Plenty of fringe benefits in winter

HOBART’S Winter Fringe Fest kicks on this week with a variety of local and interstate acts gearing up to rock Macquarie Point.

The Hobart Brewing Co’s free nine-day festival of music, beer and food started last week and will run from 6pm until late each night until Sunday.

Three bands will play each night, including the Billy Warner Trio tonight, Squid Fishing, Meres and Porpoise Spit tomorrow, and The Dead Maggies on Saturday.

Local garage/punk outfit A. Swayze and the Ghosts will close out the festival on Sunday after winding up their tour supporting Adelaide rockers West Thebarton in Queensland this weekend.

They have been riding a wave of success, having signed with British record label Rough Trade in February and returning from their first international tour last month.

Bassist Ben Simms said the band was looking forward to Sunday’s show.

“We don’t [play in Hobart] all the time at the moment,” he said.

“So whenever we do it’s awesome, because we get to play for friends and more and more new people that we get to meet, which is fun.

“And this venue is so much fun to play at. The last time [we played here] it was packed out and everyone had a great time.”

Also on the bill for Sunday night will be fellow Hobartian punks Dissolver and Slaughterhaus Surf Cult.

“It should be fun,’’ Simms said. “We played with Dissolver about a month ago or maybe longer and they’re awesome. “They’re pretty new, but amazing — one of the best things in Hobart I’ve seen in a while.

“And Slaughterhaus have been playing for a while and they’re always great.”

A. Swayze will release new music before the end of the year, and a studio album is scheduled to drop next year.

The band are considering relocating to the UK next year, which will provide a base for touring Europe and the US.

For the full line-up of the Winter Fringe Fest, visit hobartbrewingco.com.au or the Hobart Brewing Co Facebook page.