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The AutistiX summer gigs and band update!

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The AutistiX (updated short bio) June 2025

 

We are The AutistiX! We’re a unique 7 person band that started in Camden, and are still based in this area in London, the epicentre of the London music scene. Our name was chosen by our band members as our youngest band members cope with autism and additional challenges. However, we are not a ‘disability’ band. We write our own songs (that will be released soon as we have recently starting recording our 5th EP!)

As well as being passionate about music and being the best musicians we can be, we have a further mission that is to promote social inclusion, valuing people and inspiring others to believe in their own dreams, as well as loving our music and our lively upbeat performances.

We are delighted to announce that Leo Long has joined The AutistiX as a full member of the band, playing electric bouzouki and singing vocals! He is the actor who played the role of Stevie in the wonderful Netflix film that our drummer, Saul, inspired, and in which Saul appeared as a djembe drummer in crucial drum circle scenes in the film. It is amazing that we have developed a long term relationship with Leo, who is a talented neurodivergent actor and musician. It’s all thanks to the film ‘I Used To Be Famous’ and the screen writer and director Eddie Sternberg who cast Leo in the film, otherwise we might never have met him!

We are:

Jack Beaven-Duggan electric and acoustic guitar and backing vocals

John Duggan electric guitar/bass and backing vocals

Saul Zur-Szpiro drum kit and percussion

Michael Zur-Szpiro harmonica

Jim Connelly lead vocals

Adam Markiewicz bass player

Leo Long electric bouzouki and vocals

We’ve performed at legendary UK venues and some abroad, play lots of festivals, we have even performed with Sir Tom Jones. Our drummer Saul inspired a Netflix film called I Used To Be Famous about the power of

music and social inclusion, and performs in drum circle scenes in the film. One of our newest songs I Am As I Am

is in the film too. The film reached no 2 in the UK and no 4 globally. We are excited to announce that the neurodivergent actor who played the role of Stevie in the film has joined The AutistiX, playing electric bazooka and singing vocals.

Contact Band Manager Susan theautistix@gmail.com Find us on website www.theautistix.com

Facebook www.facebook.com/theautistix Instagram www.instagram.com/theautistix

‘X’ Twitter www.twitter.com/theautistix Spotify www.spotify.com/theautistix

Youtube www.youtube.com/theautistix

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At last, a live gig!

  • Writer: theautistixband
    theautistixband
  • Mar 13, 2022
  • 2 min read

The AutistiX were thrilled to all get together again after 7 months separation due to our lead singer Jim, living in Spain and Covid preventing him from getting back to the UK to play with the rest of the band (nor being able to visit his family). We met up on Friday 4th March in Manchester, where our gig would be on Saturday. We also met up with @JonnyWoolnough, our guest band member, who agreed to play bass with us (and quite unbelievably, last played with us 10 years ago when we were still very new!) He has just released a beautiful solo album that our followers are bound to really like so we hope that you will listen to it!


We had a great time rehearsing at the @BrunswickMillStudios - for about 4 hours we played and replayed our gig set so the band could chase the cobwebs away and for Jonny to be prepared as possible for our gig the following afternoon. It felt so great to be together and to be getting ready for the gig.


Next day we took some band photos to use over the next months with Jim being back in Spain for several months before coming to the UK again. Then we went to set up for our gig at @TheRoseAndMonkeyHotel for @Yanafest2022 @YouAreNotAlonefestival on behalf of @ManchesterMind. This was a lovely small venue with an excellent atmosphere. We were there in good time but the band before was running late which made everything quite rushed in the end. The stage was the smallest we had ever played on - we have had 2 musicians on the floor but this time 4 of our band had to be on the floor while only our drummer Saul and harmonica player Michael could fit on the stage. We were delighted to have a good sized audience of at least 30 people and a great atmosphere.


Later we had lunch together and then went to see some other bands. We really liked one musician in particular @JamesHoltmusic who we decided would be a good opener for our EP launch that will happen in a few month's time. He's keen to come to London to play so we look forward to being in touch soon.


Now that we have played a live gig we are keen for more (especially our drummer Saul who no sooner finished our gig on saturday before asking about the next gig!)


Keep checking our website for further updates on The AutistiX!

 
 
 

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