2019 marks Dead Of Winter's (DOW) tenth year; and next month's monster event (staged across Jubilee Hotel and The Tivoli Theatre in Brisbane) will sport 6 stages with a whopping 61 bands on the bill plus a heap of sideshow performers for a massive day and night of live music, good times and fun.
The festival is known for its killer line-ups each year featuring the best top-shelf punk and metal acts.
But right now, let's take a moment to focus on the rock at DOW this year. One of the event's headliners is progressive rock legends COG. One of Brisbane’s most elite bands, COG are untouchable with the musical alchemy they create through their music and live performances. You’ll be transported to another realm when COG take to the stage at this year’s festival.
Political rock at its absolute finest, Melbourne’s Mammal are renowned for their high-energy rock performances. A lot of bands claim to be ‘high energy’, but Mammal are the absolute epitome of this. Rock music with heart. Rock music with meaning. This is Mammal.
Kyuss were one of the biggest rock bands around for many moons. With a cult-like following, they are still as popular as ever even though they have been de-funked since the mid '90s. Kyuss Dies! is the next best thing to seeing Kyuss themselves.
Kyuss Dies! consists of original Kyuss bassist Nick Oliveri, along with members of some of Brisbane best bands including Dead Letter Circus, The Butterfly Effect, The Black Armada and The Royal Artillery. This line-up is for one night only and exclusive to Dead Of Winter.
Melbourne and Tasmania based, Captives are rock with a little bit of punk and a good dash of party vibes. Captives most definitely captivate their audiences with their hard-rocking performances, encapsulating their fans with their stage presence and commitment to the music they create.
Sydney’s The Neptune Power Federation bring something a little darker to the rock line-up with some occult rock & roll from hell. Frontwoman Screaming Loz Sutch’s vocals match her stunning and extravagant costumes – they are a treat to your ears and eyes alike. Not to mention a familiar face on the bass, Frenzal Rhomb’s Jason Whalley.
Bovver rockers from Brisbane, Shandy are all about the Aussie rock mixed with a bit of good-old school punk and a dash of glam. The mix creates a sound you can rock out too as well as get your groove on and shake your booty all at the same time. Frontman, JJ Speedball is notorious for his ability to energetically run and jump around the stage and rock out hard like every good rock frontman should.
Bringing their own brand of musical madness to the line-up this year are Sydney’s Rick Dangerous and The Silkie Bantams. These guys are thrustcore rock and they deliver it with such intensity you’ll always be left wanting more. Always dressed to the nines and bursting with onstage energy, their natural talent and polished delivery is a standout for the rock bands this year.
Brisbane sweethearts of hard rock with a generous swirl of grunge and punk, Whiskey and Speed is a band made up of brilliant local musicians who know how to rock your socks off. They’ve been doing their thing for some time now and with a few line-up changes, the current combination of talent is the perfect blend of all the things needed for a band ready to rock.
Hammers are back again this year to bring their heavy rocking, hard-hitting live performance to the Dead Of Winter stage. Their self-confessed style of 'stoner rock, metal, blues with an anecdotal lyric style of country then spat in your face with the attitude of punk' is a perfect description of these four witty and talented rockers.
Gold Coast progressive melodic rockers, Nowhere Else can rock out like no one else. With the strong and confident Goddess of Gold Coast rock, Jodie Maloney fronting the band plus the king of the shred, Jimmy Glistner (also from the heavy and hard hitting Azreal) on guitar, they always put on a show that has all eyes on them.
Brisbane’s genre defying four-piece, Tai Sui describe themselves as 'heavy metal, shock rock, hip hop, power pop, screamy vox, dreadlocks, activists and sub drops'; and that’s the whole truth of it really. They definitely deserve to be in this write up because they most certainly rock, but they are a mix of many genres, making them unique and a band you want to make sure you catch at DOW this year.
The legendary Nick Oliveri is performing with three separate acts at this year’s Dead Of Winter, so fans are in for quite the treat. Nick Oliveri’s ‘Death Acoustic’ performance will include songs performed and covered by Oliveri by bands he has been involved in and bands he is a fan of. This will no doubt be a highlight for this year's festival.
Dirty groovy, beer-soaked blues rock from Brisbane, Swamp Gully Howlers are most definitely bringing the ROCK to Dead Of Winter this year. With Caity’s stunning bluesy vocals and her band performing every live set to perfection, you will not want to miss some Swamp Gully.
2019 Dead Of Winter Timetable
Brisbane’s grungy rock & rollers, HITS have just hit 15 years of rocking out. And what better way to celebrate than playing at Dead Of Winter. HITS are pure, true and dirty rock & roll.
Fight Ibis are another band that don’t quite fit any one genre, but they most definitely rock. It’s a delicious mix of alternative, indie, psychedelic, groove rock brought to you by this five-piece Brisbane band.
Elephant Hive are bringing their instrumental garage rock all the way from Tel Aviv. This duo is best witnessed live on stage and will no doubt wow those who catch their set at DOW.
Melbourne’s Bakers Eddy are pure-party-fun rock. They’ll have you dancing your butt off as they rock out on the stage. These guys are deadset good-time rock & roll.
Then there’s the four lovable ratbags that are all about having a good time Gold Coast’s Radolescent; these guys are garage punk with a hint of good-old surf rock.
Well, that covers most of the rock on the line-up, though there are other bands that would fit a sub-genre of rock as well. Your best bet is to get tickets and come along and witness for yourself just how good this year’s line-up really is. Dead Of Winter bringing you the punk, metal, rock and everything in between.
Click here to read the complete line-up.
