You Me Everybody

You Me Everybody is a collection of superb New Zealand acoustic instrumentalists who are searching for a new, dynamic sound that showcases the best of Americana in Aotearoa.

Formed by brothers Laurence and Sam Frangos-Rhodes, who are best known for their contributions to family band RhodeWorks, You Me Everybody pushes the boundaries of what New Zealand knows of a genre, that was formed on tradition and rules, to create progressive bluegrass. Whilst upbeat bangers are part of their repertoire, this is no pub band.

Upon their inception, they performed their first live gig as openers for well known US group The Felice Brothers, as part of the 2019 Americana Fest at the Tuning Fork in Auckland. A week later they recorded their EP and in February 2020, You Me Everybody released this self-titled debut EP, which reached number 13 in the New Zealand album charts.

Laurence plays and builds beautiful guitars and his songwriting crosses boundaries of effortless yet mature in the same breath. Sam oozes musicality; he will pick up a mandolin, fiddle or the double bass in a nonchalant manner but his talent quietly shatters the illusion of his youth. In 2020, Sam and Laurence were chosen as two of 16 musicians aged under 22 to participate in the Acoustic Music Seminar for the Savannah Music Festival in Georgia, USA.

Nat Torkington is constantly pushing boundaries for himself as well as his instrument, whilst also encouraging other musicians to explore and challenge the bluegrass form. James Geluk is a graduate of the NZ School of Music and is noted for his work with the Frank Burkitt Band, who recently won a Tui for the Best NZ folk album, is a bass player who brings his jazz education to bluegrass. Kim Bonnington has a heart of the pure country. She is as comfortable at centre stage as she is a backing vocalist and is known for her work as a solo singer, as one half of Kim and Dusty and for providing harmonies for a range of NZ acts.