The Old Mate’s Block Party kicks off tomorrow for another year, bringing a sick line up of Sydney and Melbourne bands to The Factory in Marrickville.
The aim? To party, potentially come across your new favourite band and celebrate a live music scene that is most definitely still thriving and pumping out great talent.
Ahead of the mini-festival, we checked in with The Stiffys to see how they were anticipating the event.
*Note: We had to heavily edit this as The Stiffys provided it in all caps…”
Thinking back to the music you grew up listening to and then the local music scene you emerged into as an up and coming musician, compared to the state of the scene now, what would you say has been a massive difference – both positive and negative?
There was a great patch growing up where record labels gave bands heaps of money and pump shoes and Tamagotchis, but then Napster took all the money and apartments started saying, “keep it down” and music venues couldn’t afford enough security guards. But now we have iMovie and Passion Pop; we can do whatever we want – it’s great you can create art and put it out immediately without reviewing it or worrying about the long-term ramifications.
Why do you think events like the Old Mate’s Block Party are crucial for bands as well as music fans who might think they are lacking in options to be seeing live and local music?
Festivals like Old Mate’s Block Party are amazing. They let you be coolboys for an entire day and meet great people and new bands and enjoy some serious day drinking. It really helps interstate bands like us stay in touch with what’s happening in Sydney and then we’ll probably be friends for life and tour the country together.
It’s a Sydney event – a city whose nightlife and live music culture has been crippled in recent years – what does the enthusiasm behind the organisation of the Block Party (and it’s reception last year, too), tell you about how this city perceives all out events like this?
Sydney’s always been great for Your Boys, but I guess we’re not trying to play here every weekend. Our favourite thing about these coolboy events is hanging out with the bands because people in bands are definitely the ones you want to hang out with – they are passionate about jokes and drinks and know to speak loudly around you.
Which band on the line up are you particularly looking forward to seeing play and why?
As well as The Lockhearts, we’re really excited to play with Private Function. We’re playing with them in Wollongong the night before and sharing a party house. From what we’ve heard about those guys, it is going to be a seriously terrific evening.
Can you tell us a bit about the type of show your band has been working on for the show and what you’re looking forward to the most about it?
This is only the second time we’ve played our new record in Sydney, and to be completely honest with you it is a banger from start to finish. We’re also trying a brand new song that is on fleek and everyone will probably go crazy for it and try to kiss us and stuff. We will have to respectfully request that people wait until after the set because trying to sing and kiss girls at the same time is really hard – we’ve tried it so many times and it’s just too tricky to multi-task like that.
In terms of the rest of 2017 – where are you hoping to take your music, and what excites you about being part of the Australian industry moving forward?
We’re actually in hibernation writing our debut album, but we couldn’t say no to this show. Our new record is going to totally change the game. The industry will never be the same. It is safe to say that we are crazy for this one, Rick.
For punters who might be seeing you for the first time at the Old Mate’s Block Party, what should they be expecting?
The best 45 minutes of your life. All of the drinks, heaps boogie boards, screaming ladies, kickflips and matching anchor tattoos.
The Old Mate’s Block Party is at the Factory Theatre in Sydney on January 28th. Grab your tickets and more information here.
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