If you were going to try and make a list of great Aussie rock bands, the chances are pretty good you’ll start mentioning classic Aussie bands from days gone by, including AC/DC, Midnight Oil, INXS, and a litany of others.
But what about the more modern bands doing their bit to put the Aussie music scene on the map?
We’ve decided to take a look back at some of the Aussie rock bands who have made a name for themselves in the last decade, and are doing their best to ensure that the Aussie music scene maintains its trademark swagger and attitude.
Kingswood
Formed midway through the last decade, Kingswood spent plenty of time honing their craft before delivering their first EP, Change Of Heart, back in 2012. Encouraged by the success of their EP, Kingswood quickly hit up the studio to polish off a debut record, Microscopic Wars, that was released in 2014. They made a sudden, heavy impact on the local rock scene, and were a natural fit when chosen to support the likes of AC/DC and even Aerosmith on their Aussie tours.
Having released their second record After Hours, Close To Dawn back in 2017, Kingswood have been spending most of the year raking in rave reviews and taking their live show out on the road to the fans on their ‘Kingswoodus Maximus’ national tour.
While the album saw them move away from the straight-up rock that had become their signature, they’ve matured and diversified their sound, something they feel every great rock band should feel free to do – all captured perfectly in this live clip:
Camp Cope
Having only been around for a couple of years, Camp Cope have quickly risen to become one of the finest rock bands that Australia has to offer. Fronted by Georgia Maq, the band’s emotional and powerful style of playing has seen them gain fans the world over, even catching the attention of US punk legends Against Me! who handpicked Camp Cope to support them on their Aussie tour earlier this year.
Love Indie?
Get the latest Indie news, features, updates and giveaways straight to your inbox Learn more
If this is what Camp Cope have accomplished in just two years, their future is looking pretty darn bright.
Violent Soho
If you want to get really technical, Violent Soho have actually been around since 2004, but the majority of the group’s success didn’t actually occur until just a matter of years ago. After a couple of relatively subdued releases, Violent Soho’s Hungry Ghost took Aussie music fans by storm, with tracks like ‘Covered In Chrome’ and ‘Saramona Said’ going on to become anthems of the rock scene.
Most recently, WACO has seen the group go from legends of the underground to chart-topping musicians whose influence is being felt far and wide. Needless to say, Violent Soho definitely deserve the success that they have spent so many years working hard to achieve.
The Preatures
When The Preatures began back in 2010, no one had any idea just how cool the band would become. Fronted by the incredibly charismatic Isabella Manfredi, The Preatures utilise influences from acts like The Pretenders and Divinyls to craft a brilliantly accessible brand of alternative rock that has been lauded by critics worldwide.
With a tendency to create some of the most infectious we’ve ever heard in recent years, The Preatures are undoubtedly set to become one of Aussie rock’s biggest names in no time at all.
DZ Deathrays
Since their inception in 2008, DZ Deathrays have been continuously building on their sound to bring rock fans one of the most unrelenting and heavy live shows delivered by an Aussie rock band in some time. With just a guitarist and a drummer in the mix, DZ Deathrays manage to pump out some brilliant tunes that have been melting the faces of fans of live music for some time now.
With the band’s long-awaited third record on the way, fans are gearing up for another helping of riffs, attitude, and ponding rhythms from one of the coolest rock bands ever to come out of Brisbane.
Stonefield
Okay, you like rock music, but rock music doesn’t have to be blistering riffs and shouted vocals, sometimes it’s good to rediscover some of the rock genres that have somewhat fallen by the wayside. Having won triple j’s Unearthed High comp in 2010 as Iotah, Stonefield have spent the last few years crafting some of the best psychedelic rock tunes this side of the ’60s.
With influences that include some of rock’s biggest names, the Findlay sisters have even managed to catch the eye of the genre’s legends, being chosen to support the likes of Fleetwood Mac on their 2016 Aussie tour. It can’t get better than that, can it?
Gang Of Youths
Gang Of Youths made almost every Aussie rock fan in the country stand up and take notice with the release of their debut record The Positions back in 2015. Sporting a unique brand of indie-rock mixed with a more verbose, soulful approach, Gang Of Youths’ profile has been rising significantly in recent years, with the group recently taking out the number one spot on the ARIA charts with their second record, Go Farther In Lightness.
With their live shows feeling like more of a spiritual gathering than a traditional concert, Gang Of Youths are undoubtedly going to be remembered as one of the most magnetic and critically-acclaimed rock bands to come out of Sydney in years.
Polish Club
In the space of a year, Polish Club have gone from being one of Australia’s best-kept secrets to becoming one of Australia’s most in-demand rock duos. Calling themselves the “loudest goddamn soul outfit you’ve ever heard,” Sydney’s Polish Club have spent the last year treating audiences all over to a frantic live show that couldn’t be replicated by a band with twice the amount of members.
With the duo set to release a new EP very shortly, and a cleverly named ‘Christmas in December’ tour with Adelaide’s West Thebarton happening at the end of the year, Polish Club are set to continue their reign as one of Australia’s most exhilarating pairs.
High Tension
Formed as a sort of supergroup of some of the greatest underground Aussie rock bands at the time, High Tension have spent the last five years making a name for themselves as one of the most hard-working and powerful bands on the Aussie music scene.
Fronted by the stunningly brutal vocals of Karina Utomo, High Tension have been turning heads wherever they go, going from being an underground favourite to one of the most-revered Aussie hard-rock acts in just a matter of years.
Grenadiers
Adelaide trio Grenadiers have been doing the rounds for a number of years now, managing to deliver a unique brand of rock that has been influenced by names as heavy and frenetic as Queens Of The Stone Age, The Bronx, Melvins, and The Hives. Having released their second record, Summer, back in 2015, the group are currently readying their third record for release, and fans couldn’t be more stoked.
With a tendency to deliver some of the most blistering shows you’ve ever seen, Grenadiers are one of those rock bands whose live shows should definitely end up on any Aussie music fan’s bucket list.
Kingswood’s ‘Kingswoodus Maximus’ 2017 Tour
Supported by The Vanns and Dear Seattle
Friday, October 6th
Metropolis, Fremantle, WA
Saturday, October 7th
Dunsborough Tavern, Dunsborough, WA
Thursday, October 12th
Edge Hill Tavern, Cairns, QLD
Friday, October 13th
Dalrymple Hotel, Townsville, QLD
Saturday, October 14th
Magnums, Airlie Beach, QLD
Sunday, October 15th
Mount Pleasant Hotel, Mackay, QLD
Friday, October 20th
The Met, Brisbane, QLD
Saturday, October 21st
Night Quarter, Gold Coast, QLD
Sunday, October 22nd
The Northern, Byron Bay, NSW
Thursday, October 26th
Coffs Hotel, Coffs Harbour, NSW
Friday, October 27th
Metro Theatre, Sydney, NSW
Saturday, October 28th
The Long Jetty Hotel, Central Coast, NSW
Friday, November 10th
Whalers, Warnambool, VIC
Saturday, November 11th
Fat Controller, Adelaide, SA
Friday, November 17th
Karova Lounge, Ballarat, VIC
Saturday, November 18th
Forum Theatre, Melbourne, VIC
