Dave Evans the accordion player is best-known as a member of the Band Who Knew Too Much, an Australian combo whose moniker is based on a screenplay Alfred Hitchcock liked well enough to film twice during his career. If press releases are to be believed, one thing the band has in common with Hitchcock is a sense of fun; stylistically, Evans has inserted himself into the type of eclectic mishmash that accordions cut into like a knife in the back. The band performs styles such as jazz, folk, and ska with an instrumentation that also includes clarinet, washboard, drums, trombone, guitar, and double bass. In addition, all group members vocalize -- a sure sign that they know too much.
Evans' schedule with this group is a study in contrasts. During a stay-home period, the band does regular gigs such as a weekly set at the Queen Victoria Market. But the group has also traveled far afield from wombat world, touring the United States and Canada in 1994 and hitting the European continent in 2000. Evans and associates, including clarinetist Andy Reid and trombonist Ben Gillespie, performed at the 2004 Copenhagen Jazz Festival. The accordionist was one of a small ensemble of musicians featured on the 2000 debut recording by singer/songwriter Penelope Swales.
