The Garbage-Men at Birdrock Taco Shack

We are a band of five guys from Sarasota, FL who encourage recycling and giving back by playing music on instruments that we make ourselves from garbage and recycled materials.

The band started in March of 2010. After seeing Jack build his first guitar from a recycled cereal box and an old yardstick, Ollie had the idea to make a band that played music exclusively on instruments made from trash. 

We now have five members and have made more than fifteen instruments that we play at our shows. We perform regularly across the country, on the streets, and at festivals and charity events. In addition to many Florida venues, the band has played at CNN, NYC Hall of Science, Times Square, Atlanta's Fox Theater for America's Got Talent, St. Petersburg's State Theatre, Tampa's MOSI, The National Guitar Museum Exhibit, and many others. We have been featured in The Blue Man Group Invent an Instrument, NPR's Science Friday, Time Magazine, Wired, and our PBS Gulf Coast Journal segment won an Emmy. We've been featured in a book called Garbology, written by Edward Humes, and even appear in a Chinese middle school English textbook!

The band recently recorded a CD of some of our originals and unique renditions of hit tunes. We donate proceeds from this CD and our other merchandise to both local and national charities. So far, we have raised over $6000. No cover.

The musicians are:

Ollie Gray: Drums
Jack Berry: Guitar
Harrison Paparatto: Sax, Trombone, and Violin
Evan Tucker: Bass
Austin Siegel: Chromatic Percussion

About the venue:

Located in Bradenton Florida's Village of the Arts,  Birdrock Taco Shack is not your average taco joint, but a unique funky-fun taco spot and live music venue. Owner and chef David Shiplett (who also owns the popular Cottonmouth South Soul Kitchen) doesn't serve up just any tacos. Dave has worked as a Chef in San Francisco, San Diego, Sarasota, and now Bradenton. Dine inside the eclectic artsy shack or outdoors on the porch and back patio. Great food, cool people... and TACOS! 1213 13th Avenue West, Bradenton.