The Rions today share their highly anticipated second EP Happiness In A Place It Shouldn’t Be, ahead of their biggest-ever Australian headline tour kicking off this October.
Fri 25 Oct – Edge Hill Tavern – Yirrganydji Country / Cairns
Sat 26 Oct – Dalrymple Hotel – Bindal Country / Townsville
Sun 27 Oct – Magnums – Ngaro Country / Airlie Beach
Sat 2 Nov – Hoey Moey – Gumbaynggirr Country / Coffs Harbour
Sun 3 Nov – Miami Marketta – Yugambeh / Gold Coast
Fri 8 Nov – Harvey Road Tavern – Bailai Country / Gladstone
Sat 9 Nov – The Station – Gubbi Gubbi Country / Sunshine Coast
Sun 10 Nov – Beach Hotel – Bundjalung Country / Byron Bay
Fri 15 Nov – Uni Bar – Dharawal Country / Wollongong
Sat 16 Nov – King St Bandroom – Awakabal Lands / Newcastle
Sun 17 Nov – Dee Why RSL – Kuring-Gai Lands / Dee Why
Fri 22 Nov – Horsham Showgrounds – Wotjobaluk Country / Horsham
Sat 23 Nov – The Pier Bandroom – The Pier Bandroom / Frankston
Sun 24 Nov – Torquay Hotel – Wadawurrung Country / Torquay
Fri 29 Nov – Northcote Theatre – Naarm / Melbourne
Sat 30 Nov – Hindley Street Music Hall – Kaurna Lands / Adelaide
Thu 5 Dec – Prince of Wales – Kaniyang Country / Bunbury
Fri 6 Dec – The River – Wardandi Country / Margaret River
Sat 7 Dec – Metropolis – Whadjuk Noongar Country / Fremantle
Fri 13 Dec – Roundhouse – Gadigal Lands / Sydney
Sat 14 Dec – Princess Theatre – Turrbal Lands / Brisbane
Sun 29 Dec – Beyond The Valley – Wataurong Lands / Barunah Plains
Mon 30 Dec – Great Escape Festival – lutruwita / Tasmania
Tue 31 Dec – Lost Paradise – Darkinjung Country / Glenworth Valley
The follow-up to their coming-of-age debut EP Minivan, Happiness In A Place It Shouldn’t Be encapsulates the band’s transformation from high school ones-to-watch, to the self-assured band they’ve now become. Where Minivan hones in on the youthful energy of life’s pivotal transition into adulthood, Happiness In A Place It Shouldn’t Be delves deeper into the universally felt experiences of existentialism and inter-and-outer-personal relationships, even extending into the bonds of friendship the four-piece have formed with each other in fan-favourite ‘Time Will Try’.
Unveiling three new songs with today’s EP, The Rions continue to break new ground, deftly balancing the infectious accessibility of their pop rhythms and the emotional depth of their lyrics. New song ‘Passionfruit’, written in a session with frequent collaborator Chris Collins (Matt Corby, Skegss, Middle Kids), takes cues from the smooth synths of The Killers and the grunge-tinged guitar tones of The Strokes, as the band romanticise their experience of touring and exploring a new city each night. Also featured on the EP is the stand-out track ‘Friend’, which sees the band draw upon a soulful, country aesthetic to convey the heartbreak of a relationship that’s run its course (“And I’ll love you softly / But I’ll love you as a friend”), and the serendipitous piano ballad ‘The Part’, which closes the EP with a raw display of vulnerability.
The Rions’ unapologetic honesty permeates throughout the project, evident since their first previews of the EP in recent singles ‘Sweet Cocoon’ and ‘Physical Medicine’ – both of which peaked at #1 most played on triple j, receiving further support from the likes of Rolling Stone Australia, NME, The Music, iHeartRadio, and Ones To Watch among others. Firmly establishing their proficiency for anthemic indie-rock songwriting, and steadfast in their commitment to sincerity and humility in their storytelling, the band share, “For our second EP, we wanted to approach it with raw authenticity. This is the most genuine we’ve ever been with our stories, and we’re thrilled to share it with you all.”
From three consecutive years of triple j Hottest 100 entries, Rolling Stone Award nominations, back-to-back sell-out tours, and their international debut in Aotearoa / New Zealand earlier this year, The Rions have emerged as one of the country’s most in-demand acts. Having recently arrived home following their debut UK and Europe tour, co-headlining with Pacific Avenue, The Rions will hit the road next month for their upcoming Happiness In Places national headline tour. The massive 21-date run will see the band hit capital cities and regional hotspots around the country, before ending the year with festival sets at Beyond The Valley and Lost Paradise.