John Butler
By Charlotte Stace
John Butler comes to Sala Apolo with his Betterman Tour, bringing the rootsy, percussive guitar sound that has made him a cult favourite far beyond Australia. Born in California and raised partly in Western Australia, he began as a busker before building one of Australia’s most successful independent music careers with the John Butler Trio.
His music blends folk, blues, roots rock, reggae, funk and jam-band looseness.. Songs like “Zebra,” “Betterman,” “Treat Yo Mama” and the instrumental favourite “Ocean” show his range. He’s soulful, meditative, playful and technically brilliant.
His most recent work, PRISM - part of a broader project that also includes Running River and Still Searching - brings back Butler’s classic groovy power, once again topping the Australian ARIA charts and captivating fans around the world during tours across North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.