The Meanjin/Brisbane octet The Holy Rollercoasters have been together for eight years and delivered their debut album, Odyssey, in 2023. At the midway point in 2025, they are just about to call it quits. Before they do this, however, they are leaving a significant farewell to fans, in the form of a farewell album and one last show. This final release has the lush title of This is the Last Will and Testament of The Holy Rollercoasters, and we are super excited to be premiering it ahead of its release on Thursday.
Spearheaded by Jimi Beavis, this album is a captivating blend of soul, blues, funk, and rock n roll. It’s a mix that proudly wears its influences from the likes of Ike and Tina Turner, The Rolling Stones, Eli Paperboy Reed and Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. What sets this album apart is not just its blend of genres, but the exceptional execution. It moves from the sensual and smouldering to hip-shaking Memphis, onto the raw and funky; a truly captivating blend. The brass section, always a personal favourite, with its gorgeous trumpet and sax, adds a unique touch to the album.
About the background to the album, Jimi writes: “Initially I had plans to write more of a blues album, but Andrew (Garton) thought it was too similiar to my solo blues project, so I went back and made them a little more soul and funk inspired.”.
When it came to inspiration, he reached back to the formidable 1970 album by Ike & Tina Turner and The Ikettes, Come Together – “He was a nasty man, and the things he did to Tina and others turns my stomach,” said Jimi. “This album is the best example of where blues, funk and soul and rock n roll come together that I have heard. I just wish he had nothing to do with it”. It’s a stellar baseline, and if you want to read more about the suffering Ike Turner inflicted on others, I recommend that you read P.P. Arnold’s autobiography, Soul Survivor. It’s harrowing reading.
We’ve been given some fun facts about the album, so we thought that we should share them all here:
- Jimi recorded many of the demos sitting in an old shed watching the crows on a property.
- Many of the lyrics were written while doing something else – walking around or gardening – and then later he had to sit down and work out what they would sound like. He thought he had a jump blues album, then a rock n roll and then finally found the middle ground.
- Andrew had initially wanted to record in an open sided shed. They did record in a big room in a day.
- Jimi had a cold but he thought it helped the rock n roll songs.
- Previously the band had largely not heard the songs before recording, and played off the charts. But aiming for a live sound, they rehearsed and played the songs live on and off for a year before finally recording – three takes and done.
The final gig for The Holly Rollercoasters will be held on Saturday the 23rd of August at The Cave Inn, in Woolloongabba in sunny Queensland. Supporting will be Adjoa and The Stress of Leisure. Head HERE for ticket details. Get along and support live music. It will be a belter of a night.
The Holy Rollercoaster are:
Jimi Beavis: vocals, harmonica, percussion
Andrew Garton: baritone sax
Bobbie Murphy: trumpet
Alex Price: tenor sax
Christopher Bancroft: guitar
Blake Lonie: electronic bass, upright bass
Benjamin van Jole: organ, piano
Chris Evans: drums, percussion
The album was produced by Jimi Beavis and Andrew Garton. It was mixed and mastered by Andrew Garton.
The album will be available on vinyl – only one hundred copies, and as it’s their last album, don’t delay. Head HERE to order it. You can also pre-order the digital album at the same link.
So – enjoy this premiere – and grab yourself a copy on release.
You can find out more about The Holy Rollercoasters on their Facebook, Instagram and Bandcamp
Header image credit: Rachael Baskerville
