About Us

James and Luca first met on Bandmix.com, a platform for musicians, and began experimenting with covers, recording demos, and posting videos—some of which you’ll find on our YouTube channel. Still finding their direction, they ventured to a local open mic night, where they were blown away by Jackie’s incredible vocals.

Knowing she was exactly what the project needed, they reached out through Bandmix once again—and she responded. With Jackie on board, Five Dollar Shake was born, named after the famous Pulp Fiction diner scene between Travolta and Thurman.

Luca

Guitars / Vocals

Luca began playing guitar at a young age and later moved to Sydney to study performance and production at the Australian International Conservatorium of Music. He’s played in multiple bands and worked as a session guitarist on various local and international projects. Luca co-founded Five Dollar Shake with James to adapt their favourite songs for live performance, drawing on his deep love of blues, jazz, and country.

Jackie

Lead Vocals

Jackie has been singing with local bands for over 13 years, mainly covering Jazz, Blues, and Soul. Since joining Five Dollar Shake, she’s embraced new genres—including a surprise love for Country music. She’s also working hard (with Luca’s patient coaching) to overcome her unique challenge: the inability to sing and play percussion at the same time.

James

Guitars / Mandolin / Vocals

James picked up guitar at age 6, inspired by his dad’s fingerpicking style. His teenage years were spent mastering solos from rock and metal greats like Metallica and Guns N' Roses. After early bands and a stint with gigging group Five Go Mad (later Prankster), James returned to live music after a long break—leading to the formation of Five Dollar Shake.

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