Local Gosnells’ band Yomi Ship has made waves across Europe with their recent tour alongside acclaimed Australian guitarist Plini.
Performing across France, Germany, Switzerland, Poland and England, the band, featuring Jade Champion on bass, Nick Osborne on drums, Jarred Osborne on guitar, and fill-in drummer Alex O’Toole, has captivated audiences with their instrumental blend of psychedelic, avant-garde, and experimental rock.
After receiving an exciting opportunity to perform at the ArcTanGent Festival in Bristol, England, Yomi Ship was determined to fully capitalise on their time abroad.
Yomi Ship’s bass player, Jade Champion, shared that the European tour opportunity was made possible with the help of a fellow Australian guitarist.
“Plini had a European tour lined up and, to our excitement, agreed to have us as their support act,” Ms Champion said.
“We have toured Australia with the Plini crew in the past, and they were a great bunch of people, so we were really stoked to receive the offer.”
Speaking on behalf of the band, Ms Champion said their performance in Lyon, France, was a clear standout of the tour and highlighted the audience’s passion.
“It was our second show of the tour, so we were beginning to feel more confident. The venue was on the larger side, and the room was full from the moment we started playing,” she said.
“One thing that surprised us was seeing long lines of people waiting to enter the venue well before doors had even opened. The European crowd are really passionate about discovering new bands.”
The band grew its fandom during the tour, attracting a following in each city they visited.
“We met a lot of lovely people after our set who wanted us to sign merch and take photos, which is something we’re not very used to,” she said.
Despite the tour’s success, it wasn’t without its challenges.
“The tour itself has been extremely smooth sailing, pun intended, however there was a lot of stress and uncertainty in the lead up to it,” Ms Champion said.
“Unfortunately, our drummer experienced a significant back injury one month prior to leaving, which posed us with the question of do we cancel the tour or find a fill-in.”
Fortunately, the band was able to find a replacement after being introduced to Wollongong-based drummer Alex O’Toole, who learnt the set in only two weeks and “absolutely nailed it.”
Unable to join the tour or work due to a severe back injury, drummer Nick Osborne, a self-employed drum teacher and part-time disability carer, has been bedridden and unable to perform daily activities.
He has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for essential surgery and rehabilitation and so far has raised nearly $10,000.
Looking ahead, Yomi Ship is excited about their future plans following their successful European tour.
“We’re already itching to come back to Europe now that we’ve had a taste for it. In the meantime, we have a run of regional WA shows with one of our favourite bands, COG,” Ms Champion said.
“Our number one priority right now is making sure our drummer heals, so we’ll take things a bit slower over the next couple of months.”
The success of Yomi Ship, following the achievements of fellow local Gosnells band Southern River Band on the European stage, highlights the growing talent emerging from the area.
Local bands and musicians aged 12-25 have the chance to be the next to make their mark, with the City of Gosnells’ Underground Sounds youth music competition extending its entry application deadline to 26 August.
Ms Champion believes that competitions such as the Gozzy Rock – Underground Sounds are crucial for the development of local bands, offering them exposure and opportunities within the Perth music scene.
“Yomi Ship made a guest appearance at ‘Underground Sounds’ in 2022, which felt like a full circle moment for us. We won’t be playing at it this year, but we plan to be there to show our support.”
