The Melbourne born ska-punk band are stoked to be supporting a great cause.
Swampfest ‘26 is a fun-filled, punk-rock dayfest coming to Melbourne this October. A collection of 10 different bands will take to the stage to perform with every dollar spent being donated to the Black Dog Institute, raising awareness for mental health and suicide.
The Kittyhawks are stoked to be headlining the event. “It’s a total no brainer to be involved in such a good cause with a killer lineup. Our next single is about a friend who lost their battle to suicide and dealing with that loss. It’s close to home for us,” they said.
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A few group members have been in the scene for over 20 years having played for Sounds Like Chicken in the early 2000s. It’s an ever-changing scene with vinyl and CD’s making way for a digital focused marketing age, and communities engaging with each other online as opposed to in person at events. “Everything used to be door sales and clipboards, now it’s content driven. We’re trying to avoid the hamster wheel and focus on building a community of fans who’re friends” they told us.
The new band who formed in 2023 have now played nearly 100 shows including Indonesia, Japan, The UK and Europe, with a strong chance for a USA tour next year. After trekking up and down the East Coast, they’ve said “it’s a blast, but nothing matches the buzz of a Melbourne punk crowd!”
The lineup will span across a range of punk, ska, psychobilly and rock, including the band Unto The Breach, the creators of Swampfest who lost their guitarist Greg in November last year. Other bands joining the cause are Judo Chop, Faux Defeated, Forklift Assassins, Vampyros and more.
The Kittyhawks latest single Devils, shows off Rockabilly undertones – and fans aren’t shying away from the shift in sound. When asked how listeners felt about it, they’re response was “we love to keep it evolving. Devils hit home with a lot of listeners. The horn part is just so damn danceable that people can’t resist moving when it hits them. We’ll always be that 90’s LA ska-punk band, but songs on the upcoming EP will surprise people.”
Frontman Elliot Dawson is hoping to see a further resurgence in ska-punk amongst the younger generation in years to come, saying “Ska seems to rise and fall in popularity. There’s bands out there like Hey Smith in Japan that have crazy widespread appeal. Who’s to say younger generations won’t discover ska?”
Their final message was “never be ashamed to reach out or try something new – you might just find your community. Thank you for being a massive part of our story. Without you we wouldn’t have experienced any of this chapter. See you on October 3 for Swampfest!”
Swampfest is Saturday, 3 October at The Workers Club in Fitzroy. Doors open at 1pm. Event begins at 2pm. Tickets available here.
