It all started by busking on the bustling streets of Sydney, Australia.

With Down-Under roots and a post-war New Orleans jazz sound, the Milk Crate Bandits have worked their way up north, eventually settling in to the Vancouver jazz scene. And itsa国际传媒檚 a history the Bandits are bringing to Vernonsa国际传媒檚 Gallery Vertigo Thursday, Nov. 9.

sa国际传媒淧eople asked what our name was, and we used to steal milk crates to sit on and play, so we took on the name Milk Crate Bandits,sa国际传媒� said founding-member and Australian product Jack Ray of his and saxophonist Chris Osa国际传媒橠easa国际传媒檚 formative years.

Now nestled in Vancouversa国际传媒檚 vibrant eastern quarters, the Bandits are gearing up for their first ever Canadian tour, falling on the heels of the bandsa国际传媒檚 debut EP, The Neighbourhood.

sa国际传媒淚t all kind of worked out with the timing,sa国际传媒� Ray said. sa国际传媒淲e recorded two EPs down in New Orleans sa国际传媒� first The Neighbourhood and the other is just about to come out.sa国际传媒�

The View From Out Here, slated to drop Nov. 7, features New Orleans jazz legend Kevin Louis on trumpet and embodies the regionsa国际传媒檚 iconic sa国际传媒�20s jazz vibe.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 period-based,sa国际传媒� Ray said, adding that the Bandits play hits from era-legends in their live sets. sa国际传媒淲e also wrote a lot of original music in that style.sa国际传媒�

Drawing inspiration from jazz standards such as Basin Street Blues sa国际传媒� Spencer Williamsa国际传媒檚 1928 hit recorded by Louis Armstrong that tells of the main street of turn-of-the-century New Orleanssa国际传媒� red light district sa国际传媒� Ray and Osa国际传媒檇ea took it upon themselves to compose a jazz track about their Sydney stomping grounds.

sa国际传媒淥耻谤 King of King Street song is in the vein of a lot of the old jazz guys who wrote about the streets they lived on,sa国际传媒� Ray said, adding that their repertoire has grown to include ditties about their new home in East Vancouver.

Itsa国际传媒檚 a classic sound the Bandits are thrilled to share with Vernon audiences.

sa国际传媒淭his is our first time in Vernon,sa国际传媒� Ray said. sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 excited sa国际传媒� wesa国际传媒檝e heard good things. The Gallery Vertigo has been very supportive as well.sa国际传媒�

The Banditsa国际传媒檚 touring lineup features Australian circus and jazz show Scotch and Soda member Osa国际传媒橠ea, Canadian trombonist Brad Shigeta of The Ellington Band and The Illinois Jacquet Band fame, Island-born bassist Jen Hodge and Ray sa国际传媒� lauded as the future of jazz banjo by Woody Allensa国际传媒檚 banjoist Eddy Davis.

sa国际传媒淭he band is really something Isa国际传媒檓 proud of,sa国际传媒� Ray said, adding that the group has been together for about two years. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 really an honour to be playing with Brad and Jen.sa国际传媒�

With their critically-acclaimed lineup, the Bandits boast a deep-rooted sound that still shakes the stage today.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 fun. Itsa国际传媒檚 joyous. Itsa国际传媒檚 high-energy,sa国际传媒� Ray said of the Milk Crate Banditsa国际传媒檚 live performance. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 mostly acoustic and it resonates a lot with those young and old.sa国际传媒�

And for the Aussie who began jamming on the guitar at four-years-old, thatsa国际传媒檚 what itsa国际传媒檚 all about.

sa国际传媒淲hat Isa国际传媒檝e always loved about music is giving back what music has given to me,sa国际传媒� Ray said. sa国际传媒淚t really feels like Isa国际传媒檓 reciprocating that love that music gave me.sa国际传媒�

The Milk Crate Bandits are reigniting sa国际传媒�20s New Orleans jazz at Gallery Vertigo Nov. 9. Doors open at 7 p.m. Music is at 8 p.m. Tickets are available for $15 pre-sale at The Bean Scene Coffee House and A&E Consignments, or for $20 at the door. The Bandits play The Forum in Kelowna Nov. 11. For more information and tickets to the Kelowna show, visit .