Wednesday 12 August 2020

Fantasy Festival number 13: The Lineup

Miss June: Auckland punk/grunge/indie band Miss June released their debut album, Bad Luck Party, in 2019. Coming hot on the heels of exemplary snarling punk singles such as 'Best Girl' and 'Enemies', it was keenly anticipated and did not disappoint. There's an interview here and the band's website is here.

Hatchie: Brisbane's Hariette Pilbeam, aka Hatchie, writes sun drenched happy-sad indie pop reminiscent of the early nineties and the Heavenly Sunday Social. Her debut album, Keepsake, was released last year. You can find out more here.

Press Club: Melbourne's Press Club have released two albums of ferocious grunge punk. Their first, Late Teens, featured the anthemic 'Suburbia' and second album Wasted Energy picked up where they left off. They are indefatigable. You can find out more over on their Bandcamp.

Skating Polly: Self styled creators of 'Ugly Pop', Skating Polly have been making music since their teenage years. They received early support from Exene Cervenka of X, also from Babes In Toyland, who took them on tour when singer/bassist Kelli Mayo was only 15. Since then they've collaborated with Louise Post and Nina Gordon of Veruca Salt and released five albums, most recently The Make It All Show in 2018. They are an unyieldingly energetic live act, and well worth seeing if you get the chance. You can find out more here.

Shonen Knife: The legendary Osaka band Shonen Knife have been making Ramones infused punk rock since the early 1980s. Kurt Cobain worshipped them, the 1990s music press was baffled by them, but they have consistently released album after album of frenetic Japanese punk and are a fantastic live act. You can find out more over on their Bandcamp.

Jane Weaver: Psych soundscapes from Liverpool via Manchester, Jane Weaver is a veteran of the 1990s Manchester indie scene who featured in the lineups of Kill Laura and Misty Dixon before going her own way as a solo artist. Her reputation has grown year on year, but she remains one of Manchester's best kept secrets. You can find out more here.

Jesca Hoop: From California to Manchester and back to the US again, Jesca Hoop is a restless soul, and this is reflected in the experimental nature of her music. Often folky, frequently electronic, always different. Her most recent album, Stonechild, was released in 2019. You can find out more over on her Bandcamp.

Courtney Barnett: Sydney's Courtney Barnett is two albums into a career that has seen her rapidly go from deadpan indie rock favourite to one of our most likeable rock stars. It's likely that she would have been on many festival bills this summer. You can find out more here.

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