Jerkfest - Gig Preview
Celebrating 10 years, Drive Time live, CM members moving back from overseas for the show, and not wanting to John Farnham it
Noah chats to Billy ahead of Jerkfest 10 an event showcasing some of the very finest from the Australian underground, and some special overseas guests followed by a brief summary of each of the bands to follow.
Can you tell us how the concept for Jerkfest came about?
It wasn’t my idea initially - Al O’Neill who used to book the Barwon Club and helped run River Rocks asked me to book a day fest for the younger Geelong crowd. Al and I did the first two fests together and then I think I took the reins around the third one. Bridie Coughlin who now books the Barwon Club helps me with all the logistics these days.
Is there a special connection with The Barwon Club? Did you grow up in Geelong? I would imagine the inside and outside stage situation is ideal.
Kinda answered that one above hey. Yes I’m most certainly from Geelong. I had no real plans to leave until half my friends did! It was a great place to grow up.
It’s a fantastic selection of artists with a focus on underground bands, mostly from Melbourne, with three from NSW, one SA, and some special overseas acts from USA & JP. Talk us through your curation process.
Thanks, Noah. It’s all pretty primal,
I just try my best to take note of any cool bands I see or nice records I hear throughout the year and dump that into a spreadsheet and start working through it.
The process has definitely become easier as the festival has grown. The first few years would involve an explanation from myself on the general idea of the day, but it’s nice that most people I ask these days are already aware of the fest.
I think it’s really cool that you have got David Chesworth & Bill McDonald to perform "Drive Time", was that a pipe dream they agreed to? Also, how did you manage to get Constant Mongrel out of retirement?
Yeah, I’m really excited for David and Bill. I’ve not seen them, only heard the tape which, is awesome. David is a sweetheart, he played with Essendon Airport in 2023 so he had an idea of the festival already and seemed interested straight away when I asked. I’m very stoked to have them on board and can’t wait to see Drive Time live.
Re. Constant Mongrel - their guitarist Andrew and his partner Claire moved to the UK in 2021 (I think).
Once they heard that Jerkfest was celebrating its 10th year they changed all their plans and moved back! (No… not really… they moved back mid-late last year).
I’m so excited to see Constant Mongrel again!
What were the highlights from last year and were there any learnings you’ve taken into this year’s event?
Having The Uranium Club over last year was really great. I’ve loved that band since they started in 2014. They were so good and also the sweetest people to hang out with. Having them over felt like something I’ll remember for a long time - there’s really not that many great bands who’ve been around for 10+ years, put out a bunch of killer records, toured around the world, and still have the same lineup as they did when they began. It’s a beautiful thing!
The main thing I’ve learned over the years is that 11pm is not the headline slot. I’ve been bringing the headline bands forward over the years to anywhere between the 7:30 - 10pm kinda window and I think that definitely works best, especially when most of the crowd have been there since midday. And then you have some fun stuff to dance to afterwards!
Anti Fade is now around 14 years old! Can you tell us how sustainable it is to run a label in this current financial climate? Are you currently working on some cool releases for 2025?
Haha. It was a tough year in that regard last year. There’s a bunch of cool releases incoming - but mostly all in the second half of the year. One record has just been finished up to come out in August and another handful are in the recording / mixing stages.
What are you most looking forward to for this years event?
Dancing with Tony.
Are there already plans underway for the next Jerkfest - 2026?
I’m unsure yet. 10 festivals seems like a good number to end things at. But also I don’t wanna go John Farnham on it so I’ll leave it at that and see how things look next year.
JERKFEST 10 -
UV Race is a real supergroup of sorts! with Marcus doing more with his Hot Tubs Time Machine these days, and AL Monfort of Total Control, Dick Diver, Sleeper & Snake, etc, & DX on drums also appearing in Station Model Violence. This is a very rare chance to catch these legends!
The Frowning Clouds are the unsung heroes of the Geelong music scene with their 60’s garage inspired brand of music, which sounds so familar as soon as you hear it.
Constant Mongrel are out of retirnment and it’s been around four years since their last show. They are sure to bring their furious energy of classic punk with the agitated feel of post-punk.
Marbled Eye (USA) is a band from Oakland, California. They make guitar music balanced out with great rhythm. As per Sub Pop, “they are one of the most exciting and revered bands in the long lineage of American post-punk”.
Guitar Wolf (JP) put on a high-energy rock show with their legendary garage punk sound. Expect fast, loud, and electrifying performances, as Guitar Wolf takes the stage with their signature blend of raw punk rock, noise, and wild antics.
Optic Nerve (NSW) deliver a bark of vocal noise that is both harrowing and triumphant, there is complex frustrations in their sound and punk negativity.
The Green Child is the project of Raven Mahon and Mikey Young, the Green Child unites eerie electronics and experimental rock with passion and creativity. They have expanded out with 2024's Look Familiar, bringing in Alex Macfarlane and Shaun Gionis, making it a four-piece.
Itchy & The Nits (NSW) fly the budget freak flag high, lots of fun in the sun stripped down garage punk bringing to mind early Donnas, Brentwoods, and Thee Headcoatees, with a healthy dose of power pop ala Nikki & the Corvettes.
Bananagun could be straight out of the 60s with their rock ‘n’ roll, or even the 70s with their take on afrobeat and exotica. There’s something enticing about the lost world exoticism of Bananagun.
Station Model Violence (NSW) is a new project involving DX of Total Control and The UV Race, and Buz from R.M.F.C and much more, who’ve so far have only shared one demo online They have been busy playing shows this year with a notable appearance at Blue Evening (The Tote)
Primo! are a quartet who write up-tempo, terse chorus and verse, Primo! make use of two guitars, bass, drums, sound effects and a group vocal sensibility to ornament their enquiries into deconstructed punk and indie rock. Their songs chime and charm, sounding at times bountiful, at others brittle, always buoyant with attention to detail.
Lost Animal could be likened to a poet with his mysterious and catchy ramblings. His work encompasses catchy pop songwriting and expansive drone soundscapes; booming rhythms and slow-burning nods towards the ecstatic.
Possible Humans is summed up nicely by Shaad from Pitchfork who says, “Possible Humans marry that penchant for layered, fluid songwriting with an impeccable sense for well-crafted pop songs”.
E. Bobby G is like a lo-fi library of organ music exploring bright tones and video game-like music dreams, also encompassing strutting percussion.
David Chesworth & Bill McDonald (performing "Drive Time") - Taken from David’s words on Bandcamp, “Drive Time was originally broadcast live on the drive time slot on a chilly winter evening in 1984 on ABC Radio 3AR, which back then was a posh classical music station. The unlikely invitation was made at a time when ABC radio had risk-taking local producers; how else would something like this be broadcast”?
Dom Sensitive (SA) is the exciting new project from acclaimed Yartapuulti/Port Adelaide musician Dom Trimboli (Wireheads, Dom & the Wizards and Critical Energy).
P.P. Rebel Band is the garage Art-pop artist PP Rebel (parsnip, heirophants) who will be playing with her full band
Wrong Way Up describe themselves perfectly as, “Born out of a deep love for the dancefloor, Wrong Way Up channel vintage Afro disco and psychedelic boogie to bring a new kind of heat”.
The Judges are a musical protest against “pop” music, but as so has it they have found themselves caught up in a routine similar to that of any pop star. How should they conduct themselves with this new understanding'?
Way Dynamic show off a diverse and interesting 10 tracks of minimalist folk-pop, with thoughtful instrumentation cementing Young as one of Melbourne’s best songwriters.
Kissland recently put our a 10 song album, which goes for under 7 minutes made up of high octane ripping hardcore thrash. With members of Eddy Current Suppression Ring, Swab, Agents of Abhorrence, The Faculty, Faceless Burial, Ill Globo, Internal Rot, Total Control etc etc. Check it out below
The States are a rock’n’roll powerhouse who deliver lots of swagger, hooks, and attitude. A set not to be missed!
Pirouette & Season 2 are both too fresh or too cool to have accessible music online.
& DJ Bruce Milne (Triple R announcer and music enthusiast) will open the event
Anti Fade Records & B. Bookings present:
JERKFEST 10
Barwon Club Hotel (South Geelong, VIC)
Saturday, 22 March, 12pm
Tickets:
Buy your FINAL RELEASE GENERAL ADMISSION
$87.75
Jerkfest acknowledges that the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation are the traditional custodians of the land on which it operates on. We pay our respects to their elders past, present, emerging, future. Sovereignty has never been ceded. Always was and always will be.