Back in ‘98, three young men thought it’d be a laugh to rock gigs in full-on monkey costumes, hammering out a wild mix of techno and rap. The Funky Junky Monkeys were born, tearing up stages incognito behind their furry masks. Problem was, those suits were a sweaty nightmare and made it tough to see the strings! So, they ditched the costumes, brought in another guitarist and a drummer, and started lighting up every party they could find. Ralph, Andy, Rob, and Jem have been tight since the early 2000s, but when Sharon jumped in with her killer vocals and saxophone, the band hit a whole new level. From house parties to weddings, festivals to even the odd wake, these guys have played it all—hundreds of gigs, always with one rule: play the tunes you’d want blasting at your own bash. It’s a formula that’s landed them heaps of bookings and even spurred their own epic festivals—think five Pyramid Parties, a couple of Godzilla blowouts, three Cwm Fests, and of course, Malvern Rocks!  More than two decades on, the Funky Junky Monkeys are still the ultimate party starters, like a jukebox loaded with pure good times.