About this Event

The Autistix www.facebook.com/theautistix

'The AutistiX’ are a unique band that combines rock and roll with edgy indie sounds, performing both original material and some covers from favourite bands.



The band’s unique sound sets them apart, but so do their young members: Jack Beaven Duggan, Luke Steels and Saul Zur-Szpiro, all of whom have autism. They are led by a talented singer and mentor, Jim Connelly, and joined by Jack's father, John and Saul's father, Michael.



The band was formed in April 2010, from a local group originally set up for young people with disabilities. They were talented musically but had had difficulties developing their social skills, making friends or finding the opportunity to form bands or perform.



Coming together to form a band, they named themselves ‘The AutistiX’ as they were keen to be recognised for their musical talent but accepting and proud of being musicians with autism. The band, as well as being creative and fun, provides opportunities to develop musically, personally and socially. It has also been nice for father and son to bond through playing music together in the band.



Before long, they started to write original songs including ‘I can’t take it anymore’ ‘I guess I’ll see you’ and ‘Darkness World’ This was followed by two further songs: “The Good and Bad in All of Us’ and ‘Hard to Reach’. Recently the band has been working on three new songs called ‘Get On The Plane’, ‘Something Better’ and the newest one, Just The Same! As well as their own material, the band performs some popular cover songs, adding their own original twist, by The Beatles, Oasis, The Clash, Coldplay, and Nirvana, to name a few.



This young band is going from strength to strength, performing in many public gigs and local festivals, including this year’s Liberty Festival that took place in the renowned Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park as part of National Paralympic Day in September, charity gigs for the National Autistic Society and most recently for Norwood, a leading charity for people with disabilities. They played before an audience of 1100 people who gave them a standing ovation. Their gig included an impromptu performance of the Beatles’ Help!, together with one of the dinner guests, Sir Tom Jones!!!



They have been very well received whenever they play as people find their songs original and catchy, and are all the more impressed when they realise that the band includes musicians with autism!



Early in the summer, they went on tour in Northern Spain, together with another band of musicians from Pamplona called Motxila 21, which includes musicians with Down’s Syndrome. They then came to London at the end of August to perform with The AutistiX, in a week long tour, as part of the European-wide Youth-in-Action funded exchange project called ‘Making Special Music’.



The band members are keen to be successful as musicians first, disabilities second. As well as working to be the best musicians they can be, they also aim to be an inspiration and role model of the abilities of people with disabilities, by showcasing the musical talent and potential of people with disabilities and the valuable contribution they have to make to society.



The band produced their first EP earlier in the year called ‘Butterflies and Demons’, the title being taken from a line in their song ‘I Can’t Take It Anymore’. The EP will soon be launched on 30th January at the Monarch Pub in nearby Chalk Farm. This will be a free entry event to fill the venue. They hope that everyone possible will come along to support the band and spread the word about The AutistiX!