Meet the Musicians
James van Cuylenburg
Vocals, piano
James van Cuylenburg is a Melbourne-based pianist, guitarist, singer and songwriter whose musical career spans original music, recording and live performance. He is a founding member of indie-folk outfit The Tealeaves, alongside Paul Davies, Dave Prideaux and others, contributing vocals, piano, guitar and accordion across the band’s recordings. He has also worked as a pianist on recordings by artists including Matt Joe Gow and Mark Campbell & The Ravens.
James has a particular love of great songwriting and the musicianship behind it. Through Music Legends Productions, which he co-founded with Paul Davies, he has developed shows celebrating artists including Billy Joel and Cat Stevens, performing piano and vocals and bringing a strong emphasis on the songs, stories and connection with an audience.
Away from music, James is a Doctor of Clinical Psychology, working primarily with adults, couples and families. He also co-hosts the mental health podcast You're A Good Kid with his brother Nick.
For James, music provides a creative counterpoint to his professional life — a chance to connect with people through great songs, performance and a shared love of live music.
Paul Davies
Guitar, vocals
Starting his performative life as a busker at age 12, Paul has been in various bands, singing covers and originals for the last twenty or so years. He is the lead singer of his long-term originals project, The Anti-Fall Movement, which blends Americana and Prog with nods to acts such as The Band, Pink Floyd, Steely Dan, and the War on Drugs.
One of the founding members of Music Legends Productions, he now co-runs it with James van Cuylenburg, taking occasional lead vocals, frequent backing vocals and lead guitar. Having spent 20 years finding the right acoustic guitar for him, Paul is now exploring the world of electric guitars, pedals and amps, in earnest.
Dave Prideaux
Bass, vocals
Dave Prideaux is an Australian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose performances combine heartfelt storytelling, strong musicianship and a genuine connection with audiences. Equally at home performing solo or alongside other musicians, Dave brings a warm, authentic and easy-going presence to the stage.
Drawing on influences across folk, rock, blues and acoustic music from the 60s to today, Dave has shared the stage with artists including Tim Rogers, The Tea Party, The Tealeaves and Elly Poletti. His love of great songs and live performance is at the heart of his musical style.
Dave is also the owner of Sunderland Studio on Phillip Island, where he records and presents intimate live performances featuring some of Australia’s outstanding independent artists. His work both on and off stage reflects a passion for creating memorable live music experiences and supporting the local music community.
Steve Gijsbers
Drums
Steve Gijsbers has spent nearly two decades behind the kit. He started young, playing and recording alongside musicians well beyond his years, which pushed him toward a musical maturity ahead of his age. He picked up strong results in Music Solo Performance (Drum Kit) at Blackburn High School in Victoria and went on to tour nationally with a range of groups covering Rock, Funk, Jazz, Blues, Folk, and more.
Along the way he earned the nickname “Mr Versatility” for his ease moving between styles and instruments. His background in professional audio has also come in handy more than once — he’s known for solving problems on the road with little more than a roll of gaff tape and a toothpick. These days, he’s regarded as a steady, energetic player and a dependable presence in any band.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Eric van Cuylenburg
Vocals
Eric van Cuylenburg is a Melbourne singer and performer with a long-standing passion for music, particularly harmony, folk and acoustic styles. He has been involved in the Melbourne music community for many years and has a particular love of bringing people together through singing and live performance.
Eric has also developed his musical experience through leading vocal groups, including Peninsula Voices, where he helps singers develop their confidence, blend and harmony. His approach reflects a genuine belief that music is about connection, enjoyment and sharing great songs with others.
Eric brings a warm vocal style, strong sense of harmony and enthusiasm for live music to the Music Legends Productions team.
Cath Rutten
Vocals
Cath Rutten is a multi-disciplinary artist from Warrandyte, Naarm/Melbourne, with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance, a Graduate Diploma in Arts Management and a Master of Arts and Community Practice. She has performed across Australia and overseas in musicals, bands and as a singer-songwriter, including at festivals such as Lost Lands, Splendour in the Grass and Woodford Folk Festival. She is a regular at Port Fairy Folk Festival, where she hosts the Big Sunday Sing Out with Jimi Hocking.
Cath’s songwriting project, singing herspace, explores women’s stories, connection to place and community, and the often-unseen contributions of women throughout history. She released her first album under her own name in 2024. Her musical influences include Joni Mitchell, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and Led Zeppelin.
Jonah van Stek
Vocals, piano
Jonah van Stek is a singer, pianist and performer with a huge vocal range and a natural flair for the stage. Equally at home delivering a tender ballad or a full-blown rock performance, Jonah combines powerful vocals with an energetic, engaging stage presence that draws audiences in. He’s not afraid to leave the stage, get into the crowd and make the performance feel like a shared experience.
A born performer, Jonah has extensive experience in musical theatre, including lead roles in Jesus Christ Superstar and Gutenberg! The Musical. He is also the lead singer of original music act The Foxy Junes, bringing his distinctive voice and dynamic performance style to the band’s live shows.
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Jonah is an accomplished pianist with a particular love of iconic singer-songwriters and piano-driven rock. His performances of Elton John and Billy Joel combine strong musicianship with plenty of personality, while his flamboyant Elton John tribute is a true showstopper — complete with feathers, sparkles, costumes and all the theatrical flair you’d expect.
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And if the music alone doesn’t get the crowd’s attention, Jonah can always throw in a standing backflip. With his combination of musical talent, theatricality, athleticism and sheer enthusiasm, Jonah is a performer who was clearly born to be on stage.
Jeremy Hopkins
Drummer
Jeremy studied jazz drums at the VCA with Darren Farrugia, Dave Beck, Tony Floyd and Alex Pertout, leading to work with many bands in indie folk, rock, swing, Latin and cabaret. He has played on albums by Whitaker, The Tealeaves, The Little Stevies, Teeny Tiny Stevies, The DC3 and Pastel Vespa. Often combining with vocals, he has also performed/toured with The Ten Tenors, Gossling, La Mezcla, Phia, Texture Like Sun, Nat Bartsch Trio, Root!, Jack Howard and the Night Birds, Matt Joe Gow & The Dead Leaves, Bob Downe and Circus Oz. His greatest gig though? Playing snare drum for John Farnham’s ‘You’re the Voice’ at the 2006 Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony
Travis Thompson
Guitar, mandolin
Travis Thompson was raised in Seattle, Washington, USA. He moved to Australia in 2011, settling in Millowl (Phillip Island), where he now lives with his wife and three children. He is a schoolteacher and enjoys participating in the local music scene in the Bass Coast and Melbourne.
Travis was heavily influenced in his early life by classic music from the '60s and '70s, most notably the Beatles, as well as artists like Led Zeppelin, Billy Joel, and Elton John. Later, his influences broadened to span from heavier rock bands like Jimmy Eat World and Foo Fighters, to folk acts like Nickel Creek and Fleet Foxes.
Matthew Goss
Saxophone, keyboard
Matthew Goss is an internationally experienced musician, educator, conductor and musical director based on Phillip Island. His career has included senior music leadership roles in Australia, Singapore and Shanghai, working with diverse communities of young musicians and performers.
As a conductor and musical director, Matthew has led concert bands, big bands, choirs and large-scale performances. As a performer, he is a pianist and saxophonist with a passion for jazz, contemporary music and classic rock.
Matthew is committed to developing young musicians and building vibrant performing arts communities, both through his work in education and his ongoing involvement in the Bass Coast and Melbourne music scenes
Josh McDonald
Vocals
Josh McDonald is a Melbourne singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist with a passion for live performance and a love of great songs. He spent almost a decade performing and writing original music with Melbourne band Royal Parade, developing a distinctive style influenced by Australian rock, indie folk and contemporary pop. The band’s sound drew inspiration from artists including Powderfinger, Boy & Bear, Maroon 5 and Dustin Tebbutt, while their energetic live shows built a loyal following around Melbourne.
Josh also stepped onto the national stage when he appeared on The Voice Australia, an experience that gave him a taste of the television and entertainment industry. Although he enjoyed the experience, performing live with his own band remained where he felt most at home.
As a performer, Josh brings a strong understanding of what makes a song connect with an audience, combining musicianship, authenticity and a genuine love of live music. His diverse musical background and experience across original music and live performance make him a natural fit for the Music Legends Productions team.
Mark Howard
Vocals
Mark Howard is a Phillip Island-based singer, songwriter, performer and theatre maker whose music blends folk, rock and country with cinematic storytelling. A Performing Arts graduate of La Trobe University, Mark’s early career was interrupted by keratoconus, a rare eye condition that led to two corneal transplants. He went on to build an international career, performing in 46 countries, including tours of the UK, New Zealand and Japan, as well as four national Australian tours.
Over the past four years, Mark has independently released two albums, an EP and several singles, with four tracks reaching #1 on the AMRAP Regional Charts. He has received six AIR Award nominations, regular ABC Radio airplay, and had a music video screened at the Bass Coast Shorts Film Festival.
Mark has shared stages with artists including Billy Thorpe, Tim Rogers, The Whitlams, Pete Murray, Ross Wilson, Tash Sultana and The Black Sorrows, and performed at festivals including Ocean Sounds, Mordi Fest and the Mornington Music Festival.
He also composes for theatre, with songs featured in award-winning productions at the Edinburgh and Adelaide Fringe Festivals. Influenced by Nick Cave, PJ Harvey, Bertolt Brecht and Robert Louis Stevenson, Mark combines powerful performance with compelling, heartfelt storytelling.
Jono Wright
Drums
Jonathan Wright is an accomplished Australian drummer and percussionist with a diverse career spanning live performance, touring and recording.
He performs with artists such as Golden Guitar winners Darlinghurst, Australian Idol runner-up William LeBurn and Isaiah Firebrace.
Jonathan has built a reputation as a versatile and dynamic musician, performing across a wide range of musical styles and stages throughout Australia.
