Everyone loves a bit of musical trivia and to celebrate all the great musicians set to perform at this year’s Groovin’ the Moo festival in Bendigo, we’ve searched through the archives to find some interesting musical facts about three of our favourite acts.

Alison Wonderland started out in the world of classical music

Electronic music scene darling Alison Wonderland has had an enormous year with the international success of her album Run but her musical roots are far removed from the electrified beats of her club bangers like I Want U and U Don’t Know; she comes from a classical background as a cellist.

Alison Wonderland started playing the cello as a young child and recalls how playing the instrument helped her get over her social awkwardness at school. She became quite an accomplished cellist and played with the Sydney Youth Orchestra and studied at a German music conservatorium. The switch to electronica came when she first heard Silent Shout by Swedish act The Knife and the rest is history.

Boy & Bear owe their name to an online band name generator

Indie rock fold juggernauts Boy & Bear are back on the touring circuit this year after the release of Limit of Love in late 2015. This new album marks a change in direction with pared back sounds that really showcase the musical mastery of these Sydney natives. In interviews, the band is often asked who is the boy and who is the bear but in reality, this now iconic band name came about when Dave Hosking (vocals and guitar) plugged some criteria into an online band name generator which provided a list of potential band names that Boy & Bear was put together from.

Ngaiire used her childhood cancer experience to empower her music

One of Australia’s best future soul artists, Ngaiire is often compared stylistically to the likes of Jeff Buckley, Mary J Blige and Erykah Badu. The PNG born singer is set to have a big year in 2016 with the release of her second album Blastoma which is named after the type of adrenal gland cancer she was diagnosed with at age three. Ngaiire has used this experience and the subsequent struggle she had with her body as a source of inspiration for her music and career. The video clip for her 2013 hit Dirty Hercules explores her struggle to accept her ‘unconventional’ body which still bears the scars from cancer.

Get your transportation to and from GTM sorted and book your seats today aboard Melbourne on the Move’s bus charter from Melbourne and Geelong to Bendigo.