2018
February – The Ray Mann Three (10th Anniversary Edition) album re-release includes 13 bonus solo acoustic tracks, Ray Mann – Live at REC. The album release live concert, The Ray Mann Three Turns Ten, sees the band return to legendary Sydney venue The Basement.
Sydney band lineup: Joel Burton (bass); Ross Ferraro (drums)
2016
November – the album Live At 505 is released. Recorded in December 2015 by the Sydney lineup of The Ray Mann Three in a one-off, sell-out Sydney show.
Sydney band lineup: Joel Burton (bass); Ross Ferraro (drums)
September – Ray Mann is invited back to join the select group of international, multidisciplinary creatives again at Schmiede16 in Hallein, Austria.
2015
September – Ray Mann is invited to join the select group of international, multidisciplinary creatives at Schmiede 15 in Hallein, Austria.
January + July – Ray Mann’s regular DJ sets around Berlin see him invited to play a number of Berlin Fashion Week events, in both Winter and Summer seasons.
2014
September – The Ray Mann Three plays at Reeperbahn Festival, Hamburg and The Aussie BBQ, Berlin as part of Sounds Australia’s international showcases.
German band lineup: Manuel Zaceck (bass); Uele Carboni (bass); Alex Sitnikov (drums)
2013
November – Ray Mann visits Australia for festival dates with The Ray Mann Three, including Queenscliff Music Festival (alongside The Living End, John Butler Trio, The Grates, Spiderbait, Blue King Brown, and Saskwatch) and Mullum Music Festival.
Australian band lineup: Joel Burton (bass); Ross Ferraro (drums)
October – Longtime RM3 drummer Grant Gerathy joins John Butler Trio.
Sketches video ‘Hold Onto Me’ is selected for ‘KRAUTFILM: Internet Killed The Video Star’ Festival in Berlin.
May – Skratches: The Sketches Remix Project features audience-made remixes of tracks from The Ray Mann Three’s album Sketches. The audience is invited to rework Ray’s parts, which he made available for free download during The Sketches Project.
March – Sketches music video ‘Sometimes’ is nominated in the 2013 Berlin Music Video Awards alongside music videos for Justice, Alt-J, Modeselektor feat. Thom Yorke, Sigur Rós, Michael Nyman and Sébastien Tellier.
February – Ray Mann returns to Europe for shows in Zermatt, Switzerland and in his new home of Berlin, Germany.
2012
November – Ray visits Australia for the Sketches Album Tour. Celebrating the release of new album Sketches, the tour includes shows in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Grafton with the Australian lineup of The Ray Mann Three.
Australian band lineup: Joel Burton (bass); Ross Ferraro / Grant Gerathy (drums)
October – the Sketches Album Screening Party sees Ray Mann debut the complete Sketches album in video form at a public screening in Berlin.
September – Second album from The Ray Mann Three, Sketches, is released in Japan through P-Vine Records, and everywhere else worldwide through MGM and on iTunes. The Berlin lineup of The Ray Mann Three plays its debut live concert at Berlin Music Week.
Berlin band lineup: Manuel Zacek (bass); Michael Paul Müller (drums)
June – the music video for ‘Wannado’, made as part of The Sketches Project, is a finalist at VideoBites Festival, Berlin.
April – Ray Mann is invited to perform at Zermatt Unplugged Festival 2012, Switzerland, alongside Ms. Lauryn Hill, Aloe Blacc, Chris de Burgh and many more.
February – The Ray Mann Three’s ‘Sketches So Far’ Tour boasts sell-out shows around Australia (including a “secret” Sydney solo show which sells out in 10 minutes) to promote the digital-only releases Sketches vol. 1 and Sketches vol. 2.
Tour band lineup: Joel Burton (bass); Ross Ferraro (drums); Grant Gerathy (drums in Brisbane show)
2011
October – Ray Mann is selected, along with a select few artists, to be a part of the Berlin delegation at the Danish Musicians Association’s Songwriters Summit.
September – the Sketches Project begins: one new song + video is released online every month for free, and is developed from rough demo to finished master, via weekly updates and audience collaboration.
July – Thundamentals second album includes the track “Burn It Down” featuring Ray Mann.
June – Ray relocates to Berlin, Germany, and announces that album #2, titled Sketches won’t be an album at all, but an innovative, audience collaboration project.
March – Ray Mann announces plans to relocate to Europe. The Ray Mann Three performs two final shows: ‘Farewell Australia‘ in Sydney, and ‘Newcastle By Demand‘ . Ray Mann is announced as a finalist in APRA Professional Development Awards.
Band lineup: Ray Wassef (vocals & guitar); Joel Burton / Adam Ventoura (bass); Ross Ferraro (drums)
February – Ray Mann begins work on new music for a series entitled Sketches, to be released digitally in the coming months.
Musicians: Ray Wassef (vocals & guitar); Joel Burton / Adam Ventoura (bass); Grant Gerathy / Ross Ferraro (drums)
2010
December – The Ray Mann Three debuts at Woodford Folk Festival, Australia.
Musicians: Ray Wassef (vocals & guitar); Joel Burton (bass); Grant Gerathy (drums)
October – ‘The Ray Mann Three: Multimedia Show‘ debuts over four nights at Melbourne Fringe Festival.
Musicians: Ray Wassef (vocals & guitar); Joel Burton (bass); Grant Gerathy (drums)
September – Ray Mann stars in the ‘Project: Blue‘ webisode of ‘Smarties: 8 Colours of Fun’ online campaign. Drummer Grant Gerathy relocates to Queensland.
August – due to his full-time commitments with John Butler Trio, bassist Byron Luiters officially leaves The Ray Mann Three.
June – the first solo Ray Mann: Multimedia Show series. Ray holds a weekly residency throughout June in Sydney, performing live solo shows with projections of animations designed by Ray, all streamed live on the web. Special guests: Lanie Lane, Aidan Roberts (Maple Trail) and Lucy Hall. Also: Ray splits from management.
May – The Ray Mann Three tours internationally for the second time: debut visit to Japan. Shows include Greenroom Festival 2010 (alongside international acts including Arrested Development, G. Love & Special Sauce, 10CC and Rickie Lee Jones) and with Blue King Brown (Australia).
Musicians: Ray Wassef (vocals & guitar); Adam Ventoura (bass); Grant Gerathy (drums).
March – the single ‘My Lady‘ by Thundamentals featuring Ray Mann is released in Australia through Obese Records.
February – ‘The Ray Mann Three: Music & Art Show‘ in Sydney brings together the band live show, animations and art exhibition all created by Ray Mann.
Musicians: Ray Wassef (vocals & guitar); Adam Ventoura (bass); Grant Gerathy (drums)
January – The Ray Mann Three is the national tour support for soul legend Rev Al Green’s first Australian tour.
Musicians: Ray Wassef (vocals & guitar); Byron Luiters / Adam Ventoura (bass); Grant Gerathy (drums)
2009
November – Ray Mann (solo) is the national tour support for the Tori Amos ‘Sinful Attraction’ Australian tour.
October – The Ray Mann Three tours internationally for the first time, playing shows in New Caledonia.
Musicians: Ray Wassef (vocals & guitar); Byron Luiters (bass); Grant Gerathy (drums)
September – the ‘Ray Mann: Art Exhibition‘ in Sydney is Ray’s debut into the art world. It is a retrospective of the poster art and sketches created by Ray for the band’s promo material since 2005. Bassist Byron Luiters is announced as the new bass player for John Butler Trio.
July – several shows on the ‘Opa Opa’ Australian Tour sell out, including the nationally-televised Sydney show ‘Live At The Basement‘.
Musicians: Ray Wassef (vocals & guitar); Byron Luiters (bass); Grant Gerathy (drums)
June – The Ray Mann Three album is released in Japan by P-Vine records. The album debuts in iTunes Japan’s top 10, outselling Rhianna. First single, ‘Smile’, is featured in the opening credits for ‘Billboard Top 40 Japan’.
Feb-June – three digital-only singles, each with three tracks, are released exclusively through iTunes, and include remixes by Regal (UK) and Jamie Lloyd (Berlin). Each single is accompanied by a music video made by Ray Mann for $50: ‘Smile‘ (re-released), ‘Hook Me Up‘ (directed, shot and edited by Ray) and ‘Opa Opa‘ (designed and animated by Ray).
January – The Ray Mann Three is the support act at the Sydney Shows for Jamie Lidell (UK) and Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings (USA).
Musicians: Ray Wassef (vocals & guitar); Byron Luiters / Joel Burton (bass); Grant Gerathy (drums)
2008
December – Ray Mann is invited to perform at Adelaide International Guitar Festival, which also features Derek Trucks and Lior. Longtime fill-in drummer Grant Gerathy officially joins The Ray Mann Three.
Musicians: Ray Wassef (vocals & guitar); Byron Luiters (bass); Grant Gerathy (drums)
July – The Ray Mann Three’s sold-out album launch show in Sydney is followed by a 30-date Australian tour, including shows with Roy Ayers (US) and Russ Dewbury (UK).
Musicians: Ray Wassef (vocals & guitar); Byron Luiters / Joel Burton (bass); Grant Gerathy / Ross Ferraro (drums)
April – The Ray Mann Three album is released independently in Australia through MGM. Ray signs with Nathan Farrell Entertainment management.
February – Ray officially leaves his other band of seven years, Kid Confucius, to focus on The Ray Mann Three.
2007
December – The Ray Mann Three performs at Feel Good Festival at Luna Park, Sydney, alongside De La Soul, The Beautiful Girls and Angus & Julia Stone.
The music video for The Ray Mann Three’s first-ever single, ‘Smile‘, is shot and edited in 6 hours on Christmas Eve. It is co-directed by Ray Mann and produced for $50.
July – The Ray Mann Three records self-titled debut album in three days with producer Tony Buchen at Electric Avenue studios, Sydney. Both band and producer are dressed for the session in standard Ray Mann live show apparel (suit pants, waistcoat and tie).
Musicians: Ray Wassef (vocals & guitar); Byron Luiters (bass); Bart Denaro (drums)
May – bassist Byron Luiters officially joins The Ray Mann Three.
Musicians: Ray Wassef (vocals & guitar); Byron Luiters (bass); Bart Denaro (drums)
2005-2007
The Ray Mann Three builds its audience playing residencies around Sydney.
Musicians: Ray Wassef (vocals & guitar); Matt Hunter (bass); Bart Denaro (drums)
2005
February – The Ray Mann Three plays its first show at Tonic Lounge in Sydney’s Kings Cross. This becomes the band’s first and defining monthly residency, the venue in which the fanbase continues to build over the next three years.
Musicians: Ray Wassef (vocals & guitar); Matt Hunter (bass); Bart Denaro (drums)
Well, I just found this post and am now up to date…….!!!!!
Attended your Newcastle show last night 6th March, and wondered where the musos I’d seen before had gone??
Now I know……..
I had only seen your live show on TV with Byron Luiters (bass); Grant Gerathy (drums) and thought you were brilliant together……but seasons change sadly or not!!
Thoroughly enjoyed last night’s show, thanks for making the effort to come to Newcastle.
It was a pleasure! Yes, things have indeed changed – and, as you now know, not for the first time. I’ll keep posting updates about the changes to come too… Thankya for coming to the show.