Following the news of their upcoming appearance at the sold-out Meredith Festival, US funk pioneers Zapp today announce their debut Australian headline shows, presented by Astral People and Handsome Tours. Taking to Sydney and Melbourne this December, pre-sale begins this Thursday, Oct 3 @ 10am local, with general on-sale from this Friday, Oct 4 @ 10am local. For all ticketing information, see HERE.

Hailing from Dayton, Ohio, family band Zapp unleashes funky, high-energy music with a contagious groove built for dancing, loving and good times. Made up of masterful musicians who’ve been getting down since the 1970s, the magic of Zapp not only reshaped the word funk but infiltrated the cultural canon. Protegés of Parliament-Funkadelic Lester and Terry “Zapp” Troutman continue to lead the band, upholding the immense legacy of their late great brother – the inimitable Roger.

You know the hits – ‘More Bounce To The Ounce’, ‘Computer Love’, ‘So Ruff, So Tuff’, ‘I Can Make You Dance’ or ‘Doo Wa Ditty (Blow That Thing)’ – anthems that have lit up dance floors the world over – and continue to do so decades on from original release. That instantly recognisable Zapp sound, made up of seriously bumping grooves and of course, the “Golden Throat” trademark custom-made talk-box is utterly contagious with its ultra-tremulousness. Autotune’s funky forebear, the legacy of their dexterously vocoderised vocals have spread throughout the music world, from T-Pain to the two helmeted Frenchmen – Daft Punk.

The explosive wave of West Coast Hip Hop aka “G-Funk” too was built from the DNA of Zapp, sampled a thousand times over or replicated in formula. The band’s influence on the sound of the 90s peaked on their delivery of Dr Dre & 2Pac’s most iconic hook – “Californiaaaa knows how to party” – and continued to feature in songs by Jay Z, Lil’ Kim, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube and many others.

Imaginative and inspiring, this family knows showmanship. Armed with sizzling chemistry, high energy, tight playing and a wicked sense of humour, Zapp are gearing up to bring their electrifying Dayton-sound to Sydney’s City Recital Hall and Melbourne’s Northcote Theatre this December. For all tour details, see HERE.