Kingswood Announce Feature Film Documentary ‘Claptrap’
The doco looks back at Kingswood’s record-breaking 2024 live tour.
Image supplied
2024 was a huge year for Melbourne alt-rockers Kingswood. Not only did they celebrate the 10th anniversary of their ARIA Award-nominated debut album, Microscopic Wars, but the band also embarked on the record-setting Hometowns Tour, encompassing an incredible 112 shows across six months.
Travelling to all parts of the country, Kingswood performed to over 60,000 fans on the tour. Their journey was documented by director Darcy Newton and produced by Luca Catalano.
Premiering in Kingswood’s hometown of Melbourne on Friday, April 4 at the iconic Astor Theatre, the film explores the inner sanctum of the group and what life is really like for a touring musician.
Speaking about the experience, Newton says, “When Kingswood asked me, a 23-year-old filmmaker, to document Australia’s longest-ever tour, I knew that if I actually managed to make it home, the film would be very unique and strange. I wanted to create an unreplicable, charming and honest glimpse into the extraordinary world of touring musicians, and this became Claptrap.”
The duo of Newton and Catalano adds, “We are filmmakers still from a maturing generation, whose voice, perspectives and concerns aren’t hugely represented on the big screen yet. It’s exciting to be able to contribute and complicate this representation. Certainly, this film has been made for fans of Kingswood. If you want to see your favourite rock band wake up together, sleep, eat, argue, dance, drive – and of course, perform – tune in.”
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The release of Claptrap arrives following a productive couple of years for Kingswood, with the group releasing two albums in 2023, Home and The Tale of G.C. Townes, before embarking on their massive Hometowns Tour last year.
Kingswood’s songwriter and guitarist Alexander Laska says of the experience, “The documentary process was unusual and fantastical. The most compelling aspect was being aware of, and willfully subjecting to the experience of one’s life being documented in the pursuit of artistic expression.”
Fellow songwriter and guitarist Fergus Linacre adds, “It was surprising how quickly and easily I was able to live as if there wasn’t a camera in my face all day. Credit to Darc and his ability to shoot surreptitiously, and to gain our trust. This enabled him to shoot more real life moments providing the depth and intimacy you experience in the film.”
After the Melbourne premiere at the Astor Theatre on Friday, April 4, Claptrap will screen the following night, Saturday, April 5, at Thornbury Picture House in Thornbury and include a Q&A event.
The lads then take the doco on the road, with the film playing at Geelong’s Pivotonian Cinema on Sunday, April 6 (screening and Q&A), Adelaide’s Regal Theatre and Byron Bay’s Byron Bay Palace on Wednesday, April 9 (Q&A only in Byron Bay), and Brisbane’s New Farm Cinema on Thursday, April 10 (screening and Q&A), before the final screening and Q&A event takes place in Sydney at The Ritz on Friday, April 11.
Tickets are now available for the Melbourne and Brisbane screenings. More screening dates will be announced soon. For more details visit kingswoodband.com.
Kingswood CLAPTRAP AUSTRALIAN SCREENINGS
Friday, April 4 – Astor Theatre, Melbourne **
Saturday, April 5 – Thornbury Picture House, Melbourne ** SCREENING, Q&A EVENT
Sunday, April 6 – Pivotonian Cinema, Geelong SCREENING, Q&A EVENT
Wednesday, April 9 – Regal Theatre, Adelaide SCREENING
Wednesday, April 9 – Byron Bay Palace, Byron Bay ** SCREENING, Q&A EVENT
Thursday, April 10 – New Farm Cinema, Brisbane ** SCREENING, Q&A EVENT
Friday, April 11 – The Ritz, Sydney ** SCREENING, Q&A EVENT
** Kingswood attending
