Indie rock anthems will take music lovers back to the ’90s at A Day On The Green in the Hunter Valley next February.
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The Living End, Spiderbait, Veruca Salt, The Lemonheads, Tumbleweed and The Fauves will kick off the latest concert in the summer festival series at Bimbadgen on February 24.
It’s a line-up of bands who were front and centre of the alternative heyday of the 1990s.
Between them, these six bands have notched up eight ARIA Awards, received more than 30 ARIA Award nominations, had 12 top 10 albums and 18 top 40 hit singles.
The Herald spoke to Spiderbait drummer and vocalist Kram on the eve of the tour announcement and he is as excited as he’s ever been to perform in an outdoor arena. At last year’s A Day On the Green at Bimbadgen, Spiderbait shared the bill with You Am I, Something For Kate, Jebediah and The Meanies and were, for many, the highlight of the day.
Kram was insanely good on the skins and at one stage, pumped, left his kit to eyeball the crowd.
“That was epic,” he said with a laugh.
“I remember looking out beyond the audience, at this massive sea of people that reminded me of Homebake and Big Day Out, and seeing smoke from the fires in the hills.
“For that to be the first show of the tour, it just created some incredible energy that carried on all the way through. Until we got to Perth and after that show we got banned from Kings Park for life. I still don’t know why.”
Australian music fans need no introduction to The Living End. Their 1998 self-titled debut album spawned singalong anthems Prisoner Of Society, All Torn Down, Second Solution and West End Riot and 20 years on they continue to be a force to be reckoned with and have just completed a huge US tour.
Veruca Salt’s signature hit Seether remains one of the most-loved rock tunes of the ’90s. After breaking up in 1998, the original line-up – Nina Gordon, Louise Post, Jim Shapiro and Steve Lack – re-formed in 2013 and in 2015 they released their fifth studio album, Ghost Notes.
The Lemonheads’ breakthrough album It’s A Shame About Ray and cover of Mrs Robinson made them a household name. Into Your Arms is an indie classic.
Tumbleweed personified stoner rock in the ’90s with songs like Sundial and Carousel and won the prestigious support slot on Nirvana’s only Australian tour. As for fellow Aussies The Fauves, they are known for their witty lyrics, melodic pop-rock and often satirical explorations of national themes. You might remember their hit Dogs Are The Best People.
