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The Middle East

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The Middle East are an Australian indie folk band that formed in Townsville, Queensland in 2005.

The group garnered attention initially by playing small shows in their home town and quickly grew to national and international fame due to their rising popularity on music blogs and websites. In early 2008, the band released their home recorded first album called The Recordings of The Middle East. The band split up before reconvening in 2009 and signing to Australian indie label Spunk Records who re-issued 'The Recordings Of The Middle East' as an abridged EP.

The Middle East's first official full length album, I Want That You Are Always Happy was released in Australia and New Zealand on 8 April 2011. The band then played what was intended to be its last show on 31 July 2011, at the Splendour in the Grass festival in Woodford, Queensland. The group have, however, reunited twice since then: once in 2019, and again in 2023.