„To live a life of love and laughter …“
goes a line in one of his songs; the philosophy tag line Duncan Woods seeks to share through his music.

Good times with good friends and finding the joys in living
are what drives traveling the singer-songwriter to create
music and share in the enjoyment of life’s simple pleasures.
Fortunately the seven in his band, “The Epicureans”, see it
in a similar way.
heißt es in einer Zeile seines Liedes „The Dawn“, was die Lebensphilosophie Duncan Woods einfach auf den Punkt bringt. Gute Freunde und Lebensgenuss stehen bei ihm ganz oben auf der Liste.

Passenderweise sehen das die sieben Jungs in seiner Band, die sich „The Epicureans“ nennt, ganz ähnlich.

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They bring their combination of hip hop rhymes and tight groove, summery ska/reggae vibes and the influence of jazz, folk and pop melodies they create - summed up in their own genre- “Sidewalk Surf”, a show not be be missed.

While busking on a bridge in Germany during his solo Tour in summer 2016 Duncan met music students Benedikt Weiß (Drums), Endi Sarici (Bass) and Matthias Wolf (E-Gitarre).
After Benni and Matze joined Duncan on a spontaneous trip to Copenhagen, the three clicked completely and decided to form a band around Duncan's music.

Back in Würzburg, Germany the lads immediately began working on new arrangements and crafting a sound.
Duncan had returned to Australia, so Benni set about gathering the insanely talented members he knew he wanted involved from around town. Michael Kohl was added on keys.

Then before long a horns section made up of arranger and sax player Roman Fritsch (saxophone), Alex Scheller (trumpet), Elia Raischl (trombone) and Valentin Scheffzek (saxophone). Collectively they took these elements and crafted the powerhouse band that is "The Epicureans".

Duncan returned to Germany with a full band at his back thanks to the hard work and belief in the project by the lads.
Now they are setting their sights high and aim to share their joy for life on stages across Europe and indeed the world with big shows that are sure to leave you stunned.

To live a life of love and laughter,
the rest is simple:
„DUNCAN WOODS & The Epicureans“.
Mit ihrer Kombination aus groovigen Funkbeats und Hip-Hop-Rhymes, sommerlichen Reggae Vibes, der Kreativität des Jazz und einprägsamen Folk- und Popmelodien kreieren sie – zusammengefasst in ihrem eigenen Genre –
„Sidewalk Surf“ ein einzigartiges Hörerlebnis.

Bei seiner letzten Solotour im Sommer 2016 traf Duncan beim Straßenmusizieren auf die Würzburger Musikstudenten Benedikt Weiß (Drums), Endi Sarici (Bass) und Matthias Wolf (E-Gitarre). Nach ersten gemeinsamen Konzerten in Kopenhagen war die Band dann beschlossene Sache.

Zurück in Deutschland, begannen die Musiker – zwar zunächst ohne den nach Australien zurückgekehrten Sänger, dafür aber mit weiterer instrumentaler Unterstützung in der Person von Michael Kohl (Keys) – sofort an neuen Songs zu arbeiten. Der eher akustisch gehaltene Sound Duncans bekam damit einen komplett neuen Anstrich.
Doch bald schon war klar, dass diese Besetzung nicht ausreicht, um die Möglichkeiten der neu kreierten Klangwelt auszuschöpfen.

Zusammen mit dem Arrangeur und Saxophonisten Roman Fritsch (Tenorsaxophon) sowie Alex Scheller (Trompete), Elia Raischl (Posaune) und Valentin Scheffzek (Tenorsaxophon) wird der gemeinsam erarbeitete Sound schließlich um eine Hornsection erweitert.

Mit der Rückkehr Duncans im Mai 2017 ist die Band komplett und spielt nun zu acht ihre ersten Konzerte auf Festivals und in Clubs. Dabei ist es von Anfang an ihr großes Ziel, Lebensfreude und Spaß auf die Bühne zu bringen, was die Musiker letztlich mit ihrem neuen Namen bekräftigen:
"DUNCAN WOODS & The Epicureans"

MEET   THE   BAND

Duncan
Woods

Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Writer
  • Singer-Songwriter
  • Plays guitar and sings since the age of 16
  • Travels between Australia and Europe with his original music since the age of 19

Benedikt
Weiß

Drums, Musical Director, Management/Booking
  • Studies „Jazz-Drums“ since 2014 at HfM Würzburg
  • Drums at "Landesjugendjazzorchester Bayern" on international concert tours in for example Sweden
  • 2 months China tournee in summer 2017
  • Drums at Top40/Coverbands „Xtreme“ & „FRESCH“
  • Drums for Singer/Songwriter ,,Passant"
  • Endorsed by „Rohema Percussion“ and ,,Ahead"

Endi
Sarici

Bass, Management/Booking
  • Bachelor „Jazz-Bass“, HfM Würzburg
  • Bass player for „Cassandra Steen“
  • Singer and guitarist in several pop/cover bands (like ,,Mainproject")

Matthias
WOlf

Electric Guitar, Vocals
  • Studies "Guitar" at HfM Würzburg since 2014
  • Singer and 1. Ukulele in „Endow County Ukulele Orchestra“ which plays for TV channels KIKA and BR
  • Guitarist at party band „FRESCH“
  • Solo program with musical comedy („Widersacher aller Liedermacher“)

Michael
Kohl

Keys
  • Studies "Piano" at HfM Würzburg since 2012
  • Sub-Keys at „Andreas Kümmert“
  • Keys at party band „FRESCH“
  • 2 months China tournee in summer 2017
​

ROman
Fritsch

Saxophone, Arrangements
  • Student at Eastman School of Music Rochester
  • Student at HfM Würzburg
  • Leads the "Roman Fritsch Concert Jazz-Band"
  • Played concerts with Kenny Washington, Ryan Keberle, Ack Van Royen, Ted Rosenthal, Kim Nazarian (New York Voices)

Alex
SCheller

Trumpet
  • Bachelor student "Jazz Trumpet" at HfM Würzburg
  • Trumpet at "Radiojazzhead" and "A Tribute to Stevie Wonder" as well as "Roman Fritsch Concert Jazz-Band"
  • Musical Director for Star Surf Camps Moliets

ELIA
RAISCHL

Trombone, Vocals
  • Student at HfM Würzburg
  • Vocals/guitar/trombone at cover band „FRESCH" 
  • Trombone at "BigBand Dachau"
  • Singer/guitarist at „Just the two of us“
  • Singer at a capella group ,,Lautstark“

Valentin
Scheffzek

Saxophone
  • Plays saxophone since the age of 8
  • Sub-saxophone at Duncan Woods & The Epicureans
  • Jazz - saxophone student at Hubert Winter
  • Member of several cover and jazz bands in and around Stuttgart and Würzburg