Western Australia’s own garage rock icons, The Stems, are embarking on a 40th anniversary tour across the country this August and September, hitting the road again for the first time in five years.
In 1984, The Stems’ life on the road began, with the band opening for beloved Aussie groups The Saints and The Triffids at the Old Civic Theatre in Inglewood, Western Australia.
Fast forward to 2024, and the group’s 40th-anniversary tour begins at Melbourne’s Corner Hotel on Saturday, 24 August, before the band heads to Adelaide’s The Gov the following night, Brisbane’s The Zoo on Friday, 30 August, Sydney’s The Manning Bar the next night, and wraps up at the Freo.Social on Friday, 6 September.
Tickets are available from the venue websites or via Leicashow Presents.
The Stems are known for their brand of ‘60s-inspired garage rock tunes, which comprises jangly guitars, organs, and memorable brooding melodies.
After disbanding in 1987 – when they dropped the album At First Sight – Violet Are Blue – The Stems returned in 2003, releasing a new LP Heads Up in 2007 and touring regularly in Australia and internationally.
Last year, The Stems released the Mushroom Soup: The Citadel Years LP, which contained previously out-of-print tracks on vinyl, taking the band to #3 on the ARIA Vinyl Chart.
To celebrate their forthcoming tour, The Stems will drop a new single and live album recorded from their last tour. The line-up for The Stems stars original members Dom Mariani, Julian Matthews, and Dave Shaw alongside guitarist Ashley Naylor (Paul Kelly, The Church).
In 2018, The Stems were inducted into the WAM Awards Hall of Fame. “There have been highlights and some lowlights, but making the music and taking it to fans all over the world has been fun,” Mariani told The Music.
“It’s a nice surprise. Cool recognition for the band and the people who have been involved.”
THE STEMS
40th ANNIVERSARY AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL TOUR
SATURDAY 24 AUGUST – CORNER HOTEL | Melbourne
SUNDAY 25 AUGUST – THE GOV | Adelaide
FRIDAY 30 AUGUST – THE ZOO | Brisbane
SATURDAY 31 AUGUST – MANNING BAR | Sydney
FRIDAY 6 SEPTEMBER – FREO. SOCIAL | Perth
