Bands join hottest line-up of summer
TOWNSVILLE music lovers can kick off their Australia Day long weekend the right way with some big names in Aussie progressive rock live at the Quayside Terminal.
Empire’s Summer Slam 2019 is first for North Queensland, featuring COG, Hellions, Like Thieves and local acts Ghosts Over Japan, Motions and Forlorn.
Sydney act Hellions are still riding the high of their latest album release Rue from late last year, and drummer Anthony Caruso said the fourpiece band was excited to catch up with North Queensland fans.
“We’ve been aching to get back up to North Queensland since the last time we were there,” he said. “We’re stoked to get up there.”
Hellions last toured to Townsville with The Amity Affliction and Ocean Grove in early 2017, and Caruso said fans in the North were a lot of fun.
“They’re so enthusiastic and excited, and we really feed off that energy,” he said.
“You can really tell everyone’s there to have a good time and the sense of community you get at those shows is not something you get in capital cities.”
Brisbane rockers Like Thieves will take the stage in Townsville for the first time, led by Clint Boge of The Butterfly Effect fame. Boge said he jumped at the chance to play in Townsville, and was confident the first Summer Slam would be a great event.
“We’re really looking forward to it, we’ve done a couple of national tours but never got as far north as Townsville,” he said. Boge, who grew up in North and Central Queensland, said he hoped the flow-on effects from Summer Slam’s success would spark more movement in Townsville’s live music scene.
“I know what it’s like when there’s nothing on, and the fact that the momentum is building, that’s really important,” he said.
“If you’re reading this, get out there and support Summer Slam, it will only do good things.”
Summer Slam likely won’t be the last Townsville sees of Like Thieves, with plans al- ready in the works to return for another tour.
Progressive rock legends COG will be playing their only North Queensland show in close to a decade, kicking off in Townsville ahead of a string of shows around the country before a European tour in March.
Empire’s Summer Slam will kick off from 6pm on Friday, January 25 at Quayside Terminal. Grab your tickets online at Eventbrite or hard copies from Empire or Skin, Ski and Surf in Flinders St or Nature’s Wisdom at Stockland.
Empire’s Summer Slam an 18+ event. is