Good times and great classic hits take over Doncaster's Shoppingtown Hotel on March 4 for the return of Wanstock.
Wanstock has emerged over the past five years to become one of Melbourne’s regular throwback treats, putting on consistently excellent displays of some legendary Australian talent, blended nicely with emerging bands and contemporary favourites.
Wanstock 2023 lives up to the mini-festival’s reputation: Baby Animals, Dragon, Standing Room Only, Nick Barker and the Reptiles, Stonetrip and Daydreamers set to put on a rock’n’roll clinic on March 4 at The Shoppingtown Hotel.
Wanstock 2023
- The return of Wanstock, the eastern suburbs’ favourite mini-festival celebrating Aussie rock
- Baby Animals, Dragon, Standing Room Only, Nick Barker and the Reptiles, Stonetrip and Daydreamers
- March 4 at Doncaster’s Shoppingtown Hotel
Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
If you’re of a particular vintage then the lineup needs no introduction. Baby Animals are a live act for the ages; when they toured with Van Halen, Eddie signed their tour poster “Thanks for letting Van Halen close the show” – enough said.
Suze DeMarchi is one of Australia’s most impressive lead singers, period, and Dave Leslie is one of those exceedingly rare guitarists who always plays the most perfect thing at all times and is also able to tear the heads off all and sundry with speedy shredding when it’s musically or dramatically appropriate.
Equally palpable, Dragon are one of Australia’s (oath we’ll claim them) most storied acts. The masters behind April Sun In Cuba and Are You Old Enough? were another legendary hit-machine that sacrificed worldwide stardom for a unique place in the annals of local music history.
Then there’s Nick Barker and the Reptiles, who have had a fantastic career resurgence and are back to dishing out stomping pub rock anthems. Nick told us himself that the group have evolved together for a natural live experience: “It’s different,” he said, “we used to play everything too fast, probably something to do with the schooners of vodka and staminade (don’t ask). I would say we have a better backbeat groove now. The youthful exuberance and running around has been replaced by a more Stonesy feel and better guitar tones.”
Standing Room Only are a group of very talented industry veterans who play the hits. Daydreamers are a Melbourne foursome who cite The Beatles, ‘80s punks Hüsker Dü and Descendents, radio favourites Foo Fighters and Blink 182, and Australian contemporaries Gang of Youths and DZ Deathrays as major influences.
The superb lineup is rounded out by Wanstock favourites Stonetrip, a local five-piece that split the difference between the sludgy proto-grunge of Alice in Chains and the classic rock sounds of Aerosmith and Alice Cooper.
If you’re not excited, you weren’t alive to realise what you’re missing. Find out more info and grab tickets here while they last.
This article was made in partnership with Wanstock.
