Live Funk Explosion from Bendigo Australia!
The F Jays are a live funk band with horns, bringing together some of Bendigo and Central Victoria's finest musicians.
As well as classic funk grooves, The F Jays has been steadily writing, recording and performing original material - a process that has now culminated in their debut 11 track album Juicer.
Juicer captures the band’s signature sound: horn-driven grooves, tight rhythm section interplay, and songwriting rooted in classic funk and soul traditions.
Juicer Bendigo Album Launch!
Saturday 5th of September 2026
The Black Swan Hotel, Bendigo
Free entry!
7pm start, with special guest Xanthe Thorpe
We'd love to see you there!
Subsequent Album Launches:
Castlemaine
Friday October 23rd @ Shedshaker Taproom
9 Walker St Castlemaine
Free entry!
8pm start
Hepburn Springs
Friday December 4th @ Hepburn Palais
111 Main Rd Hepburn Springs
Tickets from Hepburn Palais
$25 + booking fee seated
$15 + booking fee general admission
Doors 6:30pm, 7:30pm start
Key Members
These guys have your funk covered.
Brendan Bell
B'Bell is a funk and groove guitar master! Tasty guitar licks ooze from his pores!
Pic by Paul Burke
Chris Blackshaw
A bass extraordinaire and respected music educator. 'Blockshow' leaves the rest of the F Jays for dead on the quarter-mile in his 1968 Toyota!
Pic by Colin Thompson.
Colin Thompson
Drummer extraordinaire and legend of the local blues and roots scene. Colin is the guy you will contact for F Jays bookings and enquiries.
Pic by Paul Burke
Jeff Thornton
Jeff's enthusiasm for music is unrivalled, as is his electric-pink footwear!
Pic by Liam Thornton
Brenn Bartlett
An innovative trombonist, composer and funk enthusiast. Brenn can fit about 10 tubas in a classic Land Rover.
Pic by Paul Burke
Luke Creer
Luke is an epic brass player with an unrivalled funk record collection!
Pic by Mrb Imagery
Ben Nieuwkerk
A demon on all things woodwind! Ben smashes jaw-dropping solos for breakfast and inspires the next generation of musos with his infectious enthusiasm.
Pic by Paul Burke
Michael Parker
Trumpet wizard and health worker by day who easily has it over us all in the height department.
Pic by Paul Burke
Check us out
Juicer - out September 5th
Here's some teasers: 'Out to Sea'
'Kerfunkin'
And 'Loose Lemonade'
The F Jays - Juicer
Out 5th of September 2026, CD stream and download
Debut 11 track album from Bendigo's own The F Jays
Track listing:
1. Hard Times a Comin'
2. Out to Sea
3. FJ1
4. Loose Lemonade
5. Kerfunkin'
6. 20 Watt Yacht
7. Legnog
8. The Game
9. Walk the Talk
10. Hopstepper
11. Vocho Taqueria
Personnel:
Brendan Bell - Guitar
Chris Blackshaw - Bass
Colin Thompson - Drums
Stephen Briggs - Keys
Brenn Bartlett - Trombone
Luke Creer - Trombone
Ben Nieuwkerk - Saxophone, Flute
Mik Parker - Trumpet
+
Jeff Thornton - extra keys on Kerfunkin'
Annie Rogers - extra sax on Vocho Taqueria
Hard Times a Comin', FJ1, Kerfunkin', The Game and Walk the Talk by Brendan Bell.
Out to Sea, Loose Lemonade, 20 Watt Yacht, Legnog and Hopstepper by Brenn Bartlett.
Vocho Taqueria by Stephen Briggs.
Recorded and mixed by Sam Edmonds.
Additional overdubs recorded by Brenn Bartlett.
Mastered by Joe Carra at Crystal Mastering.
Group vocals by everyone.
Artwork by Brenn Bartlett.
Special thanks to Sam Edmonds, Tas Bell, and the Bendigo Brass Band.