Sydney rock veterans Crow will celebrate the release of their first album in more than 15 years with a special hometown show next month.
The band will launch Hold Sway – their first full-length since 2010’s Arcane – at Marrickville Bowling Club on Saturday, October 17th, joined by a large cast of friends and collaborators. Tickets are on sale now here for just $20.
The album holds particular significance following the passing of founding member Peter Archer in May, featuring songs written by Archer and fellow founding member Peter Fenton.
Fenton will be joined by Jim Woff and Andy Marks for the Sydney launch, alongside the Hold Sway Orchestra and special guests Chris Abrahams, Dave Archer, Penny McBride, Bernie Hayes, Justin Hayes, Pat Hayes, Jamie Hutchings, Lobster and Matt Galvin. Ruby Archer will provide support.
Archer passed away on May 14th. His passing came during an important new chapter for Crow, with the band having announced Hold Sway and shared its first single, “You Can’t Turn Away”, just two months earlier.
“Peter Archer, our long-time comrade, passed away on 14 May. Our deepest sympathy and love to his family and friends,” the band shared at the time. “A founding Crow member, Peter’s indelible creativity was at once intuitive and adventurous.
“From the lilting frailty of ‘Paper Eyes’, to the sun-drenched lyricism of ‘Railhead’, the roaring insistence of ‘Never Said’, or the stumbling splendour of ‘Ravine’, and so many other songs, the beauty, scope and originality of Peter’s work is undeniable.
“His humour, generosity and kindness imbued everything we shared. Being alongside him in ‘white knuckle’ moments was hypnotic – think the searing dirge of Buddah Salute, or the rumbling coda of Rabbits. Without end. Peter, we will carry the torch of your unique legacy, always. Buoyed by the one desire to see you again.”
Crow emerged from Sydney’s alternative rock scene in the early ’90s, releasing their Steve Albini-engineered debut My Kind of Pain in 1992. They followed it with Li-lo-ing in 1995 and Play with Love in 1998, before returning from a lengthy hiatus with Arcane in 2010.
A reunion of the band’s Li-lo-ing-era lineup in 2024 ultimately led to another period of recording and the creation of Hold Sway.
Crow’s Hold Sway is out now. For complete show and ticket information, see here.
CROW ‘HOLD SWAY’ ALBUM LAUNCH 2026
Saturday, October 17th
Marrickville Bowling Club, Sydney NSW
