It’s not long to go before our favourite garage rockers, The Stems, hit the road to celebrate 40 years. The WA outfit’s 60’s/70’s infused garage power-pop anthems have been ingrained in many a music fan’s memories, and influenced plenty of musicians along the way, thanks to their standout debut album At First Sight, Violets Are Blue plus following releases & phenomenal live shows.
Now the band are set to take to the road to celebrate their 40-year milestone, including a new extra show just announced in Castlemaine VIC & a venue change in Brisbane. Joining The Stems along the way will be the following special guests in each state.
Power-pop rockers The Prize will kick off the national run as support for both VIC shows, whilst Adelaide can expect the dark folk-pop of Romana Ashton & The Reeds as support. Acclaimed indie-pop rock outfit Ups And Downs are set for the *Brisbane leg of the tour, and Sydney is in for a treat with legendary garage rockers The New Christs & DJ Frank Cotterell. Bringing it home to WA, Rinehearts will deliver their own infectious power-pop, as well as Freo alt-rock fourpiece Vancool.
FRIDAY AUGUST 23 | THEATRE ROYAL | Castlemaine
with THE PRIZE
SATURDAY AUGUST 24 | CORNER HOTEL | Melbourne
with THE PRIZE
SUNDAY AUGUST 25 | THE GOV | Adelaide
with ROMANA ASHTON & THE REEDS
FRIDAY AUGUST 30 | MANSFIELD TAVERN | Brisbane
with UPS AND DOWNS
SATURDAY AUGUST 31 | MANNING BAR | Sydney
with THE NEW CHRISTS & DJ COTTERELL
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 6 | FREO. SOCIAL | Perth
with RINEHEARTS & VANCOOL
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22 March 2024
West Australian garage rock legends The Stems are making a triumphant return to the live stage for a series of dates in August 2024. Having last toured in 2019, original members, Dom Mariani, Julian Matthews, and Dave Shaw are set to be joined by acclaimed guitarist Ashley Naylor (Even/Paul Kelly/The Church). Together, they will celebrate four decades since their inaugural live performance in 1984 at the Old Civic Theatre in Inglewood, Western Australia, where they marked their auspicious debut supporting iconic Australian bands, The Saints and The Triffids.
SATURDAY AUGUST 24 | CORNER HOTEL | Melbourne
SUNDAY AUGUST 25 | THE GOV | Adelaide
FRIDAY AUGUST 30 | THE ZOO | Brisbane
SATURDAY AUGUST 31 | MANNING BAR | Sydney
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 6 | FREO. SOCIAL | Perth
The Stems attained their own legendary status in the Australian and International music scene – roaring out of Perth with a sound and style that definitively captured the spirit and enthusiasm of sixties garage music – lurching fuzz-tone guitars, brooding organ, solid gold garage-punk, and primo power pop! The Stems not only created a distinctive sonic identity but also penned unforgettable songs while delivering electrifying live performances.
In the late ’80s, The Stems achieved acclaim with a series of singles and EPs and the timeless At First Sight – Violet are Blue LP in 1987. The group disbanded in late 1987 and made a significant comeback in 2003, playing to sold-out crowds nationwide. Since then, they have continued to tour regularly in front of audiences across Australia, Europe, Japan, and the United States.
2023 saw The Stems release some out-of-print tracks on a Vinyl album, Mushroom Soup, which promptly rocketed to number 3 on the national ARIA charts! To commemorate the tour The Stems will be releasing a brand new single, and a Live LP, captured during an incendiary concert from the last tour.
Join The Stems on this historic occasion as they bring their iconic sound and energy back to the stage, marking 40 years of garage rock glory.