with special guest Maija Sofia

The Bonk is an experimental music project led by songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Philip Christie.

Taking elliptical rhythms and repetitive ritualistic wordplay as a framework, the group uses improvisation to explore the fringes of traditional forms. Their debut The Bonk Seems To Be A Verb, has attracted a loyal following since its release in 2017 with shorter digital-only releases following in the intervening years while the band’s live show has become increasingly in demand. Their second LP Greater Than Or Equal To The Bonk is due for release in May 2023 and will see the band collaborating again with boutique imprint thirty-three45.

Bandleader and songwriter Phil Christie has long been involved in music in Ireland. As a principal songwriter in the collaborative group O Emperor (2008 -2018), he recorded and toured internationally with the band, sharing the stage with the likes of Beck and MGMT along the way. The group were awarded the Choice Music Prize Irish Album of The Year in 2018 for their final longplayer Jason.

Since then, while developing material with The Bonk, Phil has maintained fruitful collaborations in studio and on stage with several acts including Mick Flannery, Junior Brother, Cal Folger Day (whose verbatim pop-operetta Moondog and Irene he produced) and Dan Walsh’s improvisational project Fixity. His first solo recording ‘Affricative Speech Sounds’ was released in October 2022 on 7 “ vinyl as part of MOOT TAPES Signs of Life series.

Nice words written about The Bonk

Fronted by O Emperor’s Phil Christie, The Bonk giddily infuse 1960s garage
with jazz and experimental pop; the end result playing, in its rogue ingenuity,
like a reincarnated Captain Beefheart
Totally Dublin

The Bonk are one of Ireland’s most interesting experimental outfits today
The Thin Air

Enjoying Mean Time Bonk lotsa, Phil. Good O’Clock
R. Stevie Moore (on Songs For The Mean Time Vol 1) [a tweet no less!]