you need to look back to move forward, and learn from the past in order to create a sustainable and long-lasting future;
“We must humbly draw on wisdom from our elders and our past. Then we must look to the present and realise we are standing on the shoulders of giants, and from that view, see that there is still a long way to go.”  Always blending a nostalgic sense of the old world with the freedom and spontaneity of the new, the five piece outfit is joined by a five part brass and woodwind section as dissonant piano riffs, driving percussion, and foreboding horn harmonies explore the unsteady balance of learning from those before us.

Stream 'On The Shoulders Of Giants' via Noisehive
Download 'On The Shoulders Of Giants' via Bandcamp

“On The Shoulders Of Giants’ is an ode to the wisdom of those who’ve come before us and a reminder that although things may appear bleak in the future, one only needs to look to the past to see just how far we have come thanks to the hard work of our elders. Ideally, we should be inspired by their work and look at the view from the giants shoulders with a renewed sense of optimism that real change is possible even if we may not see it in our lifetimes - just like the parable of the man who plants trees of whose shade he will never sit, but he does so for the love of future generations that will enjoy the tree.” - The Rookies

Hitting all good record stores Wednesday 22 March and available for pre-order now, Feed the Fire explores the purpose and powers within the element of fire; destruction, regeneration, nurture, and passion. The Rookies don’t take releasing music lightly, with the hope of arousing listeners to inspire them to take the journey of recognition, action, and outcomes with them as their material meanders through the album’s opening call to action and change inspired single ‘Dry Bones’, and closing with ‘Seed and Soil’ - emphasising the importance of creating equitable conditions for all people to thrive. The quintet are joined by guest instrumentalists from Australia and abroad as the repertoire challenges human prejudice and societal systems, and questions the need to begin again and rebuild for the benefit of humanity and our world.

Whether immersed in the intertwining trumpet and saxophones lines from Tom Sly and band leader Greg Sher, or dancing to the grooving rhythm section formed from the piano of Joel Trigg, double bass from Oscar Neyland and Chris Cameron’s drums and percussion, the weekly Wednesday parties are never a night to be forgotten. Celebrate twice as hard with this latest single and album on the horizon, and be whisked away by the utterly unrepeatable experience of The Rookies 400th night at The Rooks Return.


‘On The Shoulders Of Giants’ is out Wednesday 22 February via Noisehive

Feed The Fire out Wednesday 22 March 2023
Vinyl is available for pre-order via Bandcamp

Rooks Return - Wednesday 400th Show
Set 1 - 8:30 - 9:30 pm
Set 2 - 10:00 - 11:00 pm
Free entry
Facebook Event

Rooks Return - Every Wednesday
Set 1 - 8:30 - 9:30 pm
Set 2 - 10:00 - 11:00 pm
Free entry

‘On The Shoulders Of Giants’ Credits:
Greg Sher - alto & tenor saxophone
Tom Sly - trumpet
Joel Trigg - Fender Rhodes
Oscar Neyland - double bass
Chris Cameron - drums & percussion

'On The Shoulders Of Giants’ Featured Artists:
Eamon McNelis - trumpet
James Macaulay - trombone
Kyle Chenoweth - trombone
Brennan Hamilton-Smith - clarinet & bass clarinet
Jack Beeche - soprano saxophone & baritone saxophone

Engineered & mixed by Guus Hoevenaars at Newmarket Studios
Mastered by Lachlan Carrick at Moose Mastering

Artwork & photography by Hanah Wexler & Greg Sher