Six local South Australian bands are gearing up after being selected to perform as part of the annual Bands On Track programme, opening for the headliners performing at this weekend's Superloop Adelaide 500 After Race Concert Series.
After a day of cars, the night is all about guitars with the After Race Concert Series that will see headline performances from Grinspoon, Pete Murray, Hilltop Hoods and more across three evenings of rocking Australian music.This year's Bands On Track artists, who have been selected by a panel of music industry representatives, are Colourblind, Seabass, Dead Roo, Kings & Associates, Outside Lines and DRESS CODE.
Kings & Associates
What does it mean to be selected to play as part of the Bands On Track programme and share the stage with some of the country’s biggest bands?(Benny Cunningham) As a South Aussie act in the fortunate position of getting to perform in other states and countries, and in front of folk from different cultures, it’s always a wonderful experience when we get to connect with SA locals.
Without question it’s a special environment, and the Adelaide 500 is one of the most significant events on the SA calendar; sharing the stage with some of Australia’s most prominent bands makes it even more special.
It’s truly an amazing initiative by Music SA and one we’re incredibly grateful for.
What’s the elevator pitch to the group’s sound/ style?
(Benny Cunningham) We’re best described as indie blues and soul with spice.
Colourblind
What does it mean to be selected to play as part of the Bands On Track programme and share the stage with some of the country’s biggest bands?(Finn Cameron) It means the world to us. It's incredibly reassuring to feel that people are resonating with our band and it only strengthens our ambition and sense of community.
‘We’re gonna play with Grinspoon’ sounds more like the kind of sarcastic comments we would have joked about when we started Colourblind. It's a bizarre and surreal opportunity to be sharing a stage with a band who dominated my childhood road trips with their greatest hits CD ('Best In Show').
We are super grateful for the opportunity and excited to show a crowd of new people who we are and what we can do.
What’s the elevator pitch to the group’s sound/ style?
(Finn Cameron) Colourblind aims to capture a feeling more than a sound.
Centred around an evolving taste in alternative music – new and old – Colourblind aim to fuse the tried and true forms of grunge, punk and emo with a modern and open approach to genre. Lyrically-centred around the themes of angst, heartbreak and growing up, Colourblind wants you to sing back to them with a tear in your eye.
Dead Roo
What does it mean to be selected to play as part of the Bands On Track programme and share the stage with some of the country’s biggest bands?(Jason Katsaras) It means so much to us to be selected. Having been around Bands On Track with different projects in the past, we know how much of an awesome platform and opportunity is. The gravity of where we’ll be playing hasn’t sunk in yet – we can’t wait.
A few of us have also been thrashing a bit of Pete Murray of late so very keen to hang around and see Pete.
What’s the elevator pitch to the group’s sound/ style?
(Jason Katsaras) An elevator pitch for our style would have to be some sort of a conglomeration of each of our tastes, including alt. country and indie rock.
With our bassist hailing from a psychedelic band, our drummer being a steward of numerous eclectic bands, and Jess and Jason having both indie and post-punk roots, Dead Roo is some sort of mix of all of these. Mostly we just enjoy each other’s company and playing the sort of music we enjoy to hear.
Seabass
What does it mean to be selected to play as part of the Bands On Track programme and share the stage with some of the country’s biggest bands?(Annie Siegmann) It’s a huge honour to be a part of the line-up of Bands On Track.
We’re just glad that as a band (3/4 of whom are women), we see this as step closer to providing balanced line-ups of men, women, gender diverse, queer and culturally-diverse musicians. We’re glad that we are playing alongside Sarah McLeod, who slogged it out in an an even more male-dominated time in an industry that is still struggling with diversity and inclusivity.
All boring political stuff aside, my 12-year-old self is keen to rock out to 'Chemical Heart' by Grinspoon alongside some of my best friends.
What’s the elevator pitch to the group’s sound/ style?
(Ryan Martin John) I’d say we’re kind of rock, kind of grunge, not enough of both to be either and we sound like Middle Kids cross-pollinated with early era Kings Of Leon.
Outside Lines
What does it mean to be selected to play as part of the Bands On Track programme and share the stage with some of the country’s biggest bands?(Cate Dyer) We first met on a local stage when we both jumped up for a cypher at a hip hop show at The Jade and we haven’t stopped having an absolute blast making music together since.
To be given the opportunity through the Bands On Track programme to now share that music on a local stage, at an iconic event, with some of Australia’s most incredible artists including SA legends Hilltop Hoods, is everything and we are beyond grateful to have been selected.
What’s the elevator pitch to the group’s sound/ style?
(Cate Dyer) Outside Lines has been such a natural and fun creation for us.
From that very first freestyle, the instinct to give each other space in the music to express our very different styles but to share a common vision was strong and that developed over time into a fusion of hip hop, soul and R&B.
Our music is a shout-out to challenging your limits and never boxing yourself in, with an intention to bring a positive and uplifting energy to every stage we get up on and make the best memories doing so. The friendship and mutual respect is shown in this and that we genuinely love making music and performing together.
Dress Code
What does it mean to be selected to play as part of the Bands On Track programme and share the stage with some of the country’s biggest bands?(Ollie Miller) It means so much to play with headliners we’ve been fans of and watched for years. I am from the same part of Adelaide as Hilltop Hoods, so I spent a lot of my childhood admiring those guys.
Also, since we sound so different to the rest of the bands on the bill, we’ll be reaching an entirely new audience, which will be really nice, especially on a bigger stage than we’re used to. It’ll definitely be a big moment for the band.
What’s the elevator pitch to the group’s sound/ style?
(Ollie Miller) Our sound is kind of hard to define, but I’d probably describe it as a polished and poignant, pop-driven sound that’s been influenced by an array of genres from pop to rock, and electronic.
These sounds are accompanied by similar aesthetic that's heavily driven by nostalgic, yet refreshing visuals.
Superloop Adelaide 500 After Race Concert Series 2020
• Fri 21 Feb - Grinspoon, Sneaky Sound System, The Superjesus supported by Colourblind, Seabass• Sat 22 Feb - Pete Murray, Sheppard supported by Dead Roo, Kings & Associates
• Sun 23 Feb - Hilltop Hoods, Illy, G Flip supported by Outside Lines, DRESS CODE
