SKEGSS

In the organizer's words:

Long drives along endless coastlines, raw guitar riffs and the salty air of Byron Bay - that's the sound of Skegss. The Australian garage and surf rock band has managed to pour their wild energy and the lifestyle of their homeland into songs that not only ride the waves of the Pacific, but also the charts. They have been at the forefront of the Australian surf rock scene since 2018, and their new album "Pacific Highway Music" builds on this success. Their trademark: a mixture of youthful ease, laid-back melodies and a raw, untamed attitude. Singer and guitarist Ben Reed and drummer Jonny Lani have known each other since their youth in the coastal town of Forster. Together with bassist Toby Cregan, who grew up south of Sydney in Berrara, they formed the band and released their first songs such as "L.S.D." and "Rock 'n' Roll Radio" in 2014. Their breakthrough came in 2015, when they were the first band to be signed to the new label Ratbag Records, founded by the Dune Rats. Despite their success, the Skegss always took time to let their music mature. In 2020, they re-released two older EPs and made it back into the charts. Their second album "Rehearsal" was recorded with the help of renowned producer Catherine Marks and catapulted Skegss to number 1 in the Australian charts, putting them firmly in the premier league of Australian rock. After the departure of their bassist last year, the future of the band initially seemed uncertain. But Reed and Lani got back together surprisingly quickly and now present an album that is bursting with energy and enthusiasm. "Pacific Highway Music" is not only a musical road trip, but also a reflection on the hypnotic effect of the coastal road on which the two have spent countless hours. "With this album, I tried to be as honest as possible, but I also wanted to write songs that give you the same feeling as those drives: a kind of hypnotic state where you can escape reality," Reed explains. Produced by Paul Butler (Devendra Banhart, Michael Kiwanuka), the album shows a band evolving without losing its rebellious spirit. The single "Spaceman", which was released in May 2023, and the summery track "Out Of My Head" perfectly capture the sound and lightness of the album. The band's unpolished surf-garage-rock core remains tangible at all times. The lyrical playfulness and the unbridled attitude to life that defines the Skegss also remains in their new work. But it is the increased depth of their lyrics and compositions that makes "Pacific Highway Music" so special. It is an album dedicated to the complex elements of the human experience without losing sight of the lightness that life - and music - brings. In May 2025, Skegss will also be on tour in Germany with their new album. Three dates have been confirmed: a must for anyone who wants to experience the sound of summer, waves and road trips on stage.