BAND BIO

Subatomic Cookie Bandit's eclectic mix of rock, pop, punk, jazz and blues, with a dash of psychedelia and sci-fi, catches the imagination and takes you on a toe-tapping journey.
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“Subatomic Cookie Bandits (best band name ever? Probably!)” – Ditto Music [Facebook], 30 Nov 2018
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Lead singer Chris says, “When you come to our shows you can listen to me, watch our guitarist Luke jump about like a crazy person, and get addicted to the bass lines Russell lays down, all while cat-herder Gail (who was rescued from a laboratory and given a new life on stage) pounds the drums. The sound our band makes is big and bold and beautiful!”
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Chris has a powerfully emotive and soulful voice. “...I could listen to [Chris] sing all night… an amazing voice...”, is so often heard from audience members.
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Chris and bass-player Russell write most of the band’s songs, separately and sometimes in collaboration, with lyrics that are touching and sometimes quirky. As Russell explains, “Everyday songs for everyday people, that the band turns into unforgettable anthems”.
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The band self-released their EP ‘Cookie Crumbs’ in November 2018 through Ditto Music. Several community radio stations around Australia picked up ‘Be My Shirley Valentine’, ‘Caught in the Rain’ and ‘A Life on Mars’ in early 2019.
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Subatomic Cookie Bandits released two singles in 2020 - ‘Super Me’ and ‘Why Would I’ with recording/re-mixing at Airlock Studios owned by “friend of the band” Ian Haug (Powderfinger, The Church, The Predators). In the Australian Songwriters Association (ASA) 2021 National Songwriting Contest, up to six songs entered by Chris and Russell were short listed in three categories, with Chris' song 'Why Would I' receiving an Exceptional Merit mention in the Contemporary Pop/Dance category on awards night in 2022.
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In 2022 the band returned to Airlock Studios to record their much awaited debut album, 'Responsible Citizens', which included re-recording of the four tracks from their EP, remixing of their two singles, and eight new tracks. Special thanks goes to Darek Mudge (Screamfeeder) for being the sound engineer and mixing the tracks and Blake Chandler (Paradox Audio) for mastering the tracks. This project was released as an album on 14 June 2023.
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Chris and Russell entered their eight new songs from the 'Responsible Citizens' album in the ASA 2022 National Songwriting Contest and received word that several songs were short listed in a couple of categories, with Russell's song 'Productisation' making the top 30 in the Rock/Indie category, Chris' songs 'Running Out of Time' and 'I Just Want' making the top 30 in the Open and Rock/Indie categories respectively. At the awards night on 21 September 2023 Chris' song 'I Just Want' came 7th in the top 10 of the Rock/Indie category.
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Songs from the Responsible Citizens album have been frequently played on various radio shows on 4ZZZ , with the Monday Sparkzzz show listing the album in their top 10 albums/EPs for 2023 on their facebook page on 26 January 2024.
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In March 2025 the band received word that 'On the Run' made it into the semi-finals of the 2024 International Songwriting Competition. Making it that far is a huge accomplishment as only 15% of all entries reach that stage!

CURRENT RELEASES:

• Cookie Crumbs - 4 track EP - released 27 November 2018
• Super Me - single - released 11 August 2020
• Why Would I - single - released 20 December 2020
• Responsible Citizens - 14 track album - released 14 June 2023

FUTURE PROJECTS:

• TBA (we've got so many songs, there's plenty to come)

UPCOMING GIGS:
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2026
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7:30pm - 2 May 2026 - The Presynct - 15 Ann Street, Nambour - https://www.thepresynct.com.au/
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PAST GIGS:
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10pm - 12 Feb 2026 - Greaser Bar - 259A Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley - https://theprinceconsort.com.au/greaser/
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2025
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7:30pm - 15 Nov 2025 - BackDock Arts - 103 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley - https://www.backdockarts.com/
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8:45pm - 3 Apr 2025 - The Cave Inn - 47 Balaclava Street, Woolloongabba - https://thecaveinn.net/
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4pm - 2 Feb 2025 - The Junk Bar - 710 Brunswick Street, New Farm - https://www.thejunkbar.com.au/
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2024
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3pm - 8 Dec 2024 - Chardon's Corner Hotel - 688 Ipswich Road, Annerley - https://www.chardonshotel.com.au/
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6pm - 22 Sep 2024 - The Prince Consort Garden Bar - 230 Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley - https://theprinceconsort.com.au/functions/garden-bar/
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10pm - 4 Jul 2024 - Greaser Bar - 259A Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley - https://theprinceconsort.com.au/greaser/
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8pm - 1 May 2024 - Rics Cafe & Bar - 321 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley - https://ricsbar.com.au/
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10pm - 16 Mar 2024 - Greaser Bar - 259A Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley - https://theprinceconsort.com.au/greaser/
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9pm - 17 Feb 2024 - Greaser Bar - 259A Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley - https://theprinceconsort.com.au/greaser/
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2023
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10pm - 28 Dec 2023 - Greaser Bar - 259A Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley - https://theprinceconsort.com.au/greaser/
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9pm - 5 May 2023 - Faith Nightclub - 243 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley - https://www.facebook.com/events/896867974725503
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2022
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7pm - 14 May 2022 - The Cave Inn - 47 Balaclava Street, Woolloongabba - https://www.thecaveinn.net/
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2020
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7pm - 23 February 2020 - Rics Cafe & Bar - 321 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley - https://ricsbar.com.au/
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8pm - 4 January 2020 - Rics Cafe & Bar - 321 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley - https://ricsbar.com.au/
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2019
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8pm - 8 Dec 2019 - Rics Cafe & Bar - 321 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley - https://ricsbar.com.au/
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3pm - 29 September 2019 - Sherwood Football Club - 41 Chelmer Street E, Chelmer - https://www.westernmagpies.com.au/
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6:30pm - 2 August 2019 - Joe’s Underground - Gomersall Street, Redcliffe - https://www.facebook.com/Joes-Underground-176365426536789/
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4pm - 28 July 2019 - Milk Factory Kitchen and Bar - 48 Montague Road, South Brisbane - http://www.themilkfactorybar.com.au/
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8pm - 6 June 2019 - Rics Cafe & Bar - 321 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley - https://ricsbar.com.au/
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7pm -18 May 2019 - Betty’s Espresso & Bar - 11 Browning Street, South Brisbane - https://www.instagram.com/bettysespresso
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8pm -23 March 2019 - Betty’s Espresso & Bar - 11 Browning Street, South Brisbane - https://www.instagram.com/bettysespresso
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2018
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8pm - 24 November 2018 - Flamin’ Galah - 350 Upper Roma Street, Brisbane City - https://www.facebook.com/theflamingalah
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8pm - 28 October 2018 - Rics Cafe & Bar - 321 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley - https://ricsbar.com.au/
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2017
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3pm - 10 December 2017 - New Globe Theatre - 220 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley - https://thenewglobetheatre.com/