WAGONS

Lauded as one of Australia’s great alt-country bands, WAGONS are making a long-awaited comeback with the release of their new album 'Songs From The Aftermath' and a tour that will see them take to the stage in The Brewery at The Imperial Hotel Eumundi on Friday 15 November. They'll be supported by the fabulous RUBY GILBERT. 

WAGONS

On a fateful Tuesday night in 1999, at The Arthouse in Melbourne, Wagons hit the stage for the first time …

After two decades, Wagons still pulse and stomp together as a joint force, with singer Henry Wagons at the helm. Henry’s fierce intellect, once hurtling toward a career as a philosopher, was thankfully derailed by a record deal, a thirst for whisky and an insatiable need to make noise. 

These tall and lanky entertainers are, without doubt, a foundational keystone of the modern Indie-Americana movement in both Australia and around the world. Henry and band first wielded their twang-laden battering ram at a time when embroidered button down shirts and beards were far more sparse on the ground in Australia. Times have changed with trucker hats and gingham studded shirts now available at K-Mart, yet Wagons, 20 years into their unique career, stay atop the their own tidal wave of hard hitting, outlaw inspired, swamp rock madness.

The sextet have been regularly compared to the cheekiest and most mischievous of musical outlaws, from Cash to Cave and have circled the globe testing the fortitude of some of the biggest stages at Bonnaroo, Bluesfest, Interstellar Rodeo, Laneway, Bumbershoot, Big Day Out, Out On The Weekend, Queenscliff, Ottawa Blues as well as SXSW and Americana showcases.

Producing six albums together, the band have garnered an increasing list of awards and achievements including 'Album of the Week' on RRR, PBS, RTR, 2SER, Edge radio, The Age / EG ‘Best Band’ & 'Album of the Year’, Rhythms Magazine 'Album Of Year’, AIR 'Country Album of the Year’, plus Melbourne Magazine naming Henry Wagons in their ‘Top 100 Most Influential People’.

After the release of singles Keep On Coming Back and Wake Up earlier this year, both providing the perfect melodic and lyrical blend between Americana and alt-pop, it was clear that whatever came next from the band would be as equally true to the classic sound they have carefully honed over the years, with a thrilling new twist.

'Songs From The Aftermath' tracks a sensory and emotional journey, with the visions and melodies evoking a feeling of driving along unfamiliar roads with no set destination - the perfect backdrop for many an old Western. With these clear Americana influences, tracks such as Sirens, with its gypsy accordion and ghostly backing vocals, and the classic lonely cowboy’s lament Drifting, encapsulate apocalypse like visions of life on the road and in small strange towns, with stories of internal reflection crafted by hauntingly powerful melodies. 

Wagons’ rock’n’roll sound meets country and alt-pop in this collection of recurring memories of places visited and people met, where the past meets the present and the future is largely unknown. 'Songs From The Aftermath' wraps up its powerful journey with final track Is this the End? asking unanswerable questions and leaving the listener feeling as though they are returning home. 

According to Henry Wagons, 'Songs From The Aftermath’ "cascades through random visions and emotions, like a long road trip through the night.” 

After this long, their boot heels are etched in the stage floorboards. Wagons know exactly what they are doing. Fasten your shoelaces tight and get your feet to the big show.  

"Wagons makes sly rock ’n’ roll that both intellectuals and pop fans can appreciate” - Nashville Cream

RUBY GILBERT

Ruby Gilbert embraces a moody, gothic-tinged style of writing. The Queensland Music Award-nominated songstress’ style is inspired by the grittiness of Johnny Cash, whilst channelling a timeless and stylised atmosphere. Her left-of-centre phrasing is unexpected and speaks brutally honest truths. Raw and heart-breaking, her voice evokes an old-time feel, while her lyrics are both strange and endearing. 

In 2018, she released her highly anticipated debut EP 'Dearly Beloved'.

Her powerful performance style has seen her featured at festivals around Australia, including the Bigsound, Groundwater Country Music Festival, Caloundra Music Festival, Tamworth Country Music Festival, the Gympie Music Muster , Little Bigsound, Dashville Skyline and The Gumball.

TICKETS: Pre-sale $30 at The Imperial Hotel (Ph: 5442 8811) or through Oztix - CLICK HERE (+booking fee). $35 at the door if not sold out prior.

Doors open 7.30pm